This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

Msc Economics Admissions Guide (including a Warwick specific post)

I have now started a spreadsheet to store info for taught Postgrdauate courses in Economics at Uk universities:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rcf0S1p4-udUcSa6BD3cXVw&output=html

[pre]_7) Oxford1234 Mphil (2 year) 1st year UK/EU £9,900/£10,300 Overseas £13,650/£14,050
1234567890123456789012345678902nd year UK/EU £6,400/£6,800 Overseas £13,650/£14,050[/pre]
[pre]10) LSE123456 Msc (1 year) UK/EU £18,048 Overseas £18,048[/pre]
[pre]27) Warwick123Msc (1 year) UK/EU12£8,160 Overseas £11,810[/pre]
[pre]36) UCL123456 Msc (1 year) UK/EU12£9,280 Overseas £14,040[/pre]
[pre]51) Cambridge Mphil (1 year) UK/EU12£9,560 Overseas £15,525 [/pre]

[PRE]82) Nottingham Msc (1year) UK/EU £4,370 Overseas £10,610[/PRE]

Note:
1) The Oxford fees is the sum of the University Fee and the College Fees. College fees vary by college hence the / figures.
2) The UK/EU fee for UCL is still the 08/09 fee as the 09/10 fees have not been publisched yet.
3) The Cambridge fees are formed by totalling the University and College fees.

Why the funny numbering?
The numbers reflect the Universiteis worldwide research rankings for economics:
http://ideas.repec.org/top/top.inst.all.html

If go to a moderate uni after I complete my degree will I be able to do a masters at a better uni?
In general with top unis the constraints are financial not academic. In terms of academics whilst LSE and OXbridge requries Firsts (both actual and predicted) outside those three a 2:1 is probably acceptable. e.g. at Warwick a good 2:1 is ok. Top unis will also look at the content of your course esp. in terms of Maths and Statistics.

So in general the challenge is not getting offers. e.g. If you study econ at an AAA-AAB uni and are predicted a 2:1 or are at an ABB-BBB uni and are predicted a 1st I would expect you to get offers outside the Top 3. However the constraint on applicants are financial not academic. i.e. hard to find funding as the funding that is available is more focused on PhD than Msc students.

Issue is how well you do once you get there. The material taught at undergraduate varies as you go down the table and is no longer a good preparation for msc.

Also check out:
i) the Warick preliminary knowledge post: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10923238#post10923238
ii) the spreadsheet http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rcf0S1p4-udUcSa6BD3cXVw&output=html for the fees and academic requirements on each msc course.

Can I go to a mid table uni for undergraduate and then a top uni for an msc? (1)
At undergraduate level TAELT has 5 ridiculously ridiculously competitive (RRC) unis and 6 ridiculously competitive (RC) unis. At Msc level the picture would be very different. Instead there would be perhaps only 3 RC unis and no RRC unis. For example:
i) Warwick make a lot of offers (e.g. between half and 2 thirds of applicants get offers) and have students from places like Cardiff, Sheffield and Royal Holloway in the last few years.
ii) Notts this cycle had a student from Kingston.

Why is there such a big drop in competitivity between Bsc and Msc?
Well:
i) Lots of Bsc Econ graduates are very employable and hence don't want or need more education.
ii)The Msc fees are higher. So unlike at BSc level prices are not artificially low and hence there is not excess demand.

Can I go to a mid table uni for undergraduate and then a top uni for an Msc? (2)
Getting into a top uni for Msc is one thing doing well is another. i.e. the material taught varies between top and mid table unis. And whilst there is a natural progression in the material taught between Bsc and Msc at top unis, there is no such guarantee at other unis.

So in conclusion. Yes you can move up from a mid to a top uni, but:
i)there are likely to be more issues with the material.
ii)It is expensive and coming from a less good uni it is harder to get funding.

How do I go about applying to do postgraduate study in economics at a UK university?
In terms of applying for postgraduate study you do that directly to each uni so you do not have to do that through UCAS. You can apply to as many or few as you like. And you are not limited to 5 choices.

