[apollo_55345]

Hi there. I was hoping to get some guidance from people on a couple of questions:

Firstly, I am looking to take a taught postgraduate economics course (1 - 2 years) in the UK (or Germany) without an economics background. I do have undergraduate degrees in maths and law (it is normal to do law concurrently with a second degree in Australia) from a good uni.

Can anyone recommend some good programs? The diploma program at Cambridge (with an MPhil afterwards if successful) looks great, as does the 2 year MSc at LSE. Is there anything else that stands out?

Secondly, I'm not very familiar with the UK postgrad study system, and was wondering how competitive these programs are and what weight is placed on the different areas of the application.

So I guess what I am asking is what you need to get into programs like Cambridge and LSE, whether a slightly patchy transcript will be fatal, and whether there are some other programs that I should consider.

Thanks for your help!

[Rex Regis]

Seeing as your undergraduate degree is in a numerical subject, you should have no problem pursuing a postgraduate degree in Economics. You will, however, have to 'convert' your undergraduate degree to an Economics one by studying for a diploma in Economics. The diploma, in many cases, leads to a place in a postgraduate Economics course in the same institute.

The LSE 2-year MSc Economics is the best option in my opinion. You could study for diplomas in other universities such as Warwick. Once you have acquired a diploma in Economics (assuming with good marks), you should be able to continue to an MSc.

Good luck.