[Reckless77]

When it comes to applying for jobs in the Finance sector, which degree is better? I think most will agree Maths is harder but when it comes to applying for finance jobs, surely the accounting and finance degree holders are preferred due to specific knowledge that you would obviously gain but quite a few people have said otherwise to me.

Which do you consider the better degree personally considering all aspects?

[blueconstellation]

In my experience of people I've known who've done accounting and maths, it completely depends on the job. With something like accountancy, if the job description asks for an accountant, they will only hire someone who's got an accountancy qualification. On the other hand, with maths, you have a greater range of jobs/graduate schemes available to you in the finance sector, but not the ability to become an accountant without doing a course.

Also, I wouldn't say maths is necessarily harder. It depends on where/how you do each qualification.

If I had to choose between accountancy and finance and maths (lord forbid) I'd choose maths, because of the greater variety of options open to you after you graduate. However, I'd still personally prefer accountancy and finance, because it's more applied maths.

[wanderlust.xx]

(Original post by blueconstellation)
In my experience of people I've known who've done accounting and maths, it completely depends on the job. With something like accountancy, if the job description asks for an accountant, they will only hire someone who's got an accountancy qualification. On the other hand, with maths, you have a greater range of jobs/graduate schemes available to you in the finance sector, but not the ability to become an accountant without doing a course.

Also, I wouldn't say maths is necessarily harder. It depends on where/how you do each qualification.

If I had to choose between accountancy and finance and maths (lord forbid) I'd choose maths, because of the greater variety of options open to you after you graduate. However, I'd still personally prefer accountancy and finance, because it's more applied maths.

Okay so I just skim read this and I was like ...

Firstly, whether you have an A&F degree or a Maths degree, you need to do a professional qualification (AAT, ACA, ACCA, CIMA) to become a qualified Tax Accountant/Chartered Accountant/Chartered Management Accountant etc. The A&F degree simply sometimes gives you exemptions from certain modules in ACA, for example.

Secondly, it is widely stated that a straight maths degree is harder than A&F. A&F delves into economics, numeracy, using formulae and overall business sense, whereas the study of mathematics is often to do with abstract ideas and deriving formulae from axioms, which is totally different to an A&F degree. Maths might not be harder, no, but to the vast majority it's often seen as such.

Finally, A&F isn't applied maths. It's probably not even close. From the three or four people I've spoken to on an A&F degree, it's more about Economics, Business and Management. That's essays, reports, research, numerical calculations and applying maths, not using applied maths (which, to clarify, is statistics, mechanics, dynamics and more physics type stuff).

As far as what was said about graduate prospects, I agree. You can still apply to non accountancy roles with an A&F degree, but you'll sometimes find it difficult to show that you've done the maths required (so applying for a role as an actuary would be hard because you'd need to have done some high end maths like inference or stochastic processes).

Also OP, two words that you should keep at the forefront of your mind regardless of the degree you choose: WORK EXPERIENCE. If you're a 2:1 A&F degree holder with a heap of experience against a first class maths holder with none, you'll be in a stronger position. Always.

[blueconstellation]

Firstly, whether you have an A&F degree or a Maths degree, you need to do a professional qualification (AAT, ACA, ACCA, CIMA) to become a qualified Tax Accountant/Chartered Accountant/Chartered Management Accountant etc. The A&F degree simply sometimes gives you exemptions from certain modules in ACA, for example.

Woops, yes, sorry. I was kind of assuming getting a undergrad degree was the same as a professional qualification.