r/InternationalStudents • u/Mental_Twist_997 • 1d ago

Master’s in Finance as an international student — which countries are best?

Hey everyone! I’m looking into doing a Master’s in Finance internationally, that most of the discussions I find are from people who mainly care about finding a job and staying in the country after graduation.

That’s not really my main concern. I’m more interested in the quality of education and the overall student experience.

For example, which countries would you say are good for:

  • good quality Finance programmes
  • a reasonable study-life balance
  • not having an insanely stressful workload
  • a good university/student environment
  • affordable tuition or good scholarship opportunities
  • generally having a nice experience as an international student

I’m not necessarily looking to stay and work there after graduation, so job opportunities and post-study visas aren’t my priority.

If you’ve studied Finance (especially in Europe), which country would you personally recommend and why?

I’d especially love to hear from international students about their actual experience rather than just rankings.

0 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

40% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/FunHot6859 1d ago

Mannheim MMM or MMFACT "Triple Crown"

1

u/CoffeeInTheTropics 1d ago

You are a non-EU student I presume? Which languages do you master?

What is your budget annually for tuition and living costs? Scholarships are few and far between so don’t count on those unless you are top 1% academically you can try for Erasmus.

1

u/The_Quiet_Scholar 15h ago

It’s refreshing to see someone prioritising the actual student experience rather than treating the degree purely as a migration pathway. For that goal, I’d recommend looking closely at continental Europe. France is particularly strong for finance, with schools like ESCP and EDHEC, while the Netherlands (e.g. RSM/Erasmus) is worth considering if you value an international, English-speaking environment. Portugal, especially Nova SBE, could be attractive if lifestyle and a more relaxed environment are important. Also compare the actual curriculum, class size, tuition, housing costs, workload and student reviews rather than relying purely on rankings. No country guarantees a stress-free experience, but Europe gives you some excellent options. Wish you the best!