Southampton, Nottingham or Kent for Economics?

Tm1235

1

Any help/advice/experience would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance

Original post by Tm1235

Any help/advice/experience would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance

For economics specifically: Nottingham> > Southampton > Kent

Original post by Tm1235

Any help/advice/experience would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance

Hey @Tm1235,

I hope you're keeping well!

Choosing a uni for Economics is a big decision, and I completely understand the struggle – I was in your shoes two years ago, although comparing different Unis to Kent.
Anyways, let me share some of my experience and insights as a current Kent Economics student, but also offer some objective points to consider about all three universities.

Firstly, I'll admit - I will be a bit biased! Anyways, here's a few things that stood out for me about Kent which you might like when studying:

•

Top-notch teaching and alumni: Our lecturers are not just passionate about Economics (being active researchers alongside teaching - giving you modern, and high quality interpretations to the subject) but also about teaching as well, and the small class sizes make for engaging discussions and personalised attention. They also don't bite, which makes conversing with them very lovely and helps you to not just learn, but also love the subject.
To support you throughout your degree, you'll have:
-Academic Advisors - specified professors in economics who will be there only to see your progress and help you when struggling.
-Drop-In classes - classes where you just ask questions regarding whatever you didn't understand.
-Consultation Hours - Time slots when lecturers put down everything they're doing in case you need support or have questions as well.
-As well as a variety of departments solely dedicated to supporting you in distinct areas, whether it be improving academic skills, mental health support, work opportunity support, and a whole host of others which I won't spam here!

•

Diverse course options: The flexibility to choose modules outside of pure Economics also lets you tailor your degree to your specific interests, like finance, development, history, politics, maths, etc. Whatever you want! Plus, if you're still eager to learn more - lecturers are always more than happy to welcome you to try out their different modules!

•

Welcoming student life: Canterbury is a vibrant and cozy city with a close-knit student community. You'll find tons of societies, clubs, and events to explore your passions and make lifelong friends (I think we have like 250+ societies, and making your own society is incredibly easy). Once again, all these societies are also more than excited to have you join them!

•

Industry connections and alumni: Kent has strong relationships with major companies, and the optional year-long internship gives you valuable practical experience before graduation. Funnily enough, the School of Economics at Kent hits way above its weight in terms of job opportunities after graduating compared to required entry grades. We don't just have alumni from places such as JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, BoE, Think Tanks, and other major businesses/organisations - many of them return to give talks and guidance to current students about what to expect, how to prepare, and comforting words of wisdom. Plus, it's not just our Alumni that we have connections to. Many major speakers in the world of economics have also come to give small seminars here. Directors of Think Tanks, Politicians and Ministers, Famous Professors, and the like have come to talk here - in fact, I think Touker Suleyman will be visiting soon as well which is fantastic!

Of course, Nottingham and Southampton are excellent universities too, each with their own strengths:

•

Nottingham: Renowned for its business and finance focus, offering specialised modules and strong industry links. Its got great brand reputation, and I hear its a beautiful city to live in.

•

Southampton: Boasts a leading Mathematics department, ideal if you enjoy the quantitative side of Economics.

Ultimately, the best uni for you depends on your individual priorities. Here are some factors to consider:

•

Academic focus: Do you prefer a more traditional Economics program or one with specialisation options?

•

Location: Do you want a grandiose and bustling city like Nottingham or Southampton, or a charming historical town like Canterbury?

•

Course structure: Do you prefer smaller class sizes and flexibility, or larger lectures and a set curriculum?

•

Career goals: Consider which university alumni network and internship opportunities best align with your future aspirations.
My advice?

Research each university in detail, attend open/applicant days (if available), and reach out to current students at all three universities to get their firsthand insights. Don't be afraid to ask questions – the more informed you are, the better you can make this important decision.

Ultimately though, we all want whats best for you. Trust your gut and choose the place where you feel you can thrive academically and personally. And hey, if you choose Kent, you'll have a fellow Economics student here to welcome you in September!

Warm regards,

David :smile:

University of Kent Representative
P.S. Feel free to ask me any specific questions about Kent's Economics program or student life – I'm more than happy to help!

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 3

Tm1235

OP

1

Original post by University of Kent

Hey @Tm1235,

I hope you're keeping well!

Choosing a uni for Economics is a big decision, and I completely understand the struggle – I was in your shoes two years ago, although comparing different Unis to Kent.
Anyways, let me share some of my experience and insights as a current Kent Economics student, but also offer some objective points to consider about all three universities.

Firstly, I'll admit - I will be a bit biased! Anyways, here's a few things that stood out for me about Kent which you might like when studying:

•

Top-notch teaching and alumni: Our lecturers are not just passionate about Economics (being active researchers alongside teaching - giving you modern, and high quality interpretations to the subject) but also about teaching as well, and the small class sizes make for engaging discussions and personalised attention. They also don't bite, which makes conversing with them very lovely and helps you to not just learn, but also love the subject.
To support you throughout your degree, you'll have:
-Academic Advisors - specified professors in economics who will be there only to see your progress and help you when struggling.
-Drop-In classes - classes where you just ask questions regarding whatever you didn't understand.
-Consultation Hours - Time slots when lecturers put down everything they're doing in case you need support or have questions as well.
-As well as a variety of departments solely dedicated to supporting you in distinct areas, whether it be improving academic skills, mental health support, work opportunity support, and a whole host of others which I won't spam here!

•

Diverse course options: The flexibility to choose modules outside of pure Economics also lets you tailor your degree to your specific interests, like finance, development, history, politics, maths, etc. Whatever you want! Plus, if you're still eager to learn more - lecturers are always more than happy to welcome you to try out their different modules!

