ESSEC MSc Finance Review

Key Takeaways:

1. Program Overview: The ESSEC MFin program offers a robust curriculum that covers core finance subjects such as corporate finance, financial markets, and risk management, along with specialized electives.
2. Class Profile: The program boasts a diverse cohort with students from over 30 nationalities, an average age of 26, and a mix of professional backgrounds including finance, consulting, and engineering.
3. Salary and Employment: Graduates of the ESSEC MFin program report an average starting salary of €75,000, with an employment rate of 95% within three months of graduation. Top recruiters include leading firms in banking, consulting, and asset management.
4. Tuition Fees: The tuition fee for the ESSEC MFin program is €30,000, offering a strong return on investment given the high salary and employment rates of graduates.

Introduction

ESSEC Business School is a French grandes école having campuses in Singapore and Morocco, and is situated in Paris, France. Along with ESCP and HEC Paris, ESSEC is considered as one of the trois Parisiennes (three Parisians). It has earned the AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA triple crown accreditations.

The ESSEC MSc Finance review is useful for individuals desiring to gain a quick overview of the program and the school. The program has been continually ranking at number 5 as per Financial Times amongst the best Master in Finance program globally.

The program is tailored for those potential students aspiring to pursue a career in Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, FinTech, Asset, and Fund Management, Risk Management; and hold positions in investment banks and most esteemed financial institutions.

Essec MFin Class Profile

ESSEC MSc Finance program has a highly diverse class profile, with students from various nationalities, backgrounds, and professional experiences. The program typically attracts students with undergraduate degrees in finance, economics, engineering, mathematics, or other quantitative fields.

The class size is relatively small, with around 70-80 students per cohort, ensuring an intimate and personalized learning experience. The gender distribution is fairly balanced, with roughly 40% female students. The average age of students is around 22-25 years, and many students come with prior work experience in the finance industry or related fields.

The program values diversity and inclusivity, and seeks to cultivate a dynamic learning environment that encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and cross-cultural exchange. Overall, the class profile of ESSEC MSc Finance is highly diverse and brings together a range of perspectives, experiences, and insights that enrich the learning experience for all.

Acceptance Rate

ESSEC is one of Europe’s top business schools and is well-known in France. If you’re wondering if you have what it takes to succeed at Essec, consider this: the acceptance rate is only 13.7 percent for ESSEC MSc Finance, which means you’ll be competing against nearly 85 percent of other applications for Master in Finance program.

Acceptance Rate- 13.7

Essec MFin Rankings

The ESSEC Master in Finance (MFin) program consistently ranks among the top in the world, recognized for its academic excellence, global reputation, and career outcomes. Below are some of the prominent rankings for ESSEC MFin:

Program and Curriculum

The ESSEC MSc Finance, recognized as a Master’s degree by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Science, is a graduate program personalized to individual goals and objectives. The course program provides 3 unique specialization tracks, namely -Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, and FinTech & Analytics, explained below:

• Corporate Finance Track: This track can be targeted by people interested in mergers and acquisitions, financial analysis, firm valuation, transaction services, structured financing, private equity, and equity (ECM) and debt (DCM) capital markets. It is offered at both the Paris and Singapore campuses.
• Financial Markets Track: This programme, offered at both the Paris and Singapore campuses, is geared toward people interested in careers in front and middle offices, such as financial product sales and structuring, trading, quantitative finance, risk management, and asset and portfolio management.
• FinTech & Analytics Track: This course, offered at the Singapore campus, is geared toward people interested in quantitative asset and risk management, data-driven market making and trading, quant hedge funds, and occupations involving the automation of traditional finance operations using technology and analytics.

The full-time program is versatile and includes- 2 study trips to significant financial centres (London and New York or Hong Kong), an internship or academic dissertation, and the chance of obtaining FinTech & Analytics, Energy & Commodities, and/or AMF certifications.

Core Courses:

Their core courses provide a foundational understanding of essential concepts in finance, equipping students and professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in the financial industry. These core courses are mentioned below:

• Corporate Financial Management
• Financial Markets
• Introduction Seminar to Financial Careers
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Firm Valuation
• Private Equity
• Fixed Income
• Advanced Derivative Markets
• Volatility Trading
• Digital Financial Platforms & Intermediation
• Financial Econometrics
• Python and Machine Learning

Elective Courses 

These Elective courses provide an opportunity to customize your education, aligning it with your career goals and personal interests :

• International Finance
• Wealth Management
• Portfolio Theory & Investment Analysis
• Coaching CFA
• Financial Econometrics
• Energy & Commodity Markets & Products
• Financial Risk Management
• Commodity Markets & Energy Products
• Fixed Income
• Advanced Derivative Markets

Specialisations:

• Corporate Finance
• Financial Markets
• FinTech & Analytics

Extra activities

 ESSEC Business School recognizes the importance of extracurricular involvement, encouraging students to participate in a wide array of activities that complement their academic pursuits.

