Mphil Finance at Cambridge or Msc Finance at Warwick

I don't think you would receive a rejection letter from LSE now that you already have received an offer from Cambridge and Warwick. So, you'd more likely be attending LSE since it's your first choice school/uni.

However, between Warwick and Cambridge, it's a really tough call to make. If you're international, Cambridge might be the ideal school for you because it is -- like you said -- more globally prestigious. On that basis alone, you should choose Cambridge. I would too if I were on your shoes since I'm Asian and Cambridge is an extremely powerful name in my country. But if you're planning to work in the UK, I wouldn't think it would matter where you'll go between Warwick and Cambridge though. So, in that regard, you should choose the school based on fit. Quality of the program-wise, I don't think there is much of a big difference as these two great schools are powerhouses in academics across all major fields.

As an international student hoping to acquire a postgrad qualification in Finance, I would rank it this way:

1. Cambridge
2. LSE
3. Warwick

Again, that’s base purely on school prestige and not the strength of their programs and the student is international. For British residents/citizens, that could be scrambled depending on the kind of environment you prefer to stay for a year or so. In that case, I would still choose Cambridge then Warwick. I would drop off LSE in a second because I don’t like to study in London.

Reply 2

g_nil

HappySpirit

I have received offer for Msc Finance at Warwick and Mphil Finance at Cambridge. However, I cannot make up my mind which one should I take. The name of Cambridge is really attractive since it is one of the most prestigious universities globally. However, Warwick has a more well-known department in the field of Finance, and has a higher RAE score (5*). According to the most recent TIMES university ranking in Accounting and Finance group, Warwick ranks 2nd while Cambridge is not even ranked…

I am still waiting for the results from LSE (I applied both Msc Finance and Msc Finance and Economics). I guess, if I can get an offer, I will go to LSE. But if my application to LSE is rejected, then I have to make a decision between Cambridge and Warwick. Please advise which one would be a better option.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Hi,

May I know when you submitted your application to LSE?
Thanks.

Reply 3

OP

Re:ILIGAN

Thank you very much for your quick and detailed reply! I think you are right, from an international reputational perspective, Cambridge is much more well-known than the other two schools. As an international student, school reputation is definitely extremely important for me. However, from the job perspective, I hope I would be able to settle a job right after graduation. Does Cambridge has a better job prospect than Warwick does?

Thank you!

Reply 4

OP

g_nil

Hi,

May I know when you submitted your application to LSE?
Thanks.

I submitted my application to LSE pretty late – on 25th Feb. It seems like I still have to wait for couple of weeks before hearing anything from them.

Reply 5

g_nil

HappySpirit

I submitted my application to LSE pretty late – on 25th Feb. It seems like I still have to wait for couple of weeks before hearing anything from them.

i submitted mine on 21/2, not much earlier than you...

How about the offer from warwick? How long hv u been waiting? I have just received an email confirming with me that they've just received all the necessary documents...

thanks..!

Reply 6

Vinnetoo

Hey, HappySpirit!

When did you submit your Cambridge application? And, more specifically, when did they receive your documents?

Reply 7

OP

g_nil

i submitted mine on 21/2, not much earlier than you...

How about the offer from warwick? How long hv u been waiting? I have just received an email confirming with me that they've just received all the necessary documents...

thanks..!

I received the recommendation email from WBS in less than a week. This email indicates that the admission panel has already made a recommendation to the University for offering admission to the program. However, this recommendation is not finalized yet. I am still waiting for the official offer letter.

Reply 8

HappySpirit

Re:ILIGAN

Thank you very much for your quick and detailed reply! I think you are right, from an international reputational perspective, Cambridge is much more well-known than the other two schools. As an international student, school reputation is definitely extremely important for me. However, from the job perspective, I hope I would be able to settle a job right after graduation. Does Cambridge has a better job prospect than Warwick does?

Thank you!

