Imperial vs. Bath Chem Eng

Thanks for taking the time to reply! I hadn't even thought about the chances and advantages of either uni when it comes into entering the finance sector, so thanks for the insight. As I am doing engineering instead of an economics kind of degree, how far behind will this put me when/if I apply for an IB position? In terms of knowledge, employability, skills needed etc etc.

Why even focus on IB? You are applying for engineering. Otherwise, take a gap year and study economics. If you want to do IB, do economics. Don't waste time in the engineering faculty. Don't you realise how unproductive it is to spend 4 years studying engineering just to want to do IB later?


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it's more about having the option, going to a target at least gives an increased chance of getting into finance, being in a target will also give more exposure to the industry so OP can be more informed on whether they want to do finance or not.

Doing my undergrad at a semi-target I really regret not opting for the target now, hence my advice to OP (No personal agenda just regrets I don't want someone else to have).

aha, but if OP wants to do IB he MUST do economics or something intimately related. Bath is "only" a semi-target, so there's one disadvantage, coupled with his degree in engineering and not finance, econ or mathematics etc.

If he's certain IB is his future, he should abandon chem eng. Sure, the option is great, but certainly only an option and most likely not his future path.

Engineers from targets make up a large chunk of graduate consultants/analysts. The notion that you need to study finance to work in finance is a misnomer.

Nothing against semi-targets I went to one aswell, just as someone who like you initially thought all they wanted to do was engineering that was swayed to finance, I really regret not going to a target (I had the option of going to one), don't want OP to have these same regrets.

Edit: Target to Semi-Target is a huge step down, Semi-target just means we're on the radar of employers in the sector.

Why even focus on IB? You are applying for engineering. Otherwise, take a gap year and study economics. If you want to do IB, do economics. Don't waste time in the engineering faculty. Don't you realise how unproductive it is to spend 4 years studying engineering just to want to do IB later?


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Engineers are fine for finance. it's anecdotal evidence but all of my friends at UCL ChemE have gone into the finance sector, I'm friends with about 10-15% of the current class aswell so we're not talking 2-3 people (this is also where my opinions on UCLs ChemE come from lol).

In fact me and those friends who are staying on to do an undergraduate MEng are going to be job/internship hunting together.

tl;dr - engineering is fine for finance, never seen it hold someone from a target back, I think I read somewhere that banks like the diversity of places like UCL. (don't quote me on that though!)

Thanks for taking the time to reply! I hadn't even thought about the chances and advantages of either uni when it comes into entering the finance sector, so thanks for the insight. As I am doing engineering instead of an economics kind of degree, how far behind will this put me when/if I apply for an IB position? In terms of knowledge, employability, skills needed etc etc.

Ahh I see. Lol I have read some absolutely shocking reviews of the UCL Chem Eng department, completely put me off from applying there, could never understand why it was always rated so slowly despite UCL being a top uni.

Are you currently doing your degree? Is it Chem eng?

Why even focus on IB? You are applying for engineering. Otherwise, take a gap year and study economics. If you want to do IB, do economics. Don't waste time in the engineering faculty. Don't you realise how unproductive it is to spend 4 years studying engineering just to want to do IB later?


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Not behind at all. In fact, you'd be ahead for some roles (mostly derivatives trading) where a better understanding of Maths is required. Economics is largely irrelevant to finance, it just so happens that a large proportion of those who want to go into finance are doing Econ. You'll be trained up for 2-3 months after uni with every other new start anyway.

Obviously, do keep up with business news and make an effort to learn a bit more about finance in general - especially the roles, the key players, some technical knowledge - so you're in a good position for interviews. And of course, the usual of keeping yourself busy (extracurriculars) outside of school/uni work.

It's not that bad (UCL ChemE), but there's a few hilarious stories about resits etc. that make me question the professionalism of the faculty.

Completed my degree June 2015 was Petroleum Engineering (Chemical engineering with a bunch earth sciency modules e.g. Geochemistry instead of Physical Chemistry). Had no luck breaking into finance so starting my Masters at Imperial next year, so should you choose Imperial i'd see you there :P.

That's good news to hear haha, so the skills are definitely transferrable.
Thanks for the advice!

Nice! How long did you spend trying to break into finance? And if that didn't work out, what made you want to straight away do a masters before getting some work experience in the oil/gas engineering field?

I was on an integrated masters so i'd be doing a masters anyway I just decided I would rather do my masters at a target university so cancelled the MEng went on to the BEng and decided I would apply to MScs at ICL/UC next year (this year). All this was a few weeks before graduation, serious last minute decision .

I tried for about 6 months I was honestly way too late and at a semi-target to boot. When you start uni, regardless of where you choose to go - make sure you attend spring weeks etc in first year even if you don't wanna do finance, again its one of those just in case things.

Regarding oil/gas engineering field, honestly i don't enjoy it at all the aspects I did like (risk analysis etc.) are covered in more detail by bankers lol.

I would still like to be involved in the petroleum industry just the financial side of it.

What's your view on unemployement for petroleum engineers considering you'll graduate next year ?

I was on an integrated masters so i'd be doing a masters anyway I just decided I would rather do my masters at a target university so cancelled the MEng went on to the BEng and decided I would apply to MScs at ICL/UC next year (this year). All this was a few weeks before graduation, serious last minute decision .

I tried for about 6 months I was honestly way too late and at a semi-target to boot. When you start uni, regardless of where you choose to go - make sure you attend spring weeks etc in first year even if you don't wanna do finance, again its one of those just in case things.

Regarding oil/gas engineering field, honestly i don't enjoy it at all the aspects I did like (risk analysis etc.) are covered in more detail by bankers lol.

I would still like to be involved in the petroleum industry just the financial side of it.

For all those who insist one must read economics for a career in finance is sorely mistaken.

Go to a reputable bookshop like Foyles or Waterstones and check out the finance section.

Look for a book called Options, Futures And Other Derivs by John C Hull.

That's the bible for entry level quants, in a field called FINANCIAL ENGINEERING!

Maths and Physics grad / postgrads are more sought after in that area than any other subject.

Alternatively, set up a linkedin account and see what those in an IB have studied.