LSE vs Warwick M.Sc. Statistics

Warwick is definitely stronger for stats, LSE is good but Warwick has one of the best stats departments in the country.

However as you say, unless you want to do a PhD afterwards, the reputation of the university is often more important than the reputation of the department. An LSE degree would certainly be more marketable overseas.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 2

Also you said in a different thread that you are undecided between statistics and machine learning, so have you considered the CSML MSc at UCL?

Reply 3

OP

Original post by poohat

Warwick is definitely stronger for stats, LSE is good but Warwick has one of the best stats departments in the country.

Yes, this is also what I am 'worrying' a bit about. I do definitely want to do a Ph.D. (although in Machine Learning). I think I prefer LSE as an institution and don't really like the look of Warwick, but their stats department is certainly great. Although I'm not quite sure how much it really matters even for Ph.D. whether I attend Warwick or LSE.

Original post by poohat

Also you said in a different thread that you are undecided between statistics and machine learning, so have you considered the CSML MSc at UCL?

I have actually applied for that but not heard back (it was my second choice there). But I'm pretty much settled on doing Stats as a Masters and Machine Learning as a PhD.

Reply 4

Aristotle's' Disciple

19

What are your future plans? Getting a job overseas? I wouldn't worry about the PhD, any instritution worth it's name will be fully aware of Warwicks strength in the Stats department, so ultimately it boils down to whether you're planning to seek a job overseas or domestic.

Reply 5

After you have a PhD noone will care where your masters is from, so you want the masters that gives you the best chance of getting into a top tier PhD program. In the UK its pretty well known that Warwick is one of the clear top 5 stats departments while LSE is slightly weaker, but if you are applying for grad school in the US it may not be so obvious.

The other thing to perhaps consider is the extent to which both departments focus on topics which relate to machine learning, both for the purposes of doing your MSc project, and also because you might end up finding that you want to do a "machine learning" related PhD in a statistics department instead of a CS one. In this case, its worth pointing out that Warwick stats has a much more Bayesian flavour than LSE (and has some of the top Bayesian guys in the country)

Ultimately though as you say, I dont think its going to make an enormous difference to your PhD prospects - if you get a distinction on either program, you will be in a strong place.

Reply 6

Aristotle's' Disciple

19

Original post by poohat

The other thing to perhaps consider is the extent to which both departments focus on topics which relate to machine learning, both for the purposes of doing your MSc project, and also because you might end up finding that you want to do a "machine learning" related PhD in a statistics department instead of a CS one. In this case, its worth pointing out that Warwick stats has a much more Bayesian flavour than LSE (and has some of the top Bayesian guys in the country)

Very good point! :smile:

Reply 7

OP

Original post by poohat

In the UK its pretty well known that Warwick is one of the clear top 5 stats departments while LSE is slightly weaker [...] Ultimately though as you say, I dont think its going to make an enormous difference to your PhD prospects - if you get a distinction on either program, you will be in a strong place.

Yes, this is what I was thinking. While Warwick's department is certainly very strong. I doubt that attending LSE over Warwick would disadvantage me for a Ph.D. The other thing is that the LSE offer is much lower than the Warwick offer (2.1 vs First), so LSE seems like the 'safe' option.

Also, some of the LSE modules are actually taught by the Econometrics department, which is world-renowned.

Original post by poohat

The other thing to perhaps consider is the extent to which both departments focus on topics which relate to machine learning, both for the purposes of doing your MSc project, and also because you might end up finding that you want to do a "machine learning" related PhD in a statistics department instead of a CS one. In this case, its worth pointing out that Warwick stats has a much more Bayesian flavour than LSE (and has some of the top Bayesian guys in the country)

I had not actually thought about this possibility, thanks for pointing that out!

EDIT:

Original post by Aristotle's' Disciple

What are your future plans? Getting a job overseas? I wouldn't worry about the PhD, any instritution worth it's name will be fully aware of Warwicks strength in the Stats department, so ultimately it boils down to whether you're planning to seek a job overseas or domestic.

I am unsure yet. I'd potentially like to work in the US, but work is quite a while away still.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 8

The other thing I'd point out is that you often find at good departments that a lot of PhD students also done their undergrad/masters at that institution - basically if you are already at a university, its much easier to meet potential supervisors and be offered a PhD place there (and they will similarly know more about you). So if you think you might want to do a PhD at either Warwick or LSE, then going to that one for a Masters might be a good idea.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 9

OP

I also just figured out something strange.
90% of the optional modules in the M.Sc. Econometrics and Mathematical Economics are taught by the stats department.
That course, however, is one of LSE's flagships. So not quite sure, why the stats department isn't ranked among the top 5 in the UK.

Reply 10

Original post by Chr0n

I also just figured out something strange.
90% of the optional modules in the M.Sc. Econometrics and Mathematical Economics are taught by the stats department.
That course, however, is one of LSE's flagships. So not quite sure, why the stats department isn't ranked among the top 5 in the UK.

Because departmental reputation is based on faculty and research output, not MSc programs.

LSE econ is top 3 in the UK

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 11

sj27

Original post by poohat

Because departmental reputation is based on faculty and research output, not MSc programs.

LSE econ is top 3 in the UK

But that particular master's degree is world renowned. It has a reputation of being a shoe-in to any top PhD in econ - definitely more so than the regular MSc econ from LSE. So in this instance it is the course, not just the faculty, that has the reputation.

Reply 12

OP

In any case, thanks a lot for all your help!

I think I will be going to LSE:
- They only want a 2.1 rather than a 1st (Warwick)
- Module choices are more flexible than Warwick
- I prefer the course in general to Warwick's
- They specialise in Time Series, which is the area I want to go into (although I am sure Warwick is good at this too, but, for example, they restrict their Financial Time Series module to continuing Warwick students)
- Better international reputation
- Even though Warwick's department is better, I am sure that going to LSE over Warwick won't hurt my Ph.D. prospects (If I get a first from either, good references and a good proposal, I am sure I will stand in a good stead)
- Prefer London to Warwick (generally dislike the Warwick campus which is in the middle of nowhere)

Reply 13

Zabi21

Hi, where are you currently doing your undergrad?

Reply 14

OP

Original post by Zabi21

Hi, where are you currently doing your undergrad?

I'm doing Philosophy, Politics and Economics at York (average 74% so far).

Reply 15

chnm

I'm doing an MSc Statistics program at Warwick. I'd say if you're really keen on deriving theorems or interested in Monte Carlo methods or Bayesian-related modelling, then it's a great place to go. Also, the professors apparently have very high expectations on their students based on the questions they set on the examination papers. So this is sort of my 'unbiased' view of the department. Unfortunately, it would be inconvenient for me to express a more subjective view of the department before the course end. As I'm new to the forum I don't know if there is a private chat function. If so, I would be happy to share my other views privately.

Reply 16

OP