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A history graduate to a masters in economics?
Hi,
I completed my degree in History (got a 2:2) last June. I went travelling extensively and returned in September, since then I have been applying for jobs left right and center with no luck.
Only people who have come back to me have been quasi sales jobs ie mortgage advisor, recruitment consultant etc...
Most of the jobs that start with a decent salary require an economics degree.
So I was thinking about doing a masters in economics. Now a few stumbling blocks: Would it be possible to do a masters in economics with a 2:2 in history? Moreover, I haven't studied maths in years and was pretty average at it, how maths intensive is economics as a subject?
I completed my degree in History (got a 2:2) last June. I went travelling extensively and returned in September, since then I have been applying for jobs left right and center with no luck.
Only people who have come back to me have been quasi sales jobs ie mortgage advisor, recruitment consultant etc...
Most of the jobs that start with a decent salary require an economics degree.
So I was thinking about doing a masters in economics. Now a few stumbling blocks: Would it be possible to do a masters in economics with a 2:2 in history? Moreover, I haven't studied maths in years and was pretty average at it, how maths intensive is economics as a subject?
Bachelor's economics is incredibly maths-intensive as it is, let alone master's. All the decent master's economics courses ask for a first degree with a strong mathematical bent, or at least decent amount of mathematical content. Your grade is also a problem so if I'm honest I wouldn't hold my breath.
1)You would need to do a Diploma in Economics first.
The diploma is basically the 2nd of the undergraduate degree.
I think the 2:2 might be an issue, though: they normally require a 2:1.
Places doing such courses include Southampton, Warwick, Nottingham, Loughborough.
Prospects. ac. uk should have a complete list.
Then after you could do the masters.
2) lots of maths in econ. Use maths to describe ideas into technical models. Then use stats to test the models.
The diploma is basically the 2nd of the undergraduate degree.
I think the 2:2 might be an issue, though: they normally require a 2:1.
Places doing such courses include Southampton, Warwick, Nottingham, Loughborough.
Prospects. ac. uk should have a complete list.
Then after you could do the masters.
2) lots of maths in econ. Use maths to describe ideas into technical models. Then use stats to test the models.
Reply 4
Hi ltcomdax,
If you've got passed maths at A-level then the maths should be no problem. I like you, a bit, studied archaeology, got offered sales jobs after my post-uni travels and chose work experience instead. Now I'm interested in Finance and Economics. Here are things you can do:
The new MSc Finance at LSE for non-econ and finance grads (£22k) - part-time over two years in the evenings or full-time over one year in the day.
The Graduate Diploma at Birkbeck (£4k PT 2 Yr - FT 1 Yr) and then a full-time MSc at Birkbeck (£13 kI think PT 2 Yr - FT 1 Yr) - All in the evenings. You could also do you MSc at another a place that requires an undergrad in economics or finance, once you get your diploma.
The new MSc in Financial Computing at UCL (£6k) - FT 1 Yr and guaranteed to get you a grad job at an investment bank paying over £35k.
Another option would be to study something like the Msc in International Business at Birkbeck (£8k) or the MSc in International Management with a focus on one of the Asian areas (£4k). Both of these can be done part time. The Birkbeck one is in the evenings and the SOAS one will need you to be there for one full day or two half days every working week.
The last option would be to do an MBA after a few years experience and this will cost you between £10k and £20k for most places and about £30k to £40k for the best places.
If you've got passed maths at A-level then the maths should be no problem. I like you, a bit, studied archaeology, got offered sales jobs after my post-uni travels and chose work experience instead. Now I'm interested in Finance and Economics. Here are things you can do:
The new MSc Finance at LSE for non-econ and finance grads (£22k) - part-time over two years in the evenings or full-time over one year in the day.
The Graduate Diploma at Birkbeck (£4k PT 2 Yr - FT 1 Yr) and then a full-time MSc at Birkbeck (£13 kI think PT 2 Yr - FT 1 Yr) - All in the evenings. You could also do you MSc at another a place that requires an undergrad in economics or finance, once you get your diploma.
The new MSc in Financial Computing at UCL (£6k) - FT 1 Yr and guaranteed to get you a grad job at an investment bank paying over £35k.
