Cass Business School - MSc. Mathematical Trading & Finance - Thoughts?

[RFaustini]

Hi All,

Does anyone have thoughts/opinions on Cass Business School's Masters in Mathematical Trading & Finance Program?

I have been accepted and start Sep '09, but I am hearing mixed reviews. Personally, I’d rather not invest the money and time if this program is not worth it. Any of your feedback on the following questions would be much appreciated:

1. Cass Business School & MTF Program’s reputation among industry professionals?
2. The program cost is £20,500 is it worth it in your opinion?
3. Will completing this course increase my chances of landing a front office trading job upon graduation?
4. Would a CFA be more helpful in landing a trading job rather than a Masters Degree? Is the CFA valued more than an applied Masters in the industry?
5. Any other suggestions on routes to enter into a junior trading role?

A Little about me: I’m 28 years old and would be 30 by the time I graduate this part-time Masters program. I currently work in London, UK as a client relationship manager specializing in equity Indices for a large US asset manager. I have 5 Years asset management experience ranging from Private Banking/Investment Advisor and my current position Client Relationship Manager. Personal professional interests: Would like to trade ETFs, Commodities, Energy products

Any feedback is highly appreciated! If easier, please feel free to email me at [email protected]

Kind regards,
RF

 

[TigerTrader]

RF,

I only have some information I can share with you. I was looking to go to Cass for Uni. I have a friend who is currently studying there. He tells me if you want to do any maths or finance related course, be that MsC or BsC, don't go to Cass if you can get in somewhere else (i.e. top 5 LSE, UCL etc). Have you applied there or do they not do that specific course you are looking at? (Forgive me if they don't). If you can't try a red brick university e.g. Manchester, Birmingham, depending on hor good they are for your course. Cass is still in early days.

In terms of Cass' reputation its not all that....Remember its part of City Uni. So your MsC will be from "City Univeristy London - Cass Business School". Although their reputation is increasing I doubt it would be anywhere near that of the top 5. He also said that in the year just graduated only 10-15 out of the 70 students on his course landed in front office roles (trading).

Your best bet is to 1st start playing the markets yourself. At least that will put you on a higher step. As to whether the MsC will actually help you landing a job I am not sure. You could always go to efinancialcareers.co.uk and have a look at their criteria as to what they look for. Or ring some of the companies and see what they say. If your going to spend £20k on the course, why not spend £10k getting some trading experience for say a year and then apply to some jobs. I am sure experience would have a better impact on your CV than an MsC?

Those are just my thoughts. Sorry if its a bit sketchy I am just saying from what I have heard.Hope it helps.

 

[RFaustini]

Thanks the response and information TigerTrader.

I have not applied to other B-schools simply because Cass' MTF program seemed more in line with my personal interests and more applied (as apposed to highly theoretical). I ruled out an MBA simply because my undergraduate degree was in Finance & Accounting hence; most MBAs go over this same material again. The other main reason for choosing this program was that it was a part-time evening which still allows me to work for my current firm full time and receive a decent tuition reimbursement. My other option was to complete the CFA.

The statistic provided by your friend at Cass is very helpful. However, I do wonder how much this statistic was influenced by the industry cutbacks and hiring freezes over the past year. Right now the job markets are tough, but two years from now the market may be on the rise again.

As for securing a junior trader position (or other front office trading jobs), I’ve heard from several sources that most firms are biased towards age when it comes to hiring (especially in the UK). The reason being most firms want to mold/train you up rather than have you come in at 30 with a MSc. Can anyone add their opinion or real-life examples to this?

Can anyone offer a personal example of how an MSc or CFA benefited them career wise and helped them secure (or at least get closer) to a trading role?


Cheers,
RF

RF,

I only have some information I can share with you. I was looking to go to Cass for Uni. I have a friend who is currently studying there. He tells me if you want to do any maths or finance related course, be that MsC or BsC, don't go to Cass if you can get in somewhere else (i.e. top 5 LSE, UCL etc). Have you applied there or do they not do that specific course you are looking at? (Forgive me if they don't). If you can't try a red brick university e.g. Manchester, Birmingham, depending on hor good they are for your course. Cass is still in early days.

