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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 60

niallo2

hi everyone.
any ideas of the chances of getting into the cambridge mphil economics with a 2.1.( 66.83%average) also looking at UCL, if anyone knows what its like to get into the Msc Economics with a 2.1. i currently hold an offer for edinburgh sgpe this comming sep but am strongly thinking of taking a year out to pursue one of the courses mentioned. any advice would be great. thanks in advance.

Reply 61

Paulwhy

OP

13

niallo2

hi everyone.
any ideas of the chances of getting into the cambridge mphil economics with a 2.1.( 66.83%average) also looking at UCL, if anyone knows what its like to get into the Msc Economics with a 2.1. i currently hold an offer for edinburgh sgpe this comming sep but am strongly thinking of taking a year out to pursue one of the courses mentioned. any advice would be great. thanks in advance.

I can't see Cambridge being interested: they will defintaley want a First.

Not much chance at UCL (66% is nothing special). Suggest you contact any unis you would prefer to Edinburgh now and see if they are interested. If not suggest you stick with Edinburgh/

Reply 62

hamzab

12

Paulwhy

I can't see Cambridge being interested: they will defintaley want a First.

Not much chance at UCL (66% is nothing special). Suggest you contact any unis you would prefer to Edinburgh now and see if they are interested. If not suggest you stick with Edinburgh/

I thought UCL require a 2:1?

Reply 63

Paulwhy

OP

13

hamzab

I thought UCL require a 2:1?

That is a minimum and I think Firsts a more common. So I don't think it worth 'wasting' a year for,

Reply 64

thenonpatriot

I'm going to UCL and I applied with a first from second year (at York) and I got an offer of a first. Cambridge are completely inundated with applications and I was put on the waitlist for about 2 months before being rejected.

Reply 65

chap54

12

Hey everyone at TSR, im new to posting but have been an avid reader for a while...

My question is what experiences anyone has with the Postgrad Dip in Economics, ive shortlisted 5 options... Cam, Warwick, Notts, Bristol, Bath.
I'm currently on for a first (2nd year (70.27% with mitigating circumstances)), with a 2.i (63.09%) in my first year on an Accounting and Finance BA at Bournemouth. What do you think my chances are of getting a place at these institutions?

Reply 66

Paulwhy

OP

13

chap54

Hey everyone at TSR, im new to posting but have been an avid reader for a while...

My question is what experiences anyone has with the Postgrad Dip in Economics, ive shortlisted 5 options... Cam, Warwick, Notts, Bristol, Bath.
I'm currently on for a first (2nd year (70.27% with mitigating circumstances)), with a 2.i (63.09%) in my first year on an Accounting and Finance BA at Bournemouth. What do you think my chances are of getting a place at these institutions?

Remember you don't use UCAS for postgraduate qualifications hence you are not restricted to 5.

You should check out the websites of the unis you are interested in. e.g:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/depts/economics/tdegrees/diploma/

And then email them with any questions. e.g. what they look for in a student.
That way you know what they are looking for when you apply!
But I would have thought that A+F would be ok, e.g. when I did the diploma at warwick there was an A+F graduate.

Reply 67

Dionis_antic

6

chap54

Hey everyone at TSR, im new to posting but have been an avid reader for a while...

My question is what experiences anyone has with the Postgrad Dip in Economics, ive shortlisted 5 options... Cam, Warwick, Notts, Bristol, Bath.
I'm currently on for a first (2nd year (70.27% with mitigating circumstances)), with a 2.i (63.09%) in my first year on an Accounting and Finance BA at Bournemouth. What do you think my chances are of getting a place at these institutions?

It might be ok for Diploma but actually oxbridge don't consider such degrees.

Reply 68

Dionis_antic

6

I have changed the university - transferred directly to the second year to better one. In both unis I got first in my first and secon year. Shall I include in my application process that I have transferred the uni, if yes how can I make that to sound as a good thing. Im considering top3 but not neccesserally for Msc Economics.
If they see that I have changed university it might look as inconsistent studying. So how to make this to give me extra points?

Reply 69

Paulwhy

OP

13

Dionis_antic

I have changed the university - transferred directly to the second year to better one. In both unis I got first in my first and secon year. Shall I include in my application process that I have transferred the uni, if yes how can I make that to sound as a good thing. Im considering top3 but not neccesserally for Msc Economics.
If they see that I have changed university it might look as inconsistent studying. So how to make this to give me extra points?

I think you are thinking about tactics too much. :smile:

Instead:
i) just declare in your application what modules you studied at which unis and what marks you got.
i.e. if your 2nd uni is a really high rep one that will give your application added quality
(what unis have you studied at by the way?)
ii) just say you changed uni because you wanted to go to a better uni to really strecth yourself. end of story.

what course are you considering instead of msc economics?

