Best Uni for History

1 Cambridge
2 London School of Economics
3 Durham
4 Oxford
5 King's College London
6 St Andrews
7 University College London
8 York 5
9 Warwick ...

23 Edinburgh

According to The Times

Reply 2

not1

LSE isnt big on teaching though, id rather go to durham where theres some community spirit

Reply 3

Hmmm, I was thinking of posting this very thread actually. Without wishing to highjack thread if anyone could tell me anything about the five uni's that I've applied for (other than Oxford) it would be simalairly appreciated :biggrin:

I've gone for (in no particular order)

LSE
Durham
Warwick
York
Royal Holloway

I'm also applying to study history.

Reply 4

Unregistered

kildare

Hmmm, I was thinking of posting this very thread actually. Without wishing to highjack thread if anyone could tell me anything about the five uni's that I've applied for (other than Oxford) it would be simalairly appreciated :biggrin:

I've gone for (in no particular order)

LSE
Durham
Warwick
York
Royal Holloway

I'm also applying to study history.

Oxford is amazing at history, right at the top- it and Cambridge are roughly on a par- the old adage about Oxford being better at arts isnt so relevant cos Cambridge is on the same level for history. I do recommend the Oxford course though, from personal experience. Which college are you applying to?
Durham history has a good rep but I think its quite competitive- not that you should let that put you off, its also a good second choice to Oxford in that the collegiate nature of the place is quite similar. Myself I wouldnt fancy Warwick as I tend to think that if you're studying history its nice to be in a place with real history itself, and I didnt get that from Warwick, also I think they make you do a language which may or may not appeal to you. I have a friend at York who speaks highly of the course there, and I've heard that history is one of Royal Holloway's better departments.
Good luck with choosing.

Reply 5

Unregistered

Oxford is amazing at history, right at the top- it and Cambridge are roughly on a par- the old adage about Oxford being better at arts isnt so relevant cos Cambridge is on the same level for history. I do recommend the Oxford course though, from personal experience. Which college are you applying to?
Durham history has a good rep but I think its quite competitive- not that you should let that put you off, its also a good second choice to Oxford in that the collegiate nature of the place is quite similar. Myself I wouldnt fancy Warwick as I tend to think that if you're studying history its nice to be in a place with real history itself, and I didnt get that from Warwick, also I think they make you do a language which may or may not appeal to you. I have a friend at York who speaks highly of the course there, and I've heard that history is one of Royal Holloway's better departments.
Good luck with choosing.

The Times ranks LSE and Durham higher than Oxford.

Reply 6

Unregistered

Oxford is amazing at history, right at the top- it and Cambridge are roughly on a par- the old adage about Oxford being better at arts isnt so relevant cos Cambridge is on the same level for history. I do recommend the Oxford course though, from personal experience. Which college are you applying to?
Durham history has a good rep but I think its quite competitive- not that you should let that put you off, its also a good second choice to Oxford in that the collegiate nature of the place is quite similar. Myself I wouldnt fancy Warwick as I tend to think that if you're studying history its nice to be in a place with real history itself, and I didnt get that from Warwick, also I think they make you do a language which may or may not appeal to you. I have a friend at York who speaks highly of the course there, and I've heard that history is one of Royal Holloway's better departments.
Good luck with choosing.

I've applied to St-Hughs as it happens. Where did you study yourself? As regards Durham- well I've already sent of my application so it's in their hands now I suppose:P. I can see your point vis-a-vis Warwick although doing a language doesn't bother me, I should be able to breeze through French anyway (I've been living in Geneva for the last five years). Thanks a lot for your comments, much appreciated xthup

Reply 7

Lord Huntroyde

The Times ranks LSE and Durham higher than Oxford.

and....

Reply 8

kildare

and....

That suggests that far from being "amazing at History, right at the top" it is, in fact, fourth.

Reply 9

Tek

OP

7

My dilemma is that for a career with the Foreign Office / UN, LSE would probably be a better second choice. I am sure, however, that I'd enjoy my time at Durham much more. Help!

Reply 10

Lord Huntroyde

That suggests that far from being "amazing at History, right at the top" it is, in fact, fourth.

According to some numbers crunched by people at the Times that is. It can't exactly be taken as Gospel.

Reply 11

kildare

According to some numbers crunched by people at the Times that is. It can't exactly be taken as Gospel.

No, but in the most respected league table available, Oxford was ranked fourth.

Reply 12

Tek

My dilemma is that for a career with the Foreign Office / UN, LSE would probably be a better second choice. I am sure, however, that I'd enjoy my time at Durham much more. Help!

I'd also like to go down the UN route as it happens, in fact we are in scarily simalir situations :biggrin:

. Why do you think you would enjoy your time at Durham much more by the way?

Reply 13

Tek

My dilemma is that for a career with the Foreign Office / UN, LSE would probably be a better second choice. I am sure, however, that I'd enjoy my time at Durham much more. Help!

Durham! It's nicer, it will feel like a university, there is a castle (!), it is still very well respected internationally (the Foreign Office would certainly recognise it) and you'll enjoy it more.

Reply 14

Lord Huntroyde

No, but in the most respected league table available, Oxford was ranked fourth.

Fair enough, I still think that the opinion that the best place in the country is Oxford is a valid one though.

Reply 15

Tek

OP

7

kildare

I'd also like to go down the UN route as it happens, in fact we are in scarily simalir situations :biggrin:

. Why do you think you would enjoy your time at Durham much more by the way?

It actually has a campus! It's more of a University town, so it's better for socialising.
If I decided on the UN route rather than the FCO one, I'd have to do an MPhil - hopefully at Cambridge (or Oxford if my first degree was at Cam) - in International Relations, as all their jobs seem to require it.

Durham! It's nicer, it will feel like a university, there is a castle (!), it is still very well respected internationally (the Foreign Office would certainly recognise it) and you'll enjoy it more.

Thanks...yes, I expect I'd have fun, but it might be detrimental to my career.

Reply 16

kildare

Fair enough, I still think that the opinion that the best place in the country is Oxford is a valid one though.

You're just taken in by the name, there is no reason why Oxford would be better, indeed it has been shown it is worse, than LSE and Durham.

Reply 17

Leekey

9

Tek

Thanks...yes, I expect I'd have fun, but it might be detrimental to my career.

Is this the only time that I have ever heard someone say that Durham would be detrimental to his/her career???....YES!!! :biggrin:

Reply 18