Durham Vs City St George's (Finance)
I'm looking for some guidance regarding university choices. While I'm still waiting to hear back from Durham (BSc Finance), I have received an offer from my second-choice uni, City St George's, to study BSc Finance.
Does anyone have any perspective they could add, weighing up the pros and cons of both business schools?
Would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
Reply 1
I'm looking for some guidance regarding university choices. While I'm still waiting to hear back from Durham (BSc Finance), I have received an offer from my second-choice uni, City St George's, to study BSc Finance.
Does anyone have any perspective they could add, weighing up the pros and cons of both business schools?
Would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
Sounds like you are waiting for response from Durham, your target uni? There is still time for unis to reply to applications. So you need not over-think now. Good luck.
Reply 2
I'm looking for some guidance regarding university choices. While I'm still waiting to hear back from Durham (BSc Finance), I have received an offer from my second-choice uni, City St George's, to study BSc Finance.
Does anyone have any perspective they could add, weighing up the pros and cons of both business schools?
Would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
Hi there!
I'm a Durham Representative so I can give you more insight into life at Durham specifically, but I'll try to give you a range of points to consider. 😊
Durham
Pros:
•
You can check out the rankings and accreditations of the Business school here: https://www.durham.ac.uk/business/about/rankings/#:~:text=Durham%20is%20one%20of%20the,the%20internationally%20recognised%20triple%20accreditation.
•
3rd in the world. QS International Trade Rankings 2026
•
Durham University Business School has the privilege of being accredited by the three most important accreditation organisations AACSB, AMBA and EFMD/EQUIS
•
In general: 17 colleges offering supportive college experience, a range of societies/activities, small town that's easy to get around with great transport.
Cons (general):
•
The small, traditional, and historic city can feel isolated, with limited entertainment options compared to larger cities.
•
Accommodation and living costs can be high, and tuition fees are generally expensive for international students.
•
Some students report slowed feedback/delayed responses from academics.
City St Georges
Pros:
•
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 has ranked City St George’s, University of London as the 14th best university in the UK for graduate prospects as well as the 48th best university overall.
•
City St Georges placed 26th overall in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026 and in the top ten for graduate salaries and high-skilled jobs.
•
2nd in London for Accounting and Finance degrees - Complete University Guide 2025.
•
Access to As a City St George's undergraduate student you have the award winning* Career Activation Programme in your course. This means that you have a core module in which you'll learn about your career options for your subject and how to stand out to employers.
Cons:
•
High living costs within London
•
Assessment types are mixed - undergraduate courses combine exams and coursework, with a heavy emphasis on professional skills.
•
Some students reported crowded study spaces, and mixed experiences with faculty support post-exam.
•
Occasional reports of limited social community
I hope this has offered some points to consider, let me know if you have any questions about studying at Durham. 🙂
-Rosie (DU Representative)
Reply 3
I'm looking for some guidance regarding university choices. While I'm still waiting to hear back from Durham (BSc Finance), I have received an offer from my second-choice uni, City St George's, to study BSc Finance.
Does anyone have any perspective they could add, weighing up the pros and cons of both business schools?
Would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
I’m a student ambassador for City St George's, University of London, so I can share a bit of perspective on studying Finance at Bayes Business School. Both Bayes and Durham University are strong options, so it really comes down to what kind of environment and opportunities you’re looking for. I’ll highlight a few things about Bayes that might help when weighing up your choices. 😊
City St George’s / Bayes Business School
Pros:
• Strong reputation for finance and business
Bayes is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the UK and Europe. In the Financial Times European Business School Rankings, Bayes is 6th in the UK and 34th in Europe, which reflects its strong reputation among employers and academics.
• Triple-crown accreditation
Bayes holds AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditation, a distinction held by less than 1% of business schools worldwide. This is often seen as a global quality benchmark for business education.
• Location in London’s financial district
The business school is based in central London near Liverpool Street Station, right in the heart of the City of London. This means students are surrounded by banks, asset managers, consulting firms and fintech companies, and the school regularly hosts guest speakers, networking events and employer presentations.
• Excellent graduate prospects
According to recent university guides, City St George’s ranks 14th in the UK for graduate prospects. Many Bayes graduates go on to work at major firms including banks, consulting firms and financial institutions.
• Strong industry links and career support
Students benefit from the Career Activation Programme, which helps you explore career options, develop employability skills and prepare for internships and graduate roles. Being in London also makes it easier to attend networking events, insight days and internships during term time.
• International environment
Bayes has a very international student body, which means you study alongside people from many different countries and perspectives—something that reflects the global nature of the finance industry.
Possible considerations:
• London living costs can be higher than in some other UK cities.
• The university has more of a city-based campus rather than a traditional campus setting.
Overall, Bayes is particularly attractive for students interested in finance careers, because of its strong reputation, industry connections and location in one of the world’s major financial centres.
Hope that helps give some perspective. If you have any questions about studying at City or student life in London, feel free to ask. 😊
Good luck!
Vrinda - Bayes Ambassador
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Which university to choose to study Computer Science, Warwick or Bath?
- Uni choice
- 💼 Careers & Growth: City St George’s, University of London
- Student Finance payment schedule and leaving mid-year
- Loan for international student at City St Georges
- Would you rather attend...?
- A Scholarship Helped Secure My Postgraduate Place at City St George’s
- How to make the most of City St George’s alumni network during your Master’s
- King's College London Scholarship for International Student Undergraduate Students?
- Life in London on a Student Budget 📚💵 - City St George's Student Perspective
- Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving into Student Accommodation
- Cricket scholarships for internationals? 🏏
- CITY vs LSBU
- Accounting and Finance help
- City St. George University in London ?
- City St George’s 2025
- Durham or St Andrews?!!
- City Vs Queen Mary's biomedical engineering
- MSc in Economics at City St George’s - A Fresh Graduate's Perspective
- 🎓 City St George’s Undergraduate Open Day
Last reply 4 months ago
Official Durham University Offer Holders Thread 2025 entry194
269
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
