Uni vs course
I’m still trying to decide on a uni/course but I haven’t been able to make any progress. I’ve applied to quite a mix - economics, management and one PPE - because my interests are still pretty broad, from business strategy/management through to policy and development.
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
Reply 1
Original post
by Alfie OI’m still trying to decide on a uni/course but I haven’t been able to make any progress. I’ve applied to quite a mix - economics, management and one PPE - because my interests are still pretty broad, from business strategy/management through to policy and development.
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
Hiya lovely
If your interests are still quite broad (business strategy/management through to policy and development), I honestly wouldn’t stress too much about the exact course title. For most of the careers you’re probably thinking about (consulting, finance, policy, development etc.), employers tend to care more about your grades, and what you do alongside the degree rather than the precise wording of the course. Economics is generally the most “portable” option because it’s quantitative and signals analytical ability, so something like Economics at York would definitely keep a lot of doors open. That said, universities like Bath and Nottingham are also well regarded, and for many industries the difference between good unis in that general tier isn’t massive – getting a strong 2:1/1st and good internships will matter more. I’d maybe just be slightly cautious with very niche degrees if you’re unsure about your direction, as something like straight economics or PPE tends to give you broader signalling power. If you’re trying to maximise leverage, a rough rule is usually good uni + relatively rigorous degree (econ/PPE), but realistically people from courses like Economics at York, Management at Nottingham, or something like International Development with Economics at Bath can all end up in the same places if they perform well. It might help to focus less on the title and more on things like the course structure, how quantitative it is, what optional modules there are, and whether you’d actually enjoy studying it for three years.
Kind Regards Aneta PhD Chemistry
Reply 2
Original post
by Alfie OI’m still trying to decide on a uni/course but I haven’t been able to make any progress. I’ve applied to quite a mix - economics, management and one PPE - because my interests are still pretty broad, from business strategy/management through to policy and development.
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
Course over uni. Choose whichever one of the courses you are offered you think you will enjoy the most. If you havent already, have a good look at all the module descriptions and any other relevant course info to get a feel of how interested you think you will be in the material and choose based on that.
Reply 3
Alfie O
OP
5
Original post
by De Montfort UniversityHiya lovely
If your interests are still quite broad (business strategy/management through to policy and development), I honestly wouldn’t stress too much about the exact course title. For most of the careers you’re probably thinking about (consulting, finance, policy, development etc.), employers tend to care more about your grades, and what you do alongside the degree rather than the precise wording of the course. Economics is generally the most “portable” option because it’s quantitative and signals analytical ability, so something like Economics at York would definitely keep a lot of doors open. That said, universities like Bath and Nottingham are also well regarded, and for many industries the difference between good unis in that general tier isn’t massive – getting a strong 2:1/1st and good internships will matter more. I’d maybe just be slightly cautious with very niche degrees if you’re unsure about your direction, as something like straight economics or PPE tends to give you broader signalling power. If you’re trying to maximise leverage, a rough rule is usually good uni + relatively rigorous degree (econ/PPE), but realistically people from courses like Economics at York, Management at Nottingham, or something like International Development with Economics at Bath can all end up in the same places if they perform well. It might help to focus less on the title and more on things like the course structure, how quantitative it is, what optional modules there are, and whether you’d actually enjoy studying it for three years.
Kind Regards Aneta PhD Chemistry
If your interests are still quite broad (business strategy/management through to policy and development), I honestly wouldn’t stress too much about the exact course title. For most of the careers you’re probably thinking about (consulting, finance, policy, development etc.), employers tend to care more about your grades, and what you do alongside the degree rather than the precise wording of the course. Economics is generally the most “portable” option because it’s quantitative and signals analytical ability, so something like Economics at York would definitely keep a lot of doors open. That said, universities like Bath and Nottingham are also well regarded, and for many industries the difference between good unis in that general tier isn’t massive – getting a strong 2:1/1st and good internships will matter more. I’d maybe just be slightly cautious with very niche degrees if you’re unsure about your direction, as something like straight economics or PPE tends to give you broader signalling power. If you’re trying to maximise leverage, a rough rule is usually good uni + relatively rigorous degree (econ/PPE), but realistically people from courses like Economics at York, Management at Nottingham, or something like International Development with Economics at Bath can all end up in the same places if they perform well. It might help to focus less on the title and more on things like the course structure, how quantitative it is, what optional modules there are, and whether you’d actually enjoy studying it for three years.
