A Business degree is the frontrunner when it comes to a career in finance, with 85% of business graduates landing a job in the City last year, according to the Telegraph.
Business is the degree subject in the UK with the highest number of undergraduates but despite this, nearly 20,000 of them had landed a job or moved onto further study within six months of graduating.
A Finance degree is also a natural choice, having been specifically designed to prepare graduates for the demands of a role in financial services.
But are there other options for those determined to pursue employment in the financial sector? Most BA and BSc degrees won’t rule out the possibility of a role in finance but graduates’ chances will be bolstered considerably by combining this with a postgraduate MBA (Master of Business Administration).
If the steep cost of an MBA means it isn’t an option, then unfortunately without a Finance, Economics or Business degree, breaking into the financial sector will be challenging, particularly as the kinds of positions available contracted substantially after 2008’s economic slump. This article from investopedia.com offers some good tips for those determined to try to fight their way in anyway, including partnering up with a mentor, starting a financial blog and using a trading simulator.
So in summary, the best degrees for a career in finance are not surprisingly Business and Finance. Work towards a solid degree classification and you should be able to look forward to challenging work and dazzling salaries in the City.