•

Welcoming student life: Canterbury is a vibrant and cozy city with a close-knit student community. You'll find tons of societies, clubs, and events to explore your passions and make lifelong friends (I think we have like 250+ societies, and making your own society is incredibly easy). Once again, all these societies are also more than excited to have you join them!

•

Industry connections and alumni: Kent has strong relationships with major companies, and the optional year-long internship gives you valuable practical experience before graduation. Funnily enough, the School of Economics at Kent hits way above its weight in terms of job opportunities after graduating compared to required entry grades. We don't just have alumni from places such as JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, BoE, Think Tanks, and other major businesses/organisations - many of them return to give talks and guidance to current students about what to expect, how to prepare, and comforting words of wisdom. Plus, it's not just our Alumni that we have connections to. Many major speakers in the world of economics have also come to give small seminars here. Directors of Think Tanks, Politicians and Ministers, Famous Professors, and the like have come to talk here - in fact, I think Touker Suleyman will be visiting soon as well which is fantastic!

Of course, Nottingham and Southampton are excellent universities too, each with their own strengths:

•

Nottingham: Renowned for its business and finance focus, offering specialised modules and strong industry links. Its got great brand reputation, and I hear its a beautiful city to live in.

•

Southampton: Boasts a leading Mathematics department, ideal if you enjoy the quantitative side of Economics.

Ultimately, the best uni for you depends on your individual priorities. Here are some factors to consider:

•

Academic focus: Do you prefer a more traditional Economics program or one with specialisation options?

•

Location: Do you want a grandiose and bustling city like Nottingham or Southampton, or a charming historical town like Canterbury?

•

Course structure: Do you prefer smaller class sizes and flexibility, or larger lectures and a set curriculum?

•

Career goals: Consider which university alumni network and internship opportunities best align with your future aspirations.
My advice?

Research each university in detail, attend open/applicant days (if available), and reach out to current students at all three universities to get their firsthand insights. Don't be afraid to ask questions – the more informed you are, the better you can make this important decision.

Ultimately though, we all want whats best for you. Trust your gut and choose the place where you feel you can thrive academically and personally. And hey, if you choose Kent, you'll have a fellow Economics student here to welcome you in September!

Warm regards,

David :smile:

University of Kent Representative
P.S. Feel free to ask me any specific questions about Kent's Economics program or student life – I'm more than happy to help!

Thank you so much for your informative response, I really appreciate that.

Reply 4

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

15

Hi @Tm1235

I study Economics as part of my degree at the University of Southampton so I can tell you a bit about Southampton. Here's a few key features:

Careers - The Economics department provides lots of talks from academics and those from the industry who have studied economics to give you an idea of what you can do with the degree. The University Careers department also offers lots of advice. You can book a 1-2-1 talk with a careers advisor to discuss the different career pathways you can do. There is also, careers fairs where you have the chance to speak to employers. They also offer help with writing CVs as well as applying for internships.

Tailor your degree - There are a variety of optional modules in the Economics department allowing you to customise your degree to your interests. This includes taking modules from outside the Economics department to broaden your education further. As part of the economics department, you can decide whether you want to go down one of specialised pathways - Behavioural economics or Econometrics route. This involves taking modules specific to these areas. You can then have this pathway to be recognised on your degree.

Teaching - The lecturers use many different approaches to learning. For example, during lectures they might sometimes use vevox polls to check everyone's understanding. Sometimes, there are in class experiments to demonstrate a concept. We also having coding classes as part of econometrics. All the modules have tutorials where a postgraduate teaching assistant will go through the problem sets we have worked on during the week where you can ask questions to develop your learning. For further support, you can also drop into the lecturers advice and feedback hours. The assignments are also quite varied. They include online quizzes, individual assignments and group assignments.

Hope this helps,
Gulcin
2nd Year PPE Student
University of Southampton

Reply 5

Tm1235

OP

1

Original post by Uni of Southampton Students

Hi @Tm1235

I study Economics as part of my degree at the University of Southampton so I can tell you a bit about Southampton. Here's a few key features:

Careers - The Economics department provides lots of talks from academics and those from the industry who have studied economics to give you an idea of what you can do with the degree. The University Careers department also offers lots of advice. You can book a 1-2-1 talk with a careers advisor to discuss the different career pathways you can do. There is also, careers fairs where you have the chance to speak to employers. They also offer help with writing CVs as well as applying for internships.

Tailor your degree - There are a variety of optional modules in the Economics department allowing you to customise your degree to your interests. This includes taking modules from outside the Economics department to broaden your education further. As part of the economics department, you can decide whether you want to go down one of specialised pathways - Behavioural economics or Econometrics route. This involves taking modules specific to these areas. You can then have this pathway to be recognised on your degree.

Teaching - The lecturers use many different approaches to learning. For example, during lectures they might sometimes use vevox polls to check everyone's understanding. Sometimes, there are in class experiments to demonstrate a concept. We also having coding classes as part of econometrics. All the modules have tutorials where a postgraduate teaching assistant will go through the problem sets we have worked on during the week where you can ask questions to develop your learning. For further support, you can also drop into the lecturers advice and feedback hours. The assignments are also quite varied. They include online quizzes, individual assignments and group assignments.

Hope this helps,
Gulcin
2nd Year PPE Student
University of Southampton

That’s great, thank you for your time responding.

Reply 6

poppy2022

21

Original post by Tm1235

Any help/advice/experience would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance

Nottingham has the best reputation of the 3. It is also meant to have a pretty good student life. I would suggest making your decision based on what you're leaning towards when you visit. There's no point going somewhere you won't enjoy just because it's in employers' good books