Kind Regards Aneta PhD Chemistry
Hello, thank you very much for your in depth reply. I’ll look into the course structure now. Just as a side note I feel like I’d perform a bit better on a slightly less maths centred degree (as I didn’t take Maths at A-level) however I have been doing some prep over my year out. Would you recommend I do something that involves less quant heavy methods like the mgt course at Nottingham and say get a 1st or would firming economics and getting a 2:1 be the better option for leverage. Thanks again
Reply 4
Alfie O
OP
5
Original post
by DerDracologeCourse over uni. Choose whichever one of the courses you are offered you think you will enjoy the most. If you havent already, have a good look at all the module descriptions and any other relevant course info to get a feel of how interested you think you will be in the material and choose based on that.
Reply 5
Original post
by Alfie OHello, I really appreciate the reply. Would you recommend I factor in my current strengths as well as I didn’t take A-level so for courses like Econ I will have to do a decent amount of work to get my maths up to speed, where as for mgt for example I would say I’m more prepped for and won’t have to be compensating as much.
Yes, thats a great rationale! It might be worth using a tool like unibuddy to chat to some current students doing these courses if possible so you can gauge the mathematical content etc from their experiences 🙂
Reply 6
Original post
by Alfie OI’m still trying to decide on a uni/course but I haven’t been able to make any progress. I’ve applied to quite a mix - economics, management and one PPE - because my interests are still pretty broad, from business strategy/management through to policy and development.
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
Hi alfie,
tbh this is a pretty common position to be in, especially with courses like econ, management and PPE where the career paths overlap a lot.
The “uni over course” advice online is a bit oversimplified. In reality both matter, but for careers like consulting, finance, policy or management, the university reputation and the opportunities available there (internships, societies, networking, placement years) can have a big influence.
Economics is usually seen as the most “rigorous” and quantitative option out of the ones you mentioned, which can open doors to a wider range of roles like finance, consulting, policy analysis or data related jobs. Courses like management or international development can still lead to those careers, but sometimes they’re seen as slightly less quantitative so you may need to build extra skills alongside the degree.
That said, the differences between places like York, Bath and Nottingham aren’t massive in terms of prospects. All of them are strong universities and people from each go into consulting, finance, policy etc. A lot of it will come down to what you do while you’re there like internships, societies, leadership roles and networking.
If you’re trying to maximise leverage, I’d probably think about three things:
•
which course you’d actually enjoy and stay motivated in for 3 years
•
whether the uni has good placement or internship opportunities
•
the overall environment and opportunities outside the course
It’s a tough decision but the fact you’re thinking about it this carefully already puts you in a good position. hope the best and goodluck!
Anthony
student rep
Reply 7
Hey there,
Honestly, I would not choose university name over course fit. The course is what you will actually study for three years, so I would look closely at the modules, whether there is a placement option, how practical the teaching is, and whether you can see yourself genuinely enjoying the content rather than just liking the title. That usually matters more in the long run than chasing what sounds most impressive.
At LSBU, that is something I think is really helpful because the courses are quite career-focused. For example, Business Management has a placement opportunity, and LSBU’s business subject area includes different pathways, so there is room to shape things around your interests a bit more. Economics at LSBU is also positioned in a very applied way, with a Business Strategy pathway that focuses on using economics while keeping it purely theoretical.
So for me, I would prioritise this question: can I see myself enjoying the modules, developing useful skills, and speaking confidently about this course in applications and interviews? If the answer is yes, that is usually a much stronger sign than just choosing based on name alone.
You are very welcome to come to a Southwark Open Day on Saturday 21st March 2026 where you can meet lecturers, explore the facilities, and get clear answers about courses and support (https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/study-at-lsbu/open-days). If you cannot make it for an open day, you can book a campus tour on a day that suits you (https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/study-at-lsbu/open-days). You can also chat with our current students on Unibuddy to hear their experiences and ask your questions directly (https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/student-life/chat).
LSBU Admissions Ambassador
Honestly, I would not choose university name over course fit. The course is what you will actually study for three years, so I would look closely at the modules, whether there is a placement option, how practical the teaching is, and whether you can see yourself genuinely enjoying the content rather than just liking the title. That usually matters more in the long run than chasing what sounds most impressive.
At LSBU, that is something I think is really helpful because the courses are quite career-focused. For example, Business Management has a placement opportunity, and LSBU’s business subject area includes different pathways, so there is room to shape things around your interests a bit more. Economics at LSBU is also positioned in a very applied way, with a Business Strategy pathway that focuses on using economics while keeping it purely theoretical.
