Which MSc and

whoops, sorry about the title. One-handed clumsiness.

Hi guys,

I'll try and keep it short, also cause I've had shoulder surgery and only have one arm available to digit now, it's 4.50 and waiting for painkillers to kick in.

So, situation is, I am an EU wanting to study an MSc in Scotland next year. I still haven't made up my mind on exactly which sector I'd like to work in (within the broad range of investment & finance). Disclaimer: I am not a kid dreaming of IB, I am posting here as it is the closest sector to my interests.

Two questions:

1. I have got already a place for a MSc in Financial Risk Management at UoG(I applied as there was a scheme covering tuition fees, then my shoulder forced me to defer). Even though the program is definitely broad within investment, I am afraid the title in itself will limit my career scope. Would you agree? Should I try and apply to a "generic titled" MSc instead? As I have one year, I was thinking of getting CFA I to "certify" my broad interest to future employers, along with trying to get some relevant job experience (which will be difficult )

2. I have one year, what would you suggest me to do in order to make my cv stand up? I already mentioned the CFA but I don't want to be only academics, but rather an all-round interesting prospect, but I don't know whether say volunteering at a charity shop would necessarily give me any advantage..

Thanks.. Now time to sleep again :biggrin:

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 1

Harvey008

Bump. C'mon, when people ask idiotic questions there's always a queue lined up and now I get no answer.. Please, give me some input, your two cents, so I can stimulate my thought flow.

Reply 2

Tokyoround

CFA I is a good idea. I agree that masters in anything with Risk in the title will paint you a certain way, not sure CFA would help alleviate that issue. Why don't you do just a masters in finance?

Reply 3

Harvey008

Original post by Tokyoround

CFA I is a good idea. I agree that masters in anything with Risk in the title will paint you a certain way, not sure CFA would help alleviate that issue. Why don't you do just a masters in finance?

Thanks for the answer.
I chose that MSc mostly because there was a scholarship covering tuition fees for this year, I know it's not a good reason but I can't ignore the fact that my wallet isn't in great shape. Now I find myself with that place, no funding (

In a few I'll try and apply to a generic MSc Finance in Strathclyde and see if I get in ( the "International Finance" program in Glasgow is, in my opinion, quite bad).

With CFA I want to "hedge" from the risk of being confined into risk management; I may even like risk management, but at least judging by what I can read online, I see myself more into something like ER.

In theory they shouldn't even look at what you have studied (ie geography graduates from Oxbridge breaking into IB) but if you study FRM that will limit you which is somehow related but different, that's hilarious to think about..

Reply 4

AW1983

You can go the generalist path if you want, it will give you more options, but don't underestimate your employment prospects if you specialise in risk right now.

Reply 5

Harvey008

Original post by AW1983

You can go the generalist path if you want, it will give you more options, but don't underestimate your employment prospects if you specialise in risk right now.

I do understand. Problem is, I do not have much of a clue of what I'd do, broadly speaking, as a risk manager. I can read endless job descriptions, web articles and such, but most of the things will still be obscure to me.
I remember from previous threads that you are a "qualitative" risk manager, a "poet" to quote you, but my specialisation -I guess- would be extremely quantitative.

Reply 6

AW1983

Original post by Harvey008

Yes, an MSc in financial risk would be highly numerate. Qualitative 'risk' concerns areas such as regulatory change and legal risk and better qualifications for that are things like ICSA, the ICA's Diploma in Compliance or the CISI Diploma (a law degree can certainly help, but I don't have one and don't particularly need one either).

Reply 7

Harvey008

Original post by AW1983

What's your academic background then?
I am not attracted by compliance but don't want to be staring at spreadsheets all day either, what would be best in your opinion?

Reply 8

AW1983

Original post by Harvey008

What's your academic background then?
I am not attracted by compliance but don't want to be staring at spreadsheets all day either, what would be best in your opinion?