Help with Degree choice

Hello,

I'm a first year student currently studying Economics and Accountancy at Heriot watt university. After my first semester of studies I realises that accounting was not the course for me. I'm currently doing a finance module but am not enjoying it. Economics is a course that I love but I feel as though if I do a single degree I would be greatly disadvantaged in the labour market, one reason being the reputation of my Uni being low and secondly because they are so much Economics student out there. I have considerd doing a double major in Economics and Business management but feel that business management is not reputable. I would like to pick a degree that would be very competitive, I.e can get me into banking, consulting and other finance jobs. If anyone could shed some light as to what employers look for, or any advise at all I would be greatful.

Reply 1

stormqwd

OP

5

Hello,

I'm a first year student currently studying Economics and Accountancy at Heriot watt university. After my first semester of studies I realises that accounting was not the course for me. I'm currently doing a finance module but am not enjoying it. Economics is a course that I love but I feel as though if I do a single degree I would be greatly disadvantaged in the labour market, one reason being the reputation of my Uni being low and secondly because they are so much Economics student out there. I have considerd doing a double major in Economics and Business management but feel that business management is not reputable. I would like to pick a degree that would be very competitive, I.e can get me into banking, consulting and other finance jobs. If anyone could shed some light as to what employers look for, or any advise at all I would be greatful.

Reply 2

Blue_Cow

22

Original post by stormqwd

Hello,

I'm a first year student currently studying Economics and Accountancy at Heriot watt university. After my first semester of studies I realises that accounting was not the course for me. I'm currently doing a finance module but am not enjoying it. Economics is a course that I love but I feel as though if I do a single degree I would be greatly disadvantaged in the labour market, one reason being the reputation of my Uni being low and secondly because they are so much Economics student out there. I have considerd doing a double major in Economics and Business management but feel that business management is not reputable. I would like to pick a degree that would be very competitive, I.e can get me into banking, consulting and other finance jobs. If anyone could shed some light as to what employers look for, or any advise at all I would be greatful.

Does your degree subject even matter for IB at the banks/Consultancy at the Big 4 etc?

Tagging @Princepieman

Reply 3

stormqwd

OP

5

I don't think so, but I think some degrees are prefered to others.

Reply 4

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by Blue_Cow

Does your degree subject even matter for IB at the banks/Consultancy at the Big 4 etc?

Tagging @Princepieman

Original post by stormqwd

I don't think so, but I think some degrees are prefered to others.

No, unless you want to go into quantitative finance and risk etc, in which case the key is "numerate" to the level of engineering/CS/maths usually being preferable (and often necessitating masters or PhD level background in a numerate area like this anyway) - so accounting/finance vs single honours Economics makes no difference. Economic policy roles at e.g. WTO etc, would probably require masters/PhD background in Economics. A single honours course would suffice for this, although grad study in Economics, particularly at PhD level, will include higher level Maths.

This is all beside the point - for any generic grad scheme, any degree is normally suitable. Depending on course content, the single honours Economics course may be sufficiently quantitative to qualify as "numerate" for those few that do specify that. Specifically, you aren't going to be in a worse position doing Economics than combined with Accounting/Finance.

Incidentally Heriot-Watt has a fairly favourable reputation as far as I know, although it isn't a "target" university in terms of banking (but that is true of most universities including otherwise good ones - KCL is only "semi target" by many peoples interpretations). However as far as "target" goes, this depends entirely on the university and not at all on course content. If you did underwater basket weaving, but at Oxbridge, that would suffice. Even if you did "working as a banker for three years while doing PhD research all as an undergraduate" at a non-target university, you would still be "non target" :/

tl;dr - it's fine, do what you enjoy and do it well :smile:

if you do it well enough and enjoy it well enough, do a PhD to boot! :biggrin:

Reply 5

University of East Anglia PG Student Rep

Official Rep

10

Original post by stormqwd

Hello,

I'm a first year student currently studying Economics and Accountancy at Heriot watt university. After my first semester of studies I realises that accounting was not the course for me. I'm currently doing a finance module but am not enjoying it. Economics is a course that I love but I feel as though if I do a single degree I would be greatly disadvantaged in the labour market, one reason being the reputation of my Uni being low and secondly because they are so much Economics student out there. I have considerd doing a double major in Economics and Business management but feel that business management is not reputable. I would like to pick a degree that would be very competitive, I.e can get me into banking, consulting and other finance jobs. If anyone could shed some light as to what employers look for, or any advise at all I would be greatful.

Hi there!

If you are concerned about the large number of economics graduates, perhaps you would consider using your economics degree as a path into postgraduate study. Obtaining a postgraduate degree could add a string to your bow, as it allows you to specialise further in the areas which appeal to you most, and which have the most applications for your desired career.

You mentioned banking as a potential career path; perhaps you would like the look of UEA's MSc Banking & Finance - the course has a high level of input from leading researchers in UEA's finance research group (FIN), and provides the opportunity to obtain additional qualifications by Thomson Reuters alongside your studies.

Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions! :h:

Fred - UEA PG Rep

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