MBA and Masters Programs For Investment Banking

Many budding investment bankers wonder if an MBA or Masters Degree could be a useful asset for breaking into (or advancing within) the industry. 

The truth is that the right type of advanced degree from the right school at the right time may boost your career… but the wrong degree could turn out to be a massive waste of time and money.  

In this article we help you tell the difference and point you to further, more detailed resources.

An MBA degree from a top school can sometimes be used as a link between non-finance industry experience (e.g. technology, consumer/retail, healthcare or energy) and investment banking.  Check out an outline of the MBA-to-IB Path here.

Another potential inroad into finance is a Master’s In Finance (MSF) program.  While an MSF degree is by no means a “silver bullet” for entering investment banking, it may help you with:

• Re-Branding – If nothing in your background seems related to finance, the degree will move you closer if you also get work experience.

• Boosting Your Prestige – If you went to a lesser-known university, you could make up for it by completing a Master’s degree at a top school.

• Access to Recruiters – If you attend a program that offers on-campus recruiting, you’ll have a much easier time winning interviews.

Access to Internships – You’ll also have an easier time winning internships before and during the school year if you contact firms and say you’re an incoming or current MSF student at University X.

We’ve collected a number of case studies describing how professionals made the leap from to finance via a Master’s program, including: 

• From Transaction Advisory Services to Investment Banking: How to Use a Top-Tier MBA Degree to Break In
• From Boutique Consulting Firm to Top Bulge Bracket Bank: How to Dominate the MBA Investment Banking Recruiting Process
• Pre-MBA Internship Case Study: Getting A Head Start On The Competition

The flipside is banking professionals who want to transition from banking into an MBA program. If that’s your focus, these articles will help:

• How to Position Yourself for Business School as a Financier
• From Investment Banking to Harvard Business School: How to Outshine Every Other Banker and Make the Leap

While an MBA or Master’s degree may play a part in your journey into or out of banking, one thing is for sure: banks and institutions are looking for professionals who possess the specific technical skills to hit the ground running.

That’s where professional courses from Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street can help.  Some of our most relevant courses include: