University Economics Choices

Hi all - I’m interested in studying economics (or a very similar degree) at Uni, and I’m only in year 12 but I thought it would be good to get a head start.
Currently, I study Maths, Econ, Geography, EPQ for A levels.
GCSES=999888877 (state school)
I’m trying to figure out which Unis I may apply to and for which courses.

To clarify, I don’t take FM(it is offered at my school), but I don’t want to run the risk of not getting good grades in my current 3/4. And I’m also aware that it is very hard. And I’m 6 weeks into term now. I was 1 mark off a 9 GCSE Maths

Anyways, what Unis and courses would youse recommend for me to look into. Imo, I will have lots of good super curriculars like work experience, books, summer schools, essay projects etc… so hopefully good personal statement.
And I’ve also looked into Land Economy at Cambridge as goes well with my A levels, and cares less for FM.
I also want to pursue a career in Finance, particularly Investment Banking…
I will appreciate any advice offered (including FM advice!)

Reply 1

thomasclarke09

I forgot to mention that I should be predicted 4 A*.

Reply 2

veluxez

OP You won't get your predicteds yet in the start of Y12, perhaps you are referring to target grades? I should mention that FM can get very hard but it is very academically rewarding + compared to subjects like Biology, Chem etc. the content you cover is far smaller, albeit in considerable detail.

Reply 3

thomasclarke09

Original post

by veluxez

Yes they are my target grades. But I do believe they will also be my predicted grades after early tests and conversations with teachers.

Reply 4

Wired_1800

Original post

by thomasclarke09

Hi all - I’m interested in studying economics (or a very similar degree) at Uni, and I’m only in year 12 but I thought it would be good to get a head start.
Currently, I study Maths, Econ, Geography, EPQ for A levels.
GCSES=999888877 (state school)
I’m trying to figure out which Unis I may apply to and for which courses.
To clarify, I don’t take FM(it is offered at my school), but I don’t want to run the risk of not getting good grades in my current 3/4. And I’m also aware that it is very hard. And I’m 6 weeks into term now. I was 1 mark off a 9 GCSE Maths
Anyways, what Unis and courses would youse recommend for me to look into. Imo, I will have lots of good super curriculars like work experience, books, summer schools, essay projects etc… so hopefully good personal statement.
And I’ve also looked into Land Economy at Cambridge as goes well with my A levels, and cares less for FM.
I also want to pursue a career in Finance, particularly Investment Banking…
I will appreciate any advice offered (including FM advice!)

Here would be my suggestions:

Cambridge - Land Economy (college: Trinity Hall)
Manchester - Economics
Surrey Uni - Economics
Newcastle - Economics
Southampton - Economics

Reply 5

thomasclarke09

Original post

by Wired_1800

Here would be my suggestions:
Cambridge - Land Economy (college: Trinity Hall)
Manchester - Economics
Surrey Uni - Economics
Newcastle - Economics
Southampton - Economics

Erm are those not like not ambitious at all. Cambridge with Surrey, Southampton and Newcastle… I’m thinking :

Cambridge land economy
Warwick econ
Bristol/bath econ
Durham econ
Manchester econ

Reply 6

Wired_1800

Original post

by thomasclarke09

Erm are those not like not ambitious at all. Cambridge with Surrey, Southampton and Newcastle… I’m thinking :
Cambridge land economy
Warwick econ
Bristol/bath econ
Durham econ
Manchester econ

I dont think so. Many of them are either AAB or ABB grade requirements and your target is 4A*s.

Your selection is also decent but most are top unis.

Reply 7

thomasclarke09

Yeah I might remove one of (Warwick), (Bristol/bath) and (Durham) but I don’t want to aim too low

Reply 8

thomasclarke09

Especially as IB is uni over course - prestige matters a lot

Reply 9

Wired_1800

Original post

by thomasclarke09

Especially as IB is uni over course - prestige matters a lot

That makes sense. It should be a balance and you need to match your uni choices to your academic profile to get offers.

