All AnswersWhich are the best MFin colleges abroad that accept students without a finance background?
Asked by A.D Singh about 2 months ago
Software Developer
A finance degree isn’t mandatory at many top MFin schools — but some preparation definitely helps.
- Oxford’s MFin accepts candidates from diverse academic paths, including STEM and social sciences, as long as they demonstrate strong analytical skills.
- HEC Paris, ESSEC, and IE in Europe are known to take non-finance applicants who can show motivation and some exposure to finance — internships, online courses, or side projects.
- US schools like Columbia and Duke are more competitive for non-finance students, but still doable with a good GRE/GMAT and evidence of interest in financial careers.
- It helps to highlight any data, math, or econ-related experience — even if it came from a research paper, startup, or coursework.
- Taking CFA Level 1 or doing short finance courses on platforms like Coursera or Wall Street Prep can strengthen the case.
What schools really want is proof that the student can keep up and has a reason to pursue finance now — not just the right degree.
For more details you can read this blog on "Masters in Finance Abroad"
Senior Assistant Manager in Operations Management
You don’t need a finance degree to get into top MFin programs. Schools like LSE, Imperial, Frankfurt School, IE, and ESCP accept students from diverse academic paths including engineering, economics, and even physics.
- At Imperial College London, students from tech and data science backgrounds are common—strong grades in probability, regression analysis, econometrics, and discrete math carry weight
- LSE mentions that applicants without a finance degree are welcome if they’ve done well in quant-heavy subjects. A recent Indian BSc (Math) grad with 7.8 CGPA and no full-time experience got into LSE MSc Finance with just two research projects, CFA Level 1, and a 670 GMAT Focus
- Frankfurt School and ESCP even offer prep courses in accounting and corporate finance during the first term, easing the transition for non-finance students
Schools assess quant ability more than academic label, course grades, test scores, and internships show readiness. If the profile shows math strength and career focus, top MFin colleges abroad don’t require a finance background.
For more details you can read this blog on "Top schools for Masters in Finance"
Seo Executive
The best MFin colleges abroad that accept students without a finance background include MIT Sloan, LBS, HEC Paris, ESSEC, Bocconi, and LSE. These programs focus more on quantitative ability than your degree title.
MIT Sloan, ranked #1 (QS 2024), admits students with backgrounds in engineering, economics, or math. One Indian BTech (Mechanical) student with an 8.4 CGPA, CFA Level 1, two finance internships, and a 690 GMAT Focus got in with no full-time experience.
HEC Paris accepted a BCom graduate from Mumbai University (72%) with a finance internship, strong grades in accounting, statistics, and linear algebra, and a 665 GMAT Focus.
Schools look for math-heavy coursework—like calculus, statistics, econometrics, or programming—plus clarity of goals. Some offer prep modules in corporate finance or Excel modeling for non-finance students.
With the right mix of academics and interest, top MFin programs don’t require a finance degree, they want strong quant skills and a clear career path.
Business analyst
Several top MFin programs abroad accept students without a finance background, as long as they show strong quantitative ability and career focus. MIT Sloan’s MFin is one example — while most students have some exposure to economics or math, many come from engineering or even liberal arts, provided they’ve taken quant-heavy coursework.
LBS, Bocconi, and ESADE also welcome applicants from non-finance fields. What matters is showing clarity on why finance now, and backing it up with internships, certifications like CFA Level 1, or courses in accounting and Excel.
Schools in Europe tend to be more flexible than the US in this regard. Programs like HEC Paris and ESCP look at diversity of backgrounds as a plus, not a minus — as long as the applicant can handle the technical content.
So even without a finance degree, a strong profile with quant skills, clear goals, and relevant exposure can get you into top MFin programs.