In recent years, the finance industry has become increasingly competitive, but as a high-growth sector, it remains the top choice for international students returning to their home countries for employment. After all, the average annual salary at top securities firms exceeds 500,000 yuan, so it's understandable that competition for finance jobs is intense. For finance international students planning to return to their home country, securities firms are undoubtedly one of the most sought-after employers. Core positions in public mutual funds, PE/VC, asset management, quantitative analysis, fixed income, risk management, bank headquarters, and regulatory bodies like the central bank and commissions all require at least a master's degree, with no exceptions. With numerous options for studying finance abroad, which country offers the highest employment recognition?
The United States, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong are undoubtedly the top three. Today, CheersYou（清柚教育） consultants have compiled several popular universities for finance programs. For more questions, you can also scan the QR code below for one-on-one consultation.
1. United States
As the world's financial center, the United States naturally boasts top-tier financial education. Among the top 100 schools, around 38 offer finance-related programs. However, competition for admission in the US remains extremely fierce, with difficulty increasing year by year. Applicants to US finance programs must have excellent grades and outstanding backgrounds.
Popular program options include:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Official link: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/mfin/introduce-yourself
Johns Hopkins University (JHU)
Official link: https://e-catalogue.jhu.edu/business/degrees-certificates/finance-master-science/
Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL)
Official link: https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/academic-programs/specialized-masters-programs/MS-finance/Pages/default.aspx
University of Southern California (USC)
Official link: https://catalogue.usc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=16&poid=20845
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Official link: https://giesbusiness.illinois.edu/msf
2. Hong Kong
As a global financial hub, Hong Kong also offers excellent finance education. Benefiting from its status as a global financial center and its close ties with the world, several prestigious universities in Hong Kong boast top finance programs in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the admission difficulty is also very high. Based on this year's admission results, whether for international or domestic undergraduates, high GPA and TOEFL/IELTS scores are basic requirements, and applicants with 1-2 years of work or internship experience in financial institutions, banks, and government regulatory agencies are more favored.
Popular university options include:
University of Hong Kong (HKU)
Official link: https://www.fbe.hku.hk/mfin/
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
Official link: https://fina.hkust.edu.hk/
Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Official link:
https://www.bschool.cuhk.edu.hk/departments/finance/
Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
Official link: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/af/study/taught-postgraduate-programmes/master-of-finance---investment-management-ft/
3. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a traditional hot spot for finance studies, with a mature higher education industry. London, as a world-class financial center and the largest offshore RMB market in Europe, attracts international students with its business programs, especially accounting and finance, which are the most popular choices. When applying for finance-related programs in the UK, students are usually required to have a relevant undergraduate background, and graduates from prestigious overseas schools have a greater advantage.
University College London (UCL)
Official link: https://www.mgmt.ucl.ac.uk/finance
Imperial College London (IC)
Official link: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/masters/finance/
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Official link: https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Graduate/degree-programmes-2023/MResPhD-Finance
In addition, you can also refer to target schools of top companies when making your choice. Below are some offer examples from our past students for your reference.
For more questions about studying abroad and graduate applications, add the contact details of the CheersYou（清柚教育） consultant below for more information.
