[Lucy Pevensie]

So I'll be doing a degree in engineering but will have some space for some free electives and see myself working as a engineering manager in a high tech company in the future. My goal is to earn as much money as possible. (yes Im a modern ebenezer scrooge) Thus I'm interested to know which of finance or economics would be the better choice to study at this stage?

[ChemistBoy]

economics.

[Consultant]

Originally Posted by Lucy Pevensie

So I'll be doing a degree in engineering but will have some space for some free electives and see myself working as a engineering manager in a high tech company in the future. My goal is to earn as much money as possible. (yes Im a modern ebenezer scrooge) Thus I'm interested to know which of finance or economics would be the better choice to study at this stage?

Depends how in depth your engineering core options are on finance, I'd say. As an engineering manager you'll probably (for the start of your career at least) be using financial methods, as opposed to economics - though I'd personally go for economics, as it provides a much wider set of knowledge.

[ChemistBoy]

Originally Posted by Consultant

Depends how in depth your engineering core options are on finance, I'd say. As an engineering manager you'll probably (for the start of your career at least) be using financial methods, as opposed to economics - though I'd personally go for economics, as it provides a much wider set of knowledge.

I'd say that the finance stuff need for engineering is covered in most courses well. You'd be better off with the economics so you could understand a lot of the analysis behind costing predictions better - this would put you in a better position to make a choice as a manager.

[Consultant]

Originally Posted by ChemistBoy

I'd say that the finance stuff need for engineering is covered in most courses well. You'd be better off with the economics so you could understand a lot of the analysis behind costing predictions better - this would put you in a better position to make a choice as a manager.

It depends on the course though - if finance/economics are allowed minors then it might be the case that engineering finance, per se, is not covered well in the course. If it is then I completely agree, there's no need to get into the deep nitty-gritty of financials when you know enough and in my opinion could do economics instead which provides a much broader grounding in financial/economic principles.

[Porscha!]

Engineering Much more fun than Finance

[Lucy Pevensie]

Originally Posted by Consultant

It depends on the course though - if finance/economics are allowed minors then it might be the case that engineering finance, per se, is not covered well in the course. If it is then I completely agree, there's no need to get into the deep nitty-gritty of financials when you know enough and in my opinion could do economics instead which provides a much broader grounding in financial/economic principles.

Whats the difference between engineering finance and "real" finance?

[gyyy2807]

economics probably because finance a branch of economics and probably too specialised

[Consultant]

Originally Posted by Lucy Pevensie

Whats the difference between engineering finance and "real" finance?

It'll usually be a subset of finance; things you would find useful as an engineering manager for example, basic accounting, business plans, market analysis, project financing, etc.

[Lucy Pevensie]

Originally Posted by ChemistBoy

I'd say that the finance stuff need for engineering is covered in most courses well. You'd be better off with the economics so you could understand a lot of the analysis behind costing predictions better - this would put you in a better position to make a choice as a manager.

Originally Posted by Consultant

It'll usually be a subset of finance; things you would find useful as an engineering manager for example, basic accounting, business plans, market analysis, project financing, etc.

Thanks for your replies guys. One further question: what area of economics would be the more useful one in this case? Micro, Macro or International Economics?

[Consultant]

Originally Posted by Lucy Pevensie

Thanks for your replies guys. One further question: what area of economics would be the more useful one in this case? Micro, Macro or International Economics?

I'd say that Micro would be closer to what you'd be using, I'd choose based on which one you'd rather do - they're quite different.

[Lucy Pevensie]

Originally Posted by Consultant

I'd say that Micro would be closer to what you'd be using, I'd choose based on which one you'd rather do - they're quite different.

I'll rep you for that One final question since you seem to know a lot about the business:

Since american bachelors and masters degrees usually take a year longer to finish than the equivalent UK counterparts, and I plan to spend a semester or two to take the opportunity to travel a bit on the continent, imagine a worse case scenario that I will finish a masters degree in engineering when I am 25 / 26 year old. Would that be generally looked down upon by potential employers for being too "old" (especially for females), especially among employers in the UK where students graduate when they are way younger?