Reply 10

veluxez

Original post

by thomasclarke09

Erm are those not like not ambitious at all. Cambridge with Surrey, Southampton and Newcastle… I’m thinking :
Cambridge land economy
Warwick econ
Bristol/bath econ
Durham econ
Manchester econ

OP LSE is one of if not the most prestigious uni to go into for IB, their career prospects are on the same level as Oxbridge in London. I’d recommend finding a course on the LSE Undergrad Website and choosing appropriately based on your needs.

Reply 11

Toomanyenny

I’m also in a similar position with you on deciding uni courses. Like you said uni>course. You can do any joint econ degree at a top uni which usually doesn’t require FM, if you want to you can tailor your course to be basically a pure econ degree.
Some courses at top unis I’ve seen:
Cambridge- land economy
Oxford- economics and management, PPE
Warwick- Econ(no FM require)
Durham- econ(no FM require)

To be fair beside Oxbridge most top unis have like so many different econ courses. LSE has so many you should definitely look into it. Also keep in mind if you decide to apply to for example econ&mangement at Oxford and econ at Warwick, you’ll have to do TSA and TMUA which will be stressfulx

Reply 12

thomasclarke09

Original post

by Toomanyenny

I’m also in a similar position with you on deciding uni courses. Like you said uni>course. You can do any joint econ degree at a top uni which usually doesn’t require FM, if you want to you can tailor your course to be basically a pure econ degree.
Some courses at top unis I’ve seen:
Cambridge- land economy
Oxford- economics and management, PPE
Warwick- Econ(no FM require)
Durham- econ(no FM require)
To be fair beside Oxbridge most top unis have like so many different econ courses. LSE has so many you should definitely look into it. Also keep in mind if you decide to apply to for example econ&mangement at Oxford and econ at Warwick, you’ll have to do TSA and TMUA which will be stressfulx

Yeah valid points all round. Obvs only one of oxbridge so would probs pick land econ to avoid Oxford E&M TSA requirement.

And I’m pretty sure for Warwick u don’t have to do the TSA (it’s encouraged and if don’t get out with people with lower scores). Therefore - no risk really in doing TSA for Warwick. Just my thoughts.

Lse does have many courses especially like geog with econ, but I think this is geog heavy so need to research others.

We’ll see once a bit through year 12. Think best thing is just focus on supercurriculars.

Which ones are you doing and looking at?

Reply 13

thomasclarke09

Original post

by veluxez

Yeah thanks will look into it.
Tbf I think any of the oxbridge LSE ucl Warwick somewhat finance/econ related courses will somewhat guarantee a very good job (long as do spring weeks and internships). I don’t think LSE is like a massive step in front of other unis.

Reply 14

Toomanyenny

Original post

by thomasclarke09

Yeah valid points all round. Obvs only one of oxbridge so would probs pick land econ to avoid Oxford E&M TSA requirement.
And I’m pretty sure for Warwick u don’t have to do the TSA (it’s encouraged and if don’t get out with people with lower scores). Therefore - no risk really in doing TSA for Warwick. Just my thoughts.
Lse does have many courses especially like geog with econ, but I think this is geog heavy so need to research others.
We’ll see once a bit through year 12. Think best thing is just focus on supercurriculars.
Which ones are you doing and looking at?

Tbh I don’t know what to do for super curricula’s nor do I know the specific course (thinking of pol+econ, PPE, econ, Phil+econ, land econ, econ+management etc.). I think I’ll just read books, watch lectures and listen to podcasts. Then, random work experiences just to know what I want to do after uni. But right now I’m trying to focus on getting 3 A* predicted grades as although my GCSEs are good in context of my school it’s not that good compared to everyone else.

