MSc Finance – Imperial vs LSE vs HEC Paris: Which one is better for landing IB or PE roles in London?

Question

I’m deciding between Imperial College MSc Finance, LSE MSc Finance, and HEC Paris Master in International Finance. My end goal is to break into investment banking, asset management, or private equity in London. From what I’ve seen, all three programs are well-ranked — but I’m looking for clarity on which one really offers the best career prospects in terms of placement rates, alumni support, and how banks in London view each school.
Would love to hear from anyone who’s been through these programs or knows how they’re perceived by recruiters in the UK finance industry.

S Raghav · Accepted Answer

Getting into PE in London without a target school is already hard ,  and that&rsquo;s where the real gap shows.
&bull; LSE has the deepest alumni presence in UK finance. It&rsquo;s seen as the default &ldquo;target&rdquo; for most London offices, including top PE funds. &bull; HEC punches above its location &mdash; London banks treat it as a core target, but early networking is key since full-time roles are competitive. &bull; Imperial&rsquo;s MSc Finance has grown fast, but it&rsquo;s still not a top-tier brand for IB or PE in London. More grads end up in middle/back office or risk roles. &bull; Placement rates are highest at LSE, not just because of name but because of volume &mdash; more events, more employer ties, more visibility. &bull; HEC&rsquo;s edge is its flexibility &mdash; the Jan intake lets students prep for summer internships in sync with London timelines.
If the endgame is London PE or IB, LSE&rsquo;s positioning gives the clearest head start.

Jayant M · Answer

LSE MSc Finance is still considered the top choice among the three for landing IB and PE roles in London.
Recruiters from all major investment banks and PE firms actively hire from LSE, and the alumni network in UK finance is unmatched. The school has long-standing visibility in the City, and placement into firms like Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, and JPMorgan is consistent.
HEC Paris places well in London too, especially for those aiming at EBs or cross-border M&A teams. But it&rsquo;s slightly more dependent on networking and proactive effort compared to LSE, where on-campus recruitment is stronger.
Imperial&rsquo;s MSc Finance is solid, but its brand in IB still trails LSE and HEC slightly. It&rsquo;s better known for quant and risk roles.
If the goal is specifically PE or elite IB roles in London, LSE remains the safer bet due to its direct pipeline and deeper recruiter relationships.

Divakshi Arora · Answer

For IB and PE in London, LSE and HEC Paris are clearly stronger than Imperial. LSE MSc Finance benefits most from being in London &mdash; constant networking, firm presentations, and an alumni base that&rsquo;s everywhere across M&A and trading floors. Banks like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Citi hire heavily here, and average salaries of &pound;70K+ in front-office roles make ROI solid.
HEC Paris MiF is also highly targeted, especially for students aiming at PE. Its global ranking is top tier, and firms like Blackstone, KKR, and Rothschild regularly hire grads. The program also allows a gap year, which helps build multiple internships before full-time recruiting.
Imperial does well in finance overall, but its MSc Finance grads are seen more in asset management, Big 4 advisory, or quant-heavy jobs. IB hires happen, but not on the same scale as LSE or HEC.

B.K Sharma · Answer

If the goal is London IB or PE, think about how each school actually helps you get in.
LSE gives you proximity and network. Being in London means every week there are events, coffee chats, and firm presentations. Alumni already at Barclays, Morgan Stanley, or Deutsche Bank often pull students in for interviews. For straight IB recruiting, this makes life easier.
HEC Paris is more about brand strength and structured placements. The MiF has a long track record of sending people into London IB and even PE roles, with names like Blackstone, Evercore, and Lazard on the placement list. The optional gap year is a huge edge &mdash; two internships before graduation gives a stronger profile than most LSE grads.
Imperial is good but sits a step below in IB/PE targeting. It places students into solid roles, but more often in AM, risk, or advisory. If IB/PE is the only goal, it&rsquo;s usually between LSE and HEC.

T Mehta · Answer

For IB and PE roles in London, LSE MSc Finance generally offers the strongest positioning compared to Imperial MSc Finance and HEC Paris MiF. Banks and buy-side firms view LSE as a direct feeder, with placement reports showing around 70&ndash;75% of grads entering finance roles in London each year. The alumni base is massive, and headhunters often prioritize LSE resumes because of the program&rsquo;s reputation in the City.
Imperial&rsquo;s MSc Finance is well respected, but most graduates first move into investment banking analyst roles at firms like Barclays or HSBC, with fewer direct PE exits. Average IB analyst salaries after Imperial sit around &pound;60,000&ndash;70,000 base plus bonuses. HEC Paris MiF, despite being outside the UK, is highly ranked in Europe and has strong placements in Paris and Frankfurt, but fewer direct pipelines into London compared with LSE. If the primary goal is IB/PE in London, LSE gives the clearest advantage.