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Economics: LSE or Cambridge

I would welcome views on the differences and quality of following programmes:
MSc Economics, LSE, one-year, 17300
MPhil Economics, Cambridge, one-year, Option A, 9100 including College fees

Shortly about myself: I got offers from both of them and now I am thinking which way to go. I am going to have undergraduate degree from Eastern Europe. So far have no funding for the postgraduate degree. I am not entirely sure what I am going to do afterwards, but I am surely not going to pursue full-time Phd. I am coming back to Eastern Europe and thinking about economist and business positions (or, maybe, academic career after Phd some time in the future).

Now I am more in favour of the Cambridge program because:
- I assume living in Cambridge for one year will be much higher quality for me than in London
- overall costs are significantly lower

As for the advantages of the LSE program:
- it seems to better organised and more practically oriented
- overall better reputation and research in economics than Cambridge

Thank you for your ideas. :smile:

Reply 1

Anatheme

18

Well, if I were you I'd go for Cambridge, because it's great at Economics even if LSE is better of course, but also because it depends on your situation. If you feel like you won't really be ok in London, then go for Cam. Plus fees are way cheaper at Cam than LSE ...

Reply 2

whitestar

The course at Cambridge is unlikely to be poorly organised, so I'd go with that. Both progammes will be strong and if you have no major reason to favour one (ie LSE) then go for the cheapest - Cambridge.

Doubt any doors will be slammed shut in your face because you went to Cambridge...

Reply 3

popepius

hmmm cambridge to save money. But i would go for lse postgrad econ

Reply 4

roxy potter

13

For me it was no contest(I didn't apply to LSE) I've always wanted to go to Cambridge, it's never going to work to your disadvantage and it's also a much nicer place to live.
Even if LSE was better than Cambridge(and I'm not getting into that debate) to me there is no way it would be worth that extra amount of money, 17,000 is nearly enough to get me through the entire year in Cambridge whereas for LSE I'd have add the london cost of living on top of that.

Have you got offered your college yet? I'll be at Clare Hall(grades permitting)

Reply 5

Turdburger

16

- overall better reputation and research in economics than Cambridge

Does it?

Anyway, definatley Cambridge, even if it wasnt 8k cheaper.

Reply 6

Perico

OP

Thank you for your opinions :smile:

. Btw because of the city and the money, I am still in favour of Cambridge and hope to begin the study by mid-September :biggrin:

.

As for this point:
- overall better reputation and research in economics than Cambridge
In this respect, the quality of the program and the people teaching it and students studying it are things that matter...and these are the things that one can hardly measure or otherwise evaluate...so there is probably no point in discussing.

However, one thing might highlight the quality of LSE in contrast to Cambridge (but I acknowledge, there is a bunch of arguments on both sides..) - it is the ranking positions (I am aware that rankings are rankings...) of economics departments, for example, at http://ideas.repec.org/top/top.inst.nbcites.html or http://www.econphd.net/rank/rallec.htm
It says, I assume, that there are more and better researchers at LSE. The other isssue is whether it is important for the programme or not, but it could say something... (it is of lower importance for me since I do not want to pursue Phd at Cambridge).

To roxy potter:
I have just received an offer from Cambridge so I do not know the college yet - I expect the decision no earlier than in one or two months time (I will get the official offer in 6 weeks..).

Reply 7

Perico

OP

Thank you once more for your comments. If you would like to share other related information, I will be happy.

Reply 8

ILIGAN

9

I believe Cambridge is more prestigious than is LSE in Czech Republic. So, if you're planning on going back to your country after your master's program, you should go to Cambridge as it is a more reputable academic institution in your country than is LSE. But bear in mind that LSE won't be a bad choice either. But personally, I would never ever go to LSE if I got an offer from either Oxford or Cambridge.

Reply 9

popepius

ILIGAN

I believe Cambridge is more prestigious than is LSE in Czech Republic. So, if you're planning on going back to your country after your master's program, you should go to Cambridge as it is a more reputable academic institution in your country than is LSE. But bear in mind that LSE won't be a bad choice either. But personally, I would never ever go to LSE if I got an offer from either Oxford or Cambridge.

do you believe there is a big academic gap between oxbridge and lse or is it just the allure of the former? I would do the same as you though because it is more prestigious

Reply 10

tograd

2

It depends what you want the degree for. If you want to work as an academic economist or as a professional economist in national/international institutions then LSE is MUCH better. I mean its economics department is really in a different league to oxbridge in terms of academic quality. If you just want to use it as a stepping stone to investment banking, then go for oxbridge. A much more venerable name outside of economics circles, and a better quality of life.

Reply 11

waterloo

hi guys, what do you think about MSc Economics in UCL, compare to LSE and Cambrige?

Reply 12

Anatheme

18

Agreed with the above poster.
UCL is a great all-round university, though for a subject like Economics, I'd rather go to LSE because they're probably the best for the subject or Cam because of its reputation. Though, take the course and your feeling toward the uni into account and if you really like it, then go for it.

Reply 13

roxy potter

13

UCL is really good, and having an Msc from there certainly won't hinder your prospects. UCL is my backup if I don't make my conditions for Cambridge (which is totally possible considering the disastorous nature of my finals :frown:

)

I really like the sound of the UCL Msc, but I would never consider it over Cambridge or LSE.

Reply 14

Mirandian!!

Hey
I am in a very similar situation. I have not received my offer from cambridge yet, but have got accepted into LSE.
I personally prefer Cambridge, due to the academic environment and it being outside London. But I have no idea about the job prospects, which one is better from Employability point of view (as I am not interested in doing a phd after masters)

Reply 15

Mirandian!!

I would appreciate if you can give any advice.

Reply 16

DerMunchen

1. Cambridge
2. LSE
3. UCL

I'm still waiting on my number 1 choice :smile:

However, when applying my tutors clearly told me the program at LSE is superior to the one in Cambridge (bearing in mind i went to a top 10 uk uni)...

If you have the funds, I wld go to LSE because of the enviroment, but I wasn't born with a silver spoon ...

Reply 17

roxy potter

13

Mirandian!!

Hey
I am in a very similar situation. I have not received my offer from cambridge yet, but have got accepted into LSE.
I personally prefer Cambridge, due to the academic environment and it being outside London. But I have no idea about the job prospects, which one is better from Employability point of view (as I am not interested in doing a phd after masters)

From what I've heard, the courses in LSE (with the exception of EME and possibly one or two others) put less pressure on your time than the Cambridge MPhil. In terms of job prospects I don't think either gives you an advantage over the other.

Reply 18

ILIGAN

9

popepius

do you believe there is a big academic gap between oxbridge and lse or is it just the allure of the former? I would do the same as you though because it is more prestigious

I personally don't believe that there is a gap in terms of academic teaching standard between the two institutions. However, the excellent international rep of Cambridge is hard to beat, and it's surprisingly cheaper between the two, so that's heaven's gift for you. :smile:

Seriously, go for Cambridge. It's a great university, it offers admissions to a selected few, and it's a much superior brand power than LSE in the UK or anywhere in the world.

Reply 19

Paroma

Hi people,
I'm thinking of applying for MPhil Economics at either Oxford or Cambridge (along with several other unis, but that's not the point). The Oxford MPhil is for 2 years, while the Cambridge one is 1 year. Given the cost of these degrees, is oxford's extra year really worth it? Is the value of the Cambridge degree any less?

Economics: LSE or Cambridge

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