graduate diploma in economics - Bristol, Nottingham or Essex?

Hi,

I got offers from Bristol, Notts and Essex for the Graduate Diploma in Economics, as I want to obtain a Msc afterwards.

I spent months looking up staff on ideas, reputation, rankings, I visited the three places, but I still can't quite make up my mind. Actually, I ruled out Essex, because it seems not to the as strong as the other two on an academic level and they looked poorly organized.

Loved Bristol since they have clearly gone through my application carefully and they also prepared some notes for me to study this summer.They are well aware of my strengths and weaknesses. (I talked with the diploma students' tutor)

Loved Notts because of the international environment, the research fields, and of course, the School of Economics is huge.

The main difference is that as Bristol has only one route through the BA, Notts has two routes, based on the kind of econometrics you want to study, one more applied and the other more theory-oriented. I have to add that the textbook used at Bristol for econometrics is the same used at Notts for the applied route.
(you are not expected to prove a thing, just take theorems as given - but lectures might fill the gap).

My background is quite unusual: I did the equivalent of A levels in Maths and Physics, and Economics, then graduated in classics (First class) and after that I studied for one year economics in college (maths, statistics, micro and macro, public economics, economic history).

To sum up:
bristol pro: they had a very holistic approach to my application, this might suggest they are going to tutor and mentor me in this year of mad study. the school is highly ranked. I really loved the place.
bristol cons: small department, mixed with management and finance, econometrics weak (?)

notts pro: large department, strong in research, international environment. slight better preparation for MSc (?)
notts cons: the professors have not been really available as of now, with me asking about modules, data on former students' achievement and career, I don't like Nottingham at all, it looks like none has the slightest idea of what my programme consists in. (I should add that I was coming to visit from Italy, where I come from)

Thank you for reading and if you have any advice, I would really appreciate it!

Reply 1

KentaKobashi

Well I went to Nottingham on an open day and loved it. I am going there in September. I guess only you know the true answer to which one you prefer, but for me, Nottingham is perfect. The fees are reasonable, the job prospects are fantastic, the faculty is amazing and the location is wonderful

Reply 2

.ACS.

You've compared both universities generally, and also the postgraduate diploma offered by both. Now, have you thought much about the MSc component? Which university offers you the more suitable MSc? Which has the modules you most want to do?

Also, out of curiosity, why do you mention econometrics level at both universities, is it an area you may want to go into? If so, Nottingham's course is much better. The diploma has more advanced econometric theory and their MSc is also more technical whereas Bristol's focuses on the intuition behind econometrics as opposed to the underlying mathematics.

Personally, given the choice, it's tough since I'd agree with you in some respects. I think Bristol is a much nicer place, and the small department makes it more personal, but Nottingham does offer the better course and many more optional modules due to size.

Reply 3

catel

thanks for both your replies!
@KentaKobashi as non rational agent, I would go Bristol right away, because I really had a good feeling about the director of the programme and the city. But I decided not to take into account my personal leanings and focus more on the probable outcome (the amazing faculty really means a lot in this, I agree with you).
@.ACS. The MSc... here comes the hard part. I am not quite sure about it: Bristol's offer is limited in comparison with Nottingham's
Nottingham
The MSc Economics Programme

The MSc Economics Programme is designed to provide core research training in economics, and has ESRC recognition as part of their "1+3" awards system.

MSc in Economics
MSc in Economics and Econometrics
MSc in Economics and International Economics
MSc in Economics and Development Economics
MSc in Economics and Financial Economics
MSc in Behavioural Economics

The Applied MSc Economics Programme

The Applied MSc Economics Programme is designed for students who wish to apply advanced level knowledge of economics to practical and policy issues, of particular use to those who want to work as professional economists in the private or public sector.

MSc in Applied Economics
MSc in Economic Development and Policy Analysis
MSc in Applied Economics and Financial Economics
source: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/economics/prospective/postgraduate/taught-courses/index.aspx

Bristol
MScs requiring a specialist first degree

MSc in Economics
MSc in Economics and Econometrics
MSc in Economics and Finance
MSc in Economics and Public Policy

I would study completely different things, as of now: at Nottingham I would probably take Economics or Economics and Development; at Bristol Economics or Economics and Public Policy. One thing I would be probable try at Notts would be to see how Behavioural Economics is like - have a vague idea, and I am intrigued, but not sure. Moreover, if my grades are good enough (>70%), I will consider to apply to some of the top 5 uni (Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, Warwick).
Why econometrics matters to me? It might sound weird, given my backgroung, to be interested in the metrics, but I really enjoyed statistics (probably one of the most amusing courses of my life), plus having a strong background in Econometrics is essential for those who want to study Economics at an advanced level, if I am not mistaken. First, whaterver your MSc dissertation will be about, it has to be based on some data analysis. Then, every professor I talked to told me that the compulsory module in the MSc programme is basically a review of what you study at UG level, just squeezed in one semester and with some developments, so a student who didn't take some heavy econometrics at UG level might struggle a lot. I am looking for the best preparation for a MSc (and being well monitored is quite important, since I just have a super intensive single year), more than for a good place to study also as PG. Of course, if I get =>60% I am automatically in for the MSc at both schools.

