Postgraduate degrees in Finance are a great option for graduates who wish to pursue careers in the field of Finance. Such courses are ideal for people who love playing with numbers and have great analytical and mathematical abilities. In India, you will generally receive a M.Sc. in Finance or a Master’s in Finance and Control (M.F.C) if you’re pursuing a postgraduate course in Finance.
What is the difference between an M.B.A degree in Finance and a Masters in Finance?
The basic difference between an M.B.A in Finance (or any other field) and a Master’s degree in Finance is that an M.B.A is a broader concept and focuses on many aspects of a business including aspects that are not related to finance as well such as Human Resource Management, Marketing etc. On the other hand, a Master’s in Finance is a much more specialized concept and mainly focuses on Finance related subjects such as Accounting, Fund Management, Investment Analysis etc.
M.B.As find jobs as entry – level, mid – level and senior – level managers in different types of companies and organizations. However, a graduate with a Masters degree in Finance will find jobs in specialized areas related to field of Commerce, Banking, Finance and Accounts. Graduates in Finance go on to work as Financial Consultants, Equity Managers, Hedge Fund Managers, and Investment Bankers etc.
What are the prospects?
Degrees in finance have always been sought after around the world. However, the unstable economic environment that prevails today has further increased the demand for graduates with qualifications in finance.
Companies do not want to take risks and need people with financial and analytical acumen to minimize risks, maximize profits and devise sound financial strategies. Professionals with degrees in finance are ideal candidates for such roles and a big company generally hires a large number of finance graduates to perform these functions.
What are the types of courses available across the world?
Even though degrees in finance are widely available and reputed abroad, they are not offered by most universities in India. Therefore, you will often hear of people going abroad to universities in countries like the U.S, U.K, and Canada etc. to pursue postgraduate courses in Finance. Financial hubs of the world like London, New York etc. provide finance graduates with tremendous employment and educational opportunities in the field of Finance.
Most of the courses in Finance that are offered abroad are quite sought after and admissions are pretty competitive. You would generally be required to have qualified in the GMAT or the GRE to be eligible for admission.
It can be very useful to have some relevant work experience in the field of finance as this will improve the credibility and strength of your application for admission as well as provide you with more clarity with regards to why you wish to pursue a career in Finance and whether you have the right aptitude for it or not.
Are there any postgraduate Finance courses available in India?
Some postgraduate courses in Finance are available in India, even though they are very few in number. The content of these courses is very similar to international finance courses and jobs are available if you have the right aptitude.
Some of the reputed postgraduate courses in Finance available in India are mentioned below:
Master of Finance and Control (MFC) – Department of Financial Studies, Delhi University
The MFC course offered by the Department of Financial Studies, Delhi University is one of the most popular finance courses in the country. It is finance – centric course and provides students with opportunities to learn about important aspects of finance and management.
The purpose of the course is to develop conceptual and analytical skills in students that can help them make sound financial decisions. Upon completion of the course, students find jobs in various fields related to finance such as Corporate Finance, International Finance, Merchant Banking, Capital and Money Markets, Portfolio Management, Investment Advisory Services, Venture Capital etc.
The duration of the course is 2 years and admissions are conducted on the basis of the score of the applicants in the CAT examination. Applicants who are short listed on the basis of their scores in the CAT examination are asked to appear for a Group Discussion and/or a Personal Interview. Their final selection depends on their performance in the CAT, Group Discussion and/or Interview.
Click on the following link for more information: http://mfc.edu/mfc.php?id=4
M.Sc. Finance – Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, University of Mumbai
The M.Sc. in Finance course offered by the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) is a reputed course in the field of finance with a strong focus on the fundamentals of Mathematics and Statistics in Finance. The course mixes academic knowledge along with practical training and experience to develop students into dynamic finance professionals.
Upon completion of the course, graduates will find jobs in organizations like investment banks, broking firms, private equity firms, insurance companies, portfolio management companies etc.
The duration of the course is 2 years and admissions are conducted on the basis of an entrance test conducted every year. Candidates who qualify in the entrance test have to appear for a Group Discussion and/or an Interview. The final decision regarding your admission will be taken after considering your performance in the entrance examination, Group Discussion and/or Interview.
To be eligible for admission into the course, you should be a graduate in any field with a minimum aggregate percentage of 50%. Additionally, you would also be required to have studies Mathematics as a compulsory subject during higher secondary school or at least during the 1st year of your Bachelors degree course.
Click on the following link for more information: http://www.jbims.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=501&Itemid=232
