EU Master's - Options (HELP PLZ)
Copied comment from another thread discussing SSE:
I’m an international at a semi-target in the UK (2025) who only speaks english and of course familiar with top UK Masters options for London IB/PE/ER/MBB etc., but have EU citizenship so could take advantage of cheap and/or free tuition at SSE, RSM etc.
I would love to work anywhere in Europe + UK after grad but am currently limited by only speaking English. Thus, if I (for example) went to SSE and struck out with London recruiting, I might be out of luck being without Swedish language skills for Stockholm IB. Worried about this scenario and how it extends to if I attended HSG, RSM, HEC Paris etc.
What do you think is my best bet?
To me it seems I have these options:
UK schools (LBS, LSE, Imperial. Ox not realistic as I have a 2.1. obv London target but expensive, fees likely 50k EUR+)
HEC Paris (London/EU target but relatively expensive at 45k EUR)
Bocconi (less target for London? but less expensive + scholarship $$ vs UK/HEC)
SSE (less target for London but feeder for Nordic IB? also free)
RSM (less target for London but feeder for Dutch IB? also basically free)
HSG (Zurich/Germany target, less target for London? also quite cheap)
not sure if other options but let me know what you think thanks (for reference I have 2 LMM PE, 2 boutique IB & pension fund internship under my belt. Gunning for 2025/26 SA roles of course)
Navigating the landscape of European Master's programs as an English-speaking international student with EU citizenship presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Your goal to work in Europe or the UK in industries like Investment Banking (IB), Private Equity (PE), Equity Research (ER), or Management Consulting (MBB) requires strategic planning, especially considering language barriers and the target status of universities for specific regions. Here's a breakdown of your options based on the WSO dataset and discussions:
UK Schools (LBS, LSE, Imperial College London):
HEC Paris:
Bocconi University:
Stockholm School of Economics (SSE):
Rotterdam School of Management (RSM):
University of St. Gallen (HSG):
Given your background (LMM PE, 2 boutique IB, and pension fund internships) and aiming for 2025/26 SA roles, your decision should weigh both the academic reputation and the strategic location of the program. If London is your ultimate goal, UK schools offer the most direct path despite the higher costs. However, if you're open to working in other European financial hubs and are looking for a more cost-effective education, HEC Paris, Bocconi, or HSG could provide valuable opportunities, with language courses potentially mitigating the language barrier.
Remember, networking and leveraging your internships will be crucial, regardless of the school you choose. Engaging with alumni networks, attending industry events, and connecting with professionals in your target regions can significantly enhance your job prospects.
Sources: Is target MSc Finance still possible in my situation? (Bocconi, HEC, LSE, HSG....), International Student - Chance of getting an IBD internship in London?, Working Abroad - Regrets/Benefits, Working for European PE as an American, Best MBA to move back to London with
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Ok I’m not from Europe so I might be way off on this but at a glance I’d go with one of the London targets or HEC Paris purely because of the brand.
So you're already in the UK, have a shit ton of internships - Why do you think you need a masters? And if you've been this succesful in the UK, why on earth would you consider taking a masters elsewhere in a place you don't know the language... Stay in the UK.
HEC > Bocconi imo, lots of the London recruiting from B is gonna be Italians.
RSM really not that many dutch ib spots, assume some dutch is gonna be needed.
Everything else just isn't worth considering.
I probably won't go for a masters if I land a good SA role for 2025 right after my undergrad this summer. The main reason being that a SA gig should ideally lead to a full-time offer, making said masters a moot point. But if I don't secure something promising or don't get a return offer from the SA position, I'd rather not end up in a tough spot, scrambling for off-cycle jobs without being in a master's program.
Thus if I don't get a decent SA role for 2025 that might convert FT, I'll definitely apply for a master's. But even if I do secure a good SA spot, it still makes sense to apply to a few master's programs as a backup, just in case I don't convert (conversion rates have been lower from talking to friends at analyst level). I'm eyeing schools like SSE, RSM, HSG, and Bocconi because they're much cheaper than UK programs = less debt. If I land a role at a big bank this summer, I could use that experience to boost my profile as a master's grad from one of these schools, ideally leading to better job opportunities while keeping my debt low. UK master’s programs could leave me over 50k+ EUR in debt just for tuition, so if I can get similar results at a place like RSM and dodge that bullet, obviously I would
Don't know if that makes sense but that's my mindset
It does. You better not have incredible amounts of debt unless you are taking about a horrible vs excellent uni. EUR Is solid, I recommend you to have internship experience to help your application.
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