Here's where you might want to do an MSc in Finance

If you're in your final year and still haven't got a job in an investment bank, you may be feeling a little worried. As we mentioned previously, the third or fourth year of a degree is not the time to be thinking about a career in financial services - especially if you want to work in the front office (sales/trading/M&A/other revenue generating roles).

The advantage of an MSc is not only that you'll gain knowledge which might be pertinent to a financial services career, but that you'll get another chance to pitch yourself for an internship which might lead to the offer of a full time job when the course finishes.

Numerous universities offer Masters in Finance courses. Here are some of those which tend to be favoured by financial institutions in London.

City University, Cass Business School

· MSc in Finance

· Requires 2:1 degree or above /GMAT/prefer previous study in finance or quantitative methods

· Applications for 2012 open in Nov 11

· Duration 12 months

· Costs 21,500 (for 2011/2012)

· 62% of 2010 graduates went into finance and insurance

· Examples of banking employers for 2010 are Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital, HSBC, Scotia Capital and Societe Generale.

Apply here.

Cambridge Uni, Judge Business School

· MPhil in Finance

· Requires 1st class Hons degree, with significant economics/quantitative component. This is aimed at people with little or no experience in finance (less than 2 years), who might want to do a PhD.

· Applications for 2012 now open, and close March 2012

· Duration 9 months

· Costs 8,955 + 2,289 approx college fee (for 2011/2012)

· 38% of 2010 graduates went into investment and banking after graduation (percentage is from the 1/3 of the course who responded)

Apply here.

Cambridge Uni, Judge Business School

· Masters in Finance

· Aimed at people with at least two years' work experience in Finance

· Requires at least 2:1 degree, preferably a 1st, maths proficiency, and 2-3

years' experience in finance

· Applications for 2012 now open; there is a rolling admissions process so

you need to apply as soon as possible, closes 31 May

· Duration 12 months

· Costs 36,958 incl college and application fee

· 36% of 2011 graduates went into investment banking

target="_blank">Apply here.

Oxford University, Saïd Business School

· MSc in Financial Economics

· Require 2:1 degree / GMAT (or equiv)

· Applications now open; closing dates are 14 Oct 2011 / 20 Jan 2012 /27 April 2012

· Duration 9 months

· Costs 30,000 (course fees) + 2,500 (college fees)

· 35% went into Investment Banking/Merger/Acquisition Advisory from the 2010 graduates

· Examples of banking employers for 2010 graduates are Citi, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS, BNP Paribas

Apply here.

Imperial College Business School

· MSc Finance

· Require 1st or 2:1 degree, in a highly quantitative discipline

· Applications for 2012 open in Nov 2011; last deadline 30 May 2012

· Duration 12 months

· Cost 27,500

· 15% of 2007 - 2010 MSc Finance graduates went into investment banking, but 95% moved into other financial services roles.

· Examples of banking employers for 2007 - 2010 graduates are Goldman Sachs, Citi, Morgan Stanley, J P Morgan, Credit Suisse

Apply here.

LSE

· MSc Finance

· Require 2:1 degree or equiv / min A level maths / GMAT (if less than 1st class degree, or need to prove quantitative skills)

· Applications now open: no closing date given

· Duration 10 months

· Cost 26,496

· 85% of 2010 graduates (full and part-time) went into Finance

· Examples of banking employers for 2010 graduates (full and part-time) are J P Morgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs

Apply here

Warwick University, Warwick Business School

· MSc in Finance

· Require 1st or 2:1 degree (in relevant subject)

· Applications from Nov 2011, places will be very limited by April 2012

· Duration 12 months

· Cost 22,500 (2011/2012)

· Examples of banking employers for 2008 - 2010 graduates are Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley

Apply here.

Reading Uni, ICMA Centre

· MSc International Securities, Investment and Banking

· Require 2:1 degree (with satisfactory level of numeracy)

· Applications open for 2012 entries; rolling admission programme, so apply as soon as possible

· Duration 9 months

· Cost 17,000

· Of 2010 graduates, 13% went into financial markets, and 4% into corporate finance.

· Examples of banking employers for 2010 graduates are J P Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas, and HSBC

Apply here.