Can my A Level subjects be too narrow for universities?

2

I've already asked this question on here before, but I think I worded it wrong the last time. I do Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Politics, with predictions of A*A*A*B. I really want to stay only in London for universities, as I am really into startups and I'm already part of the startup community here in London. I'm applying for economics or economics related courses, and I have a contextual application(don't really know if that helps, just sharing for context).
My politics results are really behind my other subjects and I would prefer to drop it, but I don't know if I can, as advisors at my school are saying that the combination of Math, FM and Econ could be too narrow for some unis as 3 A levels. How much of an issue is that? Should I apply with that B, and drop once I have an offer for 3 subjects? And which unis are the best for this combo? Any help appreciated

Reply 1

cksiu

Universities Forum Helper

15

Original post

by Davol

I've already asked this question on here before, but I think I worded it wrong the last time. I do Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Politics, with predictions of A*A*A*B. I really want to stay only in London for universities, as I am really into startups and I'm already part of the startup community here in London. I'm applying for economics or economics related courses, and I have a contextual application(don't really know if that helps, just sharing for context).
My politics results are really behind my other subjects and I would prefer to drop it, but I don't know if I can, as advisors at my school are saying that the combination of Math, FM and Econ could be too narrow for some unis as 3 A levels. How much of an issue is that? Should I apply with that B, and drop once I have an offer for 3 subjects? And which unis are the best for this combo? Any help appreciated

Your stats are very good. If you want to do Economics your subjects should be OK. But please check your target unis' websites.

Also most unis ask for 3 subjects. You may seriously dropping your B-grade subject and concentrate and secure the 3 A*.

Why restricting to London unis? LSE, KCL and UCL are all heavily oversubscribed and don't be surprised if you get nothing. There are very good unis within 2-3 hrs by train from London, including Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham and Warwick. You may also consider Oxbridge. Good luck.

Reply 2

McGinger

20

Check the entry requirements for each Uni - I think LSE are alone in regarding FM and Maths as essentially 'one subject' and require 2 other A levels on top (Admissions information) and that may be what your teachers are thinking about. For other Unis with a strong reputation for Economics there will be no restriction and you would be fine dropping Politics.

Remember, there really is nothing particularly magical about central London Unis - they are often over-focussed on postgrads and research and as a result their undergraduates don't get much support and often feel ignored. Both UCL and LSE are crammed with overseas students, mostly Chinese, and whilst there is obviously nothing 'wrong' with this, it is likely to have an impact on your 'student experience'.

Reply 3

LSBU

Official Rep

11

Original post

by Davol

I've already asked this question on here before, but I think I worded it wrong the last time. I do Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Politics, with predictions of A*A*A*B. I really want to stay only in London for universities, as I am really into startups and I'm already part of the startup community here in London. I'm applying for economics or economics related courses, and I have a contextual application(don't really know if that helps, just sharing for context).
My politics results are really behind my other subjects and I would prefer to drop it, but I don't know if I can, as advisors at my school are saying that the combination of Math, FM and Econ could be too narrow for some unis as 3 A levels. How much of an issue is that? Should I apply with that B, and drop once I have an offer for 3 subjects? And which unis are the best for this combo? Any help appreciated

Hi Davol,

You’ve got a really strong subject combination, Maths, Further Maths, and Economics are perfect for anyone interested in business, economics, or finance. Since you’re already involved in the startup community and want to stay in London, I’d really recommend looking into London South Bank University (LSBU). LSBU has built a fantastic reputation for supporting students who want to combine business knowledge with entrepreneurship and real-world experience, especially those with ambitions to start or scale their own ventures.

At LSBU, you can choose from a range of economics and business-related degrees such as BSc (Hons) Economics, BSc (Hons) Economics (Finance Pathway), BA (Hons) Business Management, and BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance. What’s great is that these programmes are professionally accredited by leading bodies including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), and Association of International Accountants (AIA). This means you can graduate with exam exemptions and a faster route to becoming a qualified professional, a huge advantage if you’re thinking about working in finance, consulting, or running your own company one day.

One of the things that really makes LSBU special is its commitment to entrepreneurship. The university has its own Enterprise Centre, a dedicated space for student innovation and business development. Through Startups@LSBU and South Bank Innovation, students can access free mentoring, workshops, networking events, and even funding to help bring their business ideas to life. LSBU also supports student startups with zero commission, meaning you keep 100% of your earnings while receiving expert guidance and resources to grow your venture. Many students have successfully launched their own businesses while studying, with the full backing of the university’s enterprise team.

