France · Master's
ESSEC Business School
MSc in Finance
ESSEC Business School
Course Overview
ESSEC's MSc in Finance is a 15-month specialised master's based at La Défense, in the heart of Paris' financial district. The programme is consistently ranked in the global top 5 for Masters in Finance by the Financial Times (most recently #2 worldwide), with cohorts of 100-130 students chosen from a deep applicant pool. Sri Lankan applicants from CIMA, ACCA, banking or audit backgrounds use it as a high-leverage route into European investment banking, asset management, private equity, and corporate finance.
Three tracks open up after the foundation semester: Corporate Finance (M&A, restructuring), Financial Markets (sales & trading, structuring), and Asset & Wealth Management. The curriculum is CFA-aligned and includes a mandatory 4-6 month finance internship — most students convert into BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole CIB, Rothschild & Co, Lazard, Goldman Sachs Paris, JP Morgan Paris, or buy-side roles at Amundi and AXA IM.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) — quantitative discipline preferred (engineering, maths, economics, finance, accounting).
- check_circle GMAT 700+ recommended (median around 705); GRE accepted.
- check_circle Two academic / professional references, CV, motivation essays.
- check_circle Online video interview for shortlisted candidates.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced grade B.
- check_circle Waived if your bachelor's degree was taught entirely in English — Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degrees submit an MOI letter.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (15 months) | €39,000 | Rs. 13,455,000 |
| Living Expenses in Paris (12 months) | €16,000 | Rs. 5,520,000 |
| Health Insurance, Visa & CVEC Fees | €800 | Rs. 276,000 |
| Books, Materials & CFA Registration | €2,000 | Rs. 690,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | €57,800 | Rs. 19,941,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
ESSEC MFin graduates report a median first-job salary of €65,000-75,000 (excluding bonus) within 3 months of graduation. France's 12-month APS post-study job-search visa allows time to convert internships into full-time offers. Banking placement is dominant — BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole CIB, Rothschild & Co, Lazard, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs all hire heavily from ESSEC MFin. Sri Lankan returnees route into corporate finance at HSBC Colombo, Standard Chartered, Dialog Axiata treasury, JKH corporate finance, and into ACCA/CIMA-aligned senior finance roles.
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