Annual London Finance Study Trip: A Deep Dive into the World of Finance

The MIF/MEF 2024 study trip offered nearly 300 students from the Master in International Finance (MIF) and Master in Economics & Finance (MEF) programs a unique opportunity to engage with London's financial sector. Over the course of four days starting Tuesday 10 September, students attended on-site visits to prominent financial institutions and networking events hosted at the HEC UK House.

“Our students in the Master in International Finance, Major in International of the Master in Management, and X-HEC Double Degree Data & Finance Master programs had an intense but very rewarding week visiting 50+ financial institutions. The many interactions that they've had with investment bankers, hedge fund managers, private equity partners allowed them to better understand the inner workings of the financial industry, positions therein, and the hiring opportunities and processes. The evening networking sessions with the HEC Paris alumni were also greatly appreciated, as they allow weaving links across generations ex- and current students. We are delighted to be able to provide such opportunities to all students within the realm of our London Study Trip”.

Evren Örs, Director of the Master in International Finance

“The students of Major and Master in Economics and Finance spent three days visiting prominent financial institutions and economic consulting companies. They discovered new job functions and gained lots of valuable insights from top professionals in the field. In particular, what it takes to build a successful career in the domain they aspire to enter. They greatly valued the opportunity to interact with HEC alumni who shared many valuable advice with them.”

Ai-Ting Goh, Director of the Master in Economics & Finance

This year’s trip enabled students to step into some of the biggest names in the industry, including investment banks, private equity funds, M&A boutiques, and consulting. Our corporate partners opened their doors to the students, providing a closer look at how they operate. During these sessions, students had the chance to listen to industry experts and ask questions about the current finance landscape in order to understand the wide variety of roles and career opportunities in finance, while gaining a clearer picture of what the finance industry looks like from the inside. These visits were not just about observing as students also had the opportunity to engage with professionals through panel discussions and case studies that further enhanced this hands-on exposure.

Networking was a key part of the trip as several events were held at HEC UK House. These events were attended by more than 75 alumni working in the financial sector, giving students a valuable opportunity to expand their networks. In a welcoming environment, students were able to engage in one-on-one conversations with professionals, learn about their career paths, and receive advice on internships and job applications. These connections are expected to be a valuable resource as students prepare to enter the competitive finance job market.

The study trip to London gave students a meaningful opportunity to connect their academic knowledge with real-world experience. These experiences also sparked greater interest in certain firms and banks that highlighted their distinct work cultures and career opportunities. Thus, this trip was a major step for the students in exploring potential career paths and building relationships with industry experts, including HEC alumni, who could help them as they move forward in their finance careers.

The students highly rated their trip, with an average satisfaction rate of c.90%! This trip was a great experience that offered the students interesting perspectives about a career in finance: “The diversity of the companies was very interesting as it helped me broaden my career prospects”, “This gave me a lot of confidence looking at my future career”, “Diversity of companies and employee profiles, networking and cohesion event for the promotion, and well-organized trip.”

Companies and financial institutions also highly appreciated the experience: 100% of the companies who responded to the feedback would like to be part of the event next year!

“The finance study trip is an excellent way to kick off the academic year. Our goal is to provide students with the chance to gain insight into the cultures of companies they aspire to join, while also expanding their career horizons in financial services. We extend our gratitude to all our alumni and the companies that hosted us this week, making the trip another great success. We look forward to seeing our students back in London next year, whether for internships or full-time roles!”

Laura Saint-Lo, Deputy Director of HEC in the UK

NOTE ABOUT THE HEC UK OFFICE – did you know HEC Paris has an office in London? To follow its activities and for more information - Follow HEC in the UK Linkedin Page and Instagram account