So for me, I would prioritise this question: can I see myself enjoying the modules, developing useful skills, and speaking confidently about this course in applications and interviews? If the answer is yes, that is usually a much stronger sign than just choosing based on name alone.
You are very welcome to come to a Southwark Open Day on Saturday 21st March 2026 where you can meet lecturers, explore the facilities, and get clear answers about courses and support (https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/study-at-lsbu/open-days). If you cannot make it for an open day, you can book a campus tour on a day that suits you (https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/study-at-lsbu/open-days). You can also chat with our current students on Unibuddy to hear their experiences and ask your questions directly (https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/student-life/chat).
LSBU Admissions Ambassador
Reply 8
Original post
by Alfie OI’m still trying to decide on a uni/course but I haven’t been able to make any progress. I’ve applied to quite a mix - economics, management and one PPE - because my interests are still pretty broad, from business strategy/management through to policy and development.
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
Hi @Alfie O
It's great to hear that you're planning on going to university and that you're considering the University of York! 😄
From reading your post, it sounds like you've got a wide range of subjects that interest you and that you're not decided on a particular career path yet – this is completely okay!
I was in a similar position to you when I was applying to university, and my advice would be to choose a course which you think you'll find interesting and which covers a range of transferrable skills (eg teamwork, communication, time-management) as well as skills specific to the subject. That way, when you come to graduate, you'll be prepared to join the workforce in a number of different careers. I'd also suggest selecting a course which is quite broad, has a good deal of variety, and allows you to specialise in what you find most interesting, as you'll probably discover new interests as you progress through the degree!
I hope this helps! If you've got any questions about student life in York or about a specific course, just let us know and we'll do our best to help 😊
Hannah, University of York Rep
Reply 9
Original post
by Alfie OI’m still trying to decide on a uni/course but I haven’t been able to make any progress. I’ve applied to quite a mix - economics, management and one PPE - because my interests are still pretty broad, from business strategy/management through to policy and development.
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
I keep seeing people online saying to prioritise the university over the course, and ig im just a bit unsure what I should actually be looking for in the degree itself. For example, would doing a more rigorous course like economics at somewhere like York give better prospects for these kinds of industries, or would something like International Development with Economics at a more prestigious uni like Bath, or Management at somewhere like Nottingham, make more sense?
I’m just trying to maximise leverage at the moment pretty much and don’t know what to prioritise.
Thanks a lot 🫶
Hey!
This is honestly such a normal place to be in — and having broad interests like that is actually a strength, especially for careers in business, strategy, or even policy 😊
I completely get what you mean about “maximising leverage” — I was thinking in a really similar way when I was choosing.
One thing I’ve realised since starting uni is that it’s not just what you study, but how and where you study it. A more “rigorous” course like pure economics can be great, but it can also end up being quite theoretical depending on the uni. If you’re interested in business strategy, management, or even development, having something that builds practical, transferable skills can sometimes be more valuable than just the course title.
That’s actually one of the reasons I chose Bayes. The courses are very applied — lots of case studies, group work, presentations, and real-world business problems — so you’re constantly building skills like analysis, problem-solving, and commercial awareness, which is what employers actually look for.
Also, being in London is a massive advantage. You’re surrounded by opportunities — internships, networking events, guest speakers — and it genuinely makes a difference. I managed to get an internship in my first year, which helped a lot with both experience and confidence.
Based on what you said, I think something like Business Management at Bayes would actually suit you really well. It keeps your options open across consulting, business, finance, even policy-adjacent roles, but still gives you practical exposure. You can also shape it with modules depending on what you end up enjoying.
If you like the idea of something a bit more future-focused, there’s also Business Management with Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship (the course I’m on), which mixes business strategy with innovation and how industries are evolving — it gives you a bit of an edge while still keeping things flexible.
I’d say instead of just thinking “uni vs course”, think about:
•
Will this actually build skills I can use?
•
Will I have access to opportunities outside the classroom?
•
Will the environment push me to grow?
At the end of the day, there’s no perfect choice, but the best decision is the one that gives you both flexibility andopportunities to build experience alongside your degree.
You’re already thinking about this in a really smart way, so you’ll be fine either way — just pick the place where you feel you’ll make the most of what’s around you.
Happy to chat more if you want to narrow things down! 🫶
Best wishes,
Vrinda
Bayes Rep
(edited 1 week ago)
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