Another option would be to study something like the Msc in International Business at Birkbeck (£8k) or the MSc in International Management with a focus on one of the Asian areas (£4k). Both of these can be done part time. The Birkbeck one is in the evenings and the SOAS one will need you to be there for one full day or two half days every working week.
The last option would be to do an MBA after a few years experience and this will cost you between £10k and £20k for most places and about £30k to £40k for the best places.
Reply 5
lol guaranteed? dont think so
woodie_woodpeck
Hi ltcomdax,
If you've got passed maths at A-level then the maths should be no problem. I like you, a bit, studied archaeology, got offered sales jobs after my post-uni travels and chose work experience instead. Now I'm interested in Finance and Economics. Here are things you can do:
The new MSc Finance at LSE for non-econ and finance grads (£22k) - part-time over two years in the evenings or full-time over one year in the day.
The Graduate Diploma at Birkbeck (£4k PT 2 Yr - FT 1 Yr) and then a full-time MSc at Birkbeck (£13 kI think PT 2 Yr - FT 1 Yr) - All in the evenings. You could also do you MSc at another a place that requires an undergrad in economics or finance, once you get your diploma.
The new MSc in Financial Computing at UCL (£6k) - FT 1 Yr and guaranteed to get you a grad job at an investment bank paying over £35k.
Another option would be to study something like the Msc in International Business at Birkbeck (£8k) or the MSc in International Management with a focus on one of the Asian areas (£4k). Both of these can be done part time. The Birkbeck one is in the evenings and the SOAS one will need you to be there for one full day or two half days every working week.
The last option would be to do an MBA after a few years experience and this will cost you between £10k and £20k for most places and about £30k to £40k for the best places.
If you've got passed maths at A-level then the maths should be no problem. I like you, a bit, studied archaeology, got offered sales jobs after my post-uni travels and chose work experience instead. Now I'm interested in Finance and Economics. Here are things you can do:
The new MSc Finance at LSE for non-econ and finance grads (£22k) - part-time over two years in the evenings or full-time over one year in the day.
The Graduate Diploma at Birkbeck (£4k PT 2 Yr - FT 1 Yr) and then a full-time MSc at Birkbeck (£13 kI think PT 2 Yr - FT 1 Yr) - All in the evenings. You could also do you MSc at another a place that requires an undergrad in economics or finance, once you get your diploma.
The new MSc in Financial Computing at UCL (£6k) - FT 1 Yr and guaranteed to get you a grad job at an investment bank paying over £35k.
Another option would be to study something like the Msc in International Business at Birkbeck (£8k) or the MSc in International Management with a focus on one of the Asian areas (£4k). Both of these can be done part time. The Birkbeck one is in the evenings and the SOAS one will need you to be there for one full day or two half days every working week.
The last option would be to do an MBA after a few years experience and this will cost you between £10k and £20k for most places and about £30k to £40k for the best places.
Pretty extensive list. But not sure how many will accept someone with a 2:2. E.g. the LSE convertion course demanded a 1st when I looked at it a few years ago.
Reply 8
The UCL course in Financial Computing is run by Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley. Why would they invest money if they didn't plan to absorb a load of their graduates?
LSE's Full Time MSc Finance is "aimed at people with good undergraduate degrees and good quantitative skills". People with 2.1's have already been accepted.
LSE's Full Time MSc Finance is "aimed at people with good undergraduate degrees and good quantitative skills". People with 2.1's have already been accepted.
Reply 9
Is the Financial Computing course just a Masters in computer science with a few financial modules thrown in?
ltcomdax
So I was thinking about doing a masters in economics. Now a few stumbling blocks: Would it be possible to do a masters in economics with a 2:2 in history? Moreover, I haven't studied maths in years and was pretty average at it, how maths intensive is economics as a subject?
Massively. I did maths and further maths at A level, and a degree that's 75% economics, and I still need to do pre-masters maths courses to be able to cope with the level of maths needed for the masters.
Generally you'd need a postgraduate diploma in economics before doing a masters, unless your undergraduate degree is in economics. The only exception I'm aware of is Oxford's, which is because it's a two year masters, and even then you'd generally need your degree to be in maths, physics, engineering, or something with a strong maths background.
Secondly there's the grade - the top masters in economics all seem to require a first (LSE, Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick). A good 2:1 seems to be ok for quite a few though. Getting a place with a 2:2 may be difficult though.
