KCL vs Warwick
Hello,
I'm currently taking the IB diploma, and as the exams approach I have to chose my UCAS firm choice. Ultimately, my indecision boils down to the following " what university is the best for landing an investment banking job in London: KCL or Warwick". I've heard arguments for both sides, some say KCL is better for networking, and some say Warwick would be better because it's a target school. I'd really like to hear what more people have to say. Thank you so much for your help!!
Hi Paul,
This is tough because there is something to be said about both schools. As a pure name, KCL is considered better in the UK but doesn't have a business school and since Warwick does, it is known in the banking and consulting world to be a solid school. I just want to clarify that neither is a target for banks; both are semi-targets.
If I can be honest, by the time you graduate you will most likely have to do a masters as IB will become more and more competitive. This means that you should probably go to KCL as you can have much more fun in London (Warwick is in a shit location) and still have a great name on your CV. Both schools are very good at helping you get into a masters program (perhaps KCL as the pure name may be better) especially if you want to do a top European MFin (LSE, LBS, HEC, Bocconi or St. Gallen)
I 2nd what Paul says. both are great educational institutions, however, as an incoming undergraduate, I'd suggest starting off in London (KCL). Higher chances of getting the right networking experiences and as well as other factors that might help in your pursuit of an IB career.
As a UK student, I don't share the two previous perspectives. Warwick is a target and known for having plenty of students trying to get into IB. KCL on the other hand is a semi, but based in London, making it easier to network with people from the City. In both cases it comes down to who you are (at the interviews) and where you would feel best (for your studies). Feel free to PM me to know more. The fact about master from the first comment is completely false, doing a master is just an opportunity for ONE more summer, or get into a better bank. Either way you can't go wrong with both choices.
Our firm and many others target Oxbridge, LSE, Warwick, UCL and Imperial for UK universities. This is from actual screening and interviewing experience.
At EBs, we don't even look at KCL while the BBs with their larger class size obviously will be less selective.
Some EBs recruit from semis, Lazard is an example. I am keen to know what EBs don't look at KCL if I may ask. Feel free to PM if you don't want to make this public.
Lazard and Rothschild's class size is significantly larger than others so inevitably you'll see exceptions. Centerview, Evercore, Moelis, PJT, Greenhill do not look at semis, especially the ones using HHs to screen. You will not get pass these gatekeepers.
Thank you all for your answers, I agree with most of what you said. Ultimately, I feel like the big question is "Is networking enough to land a job in IB?". Suppose I go to KCL and successfully develop my network, would that be enough? Because like @MrK25 said some firms don't consider KCL. On the other hand, suppose I go to Warwick, will I be able to develop my network enough? Thank you all again for the help, the community in this website is amazing!!
Someone gave really bad advice higher up... Warwick is definitely a target and places very well into London IB. I don't know anyone from KCL in my analyst class. And I'm not being biased here, I went to Oxford/Cambridge... just telling the facts... there's more kids from Warwick than Oxbridge combined
Ultimately if you're good enough you'll get in from either.
This is a strange point because between the two and in the IB world Warwick Business School may be seen as more of a 'target' but as overall brand name KCL is better than Warwick University. This is the same argument that generalist schools like KCL and UCL have with other mid-level unis which have a strong business school such as CASS within City University.
And this argument actually goes beyond finance. Queen Mary's has a better medical school than KCL but overall the KCL name is better. Imperial has a better engineering department than Oxford, but having Oxford on your CV will not put you far behind as a candidate when choosing between an Oxford and Imperial engineer.
Going to KCL + having the network will sure as shit help get into IB. Let's not forget KCL is still a very strong brand name in the UK. Most of the discussions here perhaps operate under the assumption of going to an IB job straight out of undegrad in which case Warwick may be better. Don't underestimate the name if down the line you want to do an MSc. In my MSc (fair enough, it was more in the management realm than the finance realm) we had 6 KCL students and 1 Warwick guy. 3 of those KCL guys got EB and BB interviews (which they bombed, but that's due to interview technique) so it helps to get your foot in the door
This guy's posts are false and misleading. Advising people to go to a certain school for MSc prospect is just total nonsense, not to mention the implication that people from KCL can get into a better MSc than people from Warwick with the same grades. The cancer side of WSO
warwick would be better assuming u are doing econ/morse/business, especially they have been sending kids to ibd consistently and what u are studying are at least applicable to the job itself.
Are u paying international fees for UCAS? I would be surprised if u are international and u would be deciding between these two. Typically internationals have way higher chance at IC/UCL so they should have aimed higher in application (I went through the process as an international and I went to the states for uni at the end)
edit: also want to add that given uk students have much longer holiday, networking should not be a problem if you spend ur january/april to network in london. Also just procrastinate for a day on friday and go to london shouldnt be that difficult imo...
Bear in mind that in the UK networking is pretty useless except if your dads buddy is the MD at XYZ bank. Consider the fact that the academic reputation of kings is dropping over the recent years as they have students getting in with clearing spaces...
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