Do the employers care about the bachelor? For example if two persons, one with applied mathematics bachelor's and other with physics bachelor's, both have the same master's, can they get the same jobs?

I'm asking this because I'm in physics, and I don't know if I should change to applied mathematics or not. The thing is, I can probably get the same master's degree that applied mathematicians get, but I don't know if the bachelor is important too for employers. People with bachelor's degree in applied mathematics usually get hired for jobs in banks (in Portugal), and I don't know if both a physicist and applied mathematician, even with the same master's, have equal chances of getting a job in banks.

Think they would go for the one with accounting experience

This is a serious question and very important to me. You're either trolling or didn't even read my post, either way please go do that somewhere else.

Actually, I think he did read your post, and has a great point. A bank in this climate is likely to hire someone with financial (accountancy) experience over someone with just Academic qualifications. Experience often trumps book learning.

It really depends on the degrees you've earned, the employer, and many other things.

But obviously being an accountant isn't an option to me, that's why I said he probably didn't read my post. Banks need people with advanced mathematics knowledge, that's why applied mathematicians' bachelors get hired for banks. But my question is: Is a bachelor's degree important when one has a master's degree?

As I said... It depends on the Employer, and the degrees and how close they are, and the culture of the country you're in. Since you're hoping for finance, my gut says stay away from physics and keep to pure maths, but we're not really the best people to ask - your unversity shoul have a careers counciling department who know the employment market where you are and what the recruiters look for - they probably have the phone number for the graduate recruiter at ideal employer.

Even if the name on the piece of paper doesnt matter - what you actually learn in the classes does.

From what I've seen in hiring sites and company websites in the USA, employers will take either, but it varies on experience and the position. In general, those with a BS tend to require more experience than those with an MS.

You ask me, best to get some RL experience before getting the MS. You'll have some money in your pocket, some RL experience to throw into your application, and contacts/references from when you get out of the masters program. Just getting a MS right off the bat may not be the best idea, as employers may assume you will want to be paid more, and you may come off as being better than the position they're offering. At least, this is what the headhunting places I've gone to said, along with a few employees from potential places.

I'd say: They'll ask you why you switched subjects and will hire you depending on how much they like the story - and just saying "i thought it would sound better in an application" will not likely be the best thing to say.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to work for a bank though... there so many interesting jobs based on Physics... i'm an engineer working in an development department of one of the worlds largest automotive suppliers. some of my most able colleagues studied physics, and i couldn't imagine anything at a bank could be quite as rewarding as developing technical innovations. Well, but we engineers are almost all biased against banks and accounting...

Hi, please don't accuse others of trolling as it's against the rules of this forum. The guy that responded I believe did in fact read your post and answered in earnest. Maybe we are all misunderstanding your question, I'm not sure. But I'm sure we can all work through it so we can assist you with what you are asking.

Now, as to your question as I understood it, I'm of the belief that if you want to end up with a master's degree that you should indeed first get your bachelor's degree or at least it is to your advantage. Often when you have your bachelor's already you can get an internship while you are working on your master's. While most internships pay near nothing if that, they provide experience in the field of your choice that looks very good on a resume'. It also sometimes gives you a foot in the door to a company that might hire you in the end.

Another option is that having a BS first will open things up for you to get a duel master's which is pretty awesome.

Thanks for all the replies. The most important I have right now is if I would like a master's in mathematics in the first place, and if I'd be able to get one coming from physics. That I need to ask my professors

Contact your instituions of learning, especially their admissions offices. Truely, previous experience, your personal strength in math, BS program, MS program, institution flexiblity, etc.will all weigh on the issue. Also, time in the field building experience and looking around at the jobs, as mentioned earlier, is good.

Does your system of higher ed require admission tests?