MSc Finance & Private Equity Student Profiles

Chang Yin

I got my Bachelor of Science degree from New York University with the honor of Summa Cum Laude.

When comparing finance programs in the US/UK, I realized that if I want to have solid exposure to practical financial skills in one of the world's financial centers, this program was a unique choice. And its focus on private equity, which is missing in most other programs, is attractive for students who are interested and want to break into PE right after graduation

The program not only provides students with a good reputation for job searching and solid skills from case studies, but another highlight is that the department arranges pre-sessions before the start as well as frequent networking events throughout the program to familiarize students with each other and with graduated alumni, and this is also how the program as a whole become a more connected community.

I encourage every student to participate in all of the activities that the department has designed with effort so that you can maximize your enjoyment of the year and build a wide range of connections with fellow students, alumni, or friendly and caring people within the department.

I am finishing the summer analyst program at J.P. Morgan in the Asset & Wealth Management Department, and will further explore my career through the program’s Work Placement Pathway after the internship.

Kadiata Kaba

I studied BSc Economics and Finance at the University of East Anglia in the UK. After my final/3rd year and just before joining LSE, I did an internship in Finance at Hayfin Capital Management, a private credit bank.

During my undergraduate degree programme, I discovered a strong interest in Finance. When I started doing my research, I quickly realised LSE was amongst the top universities in all trusted rankings. This was the ideal environment that fit my interest yet would challenge me to work at its reputed standard and widen my knowledge multidimensionally. Also, the idea of studying with the brightest students from all around the world excited me enormously. I am truly inspired by people's stories, cultural backgrounds, personal experiences and ideas, allowing me to bring my side of the story and embrace others.

Another reason that attracted me to choose the programme was to be taught by the best academics in the world. I came across some of their papers and I thought being at such a prestigious research university would add another layer of a deeper understanding of the topics taught in class.

I had never lived in a capital city before, so LSE being in London was definitely a bonus. Students who have a strong career desire in finance and want to collaborate with the brightest academics, speakers, and peers should absolutely apply to the programme. It not only boosts your academic acumen, but it will support your professional development in the field.

Some highlights of the programme:

• Case studies: I totally loved the practical nature of the programme. It combines academic thinking with real-world practical solutions. I had never worked with case studies before, so I learnt to engage with different cases, each showcasing different financial topics. I also liked that case studies allowed collaboration with fellow students to deliver high standards and innovative solutions. - Skills: I learned financial modelling during the course. Besides lectures, we also had modelling training sessions which was tremendously helpful.
• Buyout competition: My team won the 12th Annual LSE Private Equity Case Competition. This was truly a group effort my teammates and I worked hard to achieve. - Networking sessions: The events were great to make more connections in the City and also find out about different careers in finance paths from people who were already working in different positions. They were also great for job applications advice.
• Long-lasting friends: I am so grateful that I was able to build strong bonds with my classmates. Being all different but at the same time having the same interest in finance created an invaluable support system.
• LSE Africa Summit 2023: Attending this conference made me more knowledgeable about ongoing issues the African continent is facing. Listening to the speakers who were from diverse leading academic institutions and held different leadership positions were both very enriching and encouraging.
• Graduation Trip to Greece: This was a wonderful wrap of the whole programme. It was so well organised, and we had plenty of activities booked to enjoy and explore the city. It was fantastic to be able to relax after final exams and assignments in such a memories-building place.

My advice to prospective students:

• I would strongly recommend preparing before lectures and always ask questions. Have the goal to ask one question per class. This way you are able to engage in class and also improve your communication skills. When you speak up, you are also building your reputation as someone willing to share their ideas to benefit the wider class.
• Before joining the start of the pre-sessional programme, if you do not know it already, spend time finding out what career in finance you like the most. You can do this by messaging people on LinkedIn or doing several online courses online related to different jobs in finance.
• It is important to be able to build and understand financial modelling and accounting. In parallel, practice your Excel shortcuts daily. This is particularly relevant for investment roles.
• If your interest lies within asset management, I highly recommend having a demo account to practice some trading experience.
• It is good to familiarise yourself with business news. I advise you to read daily a newspaper of your choice. My personal favourite is the FT. Also, try to identify an industry of preference when reading the news.

After the programme, I am joining the Industrials Investment Banking Team at Citi as a summer intern in London.

Emil Schaefer

Coming from a non-business background, I was looking to gain both an academic appreciation of and real-world insights into the finance world. The Master in Finance and Private Equity at LSE promised to combine the best of both worlds: a university known for its academic rigour and, on the other side, highly applied courses, especially across topics in corporate finance. In addition, I was excited to join a highly international cohort, and be able to study right in Europe‘s financial centre.

There are too many programme highlights that come to mind, but the absolute highlight has to be our graduation trip to Thessaloniki, Greece with approx. 90 students and staff! Coming together for a week to celebrate across beach days, vineyard tours and so much more really was a worthy final to an amazing year. Similarly, I could name our finance graduation ball, trip to Brighton or so many other great opportunities to come together with our peers and make lifetime friends. Yet, coursework featured some real highlights, including having worked on and pitched an own startup idea, a buyout proposal, and more - the access to learn from THE leading minds across academics and industry is a true privilege!

My advice to any prospective student on the MSc Finance (and Private Equity) programme: The programme really is what you make of it. Going into it with a clear idea of what you want to get out of it (for me it was forming deep connections above all) will help you navigate stressful phases that the programme will certainly hold. The start of the programme is especially hectic for many, as a lot of the class is busy interviewing for jobs. Don’t forget to celebrate having made it to LSE in the first place. It’s an amazing community, so enjoy the ride!

Upon graduation, I will be joining KKR.

Dhruv Goyal

I undertook my undergraduate studies in Mumbai, India, where I specialised in a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Statistics and Analytics. Subsequently, I gained experience working as a Quantitative Analyst at Equity Data Science, also based in Mumbai.

My attraction to the MSc Finance & Private Equity programme at the London School of Economics was two-fold. Firstly, the international prestige and recognition the course enjoys, and secondly, the unparalleled access to leading finance professionals and globally renowned companies in London. I would advocate for this programme to anyone looking to acquire an exhaustive, rigorous knowledge of finance and aspiring to venture into a finance-oriented career.

The programme offered a rich blend of intellectual stimulation and practical insights. It gathered an exceptionally bright group of students and was guided by eminent academics. One of the standout experiences was the regular interaction with established Private Equity and Venture Capital professionals, who visited our Private Equity module almost weekly. They shared their invaluable experiences and analysed real-world case studies with us.

Upon graduating, I will start at Alphadyne Asset Management as an Investment Intern in their London office.