How would you rank ESCP, EDHEC, EMLYON, Imperial, Warwick, and UCL for MSc Finance if the goal is investment banking?

Question

I got an admit from EMLYON with a scholarship but also applying to the others. Which schools actually give the best chance to break into M&A roles?

V Ritik · Accepted Answer

For M&A and investment banking in London, Imperial clearly stands out as the strongest among these schools. ESCP comes second because of its strong alumni base and campus connections in Paris and London. Warwick also does well for consulting and finance roles, though IB placements are fewer compared to Imperial and ESCP.
EDHEC and EMLYON are good but mainly place students in Paris or continental Europe, not as much in London IB. UCL is improving but still not seen as a top feeder compared to Imperial or ESCP. A realistic ranking for IB would be: Imperial > ESCP > Warwick > UCL > EDHEC > EMLYON.

T Mehta · Answer

If breaking into M&A is the main target, the safest bets are Imperial and ESCP. Imperial has direct pipelines with bulge-bracket banks in London, while ESCP benefits from its Paris base and strong cross-border alumni who often end up in London IB.
Warwick has brand strength in the UK, especially in consulting and finance-related roles, though less in IB compared to Imperial. EDHEC and EMLYON are well-regarded in France but won&rsquo;t open the same doors in London. UCL sits in the middle &mdash; strong academics, but still building its IB placement record. With a scholarship at EMLYON, it&rsquo;s financially attractive, but if IB in London is non-negotiable, Imperial or ESCP should be prioritized.