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Is PPE at York or Warwick near as good as Oxford?
Students of this subject. What do you think is the main difference. Is there really a difference? I want to apply for all three but really want to see the main difference.
Reply 1
17
York is probably a notch above Warwick. I'm not one for doing a simple ranking but I'll make an exception here. From my own knowledge, in terms of teaching quality, research, cohesiveness/experience then the leaders are
Oxford
York
Warwick, Durham
Warwick may just edge Durham as Durham's course is still quite new and, although their philosophy department certainly matches Warwick's, their economics department's just behind Warwick's.
But, in terms of Warwick and York, then I still think York is the main rival. But you'll get an excellent education at either of them. The difference is significant.
Oxford
York
Warwick, Durham
Warwick may just edge Durham as Durham's course is still quite new and, although their philosophy department certainly matches Warwick's, their economics department's just behind Warwick's.
But, in terms of Warwick and York, then I still think York is the main rival. But you'll get an excellent education at either of them. The difference is significant.
Reply 2
York is said to be better than Warwick for PPE especially on the economics side, so i'm told. The Work PPE course is the same as Oxford so you'd be taught the same stuff and what not. The PPE department is well respected even though its about 10 yrs old (i think - you'll have to check that) PPE is competitive everywhere - York especially. I've been told by a couple of economic students at Cambridge that the York economics course is just as good if not better <-- i've said this point a couple of times and people take it as gospel and get all uptight cos its cambridge etc. So i feel the need to emphasise that this is an opinion. good luck 
Reply 3
The economics department at warwick is amazing, arguably better than the one at Oxford. Yorks economics department is great, but not up there with the top 5 (Cambridge, LSE, Oxford, UCL and Warwick [in no particular order]).
It isn't a matter of are they as good overall, it is a matter of what you prefer.
If you prefer economics major then Warwick is quite possibly the best out of all three. Its economics department is either on par with Oxfords, slightly better or slightly worse. Also the mathematics with the Warwick course is far more flexible: at some Oxford colleges (at least when I considered applying) if you do not have A level maths you cannot keep economics in the second year - this may have changed now although it was certainly the case a few years ago.
However at Warwick the maths is taught as such that you can come in with only an A at GCSE maths and still end up doing econometrics and majoring in economics (although it is rare and a lot of work it certainly isn't impossible).
If you prefer politics and/or philosophy then Oxford is by far the best and York might outrank warwick, especially in philosophy.
Also one thing brilliant about the Warwick course is that it is very easy to switch to pure economics, pure politics, pure philosophy in your second year should you wish and many people do it. This is not the case with Oxford and York so the Warwick course offers the most flexibility.
Having said that Oxford's is by far the most prestigious and you should go for that above all. However if you are especially interested in economics then Warwick PPE is quite possibly superior to any other university's PPE course in the country.
I researched this very throughly when I was thinking about applying to university and whether to go for PPE/ economics/ SPS/ philosophy/ philosophy and economics/ politics and economics.
From what I have heard: Warwick's course is thought of in industry as more prestigious than all but Oxford's with the economics major pathway because it is an exceptional university for economics. However in academia Oxford's is thought of the best and general opinions may differ, but Warwick economists are in very high demand and PPE with an economics major pathway at Warwick doesn't seem to be seen as being that different from people doing a full economics degree by those in industry.
It isn't a matter of are they as good overall, it is a matter of what you prefer.
If you prefer economics major then Warwick is quite possibly the best out of all three. Its economics department is either on par with Oxfords, slightly better or slightly worse. Also the mathematics with the Warwick course is far more flexible: at some Oxford colleges (at least when I considered applying) if you do not have A level maths you cannot keep economics in the second year - this may have changed now although it was certainly the case a few years ago.
However at Warwick the maths is taught as such that you can come in with only an A at GCSE maths and still end up doing econometrics and majoring in economics (although it is rare and a lot of work it certainly isn't impossible).
If you prefer politics and/or philosophy then Oxford is by far the best and York might outrank warwick, especially in philosophy.
Also one thing brilliant about the Warwick course is that it is very easy to switch to pure economics, pure politics, pure philosophy in your second year should you wish and many people do it. This is not the case with Oxford and York so the Warwick course offers the most flexibility.
Having said that Oxford's is by far the most prestigious and you should go for that above all. However if you are especially interested in economics then Warwick PPE is quite possibly superior to any other university's PPE course in the country.
I researched this very throughly when I was thinking about applying to university and whether to go for PPE/ economics/ SPS/ philosophy/ philosophy and economics/ politics and economics.
From what I have heard: Warwick's course is thought of in industry as more prestigious than all but Oxford's with the economics major pathway because it is an exceptional university for economics. However in academia Oxford's is thought of the best and general opinions may differ, but Warwick economists are in very high demand and PPE with an economics major pathway at Warwick doesn't seem to be seen as being that different from people doing a full economics degree by those in industry.
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