SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business ranks well in the Financial Times Global Masters in Finance Rankings 2016

By the SMU Corporate Communications team

20 Jun 2016

3^rd in the world and 1^st in Asia for Master of Science in Wealth Management programme (Post-experience Ranking)
4^thamong Asian business schools for Master of Science in Applied Finance programme (Pre-experience Ranking)

Singapore, 20 June 2016 (Monday) – The Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) has emerged third in the world in the Financial Times (FT) Global Masters in Finance Post-experience Ranking 2016 for its Master of Science in Wealth Management (MWM) programme. The School remains the only institution in Asia and in Singapore to make it to the top five positions globally, placed just after University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School and London Business School.

SMU LKCSB also ranked 4^th among Asian business schools and 42^nd in the world in the FT Global Masters in Finance Pre-experience Ranking 2016 for its Master of Science in Applied Finance (MAF) programme. It is also the only Singaporean institution to be ranked.

This is the second time that LKCSB is featured in both the Pre- and Post-experience rankings – last year, it became the first school to ever feature in both rankings and was the highest-positioned new entrant.

The findings of the Post-experience Ranking 2016 reveal that SMU’s MWM alumni experienced an impressive 90 per cent increase in salary after graduation. LKCSB was also ranked second in 'placement success', which indicates the strong demand for SMU MWM graduates by the industry and the effectiveness of the University's career services and support. The School also took second spot for being ‘value for money’, and saw more diversity in increased proportions of international students and faculty. Of note too is that 74 per cent completed internships as part of the programme.

“These rankings validate and boost our comprehensive efforts in making LKCSB the best Asian business school, and strengthen our reputation globally. While the international recognition is important, our aspiration is to deliver a transformative education that is based on our faculty research and a unique understanding of the Asian business context. We strive to create a positive impact on Singapore and the region, and remain an exemplary world-class university in Asia,” said Professor Gerard George, Dean of SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business, and Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The SMU MWM started in 2004 as Asia’s first and only full-time master’s programme in wealth management, and the first specialised one in the world. The 12-month programme comprises a rigorous curriculum that was jointly designed by and anchors on the strengths of four institutions – SMU, Wealth Management Institute (WMI), Swiss Finance Institute (SFI) and the Yale School of Management (SOM) – across Asia, Europe and USA.

In 2015, the SMU MWM became the first and only master’s programme accredited by the Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore (IBF) Standards, and also incorporated the Client Advisor Competency Standards (CACS) assessment required for entry into the private banking industry. These enable MWM graduates to obtain deep mastery of academic and applied knowledge, and new entrants to be fully trained and job-ready for wealth management. The programme is also associated with the CFA Institute and CAIA. Participants have the opportunities for exposure and immersion through vast learning activities and interactions with industry professionals in Singapore and overseas. The modular structure allows professionals to pursue the master’s degree while working, and those without wealth management experience can embark on an internship to enhance their employability. Graduates receive the MWM degree from SMU and certificates from WMI, IBF, SFI and Yale SOM. The programme has trained more than 500 wealth managers to date and will be welcoming its 13^th batch in July 2016.

Launched in 2002 as SMU’s first postgraduate programme, the SMU MAF is a 12-month full-time or 18-month part-time programme. Its industry-relevant curriculum prepares students to pursue the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. It provides a strong foundation in the principles, practices and operations of international and domestic financial markets, focusing on applying updated and relevant knowledge in real-world situations. The programme has grown over the years – in 2008, the MAF (China) programme was established in partnership with Xiamen University in China; in 2013, SMU also partnered Washington University’s Olin Business School to offer the Global Master of Finance Dual Degree programme, which provides students with an exceptionally enriching learning experience in two continents. To date, SMU has graduated over 1,000 students in total under the various MAF tracks.

This is FT’s sixth survey and annual ranking. To be eligible in the Pre- and Post-experience rankings, schools must be internationally accredited and the programmes must have run for at least four consecutive years. The ranking considers the features of the institutions and their programmes, and is based on two questionnaires – one completed by alumni who have been in the workplace for three years since graduation, and another by the business schools themselves.

Separately, in the FT Executive MBA Ranking 2015, LKCSB’s EMBA programme was 36^th in the world, 10^th among Asian business schools, and the highest-ranked new entrant then.

For full results and more details about FT Masters in Finance Rankings 2016, please refer to the following: