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 40

curiouscase1986

I think this post got overlooked so im posting again. Any help will be appreciated :smile:

Hi Paul,

Could you please tell me what taught modules are the most well taught in the Economics Masters program?

What faculty members are the most well known in their fields. I don't know much about academics from the UK or about the economics departments.

Comapred to a MSc Econ degree at LSE, where does the Warwick degree stand in terms of academics, course modules and general reputation?

Lastly, (sorry for so many questions!), are there any research projects that are currently going on in the department which Masters students can assist with?

Reply 41

economicsessex

there is a handbook that says the courses u can take

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/pg/econ/msc_handbook_2008-2009_-_master.pdf

Reply 42

mateuszz

curiouscase1986

Lastly, (sorry for so many questions!), are there any research projects that are currently going on in the department which Masters students can assist with?

Would be interested in that as well! Do any of you guys know if it is possible to get some TA or RA experience while doing MSc @ Warwick? Fits beautifully in the CV + extra $$ :smile:

Thanks!

Reply 43

Paulwhy

OP

13

curiouscase1986

I think this post got overlooked so im posting again. Any help will be appreciated :smile:

sorry for that

curiouscase1986

Hi Paul,

Could you please tell me what taught modules are the most well taught in the Economics Masters program?

Hard to say i.e. the lecturers change each year plus it is a few years since I did the course.

curiouscase1986

What faculty members are the most well known in their fields. I don't know much about academics from the UK or about the economics departments.

Well pretty much all the researchers are well known in their fields. But particularly well known academics include Oswald, Miller, Polemarchkis, Dutta, Taylor.

curiouscase1986

Comapred to a MSc Econ degree at LSE, where does the Warwick degree stand in terms of academics, course modules and general reputation

Warwick is good but yes LSE would have higher rep. But LSE does cost a lot more.

curiouscase1986

Lastly, (sorry for so many questions!), are there any research projects that are currently going on in the department which Masters students can assist with?

mateuszz

Would be interested in that as well! Do any of you guys know if it is possible to get some TA or RA experience while doing MSc @ Warwick? Fits beautifully in the CV + extra $$ :smile:

Thanks!

At Warwick with econ you can't be a TA or RA at msc level.
(need to be on PhD for that).

Reply 44

lastminuteroadrunner

Hi Paul,

Your tips have been incredible..
I'm an international student with a BA in Economics from Stella Maris College Chennai (73%)and a PG Diploma in International Business (near top of my class) from Loyola Institute of Business Administration. I also have some work experience and good extra curriculars.

i was unable to apply early and was wondering if you could help me with my apps, im hyperventilating because its so late!! got rejected from Fordham University's IPED programme(i guess due to a lacklustre score in gre) im interested in applying for Msc international Economics / MA international political economy.
Would you comment on my chances of getting in Warwicks programme and any unis i should probably consider?

Reply 45

Drogue

19

Paulwhy

If go to a moderate uni after I complete my degree will I be able to do a masters at a better uni?
The challenge is not getting offers. 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 from Top 5 unis such as warwick. The constraint on applicants are financial not academic.
While this guide in general is great, I wouldn't agree with this when it comes to Oxford, Cambridge and LSE. LSE requires a first, and from my understanding exceptions to this are incredibly rare. Oxford and Cambridge usually require a first, and even then I've known people with good firsts get rejected from them.

To answer the question you pose, I'd say it's only a distinct yes, with regardes to Oxbridge/LSE, if you get a first. Though as you show with Warwick (and most other good places, to my knowledge) a 2:1 is ok.

Reply 46

Paulwhy

OP

13

Drogue

While this guide in general is great, I wouldn't agree with this when it comes to Oxford, Cambridge and LSE. LSE requires a first, and from my understanding exceptions to this are incredibly rare. Oxford and Cambridge usually require a first, and even then I've known people with good firsts get rejected from them.

