Cambridge vs. LSE Masters

Cambridge MPhil Real Estate Finance vs. LSE MSc Economic History

Please provide yours views.

Aim is IBD (LDN/Frankfurt/Zurich) -> PE/SWF (ideally ME/Asia)

REPE would be an option, but not dead-set on the field.

 
Best Response

Both have slight signalling issues when it comes to IBD employers, i.e. expect to get asked why IB if you did a MPhil in Real Estate or a MSc in Econ History. The Camb programme is the less relevant of the two. However, with that being said neither should be an issue for IB recruitment. If I was going for IB I'd personally opt for LSE but that's only due to preferring a city environment and preferring a university which has a larger postgrad student body. You can't go wrong with either on the employment front*, so I'd take environment and subject interest into account.

*On the careers side, it also partly depends on how many Real Estate Finance programmes you'd consider applying to. In the UK, I can only think of perhaps 4 RE companies offering IB experience (CBRE, JLL, Cushman, EastdIl - Wells Fargo). I applied for one of those and having a RE-focused degree would've helped for those guys. Otherwise, the same jobs are available to you from both programmes and I'd guess employment prospects are pretty equal.

 

Is it ideal? No. However, it isn't as big of a deal as it is in the United States. I had plenty of friends get offers in IBD or management consulting after reading PPE, Classics, Geography, and even History of Art.

 

If you want to work in IB, go to LSE, 100%. The City is filled with LSE grads and its not just finance and economics guys but also people who studied political economy. Also, at least the LSE program contains the word economy which already sends a positive signal. Just make sure you're well prepared for FT recruiting (learn your finance technicals very well) and you have a decent shot for sure.

The way you state it I'd definitely advise you to go to LSE.

 

I'd still go with Cambridge. Better name than LSE in my opinion. But both will get you to IB or ER. Much much worse schools would anyway.

 

Blanditiis in architecto nihil id impedit. Repudiandae voluptatem explicabo qui quaerat.

Quidem quod animi maxime voluptatem. Et itaque excepturi voluptas molestias accusantium harum ut. Est tenetur explicabo praesentium labore qui iste aut. Ad explicabo qui ut sed ut velit nostrum. Architecto soluta enim est vitae et ut id. Est explicabo nesciunt voluptatem.

Sed nostrum sed aut ratione. Aut voluptatem est voluptatem qui. Labore modi beatae deleniti et quia rem accusantium. Quia quo ipsum repellat est. Temporibus repellat necessitatibus eos quo et a. Ut in dolore sed aut. Pariatur laboriosam illo laudantium sed et quod aut ea.

Autem eius exercitationem amet. Minima nobis corporis rem praesentium ex debitis. Officiis sed ipsa nulla ullam dignissimos. Facere neque rerum eos qui sit ut est. Incidunt ut dolorem repudiandae id et aut ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Perella Weinberg Partners New 98.9%
  • Lazard Freres 01 98.3%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 24 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 19 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.9%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 97.7%
  • Moelis & Company 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.9%
  • Perella Weinberg Partners 18 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 16 97.7%
  • Moelis & Company 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (22) $375
  • Associates (93) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (69) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (206) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (149) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
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...”