Antoine Besnard, MSc in Finance – Hedge Funds & Private Equity specialization
What is your background?
I had the opportunity to join IUM and the BBA: Monaco Banking & Financial Services program in apprenticeship directly in the third year after my BTS: Comptabilité et Gestion. This BBA gave me some basic knowledge of the financial sector and an equally instructive first experience in Monaco’s wealth management sector, thanks to my apprenticeship at Barclays Monaco.
I was unsure what my next steps should be at that time, so I decided to apply for a graduate degree in Wealth Management at a public school in France, where I gained a lot of knowledge about the industry. However, in my view, the program is mostly based on theoretical concepts and is missing the practical applications that are essential for fully-fledged international financial careers. My end-of-study internship with a worldwide asset management company made me realize that I was more interested in specific fields in the finance industry, such as investment banking, institutional asset management, and private equity, for example. I, therefore, decided to apply for another master’s degree: The MSc in Finance: Hedge Funds and Private Equity at IUM.
Why did you choose to study Finance?
I have always felt comfortable dealing with numbers, but my BBA played a determinant role in choosing the industry I wanted to specialize in. Finance is the fuel of our economy, and I find it so fascinating to understand how money, in its large sense, is managed and the process of acquiring needed funds.
Why is IUM the best choice for you?
A teaching methodology aiming to strengthen technical and soft skills and instructed by top professionals was why I choose IUM. The multicultural environment and international aspect is also an important part of my decision.
Last but not least, the recent CFA Affiliation that the MSc in Finance obtained increased my willingness to join this program. I am completely aware of what it represents and how beneficial it can be to the students. The course content of the MSc in Finance covers much of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) curriculum, attesting to the program’s technical benefits.
In my opinion, the MSc in Finance at IUM is the best decision to take to prepare for a career within the financial industry in today’s ultra-competitive job market.
What is your dream career goal?
I wish to build an international career. Ideally, I would one day become a portfolio manager. I know that IUM will provide me with the necessary tools to achieve my goals.
If you would like more information about our MSc in Finance Program，please look at our website.
Feel free to also contact the Admissions Team directly at admissions@monaco.edu