Charlie Liu
Year 5 Student
The real world of finance is very much different from what we learn from books, and that’s why practical experience is so critical in this industry. I am very grateful that as a QFIN student, I had the privilege to take the Banking and Finance Practicum course, which provided me with priceless real-life exposures to the equity research industry.
Though being part of the curriculum offered by QFIN, the practicum course is actually more like an “apprenticeship” or “internship” than a typical “course”. Instead of attending lectures, we communicate face-to-face with industry experts and equity research analysts from the external financial institution; instead of doing homework and taking exams, we present our original equity ideas and research reports in front of senior managers of the research department – and they challenge you just like you are a real analyst! The challenging but exciting course not only equipped us with the technical skills essential to succeed in this highly demanding industry, but also gave us precious insights into how research analysts really work in the “mysterious” investment banks. It was definitely a memorable experience, and I would definitely recommend any young talent interested in the finance industry to apply for the QFIN program for the countless academic and career resources it provides especially the practicum courses.