Which is the best MS in Finance among Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and UCL for international students?

Question

I’m mainly comparing them in terms of employment outcomes in London and visa sponsorship after the 2-year post-study work visa. Which one actually gives better career opportunities?

V Ritik · Accepted Answer

For international students aiming at finance jobs in London, Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE usually lead the pack over UCL. Employers in banking, consulting, and asset management tend to recognize Oxford and Cambridge as global brands, which helps a lot when competing for graduate roles. LSE stands out because of its strong ties to London recruiters and heavy placement in investment banking and trading.
UCL has been improving, but recruiters still don&rsquo;t place it at the same level as the other three. In terms of employment, LSE and Oxford grads are more visible on the London job market, especially in IB and markets roles. Visa sponsorship isn&rsquo;t usually an issue if you secure a Tier 2 sponsor &mdash; banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Barclays regularly hire from these schools. The real challenge is getting the role first, and that&rsquo;s where the reputation of Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE gives a clear edge.

T Mehta · Answer

The tricky part isn&rsquo;t the degree itself, but how London firms actually view these schools when hiring internationals. Among the four, LSE has the strongest recruiting presence on the ground. Most bulge-bracket banks run pipelines with LSE every year, and a large chunk of their grad intakes include LSE students.
Here&rsquo;s how they usually compare:

LSE: Best for direct IB and markets jobs in London, huge alumni base in the City.
Oxford and Cambridge: Excellent for global credibility and long-term career progression, also strong for consulting and buy-side roles.
UCL: Decent for corporate finance or middle-office roles, but less consistent in high finance placements.

One detail people miss &mdash; Cambridge&rsquo;s finance program is relatively smaller, so the career office can sometimes offer more tailored support. That makes a difference when applying for competitive London internships before the 2-year visa runs out.