Don't have a UG in Economics - PgDip or Msc?

I'm going to graduate this summer with most likely a 2:1 in Financial Mathematics. Although I'm preeeeetty sure I meet the mathematical and statistical requirements for an MSc, most require you to have an economics UG, since they need you to have done some basic economics modules.

My question is this:

What is the most practical route for me? PgDip (in order to prepare for the MSc) or would my mathematical knowledge suffice in getting on to an MSc?

Thanks!

Thanks for the reply!

Nottingham is definitely one I've been looking at for MSc and PgDip, although I am more preferential towards one year courses - but if I did a PgDip + 1year MSc then it'd be two years anyway.

Nice to know they take people who don't have economics UG though, wasn't sure if they did originally.

With a Financial Mathematics background, some unis may accept you into their MSc programmes, particularly the quant heavy courses such as MSc Financial Economics, Econometics and general Econ. Top ranked one year MSc econ (UCL, LSE, Bristol) accept people with Maths background. Given some of their coursework and reading list, maths grads do well.

Don't know about the other two but LSE specifically say applicants without undergrad economics need to apply to the two year course.

http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/graduate/taughtProgrammes2014/MScEconomics.aspx

Yeah that's what they told my bf whose a maths grad - its pretty set in stone

I was looking into this for a friend a couple of years ago. I'm trying to remember which uni it was that was very reluctant to take non-eco undergrads into their one-year course - their experience had been that no matter how well they had done in undergrad, they generally struggled with the workload because they basically had to learn a chunk of undergrad eco at the same time as doing everything else. When the lecturers are teaching macro/micro/econometrics they will assume people have done a certain level at undergrad and not tailor the work or the lectures to those who haven't.

Everyone's been pretty helpful so far! So thank you.

I've sent around a few emails to universities asking if a economics degree is specifically needed - does anybody know of other universities masters course where this definitely isn't the case? (apart from LSE's 2 year MSc)

Why do you want to do a MSc in economics?

If you want to do a PhD afterwards then it is advisable to go for the best program possible and so I would only be looking at places like Nottingham if you couldnt get on the 2 year LSE/UCL/Oxbridge courses. Thats not to say you couldnt get into a top PhD program with a Bristol/Nottingham degree, but you would really want to get a distinction.

If you want to use the MSc to improve your CV by getting a better brand name university on it, the same applies. Bristol/Nottingham would be a good choice if you went somewhere low-tier for undergrad since that would be a step up, but if you were somewhere decent then again going for LSE/UCL/Oxbridge would be a better idea even if that means doing an extra year.

If you think that having a MSc in economics from a similar tier universitiy to your undergrad will help you get a good private sector job, I would be sceptical.

Royal Holloway

Would you mind letting me know how you get on? My boyfriends still interested so it would be good to know of you discover anywhere that I haven't looked into

Putting pressure on me to remember to come back here if I find something out but hopefully I'll remember and let you know

Haha its not a major issue, just might help others in your position in future!!!