WU Vienna a Target University for Investment Banking in Frankfurt/London in 2025?
I’d like to gather your opinions on whether the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna) is considered a target university for Investment Banking in Frankfurt or London in 2025.
While I’m fully aware it’s not a super-target like LSE or HEC, I’m surprised by how WU Vienna was still labeled a semi-target in forum discussions just a few years ago.
The university’s rankings have significantly improved recently, and in the German-speaking region, WU is now recognized as one of the top 4 universities (alongside HSG, WHU, and Mannheim).
In the 2024 Financial Times ranking, its flagship master’s program in management entered the global top 20. The QS 2024 ranking placed five of its master’s programs in the top 20 across disciplines, with two ranking in the top 10 globally for management.
While WU has always been respected in consulting within the DACH region, Frankfurt’s Investment Banking sector has seen strong placements from WU graduates in the past 2–3 years, particularly in Middle Market firms and Elite Boutiques/Bulge Brackets.
Notably, there have also been several Spring Week and Summer Analyst placements in London over the past two years.
It appears efforts are now being made to counter Vienna’s location disadvantage by organizing finance club tours to Frankfurt, aiming to secure better access to firms there.
Frankfurt without question. London possible if you grind.
Join WUTIS (check their alumni) lots of kids placing in London.
As a WU alumnus who works in M&A in Frankfurt, my experience is that with a WU degree, one can easily obtain invitations from all selective firms which otherwise primarily invite graduates from HSG/WHU/Mannheim.
How good is Goethe University?
You didn‘t list it so I figured I‘d ask. Does it also place well into Frankfurt-based Bulge Brackets and elite boutiques?
Overall, Goethe is a good university and, within Germany, it plays in the same league as the other well-regarded public universities for business, such as LMU, TUM, Cologne and Münster.
It gives you considerably more visibility than students at various small-town German universities or universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen). That said, even in Frankfurt it obviously doesn't carry the same prestige as a foreign business school like LSE, HEC or Bocconi.
Another of Goethe's strengths is that you're already living in Frankfurt: you save the cost of a second apartment, you can jump on short-notice internship openings (e.g. when someone drops out), and you can build a solid network in Frankfurt.
Without a doubt, strong placement in Frankfurt. Smaller presence (but doable) in London. If you are undergrad, applying for spring weeks, being proactive and getting involved early in WUTIS should provide you with the necessities to get into London.
The major hindrance to EU students (who never studied in the UK) applying for London is that applicants need sponsoring. This is an issue, as many shops don't sponsor. I would imagine this alongside the larger applicant pool in London (all Europeans applying for London vs. German speakers only in DACH) results in relatively less placement in London.
Not a target at all for London. Target for Germany as it is german speaker!
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