Best possible degree for Investment Banking?

westhamfan

However a PhD sounds a little much? surely they would get the picture that you were good at maths with a first or 2:1 in a numerical degree at Bachelors level?? I mean unless you want to be an actuary, as long as you cover statistics modules surely the real life application of the maths wouldnt be any higher than BsC level?

If you are talking of a BSc level Economics degree, I would disagree. One of the most quantitative courses at the LSE undergrad is Quantitative Finance (3rd year module), the prerequisites of which are Full year courses in Micro, Econometrics and Corporate Finance and even that doesn't set you up for trading structured derivatives. I know for a fact that on the synthetic CDO desk of one of the BBs, EVERYONE has atleast one PhD (one of them havinf received doctorate twice: Physics and econometrics).

Reply 26

That desk will be the exception rather than the rule. It tends to be about 30% PhDs.

Reply 27

sng

I have a place at Oxford to read physics next year. If I wanted a front office job, would I need to do a masters, such as MPhil in Finance from Cambridge? Would my physics degree alone be quantitative enough for a trading roll in, say, derivatives? I know that I would need a PhD to to quantitative analysis.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Reply 28

westhamfan

OP

malhotra

If you are talking of a BSc level Economics degree, I would disagree. One of the most quantitative courses at the LSE undergrad is Quantitative Finance (3rd year module), the prerequisites of which are Full year courses in Micro, Econometrics and Corporate Finance and even that doesn't set you up for trading structured derivatives. I know for a fact that on the synthetic CDO desk of one of the BBs, EVERYONE has atleast one PhD (one of them havinf received doctorate twice: Physics and econometrics).

What about the Imperial Maths with stats for finance? Thats a Bsc, do you think thats enough?

Reply 29

Away from TSR

westhamfan

What about the Imperial Maths with stats for finance? Thats a Bsc, do you think thats enough?

This hardly provides any details of the modules, so can't say.

Reply 30

sng

I have a place at Oxford to read physics next year. If I wanted a front office job, would I need to do a masters, such as MPhil in Finance from Cambridge? Would my physics degree alone be quantitative enough for a trading roll in, say, derivatives? I know that I would need a PhD to to quantitative analysis.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm finishing 4 year Physics at Oxford this year, I've got a grad offer on exotic rates derivatives trading. Did an internship on FX and structured credit. You dnt need a phd or an mphil to do this stuff, physics will do you nicely.

Reply 31

sng

Olek

I'm finishing 4 year Physics at Oxford this year, I've got a grad offer on exotic rates derivatives trading. Did an internship on FX and structured credit. You dnt need a phd or an mphil to do this stuff, physics will do you nicely.

thanks for the reply.

but what are you specialising in this year? i thought that the fourth year was not worth doing if you do not want to go into research. is it looked upon favourably by investors/would you recommend it?

thanks again.

Reply 32

Most people do the 4th year. I don't know if it's looked on more or less favourably. I don't really care. I did it because I don't think you can call it a physics degree until you can do GR. That, and the idea of finishing my degree aged 20 was horrifying.

Reply 33

CityMonkey

Olek

Most people do the 4th year. I don't know if it's looked on more or less favourably. I don't really care. I did it because I don't think you can call it a physics degree until you can do GR. That, and the idea of finishing my degree aged 20 was horrifying.

Very, very true.

Reply 34

Dirac Delta Function

14

oxford don't teach GR in the third year? I know it's tough but still I'm surprised.

Reply 35

You learnt it in 3rd year then?

Reply 36

Dirac Delta Function

14

Olek

You learnt it in 3rd year then?

no, it's not my area, I'm just surprised they could give a Bachelors in physics without teaching such a major topic.

Reply 37

CityMonkey