Accounting degree vs Economics dilemma

Hi,
I am currently in Year 12, going to Year 13 and writing my personal statement, however, I am torn between pursuing an Economics degree or an Accounting and Finance degree. I really want to apply to Cambridge, but I would have to do an Economics degree, and while I don't mind this, I feel like applying for the PwC Accounting Flying Start Degree would help me progress quicker into a career in finance - it would give me 12/15 credits for one of the accounting qualifications, I would be able to get a senior associate role at PwC as soon as I graduated the 4 year course and become a qualified chartered accountant in a year after that. For a career in investment banking I'm not sure what to do and was wondering if I could get some advice. Would I have a chance if I applied with an Economics personal statement and still put down the flying Start degree as one of my options?

Hi,
I am currently in Year 12, going to Year 13 and writing my personal statement, however, I am torn between pursuing an Economics degree or an Accounting and Finance degree. I really want to apply to Cambridge, but I would have to do an Economics degree, and while I don't mind this, I feel like applying for the PwC Accounting Flying Start Degree would help me progress quicker into a career in finance - it would give me 12/15 credits for one of the accounting qualifications, I would be able to get a senior associate role at PwC as soon as I graduated the 4 year course and become a qualified chartered accountant in a year after that. For a career in investment banking I'm not sure what to do and was wondering if I could get some advice. Would I have a chance if I applied with an Economics personal statement and still put down the flying Start degree as one of my options?

Hi,
I am currently in Year 12, going to Year 13 and writing my personal statement, however, I am torn between pursuing an Economics degree or an Accounting and Finance degree. I really want to apply to Cambridge, but I would have to do an Economics degree, and while I don't mind this, I feel like applying for the PwC Accounting Flying Start Degree would help me progress quicker into a career in finance - it would give me 12/15 credits for one of the accounting qualifications, I would be able to get a senior associate role at PwC as soon as I graduated the 4 year course and become a qualified chartered accountant in a year after that. For a career in investment banking I'm not sure what to do and was wondering if I could get some advice. Would I have a chance if I applied with an Economics personal statement and still put down the flying Start degree as one of my options?

What a-levels are you doing? I ask because Cambridge requires a-level further maths, unless your school doesn't offer it. So if you're not doing FM, then Cambridge would be very unlikely and maybe if that happens to be ruled out, it helps you decision.

Hi,
I have just finished year 13 and I am waiting on my results. If I was you I would apply for Cambridge while also applying for apprenticeships. When applying I found it’s best to apply through the company’s website and not through a third party as a response/success rate was better. If you want to be an accountant, a degree is not needed and you can still do other apprenticeships that gain you the accounting qualification just without a degree, although if you do economics you may be more open to other areas of finance once you graduate🤷*♂️. I find the apprenticeship route will give you more pace and experience within your career but if you get into Cambridge then I think that’s worth it over an apprenticeship. I’ve been offered 2 apprenticeships for BDO and JP Morgan and on my assesment days people were applying from top university’s for the post grad schemes even though they are treated very similar in terms of responsibility and pay. For finance, a degree just doesn’t seem worth it unless you would prefer to have the uni experience for 3 years over working in a stressful office.

Hello, in my opinion an Economics degree from Cambridge is excellent for a variety of finance careers, including investment banking, as it offers a strong theoretical foundation. On the other hand, the PwC Flying Start Degree is perfect if you’re focused on accounting, fast-tracking your path to becoming a chartered accountant and securing a senior role at PwC. For investment banking, an Economics degree would be a strong choice. However, if you’re set on accounting, you can still work towards a finance career by gaining relevant experience.
I think you can and should apply to both programs. Make sure your personal statement reflects your specific interest and goals for each course. If you mention the PwC Flying Start in your Economics application, be clear about how it fits into your broader career plans.
Good luck with your applications!
Hiba
RAUL Student Ambassador