The Student Room Group

Prestige: undergraduate versus postgraduate degrees

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Reply 40

Shady, I agree that LSE has stronger postgraduate courses in general, although I'm sure there are exceptions. I actually heard someone saying the exact opposite about IR/Politics at LSE the other day, and it was right here on TSR.

Reply 41

Aj_deity
I don't understand why everybody's being so ridiculously hostile on this thread. I mean, come on, how much do you know about Indian universities? The OP is just trying to get the best out of their education and that means asking questions. Even if those questions are "stupid" or unanswerable, there's absolutely no need to burn them at the stake just for not knowing everything automatically. I mean, I doubt any of you were born with an innate knowledge of the university system, so have a little tolerance for people. Yes, the OP shows ignorance, but at least they're trying to rectify their ignorance. It's a damn sight more than most ignorant people do.


he knows damn well how good LSE is, and is obviously annoyed about getting rejected from oxbridge, and so trying the ole "oh I'll go their postgrad hopefully that's viewed as the same!". Well it isn't, and LSE econ is nothing to be sad about. That's why people are being hostile.

Reply 42

shady lane
In economics it's pretty well established that LSE has the strongest postgraduate course in the UK.

I can speak for my subject (IR/Politics), LSE by far has a greater concentration of leading academics in the field than either Oxford or Cambridge (definitely Cambridge--I don't even rate them). I didn't consider either when applying for masters courses.

Someone I'm friends with here who did a Masters at LSE said don't bother with it when I said I was thinking about applying. You have much more access to the faculty here than you do at LSE so even if they have bigger names there is a better standard of teaching here.

Reply 43

I'm not saying the structure of the course (in terms of contact time and teaching) is better. But having gone to a university for undergrad that provided more access to academics than both Oxford and LSE, I don't think I need it anymore. I can go to the office hours of some of the top academics in the world on a daily basis; that's what I care about. I get lectures from people who are defining the field.

BTW I asked my tutor at Oxford (I studied abroad there) if I should apply for MSc African Studies at St. Antony's College. He told me, "Don't do it; they've just introduced that course the get money from Americans." the_alba has also had problems with her MSt in English. So I don't think LSE is unique in its problems; I see it as a UK problem to be honest.

Reply 44

Aberystwyth IR is better than LSE and Oxbridge's IR course...If you want the most academic respect, at least.

Reply 45

K123
I do not want to be an academic. Nevertheless, I enjoy Economics and have a serious interest in Politics (hence I applied for PPE). Therefore I am disappointed that I would not be able to benefit from Oxford small-group tutorial system.
Thus there are three reasons for my Oxford postgraduate decision. First, I like to think that it would compensate for my lack of experience of the one-to-one tutorial system study (tell me if I am wrong). Secondly, I want to do something in Politics/International Relations - due to interest and perhaps a career option. Lastly, again, the 'Oxford tag'.

I am aware the in postgraduate studies LSE is more reputed than Oxford (for Economics). But my main dilemma is that will an Oxford postgraduate degree give me the same 'prestige' (I do not like to use the word again and again, lol) as an Oxford undergraduate degree holder. In short does a postgrad degree have the same status as an undergrad?

Trust me, if you're an international, it's much more expensive if you study in Oxford than LSE. So a plus to study in LSE.

And seriously, don't waste money on a degree for prestige ---