Business & Finance

How to Become a Investment Banker 🏦

Investment bankers build financial models, prepare pitch decks, run due diligence on M&A deals and IPOs, and liaise with clients. Junior bankers (analysts / associates) work 70–90 hour weeks at top bulge-bracket firms (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan). Compensation reflects the hours — but burnout is real.

📚 Degree pathways for Investment Banker

Economics (BSc)

Primary route

Finance / Accounting & Finance (BSc)

Primary route

Mathematics / Engineering / Physics

Alternative

Top banks recruit STEM grads heavily for quant-heavy desks.

PPE / History / English (Oxbridge LSE pedigree)

Alternative

If you're at Oxbridge / LSE / Imperial, your school name matters more than your subject.

🎯 Typical entry grades

A-level

A*AA inc. Maths

IB Diploma

38–40 with 7 in HL Maths AA

💷 Investment Banker salary outlook across 7 markets

Annual local-currency medians. Hover / tap the note column for context.

Market Entry Mid (5–10y) Senior
🇬🇧 UK MD total comp £1–3M £65,000 £200,000 £800,000
🇺🇸 US NYC analyst base + bonus $250–350k Y1 $185,000 $400,000 $1,500,000
🇦🇺 Australia A$100,000 A$250,000 A$600,000
🇦🇪 UAE Tax-free AED 300,000 AED 800,000 AED 2,000,000
🇸🇬 Singapore S$100,000 S$250,000 S$700,000
🇮🇳 India ₹15,00,000 ₹60,00,000 ₹2,50,00,000
🇲🇾 Malaysia RM 80,000 RM 200,000 RM 500,000

UAE figures are tax-free. Singapore tax is materially lower than UK/US/AU. Real salaries vary by employer, city and specialisation. Refreshed annually.

📈 Job outlook + AI / automation risk

Stable demand. AI is automating some analyst work (modelling, data) — junior roles slightly more competitive. Top schools (LSE / Oxbridge / Imperial / Cambridge) dominate UK hiring.

Medium automation risk

AI is automating parts of the workflow. Senior / strategic roles remain in demand; entry-level becoming more competitive.

🏢 Top employers for Investment Bankers

Goldman Sachs Morgan Stanley JPMorgan Citi Barclays Lazard Evercore Houlihan Lokey

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Subject Chooser

Which A-level / IB / IGCSE subjects to take for Economics →

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University Shortlist Builder

Find universities offering Economics across 14 countries →

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Becoming a Investment Banker — target school + maths matters

Top firms (Goldman, McKinsey, Big-4) recruit predominantly from Oxbridge / LSE / Imperial / Warwick. A-level Maths is effectively required at top schools for Economics / Finance. Tutopiya tutors help with subject mastery and admissions prep for these target universities. Book a free 30-min consult.

🔗 Related careers

Investment Banker Career FAQ

Common questions about becoming a Investment Banker — degree, subjects, grades, salary, employers and AI risk.

How do I become a Investment Banker in the UK?

The standard route is Economics (BSc), with typical entry grades of A*AA inc. Maths at A-level or 38–40 with 7 in HL Maths AA at IB Diploma. Alternative pathways include Mathematics / Engineering / Physics, PPE / History / English (Oxbridge LSE pedigree). International students follow the same academic route — applications usually go via UCAS for the UK.

What degree do I need to become a Investment Banker?

Economics (BSc) (the primary route). Finance / Accounting & Finance (BSc) (alternative). Mathematics / Engineering / Physics — Top banks recruit STEM grads heavily for quant-heavy desks. (alternative). PPE / History / English (Oxbridge LSE pedigree) — If you're at Oxbridge / LSE / Imperial, your school name matters more than your subject. (alternative)

What A-level / IB subjects do I need for Investment Banker?

For Investment Banker, typical entry is A*AA inc. Maths at A-level or 38–40 with 7 in HL Maths AA at IB Diploma. The exact subjects depend on the degree route — use our free Subject Chooser to see exactly which subjects to take.

What's the salary outlook for a Investment Banker globally?

Investment Banker salaries vary materially by country. UK: £65,000 (entry) → £200,000 (mid) → £800,000 (senior). Other major markets: 🇺🇸 US: $185,000 → $400,000 → $1,500,000 (NYC analyst base + bonus $250–350k Y1); 🇦🇺 Australia: A$100,000 → A$250,000 → A$600,000; 🇦🇪 UAE: AED 300,000 → AED 800,000 → AED 2,000,000 (Tax-free); 🇸🇬 Singapore: S$100,000 → S$250,000 → S$700,000; 🇮🇳 India: ₹15,00,000 → ₹60,00,000 → ₹2,50,00,000; 🇲🇾 Malaysia: RM 80,000 → RM 200,000 → RM 500,000. Figures are 2025 ballpark annual local-currency medians.

What's the job outlook for Investment Banker?

Stable demand. AI is automating some analyst work (modelling, data) — junior roles slightly more competitive. Top schools (LSE / Oxbridge / Imperial / Cambridge) dominate UK hiring.

Will AI replace Investment Banker?

Investment Banker is at medium automation risk. AI is automating parts of the workflow — junior / execution-heavy work is becoming more competitive, while senior / strategic / interpersonal aspects of the role remain in demand. Specialising and developing judgement is the play.

Where do Investment Bankers work? Who are the top employers?

Top employers for Investment Bankers include: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Citi, Barclays, Lazard, Evercore, Houlihan Lokey.

Can Tutopiya help me prepare for a Investment Banker career?

Yes — once you've picked your degree path, Tutopiya tutors help with subject mastery (IGCSE / A-level / IB), entrance assessments (BMAT / UCAT / STEP / TMUA / LNAT for selective degrees) and the personal statement. Book a free 30-min consult to talk through your route to becoming a Investment Banker.

Want to become a Investment Banker? Lock in the right A-level / IB subjects now.