The Masters in Finance or the MBA? How to decide which programme is right for you

By Charlotte Tait, MiF Student Recruitment Associate

I often get asked by prospective students, should I choose the Masters in Finance (MiF) programme or the MBA? We understand deciding on which programme is most suited to your personal and professional goals can be a difficult decision. The decision is hard as both programmes are designed for experienced professionals in the middle stages of their careers, both have flexible exit points, and both are highly customisable with students having 40 electives to choose from on the MiF and 80 electives to choose from on the MBA. However, deciding on whether to undertake the Master in Finance or MBA really depends on what your future aspirations are post your Masters’ degree.

If you are looking to stay within finance but want to accelerate your career, or switch to another area within finance, then the Masters in Finance is definitely the best option. The Masters in Finance allows you to become a specialist in finance, and helps you develop an extensive international network within the industry.

The MBA is more focused on developing your leadership and general management skills. As the MBA is a more general degree it will give you broader options in the future.

Hear from two of our Student Ambassadors as to why they chose the Masters in Finance programme. 

Alessio Fabbri, MiFFT 2021
“Although the MiF and MBA programmes at LBS are both world-renowned, I believe the MiF was better suited to help me achieve my career aspirations. I was looking to make a career switch within the finance sector, specifically into private equity from valuations, and the MiF’s finance focus was exactly what I needed to sharpen certain skills and broaden my finance knowledge. The customisable characteristic was also important to me, as I am already a CFA Charterholder, therefore I wanted to focus on other financial topics which were not covered in-depth in my previous studies.”

 Diego Domínguez de Pedro, MiFFT 2021
“Having worked for seven years in the Project & Structured Finance sector in Mexico, I decided that it was the right time to accelerate my career by studying a Masters degree at a top business school but I wasn’t sure if the MBA was the right programme for me. After doing my research, it became clear that the Masters in Finance programme at LBS was the best option because it gave me the opportunity not only to expand my knowledge in finance but also to improve my soft skills through different management-oriented electives and workshops. In that regard, the MiF combines the best of both worlds: a very rigorous finance learning experience with the perfect environment to build your leadership and communication skills. Lastly, the Masters in Finance enabled me to build a network comprising of the most talented individuals in the financial sector across the world, something that I’m sure will become invaluable as I continue my career in finance.”

If you are considering the Masters in Finance programme, or unsure about which programme is right for you, please submit your profile for review here. We will review your profile and provide you with personalised feedback on your fit for our programmes.

You can also reach out to our MiF and MBA student ambassadors here to learn more about the programmes and student experience.

1 comment on “The Masters in Finance or the MBA? How to decide which programme is right for you”

  1. Augustine Chisala Reply

    I have learnt that choosing to study either MiF or MBA depends on one’s future aspirations. MiF is suited for students who want to specialize in the field of Finance. Students with a background of Finance in their earlier qualifications have an advantange in terms of career progression at MiF level. Students in this programme are able to build strong networks which gives them a solid foundation in the field of Finance.
    On the other hand, MBA is broader than MiF and meant for students who would want to divert to other options of the programme. They are able to work in different departments of an organisation which is to their advantage.

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *