MSc Finance at LSE

Hi, I know the applications have closed for this year but I'm considering applying next year..

Was wondering what their entry requirements are, I have a 2:1 (or will have soon) in Finance, Accounting and Management from Nottingham, I know they only specify a 2:1 but my average will be 61/62ish and I don't know if they require 65+ etc. I do though have 1sts in all of my Finance modules (international finance, financial markets, corporate finance etc) as well as 1sts in econometrics modules..

What are my chances of getting in with that degree record? Obviously it's a prestigious school, but the only reason I didn't get higher in my degree is that I found most of my modules really dull, but I really enjoyed the finance ones and got 1sts in them.

Also would I be right in thinking that an MSc in Finance from LSE would significantly improve my chances of getting into IB over my FAM degree from Nottingham?

Applying early does not necessarily improve your chances. At the LSE, the admission committees look for people that clearly match their criteria. If you fit your bill, it doesn't matter whether you apply in November or April. You might be put on a waiting list even though they haven't filled up all places.

The LSE does not take long to get back to you. Last year, I had received my offer after about two weeks. This year, it took three -- on a course with a larger number of applicants. Yet, I received an email as soon as they had reached their decision.

As to improving your chances by applying early, I too respectfully disagree. Just because one is waitlisted when there are still spots available does not mean that the criteria or scrutiny does not become more intense as the number of available spots diminish. Most all admissions offices at any school for any program, generally become more demanding the later in the process. While they don't generally let in underqualified people, it is widely accepted that most admissions offices may be more apt to let in a borderline applicant early, than they would later as the competition becomes more keen for the remaining spots.

Apparently now its anecdote vs anecdote. The PhD programmes I had considered for a while -- all US schools -- have a procedure where they consider all applications once the deadline has passed. Universities with rolling admission usually gather a number of applications and make their pick.

I do not quite buy your logic that the competition becomes more intense the later you apply. What if a 'borderline candidate' applies early and ends up being compared with a dozen applications that are clearly superior but happened to reach the admission officers' desk by the same time? I think that there is certainly no point in rushing one's application. I would rather suggest that people take their time, write a decent proposal or statement and get some good references. I 'd venture that if you are really good then you'll get in. Good universities like the LSE are usually not in a rush to fill their places. They can afford to take their time. (If you have followed their "availability of programmes" page, you might have noticed that virtually no programme was listed as "limited availability" as late as May.) Other universities might have a different M.O., though.