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Hi DCFC , summing up most of the threads on MSc course between Cass MTF / LSE MScFin / LBS MSc Fin I have a couple of questions for you since you are an experienced HH and have a good knowledge of the market needs , wants and in general the quality of candidates entering programmes and ones finishing it + post finishing leverage as such. FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE READING THIS THREAD - THE OPINION EXPRESSED WILL BE AN INDEPENDENT / NO STRINGS ATTACHED ONE AND BY NO MEANS MEANT TO INFLUENCE ANYONE'S DECISION.Have summed up my questions in terms of three Cases which seem to fit avery broad audience reading this forum and whose concerns are generally with the above names courses.Case 1 Person with 2/3 years practical derivatives structuring / trading / sales / marketing experience in front officeEducation - BEcon (with undergrad stats and math modules) + Masters degree in Management (MSc Management / MBA etc with a focus / major in Finance) . good broad knowledge of Statistics and Mathematics but by no means a PDE solver / Quant and no capability to think like oneQuestion - Will the MTF add any leverage as such considering the practical hands on derivatives and risk management exposure he/she possesses. How difficult will be for a person with such a background to survive the MTF and further more leverage it in the market to get a better salary / lateral movement in more or less similar roles as before where the extra knowledge gained through the MTF could be helpful .Considering the finance and economics background of such a person wouldnt the LSE MSFin and LBS MSFin be a bit of a repetition of knowledge - Main Factor here is - The huge reputation of LSE and LBS over CASS per se. How would a HH like you view this. (Knowledge in pure derivs over LSE/LBS name or vice versa)Case 2Person with no work experience , straight out of business school / university with BEcon and MSc in semi quant subjects (stats, op research , economics etc.) or an MBA / MSc Management (Major Finance ) wanting to break into the derivatives world Which one is better MSc MTF / MSc Fin LSE / MSc Fin LBS - Here the name of the school might help rather than the pure derivs knowledge . Paradox is that coming out a good school might get one an interview but not necessarily the pure deriv knowledge in line with the role applied for / needed by employer etc..What are your views on this ?Case 3 Person with no work experience and a quantitative background BMath / MSc Math etc..who needs a broad finance knowledge and wanting to keep options open to get into the financial industry rather than narrowing it down too much to derivatives alone Which one is a better leverage in this case. Of course if such a person wants to do derivatives wouldnt he / she be better off doing a MSc Mathematical Fin rather than the MTF Finally here is a Q on behalf of a friend - How can a person with a degree in Business studies convince a HH that he/she is very very good at Math. (ie topper at A levels / Top marks in all Math oriented business courses , intuitive mind etc.) and whos learnt much intermediate to advanced Math doing self study rather than passing exams .I believe everyone here including me would greatly appreciate your opinion and views.Thanks

Case 1:I think they will get to the end of the course intact, though obviously with a bit of hard work.Whether it's worth it is harder to say.There's a bit of a variable in the quality of the both the degrees you have and the one you might be taught, but it'a hard to see a big return. You lose salary in this time as well as the cost of the course.Also some hiring managers really don't like people with two masters degrees in similar subjects.If the 2nd masters is in a much better place can help, but is on the margins.Case 2:I think you're right, but if you put the effort in to study the maths they don't teach you in these courses, can be swung.I don't have a strong feeling about the relatrive merits of the three place. If forced to choose, I'd pick the one that had the most things in it you didn't understand. Case 3:Can do the CQF, or the evening MSc's at Birkbeck et al. Hard, but less expensive.Final question.You might as well shout calculus at your dog as try to talk to most HHs about your maths. They do it by keyword matching, and not very good algorithms at that.That being said, your friend probably couldn't convince us either. Clearly he has some potential, but unless he is some sort of Gauss, he will need education to be of any use to a bank.

Thanks a ton DCFC

so great! Thanks a lot.

Do you have alot of experience in math, DCFC?

Does long division count ?

Thought so

DCFC,Thanks for your indications and given your experience I would like to know your opinion on a fourth scenario: Case 4Person with a good academic record but with an IT background (BSc and MSc in CompSc), some Math (Masters in Statistics) and 6/yrs exp in IT in IBs (29 yrs old), who want to move in the business as junior structurer/trader, not necessarily in an IB.Given the poor knowledge of derivatives and finance in general (apart from the small bits learnt on the job) I believe a MSc such as the MTF from Cass would be necessary. But will such a masters actually give some chance for a career change?How would such a profile (+ the MTF) be considered by recruiters-head hunters? If recruiters look at what a candidate is able to do, age shouldn't be a problem I guess.Hope this case would help others as well.Thanks