Where to study for hedge fund (EUROPE)
Hello,
I have a bachelor degree in econ rn. Logically I am thinking to apply to business schools for a masters degree in FInance like bocconi essec st gallen sse lse lbs etc . but not sure wether the placements of these schools in hedge funds (not quant) are the best ones. what do u think? help me please.
If it’s a good school it’s fine. What you study might matter. Do you want to do L/S or macro or something else. A stock picker is very different to a credit desk analyst
Understood thank you!
What's a good school for you?
Ofcs the targets but what abt edhec, emlyon, mannheim, Frankfurt, king's college, rsm, Copenhagen bs, esade or ie?
essec is not a target
If you go on Linkedin you will find that 80-90% of investment professionals working in HFs didn't go into HF straight from university, but rather from banking, sales&trading etc. So bear that in mind. You probably want to get in a position to get into say banking, and that would most likely be your eventual stepping-stone into HF.
Understood thank you!
So would you say this previous experience out of college is as important as where you studied? Or even more?
Absolutely. A few years after graduating, no one will care where you went to college.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about European master's programs and their relevance for hedge fund placements (non-quant):
LSE MSc Finance: This program is highly regarded for its placement in investment banking and private equity, which can serve as a stepping stone to hedge funds. It has an amazing placement record in London, making it one of the top choices for your goal.
LBS MFA: The LBS Master in Financial Analysis is career-focused and offers excellent placement across the finance spectrum, including hedge funds. Its strong alumni network and London location are significant advantages.
HEC Paris MIF: Known for its strong placement in both France and London, HEC Paris is a top-tier choice. However, it is more financial markets-focused, which aligns well with hedge fund roles. Keep in mind that not speaking French might limit networking opportunities here.
Bocconi MSc Finance: Similar to HEC Paris but with a focus on Italy. It has a strong reputation and good placement in finance roles, though hedge fund-specific placement might be less prominent compared to LSE or LBS.
St. Gallen: This program is highly respected in Europe and offers great placement opportunities, especially in Switzerland and Germany. It is a solid choice for finance roles, including hedge funds.
SSE (Stockholm School of Economics): SSE has great placement across finance roles and is often favored by local students. While it is a strong program, it might not have the same hedge fund placement strength as LSE or LBS.
ESSEC/ESCP: These programs are good but generally considered second-tier compared to the likes of LSE, LBS, or HEC Paris. They might not be the best for hedge fund-specific placements.
Key Takeaways:
If hedge fund placement is your ultimate goal, prioritize programs with strong networks in London, as it is the hub for hedge funds in Europe.
Sources: European Masters Rankings, European Masters Rankings, European Master in Finance programmes (pre-experience)
There are some recruiting pipelines and graduate programs at top MM funds, but on the overall, it is exceedingly rare to work at an HF, at a trading seat or a trading seat trajectory, out of university. Your best bet is to work at an investment bank first, get trained, and then move. As far as schools go, they don't get any better than that. However, there is a bit of favouritism given to more STEM and economics fields for these HF recruiting programs, rather than finance-type programs. If you want to read more about the feeder schools of Europe into top IBs, you can read about it https://app.1learner.com/insights/emea-ib-analyst-by-school
thank you very much!
For hedge funds in Europe you absolutely need to target london, and for London there's only a handful of masters worth doing. Oxford, Cambridge get the best chances at it. Imperial (mostly for stem) and lse place well too. If you go to a continental target like hec bocconi hsg escp etc. which places decent in London, you'll have to have some experience for instance in s&t at soge/other big bank.
Nice thank you very much for this.
What abt hedge funds in continental?
Will I require exp with a continental target degree to get into one?
What more important is what languages you speak and how famous/competitive the uni you are going to versus other unis in the country. For example, going to a French school without french is suicidal. RSM although not a top target provides the advantage of a more friendly english friendly job environment and higher salaries. Utimately, SSE and CBS are also good options. Another great one, possibly even better than RSM if you speak German is St Gallen :)
What abt Warwick and UCL?
Warwick is a top target at undergrad level. UCL is not much of a business school. There programs are more in law or social sciences. If you have Warwick, then seriously consider it (take into account the high fees...). Good luck!
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