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Best master in finance programmes, according to FT

SOURCE: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP
HEC Paris’ MiF graduates have an average annual salary of US$156,583 three years after graduating.

Jun 30 | 1 minute read |

By U2B Staff 

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HEC Paris has the best master in finance programme in the world, according to the latest Financial Times (FT) ranking 2021.

The French school has now gained the top spot nine out of the 10 annual FT master in finance rankings (pre-experience), said FT in an analysis.

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They add that part of HEC Paris’s continued success can be attributed to its alumni earning the second-highest average annual salary, at 156,583 US dollars — a rise of 92% three years on from the first salary after graduation.

HEC Paris is also rated highly for career progress and international mobility, measured by changes of the country of employment between graduation and today.

FT notes that ranked schools proved effective in equipping graduates with skills in corporate finance and quantitative methods, for roles in finance, banking, and consultancy, among other sectors requiring such knowhow.

Two-thirds of survey respondents who completed an internship were offered a job from that placement, mostly in the investment banking sector.

A master in finance can be financially rewarding

RANK INSTITUTION SALARY TODAY SALARY % INCREASE
1 HEC Paris  156,583 92
2 ESCP Business School  141,984 59
3 Skema Business School 112,831 79
4 Essec Business School 120,666 58
5 Edhec Business School 100,666 51
6 University of St Gallen 117,515 50
6 Università Bocconi/SDA Bocconi  115,173 66
8 IE Business School 113,067 63
8 London Business School 116,771 52
10 University of Oxford: Saïd 125,745 46
Source: FT MiF Rankings 2021

From the table above, we can see that French schools dominate the top five of the list. The top UK institution is London Business School in joint eighth place. China’s Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management is Asia’s top university in the list at 12th place.

The FT analysis notes that graduates say their main reasons for studying for a master in finance are better career opportunities and higher salaries. Personal development is the second most-important motivator for women.

Improvements can be seen in gender disparity over the past 10 years. In 2021, 35% of all faculty members were women, up from 24% in 2011. They note that schools’ advisory boards are becoming less male-dominated.

    
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