Volume III – Top European MIF Programs: What and When You Need to Apply

The joyful culmination of your journey to business school will come when you finally get your acceptance. That day, you’ll anxiously open your application portal, rapidly dart your eyes across your screen, and beam a great big smile when you see the good news.

But if you hope to enroll in a top-ranked European Master in Finance (MIF) program in August/September 2025, this exciting day is still a ways away. And if you want to ensure it comes, it’s time to start preparing, leaving no stone unturned on your path to crafting the ultimate applicant profile.

Whether you already have a concrete list of the universities you’re eyeing or are still mulling your options, you must first know what materials you need for your applications and when to submit them.

With that in mind, A1 MBA Consulting is excited to continue our series covering application essentials for the Financial Times Top 15 early career, pre-experience MIF Programs in Europe. This post will take a deep dive into the three universities occupying the 7th, 8th, and 10th places in the ranking*:

7. University of Oxford (United Kingdom)

8. University of St. Gallen (Switzerland)

10. IE Business School (Spain)

*Note: London Business School is exempt from our list because its Master in Finance program “is not designed for people without prior finance experience.”

University of Oxford (MSc in Financial Economics)

Application Deadlines: 

• Round 1: 25 October 2024
  
  
• Round 2: 3 January 2025
  
  
• Round 3: 5 March 2025

Application Materials:

• Completed Application Form (Essays Yet to be Announced)
  
  
• Undergraduate Degree
  
  
• GMAT / GMAT Focus / GRE Score
  
  
• Work Experience (Preferred; NOT Required)
  
  
• Three Professional or Academic References
  
  
• Kira Talent Video Assessment
  
  
• Applicants from Non-English-Speaking Countries Must Submit a TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, or CPE Score
  
  
• £75 Application Fee

University of St. Gallen (Master of Banking and Finance)

Application Deadlines:

The University of St. Gallen is yet to announce its application calendar for students looking to enroll in September 2025. We will add this information as soon as the university publishes it.

Application Materials:

• Completed Application Form (Essays Yet to be Announced)
  
  
• Undergraduate Degree in Similar Subject
  
  
• C1 English Level (No Official Proof of Language Proficiency Required)
  
  
• GMAT / GMAT Focus / GRE Score
  
  
• Letter of Motivation
  
  
• CV (Including Descriptions of Extracurricular Activities)
  
  
• CHF 250 Application Fee
  
  

IE Business School

Application Deadlines:

We refer you to a direct quote from IE Business School:

“No, there is no deadline to apply. Instead, we have a rolling admissions process, which means that you can apply at any time of the year. However, due to the large number of applications we receive, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Keep in mind that the student visa processing time may vary from country to country, so contact Student Services for more information.”

Application Materials:

• Completed Application Form (Essays Yet to be Announced)
  
  
• Undergraduate Degree from an Accredited University
  
  
• Official University Transcripts (Certified Translation into English or Spanish)
  
  
• CV (1-Page Max)
  
  
• Contact Information of Two Relevant Academic or Professional References
  
  
• English Language Certificate (Not Required for Native Speakers or Those with an Undergraduate Degree or Two Years of Work Experience in English):
  
  
  • TOEFL (Minimum Score of 100 but 105 Recommended)
    
    
  • IELTS (Minimum Score of 7 but 7.5 Recommended)
    
    
  • Duolingo English Test (Minimum Score 130)
    
    
  • Cambridge Advanced Level
    
    

Apply with Confidence: A1 MBA Consultant