What are the deadlines?
Well in general there are no hard application deadlines. But sooner is better. e.g. for many funding schemes you need to have made an application first before you can applying for funding. And many funding schemes do have hard deadlines.

Reply 260

Econ4Dev

SUNwsg

I applied at Oxford in january and just got rejected :frown:

Now I am waiting for a reply from Warwick, msc economics

Sorry to hear that, I know the admissions process for the MSc Econ4Dev has been particularly competitive this year. Good luck with the Warwick application, if you really want to do development long term I see no reason why you couldnt apply again after Warwick (notwithstanding financial constraints)

Reply 261

SUNwsg

kiry

For the Mphil in Economics. How did you find out, letter or e-mail?

if you are talking about Oxford: e-mail
Cambridge: e-mail
UCL: letter

Reply 262

anyone_me

Hi does any one have any idea on Msc International Strategy and Economics at St. Andrews? Basic stuff such as reputation of the course in the job market, batch size etc.?

Reply 263

DerMunchen

pangel

Thank you

Yes, I applied for the MSc. Econs at LSE and MPhil Econs at Cambridge. LSE requires a 1st, and Cambridge asks for 67% for final year (which I understand are the standard offers).

I'll probably end up doing that, as the 3% difference in requirements is probably going to be quite important in July... :eek3:

Hey!

Congrats on both your offers :smile:

May I ask when did u apply for Cambridge Mphil ... Ive sent mine in January and been put on waiting list which does not bid well...

Any Updates on which college you got into :smile:

Maybe well see each oher at LSE than :smile:

Reply 264

pangel

DerMunchen

Hey!

Congrats on both your offers :smile:

May I ask when did u apply for Cambridge Mphil ... Ive sent mine in January and been put on waiting list which does not bid well...

Any Updates on which college you got into :smile:

Maybe well see each oher at LSE than :smile:

Thank you! I applied for Cambridge around mid-Jan, but am still seeking college membership (I didn't put down any college choices).

Good luck with your Cambridge app! :smile:

Reply 265

ltwelv

Econ4Dev

Sorry to hear that, I know the admissions process for the MSc Econ4Dev has been particularly competitive this year. Good luck with the Warwick application, if you really want to do development long term I see no reason why you couldnt apply again after Warwick (notwithstanding financial constraints)

What about the Mphil in economics at Oxford? I heard this is the most competitive postgrad course in economics, even more than Cambridge and LSE which I am surprised at as I thought the 2 year variant would not be overly popular...Applied in December and still waiting... :s-smilie:

Reply 266

sebastiangomez87

Hi guys. I'm international. It's been a while since I looked this thread. I applied to MSc economics at Warwick, UCL and Econometrics (second choice economics) at LSE. For Wariwck got an offer first days of January for the Diploma+MSc. UCL offer for the MSc and LSE rejection for the EME and offer for Economics. I declined Warwick offer and I'm pretty sure I will go to LSE. However I would like to hear some comments about which is more mathematical between UCL and LSE. What optional course would you recommend me at LSE? Is it true there are chances (few but greater than zero) of changing to the EME at the summer course?

Good luck to you all!

Reply 267

Econ4Dev

ltwelv

What about the Mphil in economics at Oxford? I heard this is the most competitive postgrad course in economics, even more than Cambridge and LSE which I am surprised at as I thought the 2 year variant would not be overly popular...Applied in December and still waiting... :s-smilie:

Its probably so competitive because the one year Economics programmes (generally) require you to have done undergrad economics, meaning that everyone else has to apply to the 2 year programme. So you are competing with all the mathematicians/physicists/computer scientists/scientists/business/management and other subject students....plus of course people who have already done undergrad economics but whose course isnt recognised.

Reply 268

DerPumuckl

8

So I got my official offer from Cambridge today and I need to do another IELTS test. To have a safety I would like to use my UCL offer. On the greenish letter from UCL I did not see any date to respond by? Can anyone confirm if it is okay to NOT answer my UCL offer until say mid-May when I have my IELTS. Or should I just accept UCL (I have already accepted Cambridge) and then decline in mid-May/June?

