Degree apprenticeship or LSE

I’ve gotten an offer for a DA at Bank of England for the role of a professional economist which is something I really want to do only thing that’s putting me off is the uni they enrol me to is university of Kent but then again it is an economics degree.
I’ve also gotten offers for UCL economics and business and LSE environment and sustainable development with economic studies and also kings college economics.

I’m looking to start out as an economist in order to build a strong economic foundation and potentially go into private equity when I’m much older. Long term wise, which is the best decision for me.

Reply 1

crock77

8

I also got DA at bank of england for professional economist (in leeds though), in a similar situation but with durham and waiting on warwick which I know aren't quite as prestigious as LSE. I think whilst DA at bank of england is an amazing opportunity if you're not looking to become an economist long term then perhaps LSE is the way to go, I believe quite alot of top firms have "pre screening" selection where they automatically reject candidates whos degree wasn't from a top uni. I'm quite naive on this too though so don't just take my word for it I'm interested what other people are gonna say.

Reply 2

lolicbaforthis27

5

exact same situation here im still waiting on ubs global markets but if I do get it I have no idea whether to take it or go ucl (still waiting on LSE for econ and politics) this one is with uni of Exeter but no idea

Reply 3

BenRyan99

Careers Forum Helper

17

Original post by gjersok

I’ve gotten an offer for a DA at Bank of England for the role of a professional economist which is something I really want to do only thing that’s putting me off is the uni they enrol me to is university of Kent but then again it is an economics degree.
I’ve also gotten offers for UCL economics and business and LSE environment and sustainable development with economic studies and also kings college economics.
I’m looking to start out as an economist in order to build a strong economic foundation and potentially go into private equity when I’m much older. Long term wise, which is the best decision for me.

Worth noting that private equity firms don't really hire economists. It might be possible to make the switch very early on in a career but it's very uncommon for those with a few years of professional economist experience under their belts to move into PE - the skill sets are relatively distinct.

Reply 4

lolicbaforthis27

5

Original post by BenRyan99

Worth noting that private equity firms don't really hire economists. It might be possible to make the switch very early on in a career but it's very uncommon for those with a few years of professional economist experience under their belts to move into PE - the skill sets are relatively distinct.

What about going into equity research after completing the UBS global markets degree apprenticeship?

Reply 5

gjersok

OP

9

Original post by BenRyan99

Worth noting that private equity firms don't really hire economists. It might be possible to make the switch very early on in a career but it's very uncommon for those with a few years of professional economist experience under their belts to move into PE - the skill sets are relatively distinct.

Yeah I get that but I was planning on maybe completing a masters from a prestigious uni for a degree more intertwined with finance and PE but I’m not sure if that would help. To be honest the main thing attracting me to PE is the pay and if I can get a good salary progression within the BoE then I’m not too fussed.

Reply 6

BenRyan99

Careers Forum Helper

17

Original post by gjersok

Yeah I get that but I was planning on maybe completing a masters from a prestigious uni for a degree more intertwined with finance and PE but I’m not sure if that would help. To be honest the main thing attracting me to PE is the pay and if I can get a good salary progression within the BoE then I’m not too fussed.

I mean it depends on what you're comparing to of course, but the public sector isn't usually the place one goes for good salary progression. Public sector is good for training, good working hours, nice people, and an overly generous pension - but not generally a good salary.

Reply 7

bbg1978

6

Original post by gjersok

I’ve gotten an offer for a DA at Bank of England for the role of a professional economist which is something I really want to do only thing that’s putting me off is the uni they enrol me to is university of Kent but then again it is an economics degree.
I’ve also gotten offers for UCL economics and business and LSE environment and sustainable development with economic studies and also kings college economics.
I’m looking to start out as an economist in order to build a strong economic foundation and potentially go into private equity when I’m much older. Long term wise, which is the best decision for me.

The others have made great points, so I’ll just add this: compared to the other courses you’ve applied to, the LSE course is more on the geography and development side. If private equity is your goal, a pure economics degree is likely more relevant. That said, LSE is a strong institution regardless of course, and if you network well, it’s still very possible to break into finance.

If I were you, I’d seriously consider taking the Bank of England DA especially since the pay is good and you can live at home. You’ll be earning while getting a free economics degree, which is a major advantage. If you save wisely, you could fund a master’s in economics or finance at a top school (LSE, UCL, etc.). That would position you well for a pivot into investment banking or another stepping stone to private equity. The BoE name will look excellent on your CV, and the work experience is invaluable.

Just make sure you do well in your A-levels and build a strong academic foundation it’ll open up options later. You may even find that you enjoy another path more than PE. The high earning potential is appealing, but it’s a very competitive and demanding industry.

If you’re set on going into PE as soon as possible and don’t want to pursue a master’s, then LSE might be better. But even then, it won’t be easy. You’ll be competing with students from Oxbridge, LSE Econ, UCL, Warwick, etc. many who have taken pure, mathematically rigorous economics degrees with higher entry requirements.

At the end of the day, the goal of a degree is to secure a solid job, which you’d already have through the DA. For context, I also have an offer for the same LSE course, and when I asked about career prospects, it was clear the focus leaned more toward policy and development than finance. Still, it’s an interesting degree and can lead to a variety of careers.

Another thing to consider is the cost and intensity of LSE. It’s expensive and academically demanding, which may limit the time and energy you have to fully network and explore internships.

Reply 8

bbg1978

6

Most importantly congrats on the DA offer very impressive this early on in your career you must be very clever!

Degree apprenticeship or LSE

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you