Is doing a finance master’s worth it if you already have a business undergrad and want to go into IB?

It depends on your current profile and target region. If you already have a strong business undergrad, solid grades, and relevant internships, a finance master’s may not be necessary, especially in places like the U.S. where undergrad recruiting is common.

That said, a top-tier Master’s in Finance can be worth it if:

• You’re recruiting in Europe, where it's more common postgrad
• You’re switching tracks (e.g., from marketing to finance)
• You didn’t land an IB internship during undergrad and want a second shot
• You want to break into a more competitive bank or location

Think of it less as “needed for IB” and more as “a chance to rebrand, re-recruit, and level up.”

Hi! ☺️

It depends on your goals. With a business undergrad, you can still break into investment banking through internships and networking. A finance master’s can help deepen your technical skills and give you an edge, especially in a competitive field. If you want to strengthen your knowledge in financial modeling and valuation, it could be worth it.

Hey there!

Deciding whether to pursue a finance master’s after a business undergrad depends on your specific goals and background. If your undergraduate degree covered broad business topics but lacked deep technical finance skills, a master’s can help fill those gaps and make you more competitive for investment banking roles. It’s also a chance to build a stronger network and access internship opportunities that might be harder to get otherwise.

If you already have relevant internship experience and solid technical know-how, a master’s may not be strictly necessary. Many successful IB candidates come from diverse educational backgrounds and land roles through strong internships and networking. Ultimately, the value of a finance master’s comes down to how it complements your experience and helps you stand out in a crowded field.

Hey!

If you already have a business undergrad and your coursework covered core finance topics, a master's in finance is not always necessary to break into investment banking. 

What matters more is how strong your internships, network, and technical skills are. If you’ve had exposure to real financial modeling, valuation work, or capital markets through internships or extracurriculars, that can carry just as much weight as another degree. Recruiters are often more focused on whether you can hit the ground running, communicate well, and show resilience during high-pressure situations.

Where a finance master’s can help is if you’re lacking relevant experience, coming from a lesser-known school, or trying to pivot after graduation without a return offer. In that case, it can serve as a rebranding tool, open doors to structured recruiting cycles, and give you time to build a stronger track record. But it should be a calculated step, not just a fallback. Use it strategically if you feel there’s a clear gap between where you are now and what top firms expect in entry-level candidates.