LSE MSc Economic History worth it for finance jobs (IB/Equity Research)?

Profile:

  • 8.2/10, BSc Economics at a Top Indian College (Currently Final Year) 
  • Financial Risk Management (FRM) P1 Cleared with top quartiles
  • GRE: 168V/162V
  • Work Experience/Leadership: Business Development/Management Trainee Internship at a large National Optical Retailer. (Involved mostly in e-commerce and Product) 
  • Leadership Role in the University's Finance Club. 

Context:

  • I am interested in the programme and have already applied. I do not think I am eligible for an MFin since I lack a relevant Finance Internship. 
  • Also applying to Warwick MSc Finance & Economics, LBS MiM, Cambridge MPhil Management. 
  • Will definitely complete a relevant internship before going if I am admitted. 

Question(s): 

  • Is the MSc Economic History programme valued by IB recruiters or only Finance Grads are considered? 
  • Which is better for IB, LBS MiM or LSE MSc Econ Hist? 
  • If I do get in to LSE and I end up going is there any advice on how to maximize my chances of landing an IB role after graduation? 
 
Most Helpful

I feel like for all schools on your list you’ve only chosen the second best master to get into IB/PE.

LSE -> MSc Finance (+ Private Equity)

Warwick -> MSc Finance

LBS -> Master Financial Analysis

Cambridge -> MPhil Finance

For LSE Economic History, I don’t think it will place particularly well. LSE has tons of masters but only a few are worth pursuing if you want to stay in the UK. Warwick places very well on undergrad level (second to LSE in the UK) but I can’t speak to the reputation of their masters. Always felt like they were either really academically focused or sort of a second chance on a good name if your undergrad wasn’t strong.

LBS MiM is well known but I feel like it‘s always second to the Financial Analysis one and prepared you better for consulting than IB/Pe.

Cambridge MPhil is immensely academic and once again, probably more useful for consulting. I‘d be amazed if you could do mich finance in a programme that‘s actually supposed to prepare you for a PhD in management.

Hope that helps.

 

I feel like I do not have the profile for a proper MFin at these schools due to my lack of work experience. LBS is quite open to Indian students and it is relatively uncommon for us to have Brand Name finance internships during undergrad, so I will try my luck with the MFA. 

Could you rank LSE MSc Econ Hist, Warwick MSc Finance and Economics, LBS MiM for me? LBS MFA will definitely be my first and best option if I make it there. 

P.S thanks for all the advice. 

 

Sure. I‘d say

  1. LBS MiM (assuming you do lots of Finance)
  1. Warwick Finance and Econ
  1. LSE Economic History. Problem here is nobody at the banks really cares about the history of Economics, they care about you being able to build a financial model, which you only can if you studied Finance (either as part of a Finance, Economics, or Management degree)

I‘m by no means a recruiter but to me (sorry for being so direct, this is not me being rude but just honest) an LSE MSc Economic History would seem like you chose an easy way to get LSE on your CV.

 

Mollitia autem quidem sit molestiae eaque perferendis. Maxime quasi voluptas similique ea. Qui omnis hic officia eligendi itaque eligendi vitae. Sint quae provident consequatur doloremque consequuntur asperiores. Sapiente maiores quidem eos rem. Voluptatem magnam occaecati et reiciendis.

Aut dolorum dolorem ullam aspernatur quibusdam aut et. Explicabo quod a asperiores quia quia autem. Ullam occaecati dolore dolorem incidunt deleniti numquam eum quis. Quis perferendis nemo deserunt. Voluptas dolores et dolorum aperiam magnam. Dolore sed eaque eaque nihil sit quaerat vel distinctio.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”