ESADE MFin vs Bocconi MFin — which one is better for investment banking placements in Europe?

Question

I ’m targeting roles in London or Frankfurt after graduation. With a BCom background and CFA Level 1, I’m trying to figure out which program has stronger recruiting ties and better ROI. Would love to hear from people who know about IB placements from these schools.

S Raghav · Accepted Answer

For investment banking placements in Europe, Bocconi MFin generally has the stronger reputation compared to ESADE. Bocconi has long-standing ties with banks in Milan, Frankfurt, and London, and the alumni network in IB is much deeper. Placement reports show Bocconi grads consistently entering analyst roles at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Citi, and Mediobanca, with London and Frankfurt being common destinations.
ESADE does place into IB, but the numbers are smaller, and a larger share of graduates move into consulting or corporate finance in Spain. For someone specifically targeting London or Frankfurt, Bocconi offers better ROI because recruiters from major banks actively attend Bocconi career fairs and on-campus events.
With a BCom and CFA Level 1, you&rsquo;d fit both programs, but if the goal is bulge-bracket IB in London or Frankfurt, Bocconi has the edge in brand recognition and direct recruiting access.

B.K Sharma · Answer

A lot of people assume Bocconi always wins for IB, but the gap isn&rsquo;t as wide as it looks if you compare where grads actually go.
&bull; Bocconi does dominate Milan and Frankfurt recruiting. Big names like Mediobanca, UniCredit, and Deutsche Bank hire regularly from there. &bull; ESADE, on the other hand, sends fewer to Milan but has steady placements into Paris and London boutiques, plus Spanish offices of Goldman Sachs and BNP Paribas. &bull; The class size at ESADE is smaller, which means less internal competition for interview prep and career support. For internationals, that sometimes makes recruiting more manageable. &bull; ROI is also worth weighing &mdash; ESADE&rsquo;s tuition is slightly lower and the cost of living in Barcelona is cheaper than Milan, so the total spend is less.
So if London or Frankfurt IB is the only target, Bocconi edges ahead. If you&rsquo;re open to a broader spread that includes Paris or Madrid with lower upfront cost, ESADE can still be a strong route.
For more details you can read these blogs on "Bocconi MFin " and "ESADE MFin"