Cambridge University’s Judge Business School has taken the top spot from London Business School in the Financial Times’ most recent ranking of finance programmes for students already working in the field.

HEC Paris retains its top place for students lacking industry experience for the sixth year running.

The 2016 rankings, compiled using data provided by the schools and their alumni who graduated in 2013, include only five post-experience courses. The criteria used include the salaries of alumni and the level of seniority they have achieved within their careers.

Cambridge’s Judge Business School owed their position in the top spot to being particularly successful in “aiding career progression”.

“The class of 2013 enjoyed the second highest salary three years after graduation at around $130,000 as well as offering the greatest value for money”, the rankings explained.

The FT noted that Judge alumni were “particularly pleased” with the faculty, with one graduate telling them: “The management… had the drive, network and reputation to make it a world-class degree.”

However, despite the University of Cambridge reaching the top spot, it came second from bottom in regard to the increase in graduates' salaries, with a 68 per cent rise in comparison to 90 per cent at the Singapore Management University.

In addition to this, the Judge Business School performed worst in regard to the percentage of women within the faculty, and second worst in terms of the number of women studying for degrees with the faculty.

Interestingly, despite London Business School’s drop to second place, its graduates remain the highest earners in finance, taking home an average of just under £93,507 per annum.

Varsity recently reported on the school’s plan to introduce a new degree that would cost £230,000 and be aimed at senior leaders in the business world. At the time, Professor Gill Evans criticised the “gigantic fees” and questioned: “where is the intellectual justification for this departure into new doctoral territory?”