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Which uni is best for economics?

Hi i’ve been filling out my UCAS and I currently have down as my options: Economics with finance at Queen’s University Belfast (ABB), Economics at Queen’s university Belfast (ABB), Economics at Ulster university (BBC), and Economics and finance at Northumbria (BBB). I’d like a fifth option for either economics or economics with finance, preferably one that is BBB or lower lol, I was looking at aberdeen which is BBC, or potentially Manchester Met? I’m not too sure where would be best to apply to, as i’m not sure what areas in England/Scotland are best to live in or anything. So if any one knows any good universities what are BBB or less, please let me know? Thanks!

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Original post by atoner774
Hi i’ve been filling out my UCAS and I currently have down as my options: Economics with finance at Queen’s University Belfast (ABB), Economics at Queen’s university Belfast (ABB), Economics at Ulster university (BBC), and Economics and finance at Northumbria (BBB). I’d like a fifth option for either economics or economics with finance, preferably one that is BBB or lower lol, I was looking at aberdeen which is BBC, or potentially Manchester Met? I’m not too sure where would be best to apply to, as i’m not sure what areas in England/Scotland are best to live in or anything. So if any one knows any good universities what are BBB or less, please let me know? Thanks!

ucl, lse, kcl, oxford in that order are the best unis for econ
Reply 2
Original post by yellowFrog33
ucl, lse, kcl, oxford in that order are the best unis for econ

i’m never getting the grades for those ** i think i phrased my question wrong
Reply 3
Original post by atoner774
Hi i’ve been filling out my UCAS and I currently have down as my options: Economics with finance at Queen’s University Belfast (ABB), Economics at Queen’s university Belfast (ABB), Economics at Ulster university (BBC), and Economics and finance at Northumbria (BBB). I’d like a fifth option for either economics or economics with finance, preferably one that is BBB or lower lol, I was looking at aberdeen which is BBC, or potentially Manchester Met? I’m not too sure where would be best to apply to, as i’m not sure what areas in England/Scotland are best to live in or anything. So if any one knows any good universities what are BBB or less, please let me know? Thanks!

Should probably add i didn’t mean “best” as in like most academic/highest grades, i more so meant what would be like best for idk uni life? or easiest to go to alone from across the water lol
Original post by atoner774
Should probably add i didn’t mean “best” as in like most academic/highest grades, i more so meant what would be like best for idk uni life? or easiest to go to alone from across the water lol

Try to go to a traditional (pre-1992) uni if you can. It is generally quite important.
(edited 2 months ago)
Reply 5
Original post by Physician
Try to go to a traditional (pre-1992) uni if you can. It is generally quite important.

I think only 2 of the ones i applied to are that, is it really a very important factor?
Original post by atoner774
I think only 2 of the ones i applied to are that, is it really a very important factor?

Yes. It isn't the end of the World if you don't go to a traditional uni, but it would be wiser to choose one of these over a new university, unless there are compelling reasons not to. Employers still lean towards the traditional universities.

The only situation where you may choose a new university is when it offers a very obscure course that few, if any, traditional unis offer. Or if the course is very vocational, like Nursing or Graphic Design. Some students are also forced to attend their local uni due to personal circumstances, such as their parents not wanting them to leave home for uni.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by atoner774
Hi i’ve been filling out my UCAS and I currently have down as my options: Economics with finance at Queen’s University Belfast (ABB), Economics at Queen’s university Belfast (ABB), Economics at Ulster university (BBC), and Economics and finance at Northumbria (BBB). I’d like a fifth option for either economics or economics with finance, preferably one that is BBB or lower lol, I was looking at aberdeen which is BBC, or potentially Manchester Met? I’m not too sure where would be best to apply to, as i’m not sure what areas in England/Scotland are best to live in or anything. So if any one knows any good universities what are BBB or less, please let me know? Thanks!


Aston uni is BBB
Original post by atoner774
Hi i’ve been filling out my UCAS and I currently have down as my options: Economics with finance at Queen’s University Belfast (ABB), Economics at Queen’s university Belfast (ABB), Economics at Ulster university (BBC), and Economics and finance at Northumbria (BBB). I’d like a fifth option for either economics or economics with finance, preferably one that is BBB or lower lol, I was looking at aberdeen which is BBC, or potentially Manchester Met? I’m not too sure where would be best to apply to, as i’m not sure what areas in England/Scotland are best to live in or anything. So if any one knows any good universities what are BBB or less, please let me know? Thanks!

Hi @atoner774!⭐️

It’s fantastic that you’re considering Economics for your university studies—such a versatile and rewarding field! If you’re still deciding on your fifth choice, the University of Essex could be a brilliant option to add to your list with minimum requirements of BBB-BBC. 🌟

At Essex, you’ll find a range of exciting degree options tailored to different interests and career paths, including:

BSc Economics Perfect for understanding how economies function and making sense of global financial systems.

BSc Financial Economics Ideal if you’re fascinated by markets, investments, and the financial sector.

BSc Management Economics A great blend of economics and business, preparing you for leadership roles.

BSc Economics with Data Science If you want to combine economic analysis with the power of data, this cutting-edge course is for you.


The Department of Economics at Essex is one of the top-ranked in the UK, with an amazing reputation for research and teaching. 📈 You’ll learn from experts who are shaping the field, and the courses are designed to equip you with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that employers are looking for.

We're 4th in the UK for research power (REF 2021), so you will be learning alongside academics who are breaking new ground in all fields of economics, and pioneering new solutions to global issues. We are 7th in the UK for economics in the Guardian University Guide 2025 and top 25 in the UK for economics and econometrics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

The University of Essex itself is a welcoming, vibrant community, located on a stunning campus with green spaces, excellent facilities, and plenty of opportunities to grow personally and academically. 🌳 And with close connections to London and a global outlook, it’s a fantastic place to start your journey in Economics.

