The Student Room Group
Going on the RAE's it looks a bit grim for LSE (4), whereas Warwick got the optimal score (5*) and I've heard of it's strength in statistics. I'd be interested to know UCL's score but I can't find it, I'd wager a guess that it would be pretty strong.
Reply 2
I'am also concerned about LSE's low RAE score. The course is however multidisciplinary. A third of the modules is taught by the Econometrics department (that is one of the best in the world) and two modules are taught by the Mathematics department.

I've also got the feeling that LSE has a stronger brand name. Warwick has however very strong reputation in the field. That is why I can't make up my mind.
Anything else apart from reputation/strength that matters to you? If it was Undergrad I'd go between Warwick and LSE but in the fields of Msc's I don't know what the heirarchy is like. If you think LSE is on par with Warwick then I guess you might just want to choose based on location or something.
Warwick is widely considered to have the 2nd best statistics department in the country. I would have personally gone for it although what are your plans after the Msc (PhD? quant work?)
Reply 5
In terms of location I would definitely prefer Central London over Warwick Campus. But what counts for me the most is the reputation of the programme.
Reply 6
The Orientalist
Warwick is widely considered to have the 2nd best statistics department in the country. I would have personally gone for it although what are your plans after the Msc (PhD? quant work?)


I am planning to do a PhD in a Finance/Financial mathematics in the UK or abroad (USA or Europe).

LSE is well known worldwide but what about Warwick?
Reply 7
The Orientalist
Warwick is widely considered to have the 2nd best statistics department in the country. I would have personally gone for it although what are your plans after the Msc (PhD? quant work?)


According to your oppinion, what is the best statistics department in the country?
Reply 8
UCL's RAE (2001) is 5B. It's also the first statistics dept in the world.
mpleportals
I am planning to do a PhD in a Finance/Financial mathematics in the UK or abroad (USA or Europe).

LSE is well known worldwide but what about Warwick?


If you do your PhD in the UK, admission tutors will know how good the repective programs of the departments are. So in this case Warwick would be a much better option to pick in my opinion although I don't think picking LSE would be of much harm.

If you're planning to do your PhD in the US, LSE would be a much better choice due to its brand name and international prestige. It all depends on where you want to do your PhD.

Remember, I'm only an undergrad and I'm not the best person to advise you on the matter. Have you talked to your personal tutor about this (his opinion is VERY important)? Have you checked out the different curriculums?

mpleportals
According to your oppinion, what is the best statistics department in the country?


According to me, Cambridge.
Reply 10
The Orientalist
Have you talked to your personal tutor about this (his opinion is VERY important)? Have you checked out the different curriculums?


I've been out of the university for 4 years now, so I haven't got personal tutor. I however sent an email to my former professor and requested his piece of advice. He is one of the best researchers in his field (that is very closely related to statistics) so I would particularly value his words.

I've checked the curriculums and I particularly fancy the ones of Warwick and LSE (There is more freedom of choice. Remember I am interested in financial applications of statistics). I also noticed that in LSE most courses of the MSc in Statistics are also taught to the MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics/MSc Risk and Stochastics (Half of these courses are taught by the statistics department and half by the econometrics. The organising department of the last programme is the Statistics dept. ). You could also select a couple of courses from the mathematics department.
Reply 11
I would choose either LSE or Warwick if you are definitely interested in financial statistics. I presume that the LSE course would almost certainly have time series and stochastic processes as core courses because these are key tools in the finance world. In contrast, UCL would probably have these as optional modules, and would provide a much broader statistics education.
Reply 12
I would just like to comment about the prestige issue. Yes, LSE is more popular internationally. However, those on-the-know would put a Warwick degree on the same level as LSE's. If you plan to do your PhD at Harvard, for example, it would not really matter which ugrad uni you have gotten your degree from. Warwick and LSE are pretty much even in the sight of the informed guys. But if I were to choose between the two, I would get the one from LSE. but I would probabaly keep thinking what could have happened if I went to Warwick instead. I like the university campus feel of warwick. London is just too crowded for me. this is really a tough call. I pity you (and envy you at the same time). :biggrin:

Godd luck!
Reply 13
mpleportals
According to your oppinion, what is the best statistics department in the country?



Best stats department is Oxford and Warwick. But Cambridge will soon beat both of them.
Reply 14
mpleportals
I've been out of the university for 4 years now, so I haven't got personal tutor. I however sent an email to my former professor and requested his piece of advice. He is one of the best researchers in his field (that is very closely related to statistics) so I would particularly value his words.

I've checked the curriculums and I particularly fancy the ones of Warwick and LSE (There is more freedom of choice. Remember I am interested in financial applications of statistics). I also noticed that in LSE most courses of the MSc in Statistics are also taught to the MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics/MSc Risk and Stochastics (Half of these courses are taught by the statistics department and half by the econometrics. The organising department of the last programme is the Statistics dept. ). You could also select a couple of courses from the mathematics department.


Yes you are right. LSE's offers better choices than warwick. the MSC in stochastics is more concentrated on risk.
The problem is that most MSc stats in the UK are designed for people with a weak background in stats so they start alot of material from the scratch....well not from scratch but they dont pick it up from final year of an undergraduate maths degree. If you want to learn both Probab and Stats at a higher level, have a look at the MSc in Statistics and Applied Probability in Nottingham. it offers the best value for money IMO.
http://www.maths.nottingham.ac.uk/admissions/pgtaught/degreecourses/appliedprobability/