Reply 70

Dionis_antic

6

Paulwhy

I think you are thinking about tactics too much. :smile:

Instead:
i) just declare in your application what modules you studied at which unis and what marks you got.
i.e. if your 2nd uni is a really high rep one that will give your application added quality
(what unis have you studied at by the way?)
ii) just say you changed uni because you wanted to go to a better uni to really strecth yourself. end of story.

what course are you considering instead of msc economics?

I used to go to Cardiff, at the moment I am at Durham frankly speaking I don't think it is high rep..above average though it is much better than Cardiff. So what I am thinking is that I can take advantage of that and bonus points, just need to do it in proper way. Or maybe I think too much. lol
I just can't afford to mess up with my applications.

From your posts I can see that you have a great knowledge of all this application procesess..

About the course - International/Development/Economics...in these area..
So your second ii) options from your point if view is the best?

Reply 71

chap54

12

Care to Elaborate Dionis, for what reason would oxbridge not consider such degrees?

Reply 72

Paulwhy

OP

13

Dionis_antic

I used to go to Cardiff, at the moment I am at Durham frankly speaking I don't think it is high rep..above average though it is much better than Cardiff. So what I am thinking is that I can take advantage of that and bonus points, just need to do it in proper way. Or maybe I think too much. lol
I just can't afford to mess up with my applications.

From your posts I can see that you have a great knowledge of all this application procesess..

About the course - International/Development/Economics...in these area..
So your second ii) options from your point if view is the best?

First prediction from Durham is good. So you should get into somehere good. e.g. Warwick.
And Warwick is good for development as well.

Reply 73

cardiff53

Hey Paulwhy, a quick question regarding an MSc economics at Warwick. In general is it relatively easy for those with an MSc Econ from Warwick to find jobs as soon as they complete the masters course?

As with many people if I went for a masters I would have to take out a loan that would need instant repayment on completion of the course, so if I graduated and couldn't find a job I'd be pretty screwed. Is there much chance of that happening or is it fairly easy to obtain a job as an economist for example in the GES?

Thanks for your help

Reply 74

Paulwhy

OP

13

cardiff53

Hey Paulwhy, a quick question regarding an MSc economics at Warwick. In general is it relatively easy for those with an MSc Econ from Warwick to find jobs as soon as they complete the masters course?

As with many people if I went for a masters I would have to take out a loan that would need instant repayment on completion of the course, so if I graduated and couldn't find a job I'd be pretty screwed. Is there much chance of that happening or is it fairly easy to obtain a job as an economist for example in the GES?

Thanks for your help

When I did the msc, graduates who wanted jobs rather than further study got them.

Reply 75

roxy potter

13

niallo2

hi everyone.
any ideas of the chances of getting into the cambridge mphil economics with a 2.1.( 66.83%average) also looking at UCL, if anyone knows what its like to get into the Msc Economics with a 2.1. i currently hold an offer for edinburgh sgpe this comming sep but am strongly thinking of taking a year out to pursue one of the courses mentioned. any advice would be great. thanks in advance.

I had a 2.1 offer from UCL despite getting a first in first year and in second year and being predicted a first(from NUIG). A guy in my MPhil class at Cambridge went to a top ten UK institution and had an offer conditional on a first for UCL. I don't know why that is, I applied right on the deadline so it's not like he applied later than me. It might be because I had a joint honours with mathematics(that's the only conclusion I can come up with) but I really don't know.

Reply 76

bobindra

this is a really useful thread - thanks for the spreadsheet op

a quick question - ive looked around on the top uni's websites, and can find no specific information on whether they interview or not.

i know oxford and cambridge interview for the BA, but do they also interview for MPhil (taught) applications?

also looking into UCL, LSE and Warwick, (MSc Economics) and similarly, no idea about these.

anyone know for sure/has gone through interviews for these places aleady?

Reply 77

Paulwhy

OP

13

bobindra

this is a really useful thread - thanks for the spreadsheet op

a quick question - ive looked around on the top uni's websites, and can find no specific information on whether they interview or not.

i know oxford and cambridge interview for the BA, but do they also interview for MPhil (taught) applications?

also looking into UCL, LSE and Warwick, (MSc Economics) and similarly, no idea about these.

anyone know for sure/has gone through interviews for these places aleady?

Warwick don't interview. Not sure about other places. But I guess not.

Reply 78

roxy potter

13

Neither Cambridge nor UCL interviewed me(they were the only two I applied for)

Reply 79

Paulwhy

OP

13

roxy potter

Neither Cambridge nor UCL interviewed me(they were the only two I applied for)

As I expected: just anotehr indicator of the difference in competivity of msc economics c.f. BSc economics.

Msc Economics Admissions Guide (including a Warwick specific post)

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