Reply 15

LSBU

Official Rep

Original post

by thomasclarke09

Hi all - I’m interested in studying economics (or a very similar degree) at Uni, and I’m only in year 12 but I thought it would be good to get a head start.
Currently, I study Maths, Econ, Geography, EPQ for A levels.
GCSES=999888877 (state school)
I’m trying to figure out which Unis I may apply to and for which courses.
To clarify, I don’t take FM(it is offered at my school), but I don’t want to run the risk of not getting good grades in my current 3/4. And I’m also aware that it is very hard. And I’m 6 weeks into term now. I was 1 mark off a 9 GCSE Maths
Anyways, what Unis and courses would youse recommend for me to look into. Imo, I will have lots of good super curriculars like work experience, books, summer schools, essay projects etc… so hopefully good personal statement.
And I’ve also looked into Land Economy at Cambridge as goes well with my A levels, and cares less for FM.
I also want to pursue a career in Finance, particularly Investment Banking…
I will appreciate any advice offered (including FM advice!)

Hi Thomas,

It’s great that you’re already thinking ahead about your university options and planning your studies carefully, that kind of preparation will really help you when the time comes to apply. Your A-level choices of Maths, Economics, Geography, and EPQ are an excellent combination for studying Economics or a related subject, and your GCSE results show you’re a strong, well-rounded student.

At London South Bank University (LSBU), we offer several degrees that align with your interests, including BSc (Hons) Economics, Economics (Business Strategy Pathway) - BSc (Hons), and BSc (Hons) Finance and Accounting, Economics (Finance Pathway). These courses are designed to prepare students for careers in finance, investment, and business analysis, with modules covering micro and macroeconomics, data analysis, financial markets, and corporate finance. Studying at LSBU also places you in central London, close to major financial institutions and employers, providing fantastic opportunities for internships, networking, and real-world experience in the heart of the UK’s financial sector.

All of LSBU’s Economics and Finance courses are professionally accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA). This means your degree will be recognised by leading professional bodies in finance and accounting, and you may gain exemptions from certain professional exams if you decide to qualify further after graduation. Accreditation also signals to employers that your course meets high industry standards and provides the skills they value most.

Since you’ve chosen not to take Further Maths, which is completely fine and very common, it’s good to know that LSBU’s programmes focus on strong mathematical understanding without requiring Further Maths. The entry requirements are typically 112-120 UCAS points, with at least a Grade 4/C in GCSE Maths or above. These courses are flexible and still lead to excellent graduate outcomes.

For your long-term goal of working in finance or investment banking, either an Economics or Finance-related degree will provide a solid foundation. Employers in these fields value analytical thinking, numerical ability, and communication skills, all of which you’ll develop through your A-levels and during your degree at LSBU.

If you’d like to explore our courses further, we have an Open Day on Saturday 15th November, where you can speak with lecturers, meet current students, and get tailored advice on which pathway might suit your goals best.

👉 You can sign up here: LSBU Open Day.
👉 You can also chat with our students through our Unibuddy platform: Chat with our students.

You’re already doing all the right things researching early, building super-curriculars, and thinking strategically about your future. Keep it up, and you’ll be in a very strong position when it’s time to apply.

Reply 16

bumba123

Original post

by thomasclarke09

As long as you have one safe option that you are basically 100% going to get into AND would be happy to go to (this is important - don't apply to somewhere that if you only got in there you would take a gap year), you can realistically apply to as aspirational options for all your other four. If you want to, go ahead and apply to Cambridge, LSE and Warwick. University admissions is not about counting how many offers you get, its about getting into the place you want to go. There's no harm in being ambitious, so long as you're not a complete idiot and only apply to places with a sub-20% acceptance rate. Maybe you will only get 1 or 2 offers out of 5, but at least you gave it your best shot and won't be filled with regret thinking you could have got into somewhere you would have much rather gone to.

Reply 17

g.nls7

to get the best chance to land a role in the finance industry, particularly more competitive roles, you should aim for target uni's like oxbridge, LSE, Imperial and UCL. course matters less, however something quantative based is better. your chosen subjects should be rather similar aswell as you only write one personal statement

regardless, you shouldn't be too concerned about your uni options yet as your opinions and decisions are bound to change over the year. make sure you stay up to date on work and exceed expectations by studying ahead of your class, learning about your subjects in ways that aren't in the spec etc.

good luck