There's also the money to think about - most universities have upped the cost of economics masters from the usual £3k-3.5k to around £6-7k for tuition. If the reason for doing it is employability, think about this carefully - is it worth it?
Lastly, you do not need a masters in economics for jobs that pay well. The only jobs you need a masters in economics for are jobs as an economist. Even related, well paying jobs, like investment banking, accountancy, finance, etc. all ask for either a numerate degree or just any good degree. Now, for the more numerical jobs you may struggle, but then if maths isn't your strongest point, I doubt you'd want to do these. For the more normal graduate jobs, like accountancy, business, and such, any degree is fine. The issue is more your grade.
To get a good job with a 2:2 you may need a masters, but it doesn't have to be in economics. Doing a masters in history and getting a good grade would pretty much take away the issue of having a 2:2, and makes you a bit more employable. The trouble may be more in getting on a decent masters programme with a 2:2.
Quasi-sales jobs aren't that bad, and most decent, prestigious, high-paying jobs will require a 2:1. The civil service is the only main graduaet employer I know who doesn't explicitly say you need a 2:1 for the graduate programme.
Reply 11
If someone like myself studies economics at undergraduate level, would a Msc in Finance be the most suitable masters to study, to pursue a career in finance?
v2006
If someone like myself studies economics at undergraduate level, would a Msc in Finance be the most suitable masters to study, to pursue a career in finance?
You might be as well off doing an Msc in Economics and taking Finance Options, as a lot of Msc Finance involves teaching basic economics in order to do the advanced finance. But thats a way off.....
Reply 13
This should be all you need to know
It'll cost.
It'll cost.
Reply 14
What's the deal with the msc finance at LSE? Can you really do it after any degree with a quantitive background. i have seen some places saying u need experience in finance. I would have thought that it would be quite a good course to do a conversion in for quantitive grads looking to go into banking/finance.
Don't do it imo. If you feel it may help you get out of the sticky situation of 2:2, afaik, masters don't help if the company has a specific entry requirement. Getting a masters, will not in most cases, negate your 2:2 degree. Tbh, with 2:2, you can really say goodbye to top jobs - in terms that it will be immensly difficult to get in straight away. Rather, you should focus on getting up the ladder with what you got. It wouldn't be worth you spending thousands on a good masters - only to see the same result on application!
Good luck.
Good luck.
Reply 16
What a con post graduate tuition fees are. It would be acceptable (just) if student loans were available to postgraduates. If the class system isn't separating the rich from the poor at undergraduate level the government have made sure it does at postgraduate level.
LSE, is particularly disgraceful, courting rich Asians and Americans and charging 50 pounds just to apply !
LSE, is particularly disgraceful, courting rich Asians and Americans and charging 50 pounds just to apply !
They're businesses, they charge what people will pay. While risky, as an investment, an LSE masters works out pretty well. Sure, you have to borrow a lot, but it's a big boost for a CV. And really, that's primarily what a masters is. If you want to go into research, there are a lot of 1+3 scholarships so the tuition need not cost a penny. The only people reason to pay for a masters is if you don't want to do a PhD (which likely means you want a CV boost) or aren't good enough to get funding for one.
The idea of the class system separation is important at undergraduate level, as many jobs require a degree, and thus class mobility requires that people from poor backgrounds are able to get a degree and become better off. At postgrad level there's no need for this, as the only jobs that require a masters are research-related fields that generally you'd do a PhD for, which there are scholarships for. Or are jobs where the employer would usually fund you fully for a masters (like law or economics).
Paid masters are either a CV boost for those who fail to get into what they want, or education as a consumption good - people just wanting to study more. Where it's needed, there's funding for it.
The idea of the class system separation is important at undergraduate level, as many jobs require a degree, and thus class mobility requires that people from poor backgrounds are able to get a degree and become better off. At postgrad level there's no need for this, as the only jobs that require a masters are research-related fields that generally you'd do a PhD for, which there are scholarships for. Or are jobs where the employer would usually fund you fully for a masters (like law or economics).
Paid masters are either a CV boost for those who fail to get into what they want, or education as a consumption good - people just wanting to study more. Where it's needed, there's funding for it.
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