In terms of Cass' reputation its not all that....Remember its part of City Uni. So your MsC will be from "City Univeristy London - Cass Business School". Although their reputation is increasing I doubt it would be anywhere near that of the top 5. He also said that in the year just graduated only 10-15 out of the 70 students on his course landed in front office roles (trading).

Your best bet is to 1st start playing the markets yourself. At least that will put you on a higher step. As to whether the MsC will actually help you landing a job I am not sure. You could always go to efinancialcareers.co.uk and have a look at their criteria as to what they look for. Or ring some of the companies and see what they say. If your going to spend £20k on the course, why not spend £10k getting some trading experience for say a year and then apply to some jobs. I am sure experience would have a better impact on your CV than an MsC?

Those are just my thoughts. Sorry if its a bit sketchy I am just saying from what I have heard.Hope it helps.

 

[TigerTrader]

RF,

If its part time evening then I guess its good as you can keep your current job. However whether it will enhance your chances of getting in somewhere I am not sure. I think your best bet is to call the banks recruitment team and speak with them directly. As you said the stats I gave you may be blurred because of whats going on, however they still need to recruit.

That is very true about your age which is why I suggested you start trading yourself. You never know if you do well you might not have to get a job in a front office role, rather trade yourself from home. As far as the CFA goes I have no idea!

Hope you find your answer soon!

 

[tripleogstar]

the same way the top 5 unis(Oxbridge, Imperial, UCL, LSE) prefare candidates to have 'Traditional' A-levels (Maths, Economics, Physics etc), banks prefare candidates to have traditional degrees. These degrees at CASS which are trading related don't tend to get you very far, people think that just because you learn about trading you will be able to get into a trading role, it doesn't quite work like that. I am not sayin it is a useless degree, if it can get you where you want to go then thats great but I think banks would prefare (as I have seen in job requirements) people from the top unis.

 

[Masquerade]

Doing a degree in Trading & Finance to me is hysterical. Paying £20k for it makes it even more a ridiculous proposition. In summation. Don't do it.

Quite frankly you're best off doing what you're doing now and seeing if you can get in or progress. If worst comes to worst and you really want it. Get a job in the mail room or as a tea boy, if you're really lucky then maybe you'll get spotted and someone will take you under their wing.

 

[WallStreetHero]

CFA maybe quite usefull, i'll have that rather then a masters

 

[Skill Leverage]

I'm not sure what league table you guys are reading, but last time I checked UCL was not a top 5 university. I'm not sure Imperial was either, for that matter.

 

[tripleogstar]

I'm not sure what league table you guys are reading, but last time I checked UCL was not a top 5 university. I'm not sure Imperial was either, for that matter.

Well the only respected league table is the Times one, and UCL and imperial are in the top 5. They both fall into the top 10 in the world rankings as well, I think imperial are 5/6th in the world and UCL 7th or somethin

 

[Skill Leverage]

Hmm it would appear UCL are 5th after all. As long as they stay beneath my alma mater all will be well.

 

[minx]

Can anyone offer a personal example of how an MSc or CFA benefited them career wise and helped them secure (or at least get closer) to a trading role?

Cheers,
RF

My friend couldn't get a trader job with a first in stats, he did the Cass MTF course and has been a trader with a large European bank for years now. I'm not saying that course is the sole reason but it helped mark him ahead of the endless peeps with a first or 2.1 in their degrees.

Getting a job will depend on lots of things, if you're a tool then no degree will help, if you are a normal but ambitious person then it helps to be able to show that. *Maybe* going the extra mile to put yourself ahead of the pack will show this....

 

[auto9817]

Guardian University guide

Business study and Management league table

City university (CASS business school) ranked 2nd place in UK. (Oxford is 1st place)

University guide 2013: league table for business and management studies | Education | guardian.co.uk

CASS business school is ranked 16th in European Business school ranking

Business school rankings from the Financial Times - European Business School Rankings 2012

CASS business school is ranked 30th in The economist world MBA ranking.

Which MBA? | The Economist

CASS business school is ranked is ranked 40th in World MBA ranking

Business school rankings from the Financial Times - Global MBA Ranking 2013