MBA vs Master of Science in Finance

High Powered Expert Committee Report on Mumbai - An International Financial Centre, recommends Indian colleges start offtering MSc in Finance (Box 13.1, p.175);

Usually about 20–25% of the coursework in an MBA curriculum is focused on finance, while all the coursework in an MSF is in finance.

The MSF imparts greater knowledge of mathematics and computer science, thus preparing the student for the quantitative and data-intensive modern finance workplace, where mathematical models are applied into measuring risk, pricing financial instruments, and developing and testing trading strategies.

The MSF tends to involve substantial teaching in analytical financial economics, going beyond the more descriptive finance coursework as seen in the MBA where the mathematical background of students is inadequate.

The MSF program prepares students for careers in financial analysis, investment management and corporate finance where they will confront sophisticated financial instruments, markets and trading strategies. The typical MBA student has a very limited knowledge of derivatives arbitrage; the typical MSF student knows quite a bit about it.

Related;
See Ajay Shah's commentary on the report

Microbanking, microschooling;

In sharp contrast to big-name business schools, which set high standards for prospective students, the tiny Mann Deshi Business School in the Indian state of Maharashtra has few entry requirements. The brainchild of Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, a not-for-profit microfinance provider, the school offers women mainly from rural districts courses in topics including entrepreneurship, marketing and finance. A free gym and career counselling are also available to students.

Classes at Mann Deshi began in December 2006 with 150 students in the first intake. Over the next five years, the Satara-based school hopes to enroll 350 students for each session of between three and six months. The cost of enrolment is a steal by business-school standards at between 150 and 600 rupees ($3.70-14.80). Already, the school has declared its programme so successful that it plans to expand into the neighbouring state of Karnataka

Tepper School of Business's “MBA Reality Check” campaign