Interesting Choice: Master in Finance or MBA?

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Written by UnivAdmitHelp
Category: Insights & Information
Published on 02 Mar 2022

MBA is a comprehensive course that is an all-encompassing business program for graduate students. Master in Finance (MF) is a more fine-tuned program with an emphasis on finance-related areas. They both relate to business, but a MF program is much more specialized.

Most Masters in Finance programs is designed for students two years or less out of bachelor, with minimal finance experience. In exception, there are few very good programs for experienced finance professionals such as at London Business School. As for MBA students, most have an average of 4-5 years of experience.

MBA is a more general degree providing rounded education covering everything from HR, Logistics, Operations, Marketing, to Finance. MF, on the other hand, is focused on providing the expertise required to succeed in a specific finance function role. MF is more academic and theoretical, with a textbook and professor-led approach. The MBA, meanwhile, has a more practical focus through peer learning, case studies, real-world projects, and teamwork.

Figurative: Collaborative work emphasised in MBA

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MBA candidates advance their finance coursework from a managerial perspective, which is consistent with their goals of gaining a management or leadership position after graduation. However, an MF student, training at an initial stage, directly after graduation works towards an Analyst (individual contributor) type role.

For the MF program, both core classes and electives must all be focused on finance. On the other hand, as a sweeping degree, an MBA has more leeway. MBA candidates can complete more than one concentration, so a student could specialize in both finance and marketing for example. MBA program flexibility also allows students to switch tracks if they decide finance isn’t for them after taking a core introduction class.

In conclusion, to choose between studying Masters in Finance abroad and MBA abroad, one needs to consider his/her current position, learning goals, career goals i.e. possible career path options pre and post the course, and the time one is willing to commit (MBAs are usually 2 years whilst MF is one year long).

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