hello frns,

I am a newly qualified Chartered Accountant(C.A.) from india as well as graduate from Delhi University, I want to do MSc. Finance from UK's top B school: i have shortlisted some of them and now seeks your advise:\

Durham
Warwick
Leeds
Lancaster
Strathclyde
Bradford

I have already been selected at Durham, Queen Mary(Uni of London), Bradford

Please reply soon

Hi,

Best choice of the bunch would be Warwick...highly regarded among employers.
Leeds, Durham and Lancaster are also very good B'schools, but you should take a look at the places, as Lancaster and Durham are quite small (altough Durham is very nice) and Leeds is a vibrant city... it is for you to decide...
Queen Mary, forget it, good at Law, but not at Business education...Strathclyde and Bradford, are both cases of globally ranked b'schools from bad uni's...and if Bradford keeps with its late performance in rankings, maybe soon they will be out from the FT and Economist...

With you current offers I would say Durham, its an excellent Uni and Business School.

Hope this is useful.

Agree totally..
The comparison is between Lancaster and Durham , and you must choose Durham Business School!

I have no idea about Lancaster but I have some thoughts about Durham MSc Finance programme


I have waited for one year to come to Durham University for my MSc masters in Finance, and right now, after 2 months I am withdrawing from the programme. I also know there are other people who left before me!

The MSc Finance programmes in Durham University is not even close to what's written on their website. For example, before I came here, I was told that MSc Finance programmes were covering 70 percent of the CFA exams. Yes, you have courses which have the same name with the subject titles that you have in CFA examination.

The courses are superficial, nothing detailed! On the other hand, you have a lot to do as you have at least 4 courses for one semester. However, putting too much work on students, who generally do not have background on Finance, does not increase the quality of education!!!

MSc programme have lots of students who are coming from overseas and especially from China. We were having our courses in Calman Learning Center with more than 200 students together. We had seminars in groups which was just about reading the slides and no discussion about the issues!

There is a mismatch between the courses and the work that you're given. You need to read lots of material usually academical works of others which you have no background!! Lecturers go over the slides and do not expect to learn much from the lecturers or from the courses.

I had chosen MSc taught programme of Durham but it was, in general, not even close to my expectations. I was told that " I was taught the courses so no need for a FINANCE background.However, the reality is totally different.

Actually, I believe that Durhamm Business School, responsible for MSc Finance programmes, is using the reputation of Durham University. This university is really well known with its Chemistry and Middle Eastern- Islamic Studies.

Even if you are coming to Durham for your MSc studies on Finance, do not expect too much, and do not care what's written on website!

Warwick is the better option.
Lancaster & Durham
Leeds & Strathclyde