Imperial vs Bayes vs UCL vs KCL for MSc Finance in London? I’m planning to apply this year but confused which of these would be valued more by recruiters at big banks in London.?

Question

V Ritik · Accepted Answer

For someone aiming at banking jobs in London, Imperial MSc Finance is generally seen as the strongest among Imperial, Bayes, UCL, and KCL. Recruiters at big banks like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Barclays have a long track record of hiring Imperial grads, partly because the program is highly quant-focused and consistently ranked top in the UK. Bayes (formerly Cass) also has a solid reputation, especially in corporate finance and risk, and it benefits from its location in the City where networking is easier.
UCL is rising but still doesn&rsquo;t have the same employer pull as Imperial or Bayes. KCL, while respected academically, isn&rsquo;t considered a finance target school in the same way. For front-office IB or markets, Imperial gives the clearest edge, with Bayes being a strong practical option. UCL is improving, but it&rsquo;s still not the first name bankers mention when hiring.

T Mehta · Answer

A lot of students put these four schools in one bracket, but recruiters don&rsquo;t view them equally. In banking circles, Imperial tends to dominate because of brand and alumni visibility, while the others sit at different tiers.
Here&rsquo;s how they usually line up:

Imperial: Target for top IB and trading desks, strongest placements among the four.
Bayes: Known for deep City connections, better for mid-tier banks, corporate finance, and asset management.
UCL: Solid academics and name recognition, but still catching up in direct IB pipelines.
KCL: Good university overall, but MSc Finance here doesn&rsquo;t carry the same recruiting weight for front-office roles.

One point often overlooked is internship timing. Imperial and Bayes students often land summer roles early due to established career offices, while UCL and KCL grads rely more on personal networking. That difference can be decisive for international students on a tight visa timeline.

Hema A · Answer

Imperial vs Bayes vs UCL vs KCL for MSc Finance in London usually comes down to recruiter perception and career outcomes. Imperial clearly has the edge &mdash; it&rsquo;s highly ranked, very quant-heavy, and is well known among top investment banks and consulting firms. Average starting pay is around &pound;60,000&ndash;&pound;65,000, and placement into IB and buy-side roles is strong.
UCL has been growing fast in reputation, helped by its Canary Wharf location and strong academic standards. Graduates typically land &pound;55,000&ndash;&pound;60,000 roles in asset management, fintech, and banking. Bayes (formerly Cass) is respected for its connections to City firms, especially for trading and corporate finance roles. KCL is the weakest of the four in finance-specific brand value &mdash; it&rsquo;s strong academically, but recruiters in banking tend to prefer Imperial, UCL, or Bayes. For pure IB recruiting, Imperial > UCL > Bayes > KCL is a fair ranking.

Mansih K · Answer

A lot of applicants assume all London schools carry the same weight, but banks don&rsquo;t view them equally.
&bull; Imperial MSc Finance has the clearest brand with big banks. It&rsquo;s tough to get in, but graduates often go straight into IB, consulting, or trading roles. &bull; UCL&rsquo;s MSc Finance is newer but is quickly building credibility, especially with placements in asset management and fintech. Its Canary Wharf location makes networking easier. &bull; Bayes is still solid for finance careers. It may not rank as high internationally as Imperial or UCL, but its links to the City give an edge in securing internships and mid-tier IB roles. &bull; KCL is more of a general academic name than a finance feeder school. It doesn&rsquo;t hurt, but it won&rsquo;t be prioritized for IB recruiting compared to the other three.
If the target is front-office IB or top consulting, Imperial is the safest bet. UCL is the rising alternative, Bayes works well for City roles, and KCL is best seen as a backup.

Jayant M · Answer

For finance jobs in London, Imperial clearly has the strongest brand among the four. It&rsquo;s a semi-target for most top banks and asset management firms, with many graduates entering investment banking, trading, or risk roles at firms like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Citi. The curriculum is also highly quantitative, which appeals to recruiters hiring for front-office or analytics-based positions.
Bayes (formerly Cass) comes second for finance-focused placement, with excellent industry links and strong representation in mid-tier banks, boutique firms, and insurance. UCL has broader academic prestige but slightly weaker finance-specific recruiting, while KCL tends to place more students into consulting and corporate roles than pure finance.
If your goal is front-office banking or markets in London, Imperial gives the best combination of recognition, technical rigor, and employer access, followed by Bayes.