- INSEEC students study at a state-of-the-art campus in La Défense, fostering strong networking with finance professionals.
- Hands-on experience with the Bloomberg Terminal enhances practical skills and boosts professional maturity through collaborative projects.
- Students gain additional certifications like TOSA Excel and AMF, enhancing their CV and job market competitiveness.
Finance is one of the most sought-after sectors to work in, especially for Gen Z students, and it’s easy to see why. No longer the realm of repetitive office work, finance offers opportunities in a huge range of roles, from investments to startup finance and fintech. But if you’re interested in studying a Masters in this lucrative subject, it makes sense to choose an institution with strong careers prospects. So, why should you study finance at INSEEC?
We spoke to Ellen Kountz, dean of the finance department at INSEEC, about what makes this institution stand out among other French business schools. From location to teaching methods, INSEEC could be a great choice for your Master in Finance degree.
Ellen Kountz
Why Should You Study Finance at INSEEC Business School?
1. Study in the French Business Capital.
All INSEEC Finance students study on a brand-new, state-of-the-art campus in the heart of La Défense—Paris’ business hub. Surrounded by the headquarters of large companies including AXA, Thales, HSBC and Capgemini, students study in close quarters with real finance professionals.
As a result, students at INSEEC can take advantage of strong networking and internship opportunities, both on and off-campus.
“We have about 1,200 students in finance,” Ellen notes. “That works out as about 45 classes of students and 95 teachers.”
The La Défense campus is also home to three other schools within the OMNES Education group, enabling interaction between students on business-oriented programmes.
2. Participate in Hands-on Classes.
Finance Masters students at INSEEC have plenty of opportunities to put their skills to the test, whether in independent work or group projects. For Ellen, it’s the school’s Bloomberg trading room that provides the biggest advantage to students studying finance at INSEEC.
Ellen herself has extensive experience with Bloomberg Terminals given her previous work at Euronext, the pan-European stock exchange. At INSEEC, she’s responsible for running the trading lab and providing Bloomberg Terminal training to finance students.
“We have 12 workstations, and it’s integrated into all of our first year programs in finance,” explains Ellen. “First, students get the Bloomberg certification, and in the second year, they do case studies.”
As well as gaining practical experience in financial trading with the Bloomberg Terminal, finance students also collaborate with their peers on an end-of-year project.
The Leadership Lab requires students to work in small groups on a leadership project, which can often be a challenge, especially if students are used to studying independently.
“We try to explain that it’s actually a sign of professional maturity to be able to work with other people. Students are very satisfied that they were able to do it in the end,” says Ellen.
Student Review
Very good experience with amazing people. I met great people that are now great friends, this includes teachers as well.
The teachers I had are the best because on top of teaching, they help you as mentors and also as a friends.
They also recently opened a new campus, quite a big step up to be honest and very happy with it.
3. Boost your CV with Additional certifications.
On a Finance Masters programme at INSEEC, not only will you gain a professional degree in a financial subject, but also additional certifications that will boost your CV and LinkedIn profile.
So, students are able to take the TOSA Excel skills certification exam, which proves to employers that students have sufficient proficiency in Microsoft Excel. During the study period, students take mock tests that show areas of weakness that they can then improve during independent study, before taking the official certification exam.
Additionally, students can also access the AMF (Autorité de Marché Financier), a French exam that enables students to work professionally in sectors such as investment and financial advisory roles.
By studying for the AMF during their degree, students demonstrate a professional advantage when looking for their first jobs.
“That’s something they would put immediately on their CV and on their LinkedIn profile,” says Ellen.
“This is a big thing in France, and this is where we try to be competitive, so our students, as much as possible, have excellent CVs and LinkedIn profiles. We help them a lot with that.”
Student Review
I chose this training on the one hand because it trains operational people from their arrival in a company and on the other hand, because it brings a necessary know-how and the innovative principles to face the evolutions undergone by the companies. today.
This school allowed me to carry out many professional experiences abroad which allowed me to have very good formative memories. Having this background already, I am sure that INSEEC makes it possible to obtain education that follows the realities of the market.
4. Experience Engaging Learning Styles.
Ellen says that at the heart of every Masters in Finance programme at INSEEC are the experienced faculty.
“They educators here are all in. They want to interact with students. When we see student reviews, it’s like the number one thing are the people who do the classes.”
Classroom teaching at INSEEC varies from lectures to group work to videos and quizzes, all in an effort to keep learning engaging and memorable.
“We encourage our professorial staff to vary the way that they teach,” Ellen adds. “We’re encouraged to keep it moving, keep it modern, and keep it interactive.”
5. Gain work experience during your degree.
Internships are a key feature of most Masters programmes in France. So, Masters students will typically have to participate in a work experience for a portion of their first year and second year of the programme, preparing them for a career after graduation.
For example, on INSEEC’s Masters programmes, first-year students participate in 440 hours of class and must work for 67 days. In the second year this rises to a required 132 days of industry experience.
While this is similar to other French Masters, INSEEC has gone a step further in preparing students for the real world of finance. So, programme and curriculum designed is a collaboration between the school and real employers to ensure that students are prepared for real work.
Additionally, students participate in a wealth of professional workshops to help them improve their CV, public speaking, and interview skills.
The practical orientation of the Finance Masters at INSEEC evidently works—94% of graduates from these programmes are employed in their first full-time job within six months of graduating.
Student Review
It is a very good university, where can you have an international experience in many campuses around the world such as Paris, London, San Francisco etc.
While getting a degree at this school, it is possible to have work experience from the first year, because in France with this university you can apply at the alternate program doing a mixture between work and study.
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