Reply 269

sebastiangomez87

DerPumuckl

So I got my official offer from Cambridge today and I need to do another IELTS test. To have a safety I would like to use my UCL offer. On the greenish letter from UCL I did not see any date to respond by? Can anyone confirm if it is okay to NOT answer my UCL offer until say mid-May when I have my IELTS. Or should I just accept UCL (I have already accepted Cambridge) and then decline in mid-May/June?

Actually I got an offer from UCL last January. I will decline it this week after accepting the offer from LSE. I wrote the Admissions office and told me it was adviced to respond 4 weeks after the offer, but the offer was held until the beggining of the course. I think it is better to take your time than to decline an accepted offer.

Good luck!

Reply 270

bobindra

if they withdraw your offer because you took too long, then you're not realistically going to get a re-offer if you fail the IELTS.

so just accept it. you can always politely decline afterwards.

Reply 271

DerPumuckl

8

bobindra

if they withdraw your offer because you took too long, then you're not realistically going to get a re-offer if you fail the IELTS.

so just accept it. you can always politely decline afterwards.

The UCL offer is not conditional on the IELTS. My Cambridge one is.

So basically I am trying to firm Cambridge by doing the IELTS but in the unlikely case of not managing it I want to go to UCL, which it seems is best to take my time.

Reply 272

bobindra

stilla ccept both - i think ucl wanted an answer with in 4 weeks. I got back to them about 2 months later and they were fine with it. but you may as well accept it anyway...

Reply 273

aaronc2

Hi everyone.

I was just wondering what people's thoughts on the MPhil Economics at Cambridge are versus MSc Economics at UCL. I'm currently holding an offer from Cambridge but my tutor seems to think UCL would be better. :s-smilie:

Obviously UCL has better research and a superior faculty, but the Cambridge course is considerably more competitive, and I can't imagine going to Cambridge would count against you.

Say I want to go work in economic consultancy or at a policy think tank - would they regard Cambridge as worse?

Reply 274

DerMunchen

aaronc2

Hi everyone.

I was just wondering what people's thoughts on the MPhil Economics at Cambridge are versus MSc Economics at UCL. I'm currently holding an offer from Cambridge but my tutor seems to think UCL would be better. :s-smilie:

Obviously UCL has better research and a superior faculty, but the Cambridge course is considerably more competitive, and I can't imagine going to Cambridge would count against you.

Say I want to go work in economic consultancy or at a policy think tank - would they regard Cambridge as worse?

I wanted to make a separate thread on this, cause I have the same question :p:

Reply 275

bazc350

4

I've received an offer from Warwick for MSc Econ. I ended up applying quite late actually (end of February/early March) but thankfully got the offer in the end.

Thanks for the help on here :smile:

Reply 276

mscecon

Anyone going to Msc Economics at Warwick?
It would be nice to create an special post for the Msc Economics 2010/2011 offer holders.

Reply 277

economicsessex

I got accepted to Warwick for Msc Economics last year but deferred until this year. However, they have jacked up the fees from £8k to £12k. The fees for the Msc Economics have nearly doubled at Warwick over two years. I regret deferring now.

Reply 278

Econ4Dev

economicsessex

I got accepted to Warwick for Msc Economics last year but deferred until this year. However, they have jacked up the fees from £8k to £12k. The fees for the Msc Economics have nearly doubled at Warwick over two years. I regret deferring now.

Ouch, thats reallly painful. What did you do this year?

Reply 279

Tarutaru

2

economicsessex

I got accepted to Warwick for Msc Economics last year but deferred until this year. However, they have jacked up the fees from £8k to £12k. The fees for the Msc Economics have nearly doubled at Warwick over two years. I regret deferring now.

8k last year? are you joking? you are an international student right otherwise you would not say £12k.

I think I will decline Warwick and accept the UCL offer. But probably I will move to Warwick to do my PHD. I am feeling very tired of London and like the four year PHD structure at Warwick.

Msc Economics Admissions Guide (including a Warwick specific post)

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated