MASTER IN FINANCE (M.FIN)

The M.Fin. program stands out with its rigorous concentration on financial and monetary economics, harnessing analytical and computational techniques to deliver a holistic learning journey. It aims to furnish students with the essential competencies vital for various career trajectories within and outside the financial domain. These pathways encompass financial engineering, risk management, quantitative asset management, macroeconomic and financial forecasting, quantitative trading, and applied research.

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How long do MFin Programs typically last?

Typically ranging from one to two years in duration, a Master's in Finance program may also vary based on any prerequisite periods required for the degree. The program duration commonly incorporates a project and/or internship component, the completion of which may be optional or mandatory for obtaining the degree.

M.Fin Basic Requirements

Bachelor’s degree

Work experience

GMAT/GRE

Resume

Recommendation letters

Essays

Proof of English proficiency

Interview

M.Fin programs typically mandate the submission of undergraduate degree transcripts. The majority seek a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, whether domestic or international. Notably, the bachelor's degree is preferred in Finance; numerous institutions welcome and even promote applications from individuals with diverse academic backgrounds. While M.Fin admissions seldom specify a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA), it's advisable to review the average GPA and range of GPAs for the M.Fin cohort you intend to join to gauge your suitability; 3.3+/4 CGPA or 7+/10 is recommended. Some universities might ask you to use WES as an evaluation service for grades to map them to their country's requirements.

Typically, work experience is not required for M.Fin courses as they expect you have already been through rigorous coursework. However, certain programs, like Cambridge Judge’s MFin program, require at least two years of graduate work experience in a finance-related role. For early career masters programs MFin might not require experience rather a background and interest in finance through internships, advanced coursework etc should lay the foundation in your application. For advanced careers, some MFin courses like NYU and Cambridge Judge school of business require more years of experience and have a median age of 27-28 yrs.

The top 20 MFin programs in the USA and UK require a GRE score to support your application, along with bachelor's transcripts and any other supporting courses you might have taken within your interest area. Less competitive programs might not require you to submit a score. GMAT/GRE. For MFin universities only accept GRE scores. Mostly top colleges require to submit GRE scores (preferably 315+ for competitive programs). Check each program detail on the university website to confirm requirements. Most times programs like computers science, robotics etc require GRE. It is also advisable to upload if you have a good GRE score.

Crafting a standout M.Fin resume is crucial for the admissions officer to see a summary of your education and experience. Tailor your resume to reflect the values and ethos of your chosen institution. Essential tips include avoiding industry jargon, addressing employment gaps, and showcasing extracurricular activities emphasizing leadership, teamwork, individuality, and diversity. Keep it concise, aiming for a one-page format favored by most schools. Use CAR strategy - context, action and result while narrating your roles. Highlight education with GPA and standardised scores in the first half section.

Typically, schools request 2-3 M.Fin recommendation letters. Recommenders include a person who knows you closely, such as a close colleague with whom you've collaborated on projects or any individual who has witnessed your leadership outside of work. These letters provide an opportunity for an external perspective to highlight your qualities. Suggested recommenders are your subject teachers at undergraduate or a mentor who can vouch for your commitment, growth, critical thinking and problem solving ability in and outside the classroom. Typically one pager that is succinct with intro, body and summary.

Your application essays play a pivotal role in presenting your story. They provide an opportunity to highlight your personality, experiences, interests, and how they align with your desired programs. Generally, essays focus on career aspirations and how a specific Master's in Finance program will aid in achieving them. It's essential to avoid the critical mistake of submitting a generic essay to multiple schools. Instead, customize each essay to the particular institution's requirements.

Proof of English proficiency is a requirement for admission to a Master's in Finance program. Demonstrating proficiency ensures that students can fully engage with the coursework, communicate effectively, and thrive in an English-speaking academic environment. Applicants must provide evidence of their English language skills through standardized tests such as the TOEFL or IELTS. Some institutions may accept alternative qualifications or assess English proficiency through interviews or writing samples. TOEFL score of 100+ or IELTS score of 7.5 are recommended for most programs, though in some cases lower scores may work.”

The next step is to ace the interview after your application submission. The interview is a pivotal stage, allowing you to demonstrate your academic prowess, research interests, and alignment with the program. Applicants typically discuss their academic background, relevant experience, and career aspirations, highlighting how the M.Fin program complements their goals. Interviewers may assess communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and enthusiasm for the field.

Test Score

[GMAT or GRE] + [TOEFL or IELTS]

Welcome to our MBA Program, where we provide holistic support to ensure your success. As your dedicated life coach and mentor, TCC is committed to guiding you through every step of your MBA journey, from application guidance to GMAT/GRE preparation. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of a well-rounded experience, encouraging active participation in extracurricular activities to enhance leadership skills. With our comprehensive approach to education and personal development, we are confident that you will thrive both inside and outside the classroom as you pursue your MBA degree.

1. GMAT Preparation

What's a good GMAT score target for me?

You should now have a fairly clear understanding of the GMAT score you should target. As a general guideline, aiming higher is usually advantageous. However, it's important to acknowledge that not everyone can achieve a score of 780. Researching the average GMAT scores of your desired institutions can provide insight into what constitutes a favorable score. Additionally, understanding the typical score range of admitted candidates at your target schools aids in assessing your competitiveness.

These are 2 useful resources abound to aid your GMAT preparation:

A. We recommend you take Coaching Classes: Despite it being pricier, enrolling in coaching classes can offer added structure and discipline to your preparation journey. We wouldn’t want to take a chance for our preparation for Masters. The guidance provided by experienced instructors and the structured curriculum can enhance comprehension and strategy development, potentially boosting your overall performance.

B. Self-study materials: Equip yourself with essential texts like The Official Guide for GMAT, Kaplan, or Princeton Review, ensuring you acquire the latest editions for up-to-date content. Beyond textbooks, explore online platforms offering comprehensive resources to refine your verbal and quantitative skills. Engage in ample practice by tackling mock tests, which provide invaluable insights into the actual examination format and help build confidence.

2. TOEFL / IELTS Preparation

The TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an online examination designed to assess English language proficiency for academic and professional objectives. TOEFL iBT scores are widely accepted by the majority of U.S. colleges and universities to fulfill English language proficiency criteria for admission. These tests evaluate your abilities in listening, reading, writing, and speaking to ensure you possess the necessary language skills to thrive in an English-language MBA program.

Steps to Prepare for the Test:

Step 1: Set your target score
Step 2: Gather all essential studying materials
Step 3: Make a studying plan
Step 4: Familiarize yourself with the test format
Step 5: Join a Course or Hire an Expert

Tips on Mastering the Four Language Skills

Reading

Developing strong reading comprehension skills is a crucial starting point, as it facilitates the mastery of the other three skills. Accumulate a variety of English-written materials, including academic books, novels, lengthy articles, and blog posts. Embrace texts with diverse narrative styles, difficulty levels, and subjects, as this exposure enhances your familiarity with various grammatical structures and their applications.
During the learning journey, keep a dictionary and thesaurus on hand. When you come across unfamiliar words or phrases in a text, avoid skipping them. Instead, highlight or take notes on these terms and take the time to look up their meanings

Listening

To enhance your listening skills, it's essential to focus on grasping the overall meaning of the conversation rather than attempting to comprehend every single spoken word. Many language learners make the mistake of trying to understand each uttered word, but effective listening involves keeping up with the conversation and capturing the main idea.
You can improve by practicing with your preferred podcasts, documentaries, and even films. A helpful tip is to listen without relying on the transcript and subtitles.
Additionally, a proficient listening skill involves recognizing English vocabulary pronounced in various styles. This aspect is particularly relevant for assessments like IELTS.
Challenge yourself by listening to English audio in diverse dialects. In the listening section of IELTS, you'll encounter English spoken in 10 accents: Northern British, Southern British, Scottish, Welsh, Northern US, Southern US, Canadian, Australian, Kiwi, and South African.

Writing

In the realm of writing, the challenge lies in the skill to comprehend the key points of a text and articulate personal opinions on a particular subject with precise use of written English, encompassing text symbols, capitalization, and spelling.
A practical approach is to utilize your reading and listening materials. Record your viewpoints on the discussed topics, summarizing them in concise paragraphs of five to six sentences.
An effective strategy for enhancing your writing is to seek out text examples and replicate them. As you transcribe sentence after sentence, you internalize sentence structures and word order, gradually making them second nature.

Speaking

You may have a solid understanding of English grammar intricacies, yet find yourself struggling when engaging in English conversations. This challenge arises because spontaneous communication demands a level of immediacy beyond the requirements of the other three language skills.
The key solution is consistent practice.
The same principle applies to refining your pronunciation. Engage in conversations with native speakers or individuals with proficient English skills. Discuss topics such as your hobbies, interests, daily life, current events, dreams, and aspirations to hone your conversational abilities.

Eligibility & Requirements

Career Prospects & Salaries

Courses & Syllabi

The MBA Admission Offer

I have multiple offers. What should be my next step?
Congratulations on your multiple offers – that's fantastic! However, having various options can also present a dilemma. Revisit your initial list of reasons for pursuing an MBA and identify which school stands out beyond the others. Connect with alumni from these schools to gain their perspectives. If you've done thorough research during the initial phases, such as shortlisting, this situation is a win-win for you. So, don't stress too much about it.