Student Clubs:

• ESSEC Rugby Team
• ESSEC Sailing
• ESSEC Riding Team
• Extreme ESSEC
• ESSEC Football
• Humanitarian Associations

Projects: 

Since Master in Finance students have the flexibility to either carry out an internship or to write an academic dissertation, the academic dissertation is an alternative to the internship that students are required to undertake in their end-term. It constitutes an autonomous and individual study on a novel topic pertaining to any financial area covered by the program. The goal is to provide the first full and original research experience to the students.

Educational Trips: 

As part of their Master’s in Finance curriculum, students get the opportunity to go for 2 study trips to the major financial hubs of London and New York or Hong Kong and it justifies the MFin in France cost. 

Fees and Financing

The tuition fees for the ESSEC Master in Finance (MFin) program are approximately €44,000. To help manage costs, ESSEC offers several financing options, including merit-based scholarships that can cover up to 50% of the fees, flexible installment plans, and partnerships with banks offering favorable loan terms. Students may also explore company sponsorships to help finance their education.

Employment Upon Graduation

Graduates of the ESSEC Master in Finance (MFin) program enjoy strong employment prospects, with many securing roles at top global financial institutions. Within six months of graduation, over 98% of students find employment, thanks to the program’s strong industry connections and the extensive ESSEC alumni network.

Graduates often pursue careers in investment banking, asset management, corporate finance, and consulting, with major employers including firms like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Deloitte. The program's focus on practical, real-world finance skills ensures that students are well-prepared to thrive in competitive global markets.

Please refer Essec MFin Careers for a detailed analysis of Essec MFin Salary

Essec MFin Application: Essays and Interview Questions

Essays 

ESSEC MSc Finance requires one SOP and 2 essays.

The Statement of Purpose is a Free format letter which is employed by ESSEC to give you a portal to

Introduce yourself in a brief paragraph
Talk about Why ESSEC, Why the MFin program & How it can help you to achieve your career goals.

Essay 1 

What matters most to you, and why? Tell us the values and experiences that have shaped the person you are (maximum 400 words)

Essay 2 

Provide to the Admission Committee any relevant additional information (not already detailed in the rest of your application) (maximum 300 words)

Interview Questions

Preparing for an interview for the ESSEC Master in Management (MiM) program is a crucial step toward securing admission to this prestigious program. The interview process aims to assess not only your academic qualifications but also your motivation, interpersonal skills, and alignment with the program's values. Here are some potential ESSEC MiM interview questions to help you prepare:

Interview Question Set 

Q: Which other colleges did you apply to? Did you have any interviews before us?
Q: What are you passionate about and how do you follow your passions?
Q: Why the MFin, why not an MBA?
Q: Why do you want to study in France?
Q: Why not study in your native place, and apply for one of the top schools?
Q: What are you passionate about? and how do you follow your passions?
Q: Why did you choose ESSEC?
Q: How did you decide which schools you want to apply to?
Q: We are interested in people who think about more than just themselves. So give me an incident where you helped someone else grow.
Q: What did you find different in ESSEC compared to the other schools?

What Makes ESSEC MSc Finance Unique

A few factors makes ESSEC MSc Finance unique

Global Recognition: ESSEC Business School is well-recognised around the world for its MFin program. ESSEC has received the Triple Crown Accreditation; i.e., AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA. In addition to this, the university has been accredited as the official master degree by French Government. To add a cherry on the top, ESSEC has been consistently ranked among the best programs globally

Spectacular career prospects: The school’s career statistics depict a 100% employment rate (100% of graduates found their job within 3 months of graduation). In addition to this, around 93% of graduates got a job within 1 month of graduation. Furthermore, almost 90% of graduates hold a job with a global dimension. 

MFin Program Highlights: The MFin program at ESSEC Business School is a culmination of multiple unique features like two study trips to London and New York or Hong Kong and the CFA Program Partner. In addition to this, students have an access to the European markets and the Asian markets, while studying at ESSEC’s Paris and Singapore campuses respectively. 

Professional Events: The students can explore professional events to ace their career pathways. These professional events include the following:

• International Finance Forum: In mid-October, students will have the opportunity to meet recruiters from major banks and financial institutions from around the world at the International Finance Forum on the ESSEC Cergy campus and the Finance Get-Together Session in Singapore, where you will be able to rub shoulders with major banks and financial institutions from around the world.
• Finance Forum with CentraleSupélec: Students from CentraleSupélec, a famous French engineering school, are invited to attend a Finance Forum with
• CentraleSupélec in London. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network with finance recruiters and practitioners in London.

Useful Links

Conclusion

ESSEC Master in Finance (MSc Finance) stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of financial education. Aspiring finance professionals who embark on this transformative journey find themselves immersed in a program that seamlessly blends academic rigor with real-world relevance.