The location of LSBU is another major benefit, right in central London, just minutes away from major financial hubs like the City and Canary Wharf. This gives you direct access to internships, corporate partnerships, and startup networks, as well as some of the UK’s biggest business events and innovation spaces. It’s a perfect environment for someone who already has an entrepreneurial mindset and wants to build connections while earning their degree.

As for your A-level subjects, Maths, Further Maths, and Economics is a fantastic combination. It’s not too narrow at all, in fact, it’s one of the strongest sets for analytical courses like Economics, Finance, and Business. Universities like LSBU value your focus and quantitative ability, and your predicted grades put you well above the typical entry range of 112-120 UCAS points (BBC-BBB) for most business and economics courses.

If you’d like to get a better feel for LSBU, I’d really recommend visiting our Open Day on Saturday 15th November. You’ll get to meet our business and economics lecturers, explore the Enterprise Centre, and hear directly from students who’ve launched their own startups through LSBU’s support.

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

So, if you want to study in London, develop your business knowledge, and grow your entrepreneurial ideas in a university that offers real-world support and professional recognition, LSBU is an incredible choice. It’s a place where you can turn your passion for economics and innovation into a thriving career.

Reply 4

Davol

OP

2

Original post

by McGinger

Check the entry requirements for each Uni - I think LSE are alone in regarding FM and Maths as essentially 'one subject' and require 2 other A levels on top (Admissions information) and that may be what your teachers are thinking about. For other Unis with a strong reputation for Economics there will be no restriction and you would be fine dropping Politics.
Remember, there really is nothing particularly magical about central London Unis - they are often over-focussed on postgrads and research and as a result their undergraduates don't get much support and often feel ignored. Both UCL and LSE are crammed with overseas students, mostly Chinese, and whilst there is obviously nothing 'wrong' with this, it is likely to have an impact on your 'student experience'.

It's mostly that I already have strong links to the student societies and groups at UCL, LSE and KCL and they offer amazing activities there in terms of events and things like hackathons. Thanks for the link, that was very helpful, from what I understand tho, their website only considers this subject combination too narrow if the course is really essay based (i.e. economics and history). I would be probably considering mathematical economics courses or pure econ

Reply 5

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post

by Davol

I've already asked this question on here before, but I think I worded it wrong the last time. I do Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Politics, with predictions of A*A*A*B. I really want to stay only in London for universities, as I am really into startups and I'm already part of the startup community here in London. I'm applying for economics or economics related courses, and I have a contextual application(don't really know if that helps, just sharing for context).
My politics results are really behind my other subjects and I would prefer to drop it, but I don't know if I can, as advisors at my school are saying that the combination of Math, FM and Econ could be too narrow for some unis as 3 A levels. How much of an issue is that? Should I apply with that B, and drop once I have an offer for 3 subjects? And which unis are the best for this combo? Any help appreciated

The only university I'm aware of that makes reference to narrowness of A-level subject combinations is LSE.

For single honours economics A-level Maths, FM, and economics would meet their requirements as they state on their admissions pages, as economics is a necessarily mathematical area; the only other note they make is they prefer the third subject then to be an essay based subject, which it would be in your case. They do also advise if offering 4 A-levels, they would just require a pass in the fourth subject.

For joint honours courses in economics at LSE with non-mathematical subjects (e.g. economics and politics, economics and economic history etc) they do indicate that maths, FM, and a third subject would be considered a narrow combination that may make you less competitive.

At all other economics courses I'm aware of maths, FM and a third would normally be fine. A couple may have reservations if the way your school teaches maths and FM is such that you do all of A-level Maths in year 12 and sit the exams for it in year 12, then all of FM in year 13 and so only take FM exams in year 13. As then you would not at any point be doing a full set of exams for three subjects in a single exam session. Outside of Oxbridge and medicine though I've not seen this highlighted as a concern though.

Note if you apply with politics listed and then choose to drop it, you would need to notify all the universities you have applied to of the change in your application. So there's no concealing that you would be dropping politics and you would then still be assessed on the standard if you had dropped it now rather than later. So dropping it later confers no advantage and actually just adds administrative burden to you.

Can my A Level subjects be too narrow for universities?

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated