Before you dive into this decision, make sure you're set on specializing in finance for your MBA. Out of the new IIMs, only IIM Ranchi and IIM Trichy stand out for finance. The rest aren't quite up to par.
Here's why IIM Trichy and Ranchi could be a good choice:
Now, let's look at DFS:
Consider these downsides for IIM Trichy and Ranchi:
And the downsides for DFS:
Good luck with your decision!
Doing an MBA in Finance at the Department of Financial Studies (DFS) is a solid choice. If you're really into Core Finance, you should definitely consider it unless you get into top IIMs or FMS. DFS offers an MBA from one of India's top universities, and the fees are quite affordable. The faculty members are very supportive, and with a small batch size of around 35-40, you'll receive excellent personal attention. Plus, the charming South Campus and the hostels will make your last two years of college life pretty memorable.
If you're looking at a solid finance program and don't have offers from Old IIMs, MDI-Gurgaon, SPJAIN, or FMS, DFS DU can be a decent pick. Right now, there are about 5-6 full-time faculty members, with several courses taught by research scholars or well-known retired professors.
However, the placement scene is somewhat limited. You likely won't find Consulting or IB opportunities here because DFS's brand isn't very recognized in the job market. It's a bit disheartening when you see places like ICICI Bank offering higher salaries to students from tier 3/4 schools like MDI Murshidabad or XIME Bangalore, even though their CAT cutoffs are lower than DFS's. As a former student, I really think DFS needs to work on boosting its brand image. Despite both being part of DU, FMS has a much stronger reputation compared to DFS.
The curriculum could also use more case studies. Subjects like Economics and Financial Markets should be taught in a more engaging and practical way. While DFS may not give you the glitzy business school experience, it still offers a lot. My time at DFS and South Campus was amazing, full of self-discovery. Plus, if you're aiming for a career in public service, South Campus has some big perks.
Given today's uncertainties, DFS is a great place to dive into finance without spending more than 50,000 on tuition. You can save the rest for Civil Service, CFA, or FRM prep. Cheers!
Absolutely, it is worth it! As a DSE student, I can share some great perks you'll get (and I've heard similar things from FMS and DFS folks too).
First off, the return on investment is amazing! You pay a small amount for your MBA and can expect to get back at least 20 times the value.
The entry cutoffs are quite high, usually over 92 percentile for the CAT exam, which means you'll be surrounded by talented peers. This really helps in building a strong network.
The faculty is top-notch, with professors who are PhDs, research authors, and even gold medalists, many having studied at prestigious places like IIMs and FMS. Plus, the libraries are fantastic, including the RTL and Law Faculty libraries.
Since the batch sizes are small, you'll have plenty of chances to join various committees. This means your CV will be jam-packed with quality experiences.
Good luck! :)
If you're considering an MBA in finance, the Department of Finance at Delhi University is a great choice. It's part of the well-known Delhi University and focuses on finance from the very beginning, unlike many other programs where you first start with a general MBA before diving into a specialization.
The faculty at DFS is a huge plus. Both the permanent and guest professors are experts with deep knowledge and significant industry experience, always eager to support students in their academic journey.
Another perk is that DFS is affiliated with the CFA, which is a unique feature that not many institutions offer. This can really expand your opportunities in the finance sector.
Overall, with all these benefits and more, DFS is a solid option for pursuing an MBA in Finance.
DFS DU offers hostel facilities for students through the University of Delhi hostel system. There are separate hostels for boys and girls. The boys' hostels are named Aravali and Saramati, and the girls' hostel is named Geetanjali. DFS DU offers a residential program and after admission, students are required to apply for a hostel. There is a gym, water heating, proper furniture, a common room, a garden, and many more amenities in the hostel. There are negligible hostel charges of around Rs. 26,000 yearly covering everything. The cost of a hostel is pretty low compared to other B-Schools.
The Department of Finance isn't an independent college with its campus. It's a department within the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Delhi. The University of Delhi itself has a sprawling campus spread across 300 acres, but DFS DU students generally attend classes and participate in activities across various buildings within the South Campus, which is approximately 69 acres. The campus has an auditorium, library, hostel and canteen, football ground, cricket ground, and badminton court.
DFS DU does not have any tie-ups with banks. The college fees are already low compared to other colleges i.e Rs. 48,500 therefore students generally don't take a loan. Public banks like SBI, BOB, Union Bank, etc as per their policies can provide up to only 7.5 lakhs of rupees for student loans without collateral irrespective of the course and country. This loan includes hostel fees, mess charges, the cost of a laptop which is vital for an MBA, education loan insurance, a security deposit, and other charges put by the college.
The course fee of DFS DU is INR 26,000. The other charges include the admission fee, which needs to be paid at the time of admission. Along with the admission fee, the total fee amounts to INR 48,500 for the general category. There is an additional enrollment fee of Rs. 50 for non-DU students. For students under the PWD category, the fee is INR 12,125.
The application fee for the general category is INR 2,000 and for SC/ST/PC candidates the application fee is INR 1,000. Hostel accommodation fees come after completion of the admissons category. The hostel fee is INR 26,600 for men's hostels and for women, it is INR 23,600.
There is no written ability test conducted for admissions to DFS DU. The weightage for the CAT percentile is 60%. Marks obtained in 10th and 12th are 5% each. There is a 25% weightage given to PI. Female candidates get a 2.5% additional weightage. If the applicant is from B. Com (Hons.), B. A. (Hons.) (Economics), B. A. (Hons.) (Business Economics), BBE, BBS/BMS or BFIA/BBA (FIA) they get additional weightage of 2.5%. Therefore DFS DU is not highly reliant on 10th and 12th scores and there is no additional weight given to work experience.