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Global investment bank, Goldman Sachs, strategically recruits from select international universities, giving graduates of these institutions a significant advantage. Leading the list are Switzerland’s University of St.Gallen and the London School of Economics. With acceptance rates below 1% for internships and just 0.33% for positions, attending these target schools dramatically improves your odds.
Are you pursuing a career in financial services? Did you know that every year, investment bank behemoth Goldman Sachs identifies a specific group of target schools and invests extra time and resources to recruit individuals they believe will become “future star employees“? Attending one of these handpicked institutions provides students with a serious advantage in securing a highly coveted role at the firm.
The list focuses heavily on prestigious international institutions, primarily featuring top-tier universities located in Europe and Asia. Leading the ranking are schools such as the University of St.Gallen and the London School of Economics (LSE), which serve as primary pipelines for the firm.
Students attending these recognized universities gain a competitive edge in securing positions within global financial institutions. This strategic approach ensures the investment bank maintains a steady influx of highly qualified candidates from proven academic backgrounds.
According to Krugman Insights, alumni from these top ten international universities are prioritized for recruitment at Goldman Sachs:
| Rank | School | Country | Factor |
| 1 | University of St.Gallen | Switzerland | 3.579 |
| 2 | London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | United Kingdom | 3.360 |
| 3 | HEC Paris | France | 2.676 |
| 4 | University of Hong Kong (HKU) | Hong Kong | 2.236 |
| 5 | Bocconi University | Italy | 2.201 |
| 6 | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) | Hong Kong | 1.805 |
| 7 | ESSEC Business School | France | 1.605 |
| 8 | Imperial College London | United Kingdom | 1.270 |
| 9 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | 1.154 |
| 10 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom | 1.074 |
Source: eFinancialCareers
| Rank | University | Factor |
| 1 | Princeton University | 2.13 |
| 2 | Cornell University | 1.65 |
| 3 | Yale University | 1.64 |
| 4 | Columbia University | 1.44 |
| 5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 1.33 |
| 6 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | 1.26 |
| 7 | University of Chicago | 1.12 |
| 8 | Harvard University | 0.99 |
| 9 | University of Pennsylvania | 0.99 |
| 10 | Stanford University | 0.96 |
Source: eFinancialCareers
In the United States, the Ivy League, unsurprisingly, features heavily. Meanwhile, the international list is overwhelmingly concentrated in Europe, which accounts for eight of the top ten schools. Hong Kong is a standout rising star of the past few years. The top three spots went to the University of St.Gallen (located in Switzerland), the London School of Economics and Political Science (in the U.K.), and HEC Paris (in France).
Within the European contingent, the United Kingdom is a primary recruitment hub. Four of the top ten schools are located there. Whereas, outside of Europe and America, Hong Kong is the only other geographic region represented in the Top 10. The investment firm prioritizes both the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
Beyond the U.K., the firm targets elite schools in France (HEC Paris and ESSEC Business School) and Italy (Università Bocconi).
In 2024, the acceptance rate of summer internships at Goldman Sachs was only 0.9%, down from 1.27% in 2022. In other words, 315,000 people applied. And only 2,700 got through Goldman’s golden doors.
Getting into Goldman Sachs as an intern may also be easier than getting into Goldman from a standing start. The firm’s overall acceptance rate is even lower than for summer internships. In 2023, they received 300 applications for each of its open positions, with an acceptance rate of 0.33%.
Goldman accepts 2,700 or so graduates every year, so the “actual” crowd is more like 126 people vying for each job. Furthermore, applications aren’t even distributed: there is far more competition for front-office roles such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or capital markets than, for example, risk or compliance.
Put another way, it’s easier to get into Oxford, Harvard, or the Navy Seals than land a job at Goldman Sachs. However, the good news is that attending one of these schools significantly improves your chances of securing a coveted role at this top employer.
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