What comes next?
While you still need to consider financial aspects, such as loans, Form I-20, student visas, and travel formalities, securing a good seat has been the major challenge, and now you can focus on logistical details.

In case I've been rejected by all business schools despite my best efforts, what should I do?
Engage in self-analysis. Some schools may provide feedback on what they perceive as lacking in your application—be it your GMAT score, work experience, lack of international exposure, or academic background. Take this feedback seriously and evaluate how much of it can be addressed before making another attempt. Additionally, consider if you need to revise your shortlist of schools.

Popular MFin specializations

Quantitative Finance Corporate Finance Investment Management

Financial Risk Management Financial Engineering Wealth Management

Best Master's in Finance programs (Globally)

Below are some of the top-ranked Master in Finance programs gathered from various sources, primarily including rankings from Financial Times and QS University Rankings.

School	Program Name	Work Experience	Duration	Approx. Tuition
HEC Paris	Master in International Finance	Not Essential	10 months	$37,000
ESCP Europe	Specialized Master in Finance	2 year Master/ 1 year Master with 3 years work experience	1 year	$27,300
EDHEC Business	MSc in Finance	None required	1 year	$27,000
London Business School	Masters in Finance (Full-Time)	Min. 2 years work experience	10-16 months	$60,000
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business	Master of Financial Engineering	Not required but recommended	1 year	$73,000
ESADE	MSc in Finance	None required	1 year	$33,000
University of Cambridge Judge	Master of Finance	Min. 2 years in finance related area	1 year	$59,000
ESSEC	Master in Finance	Recommended	1-2 year depending on your Bachelor degree (4 or 3 years)	$26,000
MIT Sloan	Master of Finance	None required	12-18 months	$78,000 – $105,000 including Health Insurance
London School of Economics	MSc Finance	Not essential	10 months	$45,000
University of Oxford Said	MSc in Financial Economics	Not essential but preferable	9 months	$55,000
UCLA Anderson	Master of Financial Engineering	Quantitative experience recommended but not required	15 months	$75,000

Certainly, outstanding programs are also available at institutions such as the University of Bocconi, University of St. Gallen, Warwick Business School, Imperial College, IE Business School, and numerous others, all of which enjoy a similar level of reputation and prestige.

Global
Experience

International exposure demonstrates cultural awareness and adaptability.

Sports and
Athletics

Participation highlights teamwork, discipline, and time management skills.

Creative
Pursuits

Involvement in arts showcases unique talents and creativity.

Continuous
Learning

Pursuing courses or certifications outside your field demonstrates a commitment to personal development.

TCC's MFin Services

Welcome to our MFin Program, where we provide holistic support to ensure your success. As your dedicated life coach and mentor, TCC is committed to guiding you through every step of your MFin journey, from application guidance to GMAT/GRE preparation. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of a well-rounded experience, encouraging active participation in extracurricular activities to enhance leadership skills. With our comprehensive approach to education and personal development, we are confident that you will thrive both inside and outside the classroom as you pursue your MFin degree.

Life Coach & Mentoring

Plan Creation, Academic Advising, Admission Insights, Resume Building & Mocks, Rapport Building & Development

Application Guidance

College shortlisting, Essay Review, Strategy & positioning, Mock interview prep.

GMAT / GRE Coaching

Full length test practice & personalized tutoring sessions

Extra curriculars

Getting involved in activities outside classroom can help students in building leadership qualities, network, social skills & strong personality.

Some FAQ’s

What is an MBA/Masters internship?

Academic programs tend to be fairly theoretical for the most part. An MBA internship allows students to break away from it and get back into the corporate world to try out some of the fantastic concepts they’ve learnt in the business school class. Then they head back into the classroom to finish the rest of the MBA program.

How long does an MBA internship last?

Typically 2-3 months. The actual duration would depend on whether you are joining a pre-defined internship program (generally happens at bigger companies that have been doing this on a structured basis for several years) or a one-off / ad-hoc project that has been created for you based on the company’s immediate needs.We have come across instances where MBA students have completed multiple (smaller) internships within the allotted time-frame.

MBA programs aren’t just vehicles for education. They’re also a way to broaden the network of professionals on which you can rely. To some degree, both full-time and part-time MBA programs provide students and alumni with great business connections.

TCC Admissions

Business schools where our applicants have got offers from

Admits & Scholarships

Divya S

MFin at Boston University and MiM at Duke University

"TCC meticulously prepared me to take right decisions, motivated me to pace myself and achieve every goal."

Nishit V

MFin at Stevens Tech, UC Davis and UMass Boston

“It’s been an incredibly rewarding journey - applying, getting accepted and making a choice to the right MBA program using critical support from Dhaval and his team at TNI Career Counselling…”