Catapult your financial career forward at these 4 universities

A career in business and finance remains a good sector to be in, if data is anything to go by. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for instance, notes that employment in business and financial operations occupations is projected to grow five percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 476,200 new jobs.

Finance professionals with well-developed skills also have a bright future ahead of them. The job outlook for financial managers is projected to grow 15% through 2029, or much faster than average for all occupations, notes the BLS.

Professionals in the field can find employment in banks, investment firms and insurance companies, among others. As the field is constantly evolving, it becomes essential for individuals to keep up with the times and grow their knowledge and skills in the area, which means a bachelor’s may not always be enough to stay competitive in the field.

Here are four business schools to consider if you want to fast-track your career in the finance industry:

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Gies College of Business

If you want to take your career to the next level, Gies College of Business at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the place to be. The school is where big ideas can become a reality; collaborative thinking among students and faculty solves today’s business problems; and students inspire one another to dream big and make a difference in business and society.

For over 100 years, Gies College of Business has designed innovative programmes, leading-edge curriculum and experiential learning opportunities to empower and prepare students to turn big ideas into meaningful actions. Their STEM-designated Master of Science in Finance (MSF) is a comprehensive, 15-month programme that boasts of cutting-edge curriculum taught by faculty experts and industry leaders.

Students of different backgrounds and levels of expertise in finance can benefit from the MSF, thanks to its built-in flexibility to deliver an education and experience that fits students’ unique needs. There are different entry dates, while you can also choose from a specialisation in one of the following areas: Asset Management; Corporate Finance; Data Analytics and Fintech; Quantitative Finance; and Finance Research (PhD Specialisation).

You can also expect to learn from industry experts and world-class researchers. Through the optional full-semester practicum project, you’ll have the opportunity to work on real-world projects for national and international companies to gain hands-on experience. Their graduates have gone on to work for renowned corporations including PwC, Bloomberg, Deloitte and KPMG China.

To learn more about deadlines for the MSF for Spring and Fall 2022, click here.

Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley

Haas School of Business develops and nurtures future business leaders. Source: UC Berkeley

Since its founding in 1898, the UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business has built a solid reputation for developing business leaders. It has been a steadfast producer of new ideas and knowledge across all business areas, embodying its motto of “New Thinking for the New Economy”. Exceptional faculty members — including two Nobel Prize Laureates in Economics — foster an innovative and future-forward educational environment.

Haas boasts a different take on leadership, believing that the best leaders are the ones who are authentic, working with and through others to create unexpected solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Programmes such as the Full-time MBA, Evening and Weekend MBA, MBA for Executives and the Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) offer professionals the opportunity to gain a world-class education in an environment wired for 21st century learning.

The MFE programme, for example, is catered to those who want to launch a career in finance, data science, or technology. Their alumni have gone on to work at renowned companies such as Goldman Sachs, Google, JP Morgan, and Uber. The School also develops and nurtures future business leaders by embracing four defining leadership principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself.

University of Texas at Austi, McCombs School of Business

Enjoy an unparalleled learning experience at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin. Source: University of Texas at Austin

Founded in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin has a mission to achieve excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research and public service. The McCombs School of Business is a premier business school that cultivates principled leaders and develops ideas that aim to advance the economy, improve lives, strengthen communities, and create new knowledge for future generations.

This is done by delivering high-quality instruction, experiential learning, and the pursuit of relevant, groundbreaking research. Its dean, Lillian Mills, notes: “We understand that the business models and leadership demands before us are rapidly evolving. As an academic community, we are constantly studying, learning, and discovering with forward anticipation.”

Professionals in business and finance can find several programmes that suit their interests, including an MBA, a Master in Professional Accounting, to a Master of Science in Business Analytics. Their Master of Science in Finance programme, for instance, offers students an intersection of finance theory and technical, quantitative aptitude.

This programme is designed by industry experts and aims to help enrollees acquire in-demand financial modelling skills and broaden one’s career opportunities with employers. One-on-one career coaching is available to all MSF students to maximise career exploration while their small class sizes facilitate high-quality student-professor interaction.

McGill University, Desautels Faculty of Management

McGill University attracts some of the brightest students from across Canada and the world. Source: McGill University

McGill University is one of Canada’s top institutions and leading universities in the world. It has a diverse student body, with students coming to McGill from over 150 countries. Attesting to its reputable education are its rankings. According to QS World University Rankings 2022, McGill is ranked joint 27th.

Its business school — Desautels Faculty of Management — was founded in 1906 and is ranked as one of the world’s top international business schools by BusinessWeek, Canadian Business, Forbes, and The Economist. The faculty has one mission: to cement its reputation as a world-leading management faculty, through the rigour and relevance of research.

There are a number of master’s programmes, including several MBA programmes and the Master of Management in Finance (MMF). The MMF prepares students for a career in finance through a comprehensive curriculum. This course integrates advanced financial concepts and quantitative methods with real-world business practices and is open to students without prior professional experience or a background in finance.

There is also an Applied Finance Project that allows students to immediately put into practice the skills and knowledge acquired in the classroom. Upon entry into the programme, students will work as an analyst at Desautels Capital Management Inc., — a licensed and regulated investment management firm with an independent board of directors. There is also an international study trip to New York City for students to witness firsthand how today’s financial sector operates in a booming metropolis.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International