If you’re still unsure, feel free to reach out with any questions—I’d be happy to help!😊

Wishing you the very best with your applications! 🎓

Warm regards,
Essex Student Rep - Renaldas✌️
Original post by atoner774
Hi i’ve been filling out my UCAS and I currently have down as my options: Economics with finance at Queen’s University Belfast (ABB), Economics at Queen’s university Belfast (ABB), Economics at Ulster university (BBC), and Economics and finance at Northumbria (BBB). I’d like a fifth option for either economics or economics with finance, preferably one that is BBB or lower lol, I was looking at aberdeen which is BBC, or potentially Manchester Met? I’m not too sure where would be best to apply to, as i’m not sure what areas in England/Scotland are best to live in or anything. So if any one knows any good universities what are BBB or less, please let me know? Thanks!

if you're gonna apply to economics, you better up those mock grades hunney, I'm sure your predicted grades are a concern now because your track and mock grades reflect you're real intellectual levels
Original post by atoner774
Hi i’ve been filling out my UCAS and I currently have down as my options: Economics with finance at Queen’s University Belfast (ABB), Economics at Queen’s university Belfast (ABB), Economics at Ulster university (BBC), and Economics and finance at Northumbria (BBB). I’d like a fifth option for either economics or economics with finance, preferably one that is BBB or lower lol, I was looking at aberdeen which is BBC, or potentially Manchester Met? I’m not too sure where would be best to apply to, as i’m not sure what areas in England/Scotland are best to live in or anything. So if any one knows any good universities what are BBB or less, please let me know? Thanks!

Hi there,

If you’re looking for another option, you might consider Economics at SOAS University of London. While their standard entry requirements are AAB, they offer ABB for contextual applicants. Economics at SOAS is an excellent choice for its focus on global challenges, especially in emerging markets and development economics. Plus, it’s located in London, which offers a vibrant student life and great networking opportunities.

That said, Economics is a very popular course at SOAS during Clearing. I know students who’ve secured a place on the day with grades like BBB, so it’s worth keeping in mind as a backup option if things don’t go as planned.

I currently study Economics and Arabic there and the course breakdown is unlike any other in the UK, we have the ability to specialise in studying specific parts of the globe such as Economics of the Middle East or South Asia for instance, which is unique to SOAS

You can also read more about why students choose SOAS for Economics here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/blogs/why-i-chose-study-economics-soas

Good luck!

MK
SOAS Student Rep
Reply 11
Original post by yellowFrog33
ucl, lse, kcl, oxford in that order are the best unis for econ

Completely wrong order ascending or descending (you didn't mention). It goes (1) LSE, (2) Cambridge, (3) Oxford, and KCL isn't even in the top 4 lmao.
LSE's Econ course is far superior to Cambridge if we're talking about it training you for more academic economics. Cambridge's course has the Mickey Mouse essay modules in 1st year, etc, and isn't known for Econ globally.
Original post by yzven
Completely wrong order ascending or descending (you didn't mention). It goes (1) LSE, (2) Cambridge, (3) Oxford, and KCL isn't even in the top 4 lmao.
LSE's Econ course is far superior to Cambridge if we're talking about it training you for more academic economics. Cambridge's course has the Mickey Mouse essay modules in 1st year, etc, and isn't known for Econ globally.

Economists often usually study at Oxbridge first, then follow up with a masters at LSE.
Original post by yellowFrog33
ucl, lse, kcl, oxford in that order are the best unis for econ


Nah it’s LSE, Cambridge, Warwick, UCL, bath
Original post by Fesdces1
Nah it’s LSE, Cambridge, Warwick, UCL, bath

Who gives a stuff? The OP didn't say they wanted to become an economist, so where they studied isn't going to matter so much.
Original post by atoner774
Hi i’ve been filling out my UCAS and I currently have down as my options: Economics with finance at Queen’s University Belfast (ABB), Economics at Queen’s university Belfast (ABB), Economics at Ulster university (BBC), and Economics and finance at Northumbria (BBB). I’d like a fifth option for either economics or economics with finance, preferably one that is BBB or lower lol, I was looking at aberdeen which is BBC, or potentially Manchester Met? I’m not too sure where would be best to apply to, as i’m not sure what areas in England/Scotland are best to live in or anything. So if any one knows any good universities what are BBB or less, please let me know? Thanks!

loads of people from my family went to university of Bristol, for economics, finance, accounting, etc, and loved their time there.
Original post by dodgeviper2000
loads of people from my family went to university of Bristol, for economics, finance, accounting, etc, and loved their time there.

Bristol is a mini Oxford, and Edinburgh is a moderate Cambridge by size and appearance.
(edited 3 weeks ago)
Original post by Physician
Bristol is a mini Oxford, and Edinburgh is a moderate Cambridge by size and appearance.

id say bristol is more manageable, i live close to oxford and my, it just sucks. but your right about edinburgh.
Original post by dodgeviper2000
id say bristol is more manageable, i live close to oxford and my, it just sucks. but your right about edinburgh.

The train station at Oxford is one of the worst in the country. And the chavs skateboarding outside the prestigious business school . . .
Original post by yzven
It does. Can't get into top US Econ PhD programmes from some random uni like Birmingham

Did the OP say they want to do a PhD in Economics, let alone study in the US? And since when is Birmingham a random uni? It often ranks in the top 100 overall in the two most prominent global rankings, THES and QS. It compares favourably to the likes of Georgetown and Emory, which are well regarded in the US. If you ask anyone, educated or not, in the US what cities they have heard of in the UK then Birmingham would be one of them, along with London, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
(edited 3 weeks ago)

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