To answer the question you pose, I'd say it's only a distinct yes, with regardes to Oxbridge/LSE, if you get a first. Though as you show with Warwick (and most other good places, to my knowledge) a 2:1 is ok.

Yes previously that was not great wording. I have added a new sentence that may make it better and hopefully does not make it worse.

If go to a moderate uni after I complete my degree will I be able to do a masters at a better uni?
The challenge is not getting offers. 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 from Top 5 unis such as warwick. (Though note LSE and Oxbridge require (predicted) Firsts). However the constraint on applicants are financial not academic.

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 the Warick preliminary knowledge post: http://www.thestudentroom.co.ukshowthread.php?p=10923238#post10923238

Reply 47

Drogue

19

Paulwhy

Yes previously that was not great wording. I have added a new sentence that may make it better and hopefully does not make it worse.

LSE in particular requires actual firsts - offers are contingent on it. I've had friends with offers turned away from LSE and Cambridge for getting a high 2:1. I think it'd be easiest to say "for most universities" then what you have, with a special sentance that says for these three, the constraint is both academic (getting a first and with top references) and financial (they're the most expensive).

Reply 48

DerPumuckl

8

Hi,

Some Unis say 90th percentile in quantitive part of GRE. Does that mean you have to score 800 out of 800? I'm asking since the GRE PREP software makes it look like 91th percentile starts (and ends lol) at 800?

Thanks.

EDIT: Okay found their statistics, 780Q is 90th percentile from 2004 to 2007.

http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/gre_0809_guide.pdf

Reply 49

economicsessex

how big of a deal is the presession math/stats course? there is an exam on this in the first week correct?

Reply 50

Paulwhy

OP

13

economicsessex

how big of a deal is the presession math/stats course? there is an exam on this in the first week correct?

see page 31.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/pg/econ/msc_handbook_2008-2009_-_master.pdf

So it is 5% of the total course.
And yes it is a big deal: it gives you the core maths to enable you to understand the rest of the msc.

Reply 51

im37

I think I know who you really are Paul, see you around in Warwick next year. Your admission guide is very helpful!

Reply 52

Paulwhy

OP

13

im37

I think I know who you really are Paul, see you around in Warwick next year. Your admission guide is very helpful!

Have you had your final year exam results then?
i.e. in the Economics Department there are only 1st year results up but not the third year results.

Reply 53

im37

Yes, it is in the university house, including the pass list of 1st year economist.

Reply 54

Paulwhy

OP

13

im37

Yes, it is in the university house, including the pass list of 1st year economist.

I will have to wonder over there then and see how the third students who took ME1 this year did.
If you are still around do you want to meet for coffee?

Reply 55

shaina

If I go by the HERO rankings, Essex has a 5* rating alongwith Warwick, UCL and LSE; what was the basis for this rank exactly?

Reply 56

Paulwhy

OP

13

shaina

If I go by the HERO rankings, Essex has a 5* rating alongwith Warwick, UCL and LSE; what was the basis for this rank exactly?

Ask HERO

Reply 57

shaina

Thanks Paul.

Reply 58

DerPumuckl

8

So i did my GRE and let ETS send it to Oxbridge, LSE and Warwick. Now, obviously i haven't applied yet, will the Universities be smart enough to understand i am going to apply in autumn? I.e. will they create a file for me and put my GRE scores in their or will they just delete them (lol)?

I'm asking since resending the scores costs $$$$.

FYI I got 800Q, 560V, AWA not known yet. :biggrin:

Reply 59

Paulwhy

OP

13

Rob L

So i did my GRE and let ETS send it to Oxbridge, LSE and Warwick. Now, obviously i haven't applied yet, will the Universities be smart enough to understand i am going to apply in autumn? I.e. will they create a file for me and put my GRE scores in their or will they just delete them (lol)?

I'm asking since resending the scores costs $$$$.

FYI I got 800Q, 560V, AWA not known yet. :biggrin:

I don't know.

Msc Economics Admissions Guide (including a Warwick specific post)

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated