What should i study at Uni?
Hey everyone!
I am currently a year 12 , studying 4 alevels: maths, spanish, economics and further maths.
It’s getting to that time where I have to start seriously considering what i want to study at uni, but i’m conflicted 😭😭
I know i want a job in finance, maybe investment banking or wealth/asset management. and i would like to study at Oxbridge.
The thing is tho , i don’t really want to study maths or a maths “heavy” degree even tho i’m good at maths and don’t mind it. I just don’t think i’m that passionate about it to study it at an advanced level for 3/4 years
On the other hand, i really love studying languages. Spanish and French are my top two and I’m also interested in learning Arabic and Portuguese.
Originally, i was thinking of applying for Econ + Management @ Oxford (over pure econ @ cambridge which I’ve come to find out is highly mathematical) and then econ + mfl at (potentially) 4 other russell group unis.
Now my teachers at school are suggesting I apply for spanish + another language ab initio @ Oxford. And then i’d apply for econ + mfl everywhere else.
I know that the acceptance rate for oxford E&M is about 4% and for MFL it’s about 12-15%. So realistically, I’d have a better chance getting into Oxbridge studying languages.
My issue is how would I go from studying languages to working in finance. Everyone says you don’t need to study accounting/finance/econ to work in finance but realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day.
You also have the people that call MFl a “mickey mouse” degree so there’s that.
I also keep thinking that I’d regret applying for E&M if i didn’t end up getting to Oxbridge but on the other hand I’d be doubting myself by applying for MFL and not E&M because I know i have the grades for it.
Any specific help or general advice would be much appreciated 🙏😭
I am currently a year 12 , studying 4 alevels: maths, spanish, economics and further maths.
It’s getting to that time where I have to start seriously considering what i want to study at uni, but i’m conflicted 😭😭
I know i want a job in finance, maybe investment banking or wealth/asset management. and i would like to study at Oxbridge.
The thing is tho , i don’t really want to study maths or a maths “heavy” degree even tho i’m good at maths and don’t mind it. I just don’t think i’m that passionate about it to study it at an advanced level for 3/4 years
On the other hand, i really love studying languages. Spanish and French are my top two and I’m also interested in learning Arabic and Portuguese.
Originally, i was thinking of applying for Econ + Management @ Oxford (over pure econ @ cambridge which I’ve come to find out is highly mathematical) and then econ + mfl at (potentially) 4 other russell group unis.
Now my teachers at school are suggesting I apply for spanish + another language ab initio @ Oxford. And then i’d apply for econ + mfl everywhere else.
I know that the acceptance rate for oxford E&M is about 4% and for MFL it’s about 12-15%. So realistically, I’d have a better chance getting into Oxbridge studying languages.
My issue is how would I go from studying languages to working in finance. Everyone says you don’t need to study accounting/finance/econ to work in finance but realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day.
You also have the people that call MFl a “mickey mouse” degree so there’s that.
I also keep thinking that I’d regret applying for E&M if i didn’t end up getting to Oxbridge but on the other hand I’d be doubting myself by applying for MFL and not E&M because I know i have the grades for it.
Any specific help or general advice would be much appreciated 🙏😭
Reply 1
18
Why not take a gap year or two and figure out what you are and what you are truly passionate about in life. You say you want to go into finance don't mention why and everything else you said in your OP contradicts this goal. If finance is the way because it pays then get up close and comfortable with being dissatisfied with life. Money is great if you enjoy earning it but in itself it brings no happiness. Those who are truly content tend to be those people who have a higher purpose in life than grinding the wheels for someone else.
Reply 2
Original post
by danielleTSRHey everyone!
I am currently a year 12 , studying 4 alevels: maths, spanish, economics and further maths.
It’s getting to that time where I have to start seriously considering what i want to study at uni, but i’m conflicted 😭😭
I know i want a job in finance, maybe investment banking or wealth/asset management. and i would like to study at Oxbridge.
The thing is tho , i don’t really want to study maths or a maths “heavy” degree even tho i’m good at maths and don’t mind it. I just don’t think i’m that passionate about it to study it at an advanced level for 3/4 years
On the other hand, i really love studying languages. Spanish and French are my top two and I’m also interested in learning Arabic and Portuguese.
Originally, i was thinking of applying for Econ + Management @ Oxford (over pure econ @ cambridge which I’ve come to find out is highly mathematical) and then econ + mfl at (potentially) 4 other russell group unis.
Now my teachers at school are suggesting I apply for spanish + another language ab initio @ Oxford. And then i’d apply for econ + mfl everywhere else.
I know that the acceptance rate for oxford E&M is about 4% and for MFL it’s about 12-15%. So realistically, I’d have a better chance getting into Oxbridge studying languages.
My issue is how would I go from studying languages to working in finance. Everyone says you don’t need to study accounting/finance/econ to work in finance but realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day.
You also have the people that call MFl a “mickey mouse” degree so there’s that.
I also keep thinking that I’d regret applying for E&M if i didn’t end up getting to Oxbridge but on the other hand I’d be doubting myself by applying for MFL and not E&M because I know i have the grades for it.
Any specific help or general advice would be much appreciated 🙏😭
I am currently a year 12 , studying 4 alevels: maths, spanish, economics and further maths.
It’s getting to that time where I have to start seriously considering what i want to study at uni, but i’m conflicted 😭😭
I know i want a job in finance, maybe investment banking or wealth/asset management. and i would like to study at Oxbridge.
The thing is tho , i don’t really want to study maths or a maths “heavy” degree even tho i’m good at maths and don’t mind it. I just don’t think i’m that passionate about it to study it at an advanced level for 3/4 years
On the other hand, i really love studying languages. Spanish and French are my top two and I’m also interested in learning Arabic and Portuguese.
Originally, i was thinking of applying for Econ + Management @ Oxford (over pure econ @ cambridge which I’ve come to find out is highly mathematical) and then econ + mfl at (potentially) 4 other russell group unis.
Now my teachers at school are suggesting I apply for spanish + another language ab initio @ Oxford. And then i’d apply for econ + mfl everywhere else.
I know that the acceptance rate for oxford E&M is about 4% and for MFL it’s about 12-15%. So realistically, I’d have a better chance getting into Oxbridge studying languages.
My issue is how would I go from studying languages to working in finance. Everyone says you don’t need to study accounting/finance/econ to work in finance but realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day.
You also have the people that call MFl a “mickey mouse” degree so there’s that.
I also keep thinking that I’d regret applying for E&M if i didn’t end up getting to Oxbridge but on the other hand I’d be doubting myself by applying for MFL and not E&M because I know i have the grades for it.
Any specific help or general advice would be much appreciated 🙏😭
Hey Danielle, I hear what you're saying and can understand how you feel. For context, I did Econ at LSE (was far too maths heavy for my liking, but I also ended up choosing modules later on that were not) and then I went into M&A at an american bulge bracket. My two cents would be, apply for Oxbridge E&M and LSE. If you don't get in, I would do a gap year to focus on either bolstering your CV for banking and/or figuring out more career paths and understanding if you would like to go down the MFL route. Doing MFL opens you to being able to work in different countries btw, so being at regional offices could be an option if you can becone business fluent, although the chances of being hired in a regional office as a UK based individual won't be in your favour imo. I used to be involved in recruiting for spring/summer internships and also analysts in M&A, in case you were wondering why I say this. I think you have lots of optionality, which is actually a great thing, even though it can feel overwhelming. Good luck, here to answer more questions if you need.
Reply 3
20
Useful stuff about corporate careers - How to Become an Investment Banker: The Ultimate Guide - Study Mind
And Government careers - Government Economics Service scheme | Civil Service Careers
Degrees that would also use your languages :
Modern Languages and Economics BA (UCAS R9L1) (2025 Entry)
BA International Business Management and Spanish | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol
BA Arabic and Spanish - course details (2025 entry) | The University of Manchester
And Government careers - Government Economics Service scheme | Civil Service Careers
Degrees that would also use your languages :
Modern Languages and Economics BA (UCAS R9L1) (2025 Entry)
BA International Business Management and Spanish | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol
BA Arabic and Spanish - course details (2025 entry) | The University of Manchester
Reply 4
Original post
by danielleTSRHey everyone!
I am currently a year 12 , studying 4 alevels: maths, spanish, economics and further maths.
It’s getting to that time where I have to start seriously considering what i want to study at uni, but i’m conflicted 😭😭
I know i want a job in finance, maybe investment banking or wealth/asset management. and i would like to study at Oxbridge.
The thing is tho , i don’t really want to study maths or a maths “heavy” degree even tho i’m good at maths and don’t mind it. I just don’t think i’m that passionate about it to study it at an advanced level for 3/4 years
On the other hand, i really love studying languages. Spanish and French are my top two and I’m also interested in learning Arabic and Portuguese.
Originally, i was thinking of applying for Econ + Management @ Oxford (over pure econ @ cambridge which I’ve come to find out is highly mathematical) and then econ + mfl at (potentially) 4 other russell group unis.
Now my teachers at school are suggesting I apply for spanish + another language ab initio @ Oxford. And then i’d apply for econ + mfl everywhere else.
I know that the acceptance rate for oxford E&M is about 4% and for MFL it’s about 12-15%. So realistically, I’d have a better chance getting into Oxbridge studying languages.
My issue is how would I go from studying languages to working in finance. Everyone says you don’t need to study accounting/finance/econ to work in finance but realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day.
You also have the people that call MFl a “mickey mouse” degree so there’s that.
I also keep thinking that I’d regret applying for E&M if i didn’t end up getting to Oxbridge but on the other hand I’d be doubting myself by applying for MFL and not E&M because I know i have the grades for it.
Any specific help or general advice would be much appreciated 🙏😭
I am currently a year 12 , studying 4 alevels: maths, spanish, economics and further maths.
It’s getting to that time where I have to start seriously considering what i want to study at uni, but i’m conflicted 😭😭
I know i want a job in finance, maybe investment banking or wealth/asset management. and i would like to study at Oxbridge.
The thing is tho , i don’t really want to study maths or a maths “heavy” degree even tho i’m good at maths and don’t mind it. I just don’t think i’m that passionate about it to study it at an advanced level for 3/4 years
On the other hand, i really love studying languages. Spanish and French are my top two and I’m also interested in learning Arabic and Portuguese.
Originally, i was thinking of applying for Econ + Management @ Oxford (over pure econ @ cambridge which I’ve come to find out is highly mathematical) and then econ + mfl at (potentially) 4 other russell group unis.
Now my teachers at school are suggesting I apply for spanish + another language ab initio @ Oxford. And then i’d apply for econ + mfl everywhere else.
I know that the acceptance rate for oxford E&M is about 4% and for MFL it’s about 12-15%. So realistically, I’d have a better chance getting into Oxbridge studying languages.
My issue is how would I go from studying languages to working in finance. Everyone says you don’t need to study accounting/finance/econ to work in finance but realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day.
You also have the people that call MFl a “mickey mouse” degree so there’s that.
I also keep thinking that I’d regret applying for E&M if i didn’t end up getting to Oxbridge but on the other hand I’d be doubting myself by applying for MFL and not E&M because I know i have the grades for it.
Any specific help or general advice would be much appreciated 🙏😭
Hi Danielle,
You've already had some really good advice but I wondered whether you've considered something like Accounting and Finance? Or, if you love your languages enough to study them more thoroughly, then perhaps International Management and Spanish (with this one you get to do a year long placement in Spain - recent employers include Deloitte Santiago and Primark Madrid)?
If your heart is set on Oxbridge then you should go for it 🙂 just make sure you have a back-up with requirements a grade or two below what you're predicted. However did you know that Bath, King's and Warwick also have some of the best business/finance schools in the country? Bath in particular have one of the best placement schemes in the country with the huge majority of our degrees offering versions with a placement - so you could potentially end up doing a year at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, PwC, Deloitte, Accenture (all of which we've had people go to before) or something similar before you graduate, so you can explore more about what its like to work somewhere like that.
I hope this helps a bit but remember your decision about what you want in the future is yours!
Best of luck this year and beyond 🙂
Holly
University of Bath
Reply 5
Basically:
- i want to get a fast money financial services career
What to study:
- pragmatically, id recommend economics, finance or finance & accounting
Why:
- in an interview you will be expected to say why you’re interested in X specific role, whether it’s m&a / markets related / whatever you do…
- you will be expected to be “informed” on what is going on in the industry
- you maybe required to understand some basic technical principles (how would you value a company, understanding of financial reporting…)
- a degree in a subject will mean you can at least explore all of this during your degree rather than entirely in your spare time
Id note on Oxbridge, it will definitely help you get interviews and spring weeks coming from a “target” university, especially if you apply for roles internationally. By the vibe you’re giving academia is not something you really care about, it doesn’t sound like you have an interest in building specific subject matter expertise and immersing yourself around the research & innovation in university, you are there to get in, get a job & get out…
What you really need is a plan for getting spring weeks, then internships then graduate roles, you can do this at any university. This vibe is much more the “LSE student” than Oxbridge really. And id note you think employers will have a set of lines on a CV, “realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day” this actually isn’t true - yes having the right things on a CV really helps get through screening rounds but in a final interview what the person/panel care about is integration into their team & capability. Yes undoubtedly Oxbridge is far better represented in IBs then other institutions but hiring is still a people focus, ive seen first hand people from completely XYZ non-targets (Loughborough & Brighton for example) get jobs in front office investment banking & consultancy.
- i want to get a fast money financial services career
What to study:
- pragmatically, id recommend economics, finance or finance & accounting
Why:
- in an interview you will be expected to say why you’re interested in X specific role, whether it’s m&a / markets related / whatever you do…
- you will be expected to be “informed” on what is going on in the industry
- you maybe required to understand some basic technical principles (how would you value a company, understanding of financial reporting…)
- a degree in a subject will mean you can at least explore all of this during your degree rather than entirely in your spare time
Id note on Oxbridge, it will definitely help you get interviews and spring weeks coming from a “target” university, especially if you apply for roles internationally. By the vibe you’re giving academia is not something you really care about, it doesn’t sound like you have an interest in building specific subject matter expertise and immersing yourself around the research & innovation in university, you are there to get in, get a job & get out…
What you really need is a plan for getting spring weeks, then internships then graduate roles, you can do this at any university. This vibe is much more the “LSE student” than Oxbridge really. And id note you think employers will have a set of lines on a CV, “realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day” this actually isn’t true - yes having the right things on a CV really helps get through screening rounds but in a final interview what the person/panel care about is integration into their team & capability. Yes undoubtedly Oxbridge is far better represented in IBs then other institutions but hiring is still a people focus, ive seen first hand people from completely XYZ non-targets (Loughborough & Brighton for example) get jobs in front office investment banking & consultancy.
(edited 10 months ago)
Reply 6
Original post
by danielleTSRHey everyone!
I am currently a year 12 , studying 4 alevels: maths, spanish, economics and further maths.
It’s getting to that time where I have to start seriously considering what i want to study at uni, but i’m conflicted 😭😭
I know i want a job in finance, maybe investment banking or wealth/asset management. and i would like to study at Oxbridge.
The thing is tho , i don’t really want to study maths or a maths “heavy” degree even tho i’m good at maths and don’t mind it. I just don’t think i’m that passionate about it to study it at an advanced level for 3/4 years
On the other hand, i really love studying languages. Spanish and French are my top two and I’m also interested in learning Arabic and Portuguese.
Originally, i was thinking of applying for Econ + Management @ Oxford (over pure econ @ cambridge which I’ve come to find out is highly mathematical) and then econ + mfl at (potentially) 4 other russell group unis.
Now my teachers at school are suggesting I apply for spanish + another language ab initio @ Oxford. And then i’d apply for econ + mfl everywhere else.
I know that the acceptance rate for oxford E&M is about 4% and for MFL it’s about 12-15%. So realistically, I’d have a better chance getting into Oxbridge studying languages.
My issue is how would I go from studying languages to working in finance. Everyone says you don’t need to study accounting/finance/econ to work in finance but realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day.
You also have the people that call MFl a “mickey mouse” degree so there’s that.
I also keep thinking that I’d regret applying for E&M if i didn’t end up getting to Oxbridge but on the other hand I’d be doubting myself by applying for MFL and not E&M because I know i have the grades for it.
Any specific help or general advice would be much appreciated 🙏😭
I am currently a year 12 , studying 4 alevels: maths, spanish, economics and further maths.
It’s getting to that time where I have to start seriously considering what i want to study at uni, but i’m conflicted 😭😭
I know i want a job in finance, maybe investment banking or wealth/asset management. and i would like to study at Oxbridge.
The thing is tho , i don’t really want to study maths or a maths “heavy” degree even tho i’m good at maths and don’t mind it. I just don’t think i’m that passionate about it to study it at an advanced level for 3/4 years
On the other hand, i really love studying languages. Spanish and French are my top two and I’m also interested in learning Arabic and Portuguese.
Originally, i was thinking of applying for Econ + Management @ Oxford (over pure econ @ cambridge which I’ve come to find out is highly mathematical) and then econ + mfl at (potentially) 4 other russell group unis.
Now my teachers at school are suggesting I apply for spanish + another language ab initio @ Oxford. And then i’d apply for econ + mfl everywhere else.
I know that the acceptance rate for oxford E&M is about 4% and for MFL it’s about 12-15%. So realistically, I’d have a better chance getting into Oxbridge studying languages.
My issue is how would I go from studying languages to working in finance. Everyone says you don’t need to study accounting/finance/econ to work in finance but realistically Goldman Sachs/ Jp Morgan is going to pick a Russell Group Econ grad over an Oxbridge Language Grad any day.
You also have the people that call MFl a “mickey mouse” degree so there’s that.
I also keep thinking that I’d regret applying for E&M if i didn’t end up getting to Oxbridge but on the other hand I’d be doubting myself by applying for MFL and not E&M because I know i have the grades for it.
Any specific help or general advice would be much appreciated 🙏😭
I'm in my final year studying Arabic and Economics, and based on your interests, a similar combination degree might be a great option for you. In my case, while I’m no longer interested in finance, the economics side of my degree has been incredibly useful, and the language side has allowed me to develop strong communication skills and experience a year abroad.
Since you’re not keen on a maths-heavy degree, a combination like Economics + a language could be ideal—you’d still cover core economic principles without the intense mathematical focus of pure economics.
As for breaking into finance, I know plenty of people who have landed roles at top firms without a finance-related degree. What really matters is gaining experience through spring weeks, internships, networking, and extracurriculars. As long as you take advantage of those opportunities during uni, your subject choice won’t hold you back at all!
At the end of the day, go for a degree that keeps you engaged—you’ll perform better and have more options in the long run!
Marjan Karim
SOAS Student Rep
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