Is HEC Paris MFin good for breaking into investment banking roles in Europe?

Question

I’ve been considering applying to the HEC Paris MFin, and I’ve read that it’s ranked really high globally. But I wanted to know how strong it actually is when it comes to investment banking placements. Do graduates get placed in London or Paris offices of top banks like JPM, GS, or Rothschild? Also, how important is it to speak French if the goal is to work in IB in Europe?
I have around 1.5 years of experience in corporate finance and plan to take the GMAT soon. I’m trying to figure out if HEC is still a target school for IB in 2025 or if LBS/LSE would be better. Any insights from alumni or those in the industry would really help.

S Raghav · Accepted Answer

Not knowing French might sound like a dealbreaker &mdash; but for investment banking in London, it&rsquo;s really not.
&bull; HEC MiF grads are regularly placed at top firms in London including GS, JPM, Citi, and Moelis, especially through the Jan intake which aligns with IB summer recruiting. &bull; Paris roles are more accessible if French fluency is there, but it&rsquo;s not essential for London-based roles. &bull; The program has its own career fair focused on finance, and banks actively come to campus to recruit. &bull; The brand still holds strong in 2025, particularly in Europe, though LBS and LSE might offer a broader alumni base in the UK. &bull; Leveraging the HEC alumni network early &mdash; even during the application stage &mdash; gives a solid edge.
Don&rsquo;t skip the GMAT just yet. Even with experience, hitting 700+ keeps doors open at all the top places.
For more details you can read this blog on "HEC Paris MFin Career prospects"

Jayant M · Answer

HEC Paris MFin is still one of the top feeders into investment banking roles in Europe, especially for London and Paris offices. The school has strong ties with bulge bracket and elite boutique banks &mdash; firms like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Rothschild, Lazard, and Evercore consistently hire from the program.
Recruitment events and on-campus interviews are built into the program calendar, and a lot of students land summer internships that convert into full-time offers. Speaking French is helpful for Paris roles, but not a dealbreaker for London placements &mdash; many international grads without French skills land in London IB.
HEC&rsquo;s MiF still carries target-school weight in 2025, particularly if paired with a strong GMAT (700+ helps) and relevant finance experience or internships. One overlooked advantage: the January intake allows time to prep for IB summer roles while studying, which aligns perfectly with recruiting timelines.

Divakshi Arora · Answer

Yes, HEC Paris MFin is one of the top programs in Europe for breaking into investment banking. It&rsquo;s consistently ranked among the best globally, and banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Rothschild actively recruit on campus. Around 60&ndash;70% of graduates land finance roles, with a large share entering front-office investment banking in London and Paris.
French isn&rsquo;t mandatory for London roles, but it can help if targeting Paris or continental Europe, especially for client-facing positions. The school&rsquo;s alumni network in banking is massive &mdash; HEC has one of the strongest pipelines into both bulge bracket and elite boutique firms.
Compared to LBS or LSE, HEC is equally competitive for IB placement. LBS offers slightly better exposure to London networking events, while HEC provides stronger employer ties in both France and the UK, often with smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.

Mansih K · Answer

Breaking into investment banking from HEC Paris MFin is very doable, the program is well-known among European banks.

Most graduates targeting IB end up in London or Paris, often through summer internships that convert to full-time roles.
Banks like JPMorgan, Citi, BNP Paribas, and Lazard visit HEC for on-campus recruitment every year.Speaking French helps mainly for Paris-based roles, but for London placements, English is enough.
The program&rsquo;s structure, with applied finance courses and networking events &mdash; makes it easy to connect with recruiters.
 Alumni presence is strong; you&rsquo;ll find HEC grads across almost every major investment bank in Europe.

If the end goal is front-office IB in London, HEC remains one of the top feeder schools in 2025. LBS or LSE might give more UK-based exposure, but HEC&rsquo;s placement record is just as strong.