Reply 4

catel

Thanks to both of you!
@KentaKobashi you are probably right about job prospects and the faculty is really amazing, which is a huge "go Notts". If I had to choose based on my first impression (well, I actually spent two whole days in School of Economics at UoN), I would go Bristol right away, because I had really a nice feeling about the programme's director and the city. But I decided to leave the decision to my rational senses :smile:

@.ACS. Here come the hard part: what MSc I would choose. I am not really sure as of now, the first weeks of lectures would be crucial in this choice (2nd years modules in the Diploma). I am quite interested in two different fields: policy or development, apart from taking the classic MSc in Economics. Unfortunately, huge research centre in Bristol on policy issues, huge research centre in Nottingham on globalisation...
Here is the list of the MSc:
Nottingham
The MSc Economics Programme

The MSc Economics Programme is designed to provide core research training in economics, and has ESRC recognition as part of their "1+3" awards system.

MSc in Economics
MSc in Economics and Econometrics
MSc in Economics and International Economics
MSc in Economics and Development Economics
MSc in Economics and Financial Economics
MSc in Behavioural Economics

The Applied MSc Economics Programme

The Applied MSc Economics Programme is designed for students who wish to apply advanced level knowledge of economics to practical and policy issues, of particular use to those who want to work as professional economists in the private or public sector.

MSc in Applied Economics
MSc in Economic Development and Policy Analysis
MSc in Applied Economics and Financial Economics

Bristol
MScs requiring a specialist first degree

MSc in Economics
MSc in Economics and Econometrics
MSc in Economics and Finance
MSc in Economics and Public Policy

About Econometrics. I am sure I will not study in depth as in MSc in Economics&Econometrics, it's just that first, I really enjoyed the course in Statistics I attended (one of the most amusing courses of my life), secondly, it plays a important role whatever you want to study, well, it's the basis, if I am not mistaken. Plus, every professor I talked to, told me that the compulsory module of Econometrics in the MSc is basically going through Econometrics I and II, but squeezed in one semester with some developments, this is why they strongly recommend it to those who want to go on and study Economics at Master's level (not the applied route, the ESRC 1+3 route, to be clear). So yes, I am concerned about my mathematics skills, really concerned about econometrics, and I am well aware that being well monitored during the year might make a big difference.
I have to add one last thing: if I get really good grades (>70%) I will consider and apply to the top 5 (Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, Warwick). Usually a lot of GD students who get Distiction (>70%) apply and have offers from those, as the Diploma's director told, data in hand. Only who get Merit stays in Bristol. Not that is bad, but uhm it would be a nice shot. I base on this my priority: get good preparation for the MSc, anyway, and as I said, no one looks to care about GD students in Nottingham, but it might be biased by fact that the Diploma director is on sabbatical and apparently no one else knows a thing about it.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 5

.ACS.

Well, I think it would be a good idea to ask Bristol whether you can take ECON21356 and ECON30392 as part of the diploma. These are Bristol's theoretical econometric modules, but they must be taken in addition to the easier econometrics module, so that will be all of your modules taken up. They would be essential, really, if you're aiming for a top university for your MSc such as LSE/UCL/etc.

Nottingham's MSc is definitely more rigorous in terms of econometrics, even if you don't specialise in it. I dare say that Bristol's MSc econometrics component is quite weak (compared to Nottingham's).

You're right, however, that econometrics plays a vital role in economic research, especially if you're an applied economist and working on topics in development or policy.

I think for the Diploma, if you can do the two econometric modules I listed at the top of this post, then I'd opt for Bristol. Then if you do particularly well, you can apply to do an MSc elsewhere, even Nottingham if you feel they provide a more appropriate MSc for your needs.

The one thing I would say is that Nottingham has probably been more aloof as it's a much larger school, and is much more research focused than Bristol. So I dare say you have just as good a chance in getting into a top university for MSc having done the Nottingham diploma, but obviously you'll be in larger classes and may have less guidance than you would in Bristol.

Reply 6

KentaKobashi

To be perfectly honest, judging by your posts, you clearly are adamant in defending Bristol, so you must want to go there a little bit more, and are looking for others to justify it for you. I think you should definitely go there, because it sounds like it is what you want. :smile:

Honestly, there isn't that much difference. Sure the course itself might be slightly different, but fundamentally you are learning 90-95% of the same econometrics at Nottingham. Employers aren't going to mention about how well econometrics is taught at Nottingham, how small the department is or any of that. They care obviously with where you go to some extent, and Bristol is great! They care about how much you learnt, how well you learnt it, and whether it is applicable to their position, which it obviously is.

I don't need to tell you that you should go to Bristol, but you clearly should. The difference in yours and my earnings relative to where we went is going to be fractional, and will ultimately be dependent on what we do afterwards and how hard we work, more than anything. (also gender, race, age etc.) Essentially, you have to live there for a year and it just comes down, in my opinion, to an enjoyment factor, something which economists can say "that's not rational", but they can sod off to be honest. I want to go somewhere I like and I am more than willing to forgo future earnings if that was the case. Live in the now! Go to Bristol.

graduate diploma in economics - Bristol, Nottingham or Essex?

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you