James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Anyone done/doing one?
Looking into a part time one. MSc Finance at LSE.
Could only do it with sponsorship from my company though as it's £10k a year.
Discuss.
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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Thought about it but I can't return to Liverpool and do MSc Comp Sci because they have common units so I already technically know half of it (although I actually don't) . Otherwise I might. Doesn't affect my job though, just a bit of a badge unless I move.
[Edited on 28-01-2008 by Ian]
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Just not really sure if it would benefit me enough to justify the effort.
I have a keen interest in finance since joining an investment bank but I think it would only be beneficial if I was 100% set on a career change from the I.T side to the finance side.
[Edited on 28-01-2008 by James]
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
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Which you may still be at some point. Beats doing it when you are more senior/busier.
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Good point.
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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I couldnt think of anything worse than spending more time learning after all those years in Uni 
But saying that it wouldnt help where I want to head in life, if you feel it will for you then as Ian said, its better to get it out of the way now rather than later.
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Adam
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Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
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I was looking at doing an MSc through the OU but think I'll be better of doing related qualifications to my job. Can do a few of these for a 11K and think a prospective employer would be more interested in a qualification specific to a product than something more general, but that's just a Network/Security point-of-view
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willay
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Registered: 10th Nov 02
Location: Roydon, Essex
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quote: Originally posted by James
I have a keen interest in finance since joining an investment bank but I think it would only be beneficial if I was 100% set on a career change from the I.T side to the finance side.
[Edited on 28-01-2008 by James]
Not exactly, knowing more about the financial side of things can help you better your technical understand of applications in our industry. Flow of data etc
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Brett
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Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
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quote: Originally posted by Cosmo
But saying that it wouldnt help where I want to head in life,
Where are you heading? Daddies wallet on the kitchen top?
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Adam
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Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
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quote: Originally posted by willay
quote: Originally posted by James
I have a keen interest in finance since joining an investment bank but I think it would only be beneficial if I was 100% set on a career change from the I.T side to the finance side.
[Edited on 28-01-2008 by James]
Not exactly, knowing more about the financial side of things can help you better your technical understand of applications in our industry. Flow of data etc
Following on from Willay, having a good understanding of Finance will stand you in good stead if you were to move into a senior IT role where you would be managing budgets etc.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
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I got some advice on these when I was at college, from a representative from the Uni that visited.
He basically said the value of any qualification these days, is 1 less than what it was, say, 10 years ago. i.e. how valuable an A-level is now, is what GCSE's were worth 10 years ago, and so on.
I asked how much more likely are you to get employed by doing 1 more year of Masters, after a 3 year Undergrad. He said much more likely, because it's essentially worth what an Undergrad degree on it's own is worth.
HOWEVER, the cost is mind boggling, you often don't get as much help as in loans etc, so I'm going to give it a miss.
I think the point I'm getting at, is they are probably more beneficial in the short term, to those still in education, rather than just doing one.
If you can get sponsored, it's worth the money/stress I would imagine. £15k's worth of debt is scaring me as it is, let alone more!
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dannymccann
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire
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Deano, £15k? Mines £18k 
I'm doing Accountancy & Finance at uni and I cant see myself doing any kind of Masters or anything like that after my 3 years of undergrad study. Unless I actually NEED it, which I cant see happening, or get sponsored for it, there is no way its worth getting myself £28k or more in debt
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote: Originally posted by dannymccann
Deano, £15k? Mines £18k 
Living at home. Get less help because it's non-income assessed, then less again because I'm living with parents still £9k for fees though
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote: Originally posted by loafofbrett
quote: Originally posted by Cosmo
But saying that it wouldnt help where I want to head in life,
Where are you heading? Daddies wallet on the kitchen top?
No, he keeps all his cash under the bed so heading there
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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The debt shouldn't scare you, you just a plan to pay it back. Earn five grand more for three years and you've paid it back. If you're Undergrad and jobs are £20k then you can afford Masters if you secure one for £25k.
You need to overlook the loss of earnings in the year you do the masters though, if that is the case. I know they are available in the evening though, which avoids that issue.
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Robbo
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Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
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Im planning on doing an MSc at some point... most likely in Int'l Finance & Economics Sponsored hopefully
James they are very well respected qualificatiosn IF you get them froma reputable place, otherwise there value loses significantly... same with MBA's tbh
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Well LSE is one of the best, if not the best, places to do a masters in Finance.
The one I was looking at is part time, 2 evenings a week, so I would still continue to work full time at Merrill Lynch.
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Robbo
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Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
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Absolutely is mate... good luck getting in to LSE though They are usually massively, and I mean MASSIVELY over-subscribed so you will have to do an aptitude test etc.
I looked into probably the exact same course... 891 applications for 80 places
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Yeah I heard about that, hopefully my job at Merrill Lynch and 1st class undergraduate degree will help
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Robbo
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Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
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Hmmm, poss but like I say, you'll really need to do the aptitude test first, some poeple take up to 6 months to get over that hurdle 
Have a look on the LSE website (or request a prospectus), has all the details in there IIRC
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