Is Msc Finance@Warwick worthwhile to go?

[lacesso]

I posted this threat in the Graduate Admission section yesterday, but someone recommended to move it here because this section is much more active than the other. Thank you for your response!
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I graduated with a BBA – management finance stream. I am really interested in finance and my ultimate goal is to pursue a PhD in finance related subject. However, I don’t have sufficient quantitative training in my undergrad studies. In fact, there were only a few math courses – one calculus, one linear algebra – covered in our BBA curriculum. I even didn’t take econometrics except an intro course to regression. It is nearly impossible for me to win a Finance PhD offer with my current profile. Therefore, I’d like to do a master first, which would open up opportunities towards PhD positions.

My lacking of quantitative training places me such a disadvantage that I cannot apply to many finance related courses, such as financial engineering, math finance, and financial economics in some universities. For the most famous programs at warwick – Msc Mathematical Finance and Msc Finance and Economics, for instance, application with business background will not even be processed/considered. I am just afraid that the Msc Finance is kind of professional degree which focuses on CFA examination preparation (as this program is mentioned as CFA partner)? Will it be a good option if I am aiming at PhD rather than employment?

Could anybody recommend some other courses that suitable?

Any thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.

[lacesso]

I have thought about doing a master in economics but really hard to get in without taking any courses in econometrics. Since I have already graduated and currently working on a full-time job (7am – 9pm is the standard time for my job, even longer sometimes), it is not easy for me to take any course independently – usually there is no course offered in weekend or after 10pm from Mon to Fri.

[italos]

I did my MSc in economics at Warwick.About MSc finance there?
Yes it is a good program and you get a good job after.Any thoughts about LBS or Imperial?They are much better!
But the main problem with Warwick is the place

[jota.be]

Originally Posted by italos

But the main problem with Warwick is the place

Why exactly?

Compared to Oxford, which one would you prefer to go and why (only taking into account the place)?

[filroz]

It's in the middle of nowhere... But I heard that the campus is nice, maybe for 1 year it's fine

[Smileysquared]

Originally Posted by italos

I did my MSc in economics at Warwick.About MSc finance there?
Yes it is a good program and you get a good job after.Any thoughts about LBS or Imperial?They are much better!

I know for a fact that Imperial asks you to list the math courses you did. It seems as though they place alot of emphasis on your quantitative skills but it is one of the best universities in the world. So it may be abit difficult to get accepted in Imperial with the lack of quantitative skills and the programme is also very competitive. Nevertheless Lacesso you can still try. I think if you are considering a PhD Finance then the CFA designation will indeed help you.

[lacesso]

Thank you for your responses!

Yes, I am preparing my CFA Level I exam which I will take in this June. Smileysquared, you are right, IC is a world renowned university with excellent finance courses, which are more quant-oriented though. I cannot meet their math requirement to be accepted by the program.

I am still waiting for the status updates for LSE Msc Finance and Economics, which I think might be a better choice in terms of PhD preparation?

[Terd Ferguson]

If you are wanting a PhD in Finance, I don't think I would do a masters right now. My reasoning is that you don't have much of a math background, so any masters program that you can get into would be really applied (more like an MBA) and would not prepare you at all for a PhD program. If you are serious about doing the PhD, do a year of math as a non-degree seeking undergrad. Get your Multi-variable Calc, Diff Eq, Prob and Stats, Analysis, etc ... Then apply for PhD programs.

I think the CFA tests will help you personally with finance, but I doubt it will help you get into Finance PhD programs and it won't help you succeed there. It will only give you a more applied knowledge base to relate the theory you do to. Once you apply to jobs I think the CFA/PhD combo might look nice, but again ... it won't help you with school IMHO.

[lacesso]

Thanks for your response.

I really have to think about it carefully before making the decision. Maybe you are right, I should do some math courses in my university before approaching any further education degrees..

[Smileysquared]

Originally Posted by Terd Ferguson

I think the CFA tests will help you personally with finance, but I doubt it will help you get into Finance PhD programs and it won't help you succeed there.

I'll have to respectfully disagree with your statement. The reason for this is because Finance requires a bit of quantitative work and if he has the CFA qualification it will help show that he has some sort of quantitative training to get him through the PhD. While I do believe it is in his best interest to undertake some more Mathematical courses, I still believe those professional exams can help. I personally know of two individuals who did their PhD's in Finance-their training throughout their academic life was Finance and both were pursuing CFA exams(they had their third exam to do when they applied to universities in the states and the were both admitted to top 10 and top 15 programs respectively.