HEC MFin vs ESCP MiF – Which is better if I want to work in private equity?

Question

S Raghav · Accepted Answer

Getting into PE is already one of the toughest finance paths,  so picking the school with the stronger pipeline really matters.
&bull; HEC has a clearer track record when it comes to PE placement. Many alumni go through IB first, then switch internally &mdash; and HEC&rsquo;s IB placement is top-tier. &bull; ESCP&rsquo;s MiF is strong in continental Europe but has less PE exposure in the UK market. &bull; PE firms often hire from prior internships or off-cycle roles &mdash; HEC&rsquo;s two-year track and alumni links make that easier to access. &bull; If targeting PE directly post-MiF, HEC&rsquo;s finance specializations, case competitions, and access to headhunters offer a better edge. &bull; ESCP could still work if based in Paris or Frankfurt and open to boutique funds, but for large-cap or pan-European firms, HEC has better traction.
If PE is the primary goal, it&rsquo;s smarter to pick the school that PE recruiters are already watching.
For more details you can read these blogs on "Hec Paris MFin" and "ESCP  MiF"

T Mehta · Answer

For breaking into private equity in Europe, HEC Paris MFin is generally a stronger bet than ESCP MiF.
HEC has more direct placement into PE, especially through its partnerships with top firms and the private equity electives run in collaboration with real funds. The alumni network includes many professionals already in PE roles across London, Paris, and Luxembourg. It also offers better access to off-cycle internships and second-year apprenticeship formats, which are critical entry routes for PE.
While ESCP has strong exposure to finance in general, it&rsquo;s more tilted toward investment banking and asset management. The MiF at ESCP is flexible and global, but it doesn&rsquo;t have the same recruiter pull for PE roles. PE firms hiring from HEC often come through the school&rsquo;s specialized tracks and finance career fairs &mdash; a channel ESCP doesn&rsquo;t match at the same scale.

Divakshi Arora · Answer

For private equity roles, HEC Paris MFin is the stronger choice compared to ESCP MiF. The program is consistently ranked among the top finance masters globally, and recruiters in PE and IB know it well. HEC has direct placements into firms like Blackstone, KKR, Ardian, and Rothschild, which makes it one of the few MiF programs in Europe with a real PE track record.
The course also offers the option of a gap year, giving students time to do multiple internships before full-time recruiting. That&rsquo;s a big advantage in PE, where prior deal experience is often a must. ESCP is respected, but its network is stronger in consulting, corporate finance, and middle-office roles. If the target is front-office PE in London or Paris, HEC is far more targeted and carries the brand power you&rsquo;ll need.

B.K Sharma · Answer

The tricky part with private equity is that both HEC and ESCP can help, but the way they position you is very different.
&bull; HEC Paris is better if you want direct access to London PE and IB recruiting. The alumni network is deep in top-tier buy-side firms, and the gap year structure makes it easier to stack internships &mdash; something PE recruiters look for. &bull; ESCP, on the other hand, is more flexible with campuses in Paris, London, and Berlin. It gives exposure to multiple markets, and the MiF has good placements into M&A and corporate finance. But breaking directly into PE from ESCP is rarer; most people use it as a stepping stone through IB. &bull; Another difference is competition. HEC attracts applicants with prior finance internships or CFA progress, so the bar is higher. ESCP is more accessible, but the trade-off is fewer straight PE exits.
So, if PE is the end goal, HEC Paris gives you a more direct shot, while ESCP works better if you&rsquo;re open to building a career through IB first.

Mohit C · Answer

For private equity, HEC MFin generally gives a clearer advantage because most large European PE firms and top investment banks treat it as a direct target program. This leads to more students securing IB analyst roles, which usually act as the entry point into PE. ESCP MiF still works for Paris mid-market funds, but far fewer graduates make the jump to bigger international teams each year.
Another difference is timing: HEC students often move into IB or PE roles within the first one to two years after graduation, while ESCP graduates aiming for PE sometimes take longer because they first build experience in corporate finance or smaller advisory teams. ESCP has strengths, but for someone targeting mainstream European private equity, HEC&rsquo;s hiring volume and brand advantage create a faster pathway.