With continuing financial scandals, profit warnings from the banking sector and general economic trepidation, it might seem surprising that those graduating with degrees designed for the banking industry are optimistic about their employment prospects.

But, says Linda Kreitzman, executive director of the Masters in Financial Engineering programme at the Haas school at UC Berkeley, this year’s graduates have reason to be relaxed. Just two months after graduation, 97 per cent of the graduating class have received job offers with an average salary of $159,141 (£81,708), plus an average first-year bonus of $55,484.