Banking conjures images of people in sharp blazers pointing at pie charts loaded with numbers. Many banking and finance roles can be lucrative, and major banks continue to recruit graduates for analyst and early-career roles.
Being a banker can mean many things. You might work as a financial analyst, investment banker, risk analyst, asset manager, or treasury professional. Most banking and finance roles require strong quantitative skills, and many are client-facing, so communication and relationship-building skills are also important.
There are several degrees you can take to get into banking. Economics, accounting, mathematics, statistics, business analytics, and finance can all lead to banking careers. A finance degree is a common route because it focuses directly on financial markets, corporate finance, accounting, valuation, and risk.
Top Banking Schools in the World
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT’s Sloan School of Management is one of the strongest options for students interested in finance and banking. Its finance offerings include the undergraduate 15-3 Finance major, the Master of Finance, and a doctoral specialization in Finance through the Sloan PhD Program. The Master of Finance emphasizes analytical and quantitative skills, customizable coursework, and optional concentrations such as capital markets, corporate finance, financial engineering, climate and social impact finance, and fintech.
MIT also connects students to the industry through action learning. In the Finance Lab, graduate students work in teams on projects proposed by external hosts, helping them apply finance theory to real-world business problems.
2. London School of Economics and Political Science
The London School of Economics and Political Science is one of the leading UK universities for social sciences and a strong option for students interested in banking-related study. It offers a wide range of programs relevant to banking at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including BSc Finance, BSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance, MSc Finance and Private Equity, MSc Finance and Economics, and MSc Finance and Risk.
LSE also gives students access to a major finance research environment. Its Department of Finance is closely associated with the Financial Markets Group and the Systemic Risk Centre, which host seminars, conferences, and public addresses by academics and practitioners.
Studying in London also places students near a major global financial center, including banks such as Barclays and Standard Chartered, both of which have London headquarters or registered offices.
3. University of Oxford
Oxford University’s Master of Science in Financial Economics is jointly offered by Saïd Business School and the Department of Economics. It is a full-time, nine-month program with four core modules and five electives, combining a rigorous academic core with practical applications. The program is geared toward careers in investment banking, asset management, private equity, and management consulting.
Oxford is also a strong option for doctoral study in finance. Saïd Business School offers a full-time DPhil in Finance, and the program includes advanced coursework in areas such as microeconomics, econometrics, financial economics, empirical finance, and professional development. Graduates are generally prepared for research-oriented roles in academia, finance, or policy.
Oxford also offers the Oxford Bank Governance Programme, an executive education course for bank directors and senior leaders.
4. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania’s finance programs are offered through the Wharton School’s Finance Department. Wharton currently lists undergraduate, MBA, PhD, and Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Master of Science in Quantitative Finance programs, making it a strong option for students interested in banking and financial markets.
For undergraduates, Wharton offers finance tracks including Capital Markets and Banking, which covers areas such as investment banking, lending, equity sales and trading, research, and consulting. MBA students can major in finance, and PhD students can specialize in finance research.
Students interested in financial research can also connect with Wharton finance research centers and initiatives, including the Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research and the Jacobs Levy Equity Management Center for Quantitative Financial Research.
5. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School offers a post-experience Master of Finance for finance professionals. Its classes are made up of students who have worked in finance, and applicants need professional finance experience before applying.
Designed in consultation with the banking and finance industry, the Master of Finance combines finance theory with workshops, projects, and practitioner input. Course topics include finance theory, accounting, financial modeling, statistics, and other areas that support careers in banking and finance.
Cambridge also offers a Finance PhD pathway, but progression is not automatic after a master’s degree. Students normally begin through a nine-month MPhil in Finance or MRes route, and those continuing to the PhD must meet academic requirements and secure a committed supervisor.
6. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is one of only two universities with a financial engineering degree program offered solely under the auspices of a business school. Berkeley Haas offers a Master of Financial Engineering that includes 28 units, an Applied Finance Project, and a required 10- to 12-week internship, industry project, or independent study. The program is available as a one-year, full-time program or a two-year, part-time program.
Berkeley Haas also offers a PhD in Business Administration with Finance as a field of study. The PhD is a fully funded, five-year, full-time program, and finance students take doctoral seminars while developing strong research skills in areas such as financial economics, statistics, and quantitative methods.
7. University of Chicago
While the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business does not offer a standalone banking degree, it has deep finance offerings through its MBA finance concentration, Finance PhD dissertation area, and Joint Program in Financial Economics.
Booth has also produced alumni who have held senior roles in major financial institutions, including Martin Blessing, MBA ’88, former chairman of Commerzbank’s board of managing directors, and Brady Dougan, MBA ’82, former CEO of Credit Suisse.
Students can take advantage of resources such as the Fama-Miller Center for Research in Finance and the Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets to learn from finance scholars and engage with current research.
FAQs about Studying Banking
What Do You Learn in a Banking Course?
Banking-related courses usually sit within finance, economics, accounting, business, or financial engineering programs. Students may study financial markets, corporate finance, accounting, valuation, risk management, econometrics, banking regulation, portfolio management, and financial technology. The exact curriculum depends on the degree level and university, so applicants should compare each program’s official curriculum before applying.
We hope this article on the Best Banking Schools in the World was helpful. If you are interested in knowing more, make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
