EDHEC Business School has consistently ranked among the best institutions for finance education. We had an in-depth conversation with the school’s Associate Dean for Graduate Studies to uncover the secrets behind their world-leading master’s in finance programs.
Which location springs to mind when you think of finance education?
Perhaps it’s Hong Kong, one of the world’s biggest financial centers and a magnet for international businesses. It might be London, the heart of the European economy and another hotbed of international talent. Maybe you would think of the world’s biggest financial center – New York – whose Wall Street is synonymous with finance.
However, according to Michelle Sisto, one of the world’s biggest financial hubs actually lies across the Channel from London, in France. Michelle is the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies at EDHEC Business School in Nice. According to her, the country has a legitimate claim to be the global hub for finance education.
“I think the question, first of all, might be: Why France?” she says. “But when we look about learning finance and a master’s in finance, France has the top five schools in the Financial Times Master in Finance [Ranking].” (00:05)
Simply put, a degree in finance from a French business school is a globally-recognized sign of quality on your CV.
What’s important in the world of finance today may not be as important tomorrow.
The 2008 financial crisis significantly transformed the finance industry, leading to more stringent regulations and a renewed focus on ethics. For instance, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in the United States was enacted in response to the crisis, addressing issues such as consumer protection, risk management, and transparency. Additionally, the crisis highlighted the importance of ethical behavior, prompting organizations to place a greater emphasis on corporate social responsibility.
Consequently, the skills required for a successful career in finance have evolved, necessitating adaptability and a deeper understanding of the complex regulatory environment and ethical considerations.
That line of thinking defines the EDHEC master’s in finance degrees. They focus on providing students with future-proof skills that will prepare them for any changes in the industry. It’s evidenced by the sheer range of finance topics students can study.
“Just recently, we’ve chosen a new specialization. It’s a double degree that we developed with Mines Paris – PSL on climate change and sustainable finance. And that’s really to prepare our students to be the leaders in not only how climate is impacting the financial industry, but how can the financial industry work together to solve some of the climate problems that we’re facing.” (02:11)
EDHEC also offers a wide range of electives to encourage students to take an interest in areas outside of finance.
“To prepare our students to be industry-relevant and industry-ready, we integrate regularly into our curriculum leading-edge topics that are going to be relevant today, tomorrow, and even moving forward. We want our students to develop curiosity about those and other axes so that they’re ready to constantly learn in this accelerating and changing environment,” she explains. (02:41)
Part of the reason for the success of the EDHEC program has been its ability to adapt to change. It has introduced new electives that cover the hottest topics in finance today and placed ethics and sustainability at the heart of its finance programs.
Michelle believes that is a trend here to stay among students looking for a graduate degree.
“This younger generation has a much-heightened sensitivity to and awareness of ethical considerations, environmental impact,” she says, “and this is true across all industries, all functions. In particular, finance did not historically have a particularly strong reputation in some of these areas.” (09:14)
But the EDHEC MSc in finance programs are not only notable for their focus on the ethical issues in finance. The school also encourages its students to consider each decision’s moral implications.
“20 years ago, working in ESG measures was very niche. Today it’s an integral part of all of our programs. After the financial crisis, there was a real shift across financial education to incorporate much more ethics, and go way beyond compliance to conduct. So it’s no longer about what can you do, but what should you do,” Michelle explains. (09:34)
As you might expect from one of the top-ranked finance master’s in the world, the EDHEC master’s in finance programs are competitive. However, EDHEC’s admissions team is not simply looking for academic achievers. They want students who will contribute to the class and the school.
“We expect them to be an active, proactive member of our community,” Michelle says. “Not just today, but long-term. Particularly in finance, we want students who will come and join us who are ready to challenge themselves. Who are ready to challenge the current practices that are going on in the industry, and ready to learn and be creative.” (10:17)
EDHEC’s motto is “Make an Impact”, and nowhere is that more true than in these programs. Whichever track you choose, you’ll learn about the current state of finance, the future of finance, and also how to turn that knowledge into real-world impact. Michelle says that impact is what EDHEC is really looking for from their students.
“Our ethos is that we want you to come, learn about finance and learn how you can actually use finance to have a positive impact on the economic world and on society.” (06:50)
If you’d like to learn more about studying a master’s at EDHEC, feel free to contact one of our EDHEC ambassadors.