If you're planning to work in the UK right after your MSc in Finance, both schools (Warwick and Cambridge) will open doors for you. My little time spent at Warwick proved that Warwick grads are highly employable or on par with Cambridge, Oxford and LSE on placement success rank. You might be even hired before you will graduate. Warwick alums are also quite visible and respected in the Finance industry in the UK too. (The good thing with the UK government is that -- you would be allowed to remain and work right after earning your qualification. You will be given a year to work legally in any industry you desire to join with as long as you got hired by that company too. Visa extension would then depend on the contract and agreement with your employer. I've heard many international students/graduates from both Warwick and Cambridge have availed this scheme and they're quite happy with where they are now. Many of them have even extended their working visa without any hassle.)

However, if you plan to go back to Canada, or say, you’e planning on migrating to Australia, USA, Japan or the Philippines, a Cambridge degree will tramp both Warwick and LSE in the employment game very easily. Most HRDs there would hire you or favor you for the simple reason that you have a Cambridge diploma. In my personal assessment, it's more of an honor that they will be attracted to hiring you than anything, because I honestly do not see how a Cambridge education -- in Finance -- any better than a Warwick or LSE's education.

The only downside of attending a Cambridge MSc is that it’s very expensive. But there’s also a very high self fulfillment in going to Cambridge as we all know that it’s quite a very selective school. So, if tuition won’t be a problem for you, I would say you go ahead and run. Otherwise, Warwick and LSE would be excellent alternatives for your wants and needs.

Good luck!

Reply 9

g_nil

ILIGAN

If you're planning to work in the UK right after your MSc in Finance, both schools (Warwick and Cambridge) will open doors for you. My little time spent at Warwick proved that Warwick grads are highly employable or on par with Cambridge, Oxford and LSE on placement success rank. You might be even hired before you will graduate. Warwick alums are also quite visible and respected in the Finance industry in the UK too. (The good thing with the UK government is that -- you would be allowed to remain and work right after earning your qualification. You will be given a year to work legally in any industry you desire to join with as long as you got hired by that company too. Visa extension would then depend on the contract and agreement with your employer. I've heard many international students/graduates from both Warwick and Cambridge have availed this scheme and they're quite happy with where they are now. Many of them have even extended their working visa without any hassle.)

However, if you plan to go back to Canada, or say, you’e planning on migrating to Australia, USA, Japan or the Philippines, a Cambridge degree will tramp both Warwick and LSE in the employment game very easily. Most HRDs there would hire you or favor you for the simple reason that you have a Cambridge diploma. In my personal assessment, it's more of an honor that they will be attracted to hiring you than anything, because I honestly do not see how a Cambridge education -- in Finance -- any better than a Warwick or LSE's education.

The only downside of attending a Cambridge MSc is that it’s very expensive. But there’s also a very high self fulfillment in going to Cambridge as we all know that it’s quite a very selective school. So, if tuition won’t be a problem for you, I would say you go ahead and run. Otherwise, Warwick and LSE would be excellent alternatives for your wants and needs.

Good luck!

I had a glance of the MPhil Finance at Cambridge, and its tuition fee is 10-11k, while that of Warwick costs 17k, and that of LSE 21-22k...
so....

and btw, congratulation to happyspirit of getting an offer from Cambridge, once and forever my dream place. :smile:

Reply 10

^ The prospectus and brochure that Cambridge sent me says it's 40K. Upon reading your post, I discovered I was looking at the MBA program fee, not the MPhil Finance. My bad.

To the OP: So, Cambridge would cost almost half the price of Warwick? If that's true then the more reason for you to choose Cambridge over Warwick or LSE since your taking of a postgrad course would ideally intended to serve as your career preparation back in Canada.

Reply 11

OP

Re: ILIGAN and g_nil

Thank you very much! I think I have pretty much made my mind now and I am waiting for the official letter from Cambridge now.

Thank you all~

Reply 12

Happy,

Why won't you apply for a change of program at Cambridge. They now offer Master in Finance. That was the program I was actually thinking when I was writing the posts above. It's looks a fantastic program but the program fee is 32k.

Here's the link: http://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/mfin/whycambridge.html

Reply 13