The 14 Best Places to Get a Master’s in Finance
Are you interested in getting a master’s in finance abroad, but don’t know where? It can be challenging to decide where to study. Every student has their own preferences and needs, and there are a number of considerations to make.
Here are some of the best cities across the world to get a master’s in finance. Every city on this list is considered a leading financial hub with top university programs in finance and strong employment prospects post-graduation.
1. Amsterdam
As a major European business hub, Amsterdam has become one of the major global financial centers. It’s currently the largest share trading center in Europe. The city’s growth has been aided by its ever-increasing reputation as a tech hub, particularly within the fintech space.
There are a number of major Dutch financial institutions, such as ING and Delta Lloyd, and foreign banks, including Citibank, that are located in Amsterdam. The city is also home to the global headquarters of the major accounting firm KPMG.
The Netherlands as a whole is growing as a financial center. The country has two universities within the Financial Times’ list of top 50 business schools to get a master’s in finance based on salaries graduates earned post-graduation.
2. New York City
New York City is often regarded as the financial hub of the world and has been ranked first in the World’s Financial Centres by the Global Financial Centres Index.
The city serves as headquarters for some of the biggest Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies and the largest banks, including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and Merrill Lynch. There aren’t many big names in the business world that don’t have a presence in New York City.
It also has a number of well-respected business schools. Columbia Business School and NYU Stern Business School have impressive reputations. With their close proximity to Wall Street, students don’t have to go far to network with financial executives.
3. Paris
As a growing financial center, Paris has around 180,000 employees in the financial sector, according to Paris Europlace. This has put the city as one of the leading financial centers in Europe. BNP Paribas is headquartered in Paris and is the largest bank in Europe in terms of total assets.
The city is also a hotspot for some of the best business schools globally. The five best universities to get a master’s in finance from based on average salaries graduates received post-graduation are all located in France.
HEC Paris came in first on the Financial Times’ list with ESCP Business School and Skema Business School following close behind to make up the top three.
4. London
London has been one of the most prominent business and trade centers since the Middle Ages. The London Stock Exchange is in the world’s top five stock exchanges, and the city has one of the largest banking sectors in the world.
The UK’s central bank, the Bank of England, is the second oldest central bank in the world and is located in London. HSBC, Legal and General, and Lloyds are also some of the most prominent financial companies based in UK capital.
Additionally, London has some of the most prestigious universities in the world for master’s degrees in finance, including The London Business School and Imperial College Business School.
5. Hong Kong
Located at the heart of Asia, Hong Kong is another key financial hub globally with a significant number of banking institutions and fund management companies. It also has the most important gateway to Mainland China.
Finance postgraduate students are often attracted to CUHK Business School, which is ranked the 33rd best master’s program in finance globally in terms of average salaries earned after graduation.
6. Madrid
In recent years, Madrid has jumped up the Global Financial Centres Index as its financial sector has become more international. It also boasts some of the strongest links to countries within Latin America.
Madrid is home to the headquarters of Santander, and basically all foreign banks and investment funds operating in Spain have offices there. With its campus located in the city, IE Business School is ranked the eighth best business school to get a master’s in finance.
7. Shanghai
The world’s third most populous city, Shanghai, is another global finance hub. The Shanghai World Financial Center, which is one of the tallest buildings in the world, is the address for many world-leading financial companies, such as Ernst & Young and Bank of Yokohama.
Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance at Shanghai Jiao Tong University is also one of the top universities to get a master’s in finance.
8. Frankfurt
As the location of the European Central Bank and the central bank of Germany, Frankfurt plays host to many major companies and international banks. The headquarters of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are both in the city.
As a whole, Germany has two business schools with strong master’s degree programs in finance that made it on the Financial Times’ top 50 list, including the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
9. Singapore
Despite being an island, Singapore is another major financial hub within Asia. In 2021, Deloitte ranked the city the sixth top international wealth management center and second place for competitiveness within the sector.
Singapore also has SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business, which is considered a great university for master’s degrees in finance.
10. Brussels
As an important European political and business center, Brussels has become a growing financial hub. It’s not only the capital of Belgium but also the de facto capital of the European Union.
The financial institutions KBC Bank and Dexia are headquartered in Brussels, in addition to a number of others. Vlerick Business School is also well-respected for finance degrees and has campuses in Brussels, Leuven, and Ghent.
11. San Francisco
San Francisco has cemented its place as a leading financial hub globally and is home to a long list of corporate headquarters. This includes many Fortune 500 companies, such as Wells Fargo and Charles Schwab.
The San Francisco Bay Area as a whole, including Silicon Valley, is where so many major multinational corporations and start-ups in the fintech sector are located, which attract many people from the finance world.
12. Zurich
Recognised as a financial center globally with a particularly large presence of banks and financial institutions, Zurich attracts a number of large companies and boasts a robust business environment.
Switzerland also attracts a growing number of international students to the country, as it has two top universities for master’s degrees in finance, the University of St Gallen and HEC Lausanne.
13. Boston
While a smaller city than some of its US counterparts, Boston has a large and growing financial center. The headquarters of mutual fund company Fidelity and the world headquarters for State Street Bank are located there.
Additionally, situated only 10 miles from the heart of Boston, Bentley University is a private university focused on business and is highly regarded for its finance master’s program.
14. Milan
As the financial capital of Italy, Milan is home to the country’s stock exchange and is quickly becoming a major European financial center. The international banking group and Fortune 500 company UniCredit is headquartered there.
With its campus in Milan, SDA Bocconi School of Management is a leading business school and has a well-respected master’s course in finance.
How to Pick Where to Get a Master’s in Finance
It’s important to understand what your options are when it comes to getting a master’s degree abroad.
Unify can match you with finance postgraduate programs based on your background, preferences, and goals to help you pick the right one for you and your circumstances.
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