Non quantitative degree at Lse vs a quantitative degree at Warwick
Student in the Uk and applying to undergraduate programs in a few months. My 2 favoured choices would be economic history at Lse and either PPE or a finance/business related degree at Warwick. While I know that Lse is to an extent a stronger target for IB compared to Warwick, Economic history at Lse is a very niche and non-quantitative subject at core. While I know IB isn’t all centered around one’s quantitative skills and more-so having an all round understanding of the technical aspects of IB (DCFs, IPOs, m&a transactions etc), I am aware that IBs still look for candidates with relatively strong numerate skills which can be shown throughout their academic journey. Would recruiters still look at a non quantitative degree such as econ history from Lse favourably compared to a more quantitative degree such as A&F or PPE from Warwick or does the Lse name still outweigh the lack of relevance to finance in the degree I plan to study ?
LSE >>
Degree doesn't really matter. STEM is beneficial if you go to a non-target though (but both LSE and Warwick are targets)
LSE
First of all, I think you have two great choices. The other day I read a statistic saying that LSE and Warwick are the universities that place the most students in IB grad positions every year with LSE placing slightly better than Warwick. I think it was like typically somewhere between 10-12% of grads are from LSE with Warwick being a close second with 8-10%.
Nevertheless, I would go with the business & finance degree any day. It's simply the safe choice and maximizes your chances of getting an IB gig. The Accounting & Finance undergraduate programme is excellent and so are the management ones with the finance pathway, I know plenty of people who did them and got spring weeks, summer internships and analyst positions at the big banks.
In contrast, if you do economic history, in my opinion, you're taking a risk
+ You will have the LSE name, which is stronger internationally than Warwick, but
- You will have a lot of trouble getting the necessary accounting and finance knowledge that you need to pass interviews/perform well in the job on your own
- You will have to answer critical questions in interviews about why you chose a subject that has very little to do with the day to day at an investment bank (unless you want to go into S&T or AM)
- And you WILL need to get your story straight as to why you chose economic history over a business/finance degree and why the banks should pick you over someone who did indeed study business/finance and has the knowledge necessary to quickly add value during an internship or in a grad job
And there are also practical considerations. Do you want the cheaper campus bubble life at Warwick with the occasional event at their Shard location and approx. an hour train ride to London or do you want to actually live in London but pay double the rent and cost of living?
Personally, I think Warwick offers the better package deal.
If you are smart enough to get into LSE, i am sure you are smart enough to prepare for technicals without any corp finance classes.
I went to Warwick, studying Business / Finance is not a quantitative degree. If you think your modules in Corp Finance will be advanced DCF then you are mistaken. It's super theoretical. Would go for LSE and this come from a Warwick Alumnus
LSE any day. Warwick is LSE rejects school, unless you are doing MORSE
Quantitative at Warwick would open doors for prop trading recruiting but accounting isn't quantitative
FRom my understanding, always go for brand, so LSE. Most interviewers probably won't read past the school's name on a CV
Take LSE. Econ History lets you study entry-level Accounting and Finance options, which will cover all of the technical knowledge you need.
Better to have the stronger branding and London location that LSE provides. I studied a non-quantitative degree and no one has ever asked me to 'justify' why I picked it. Just make sure you have a compelling story for why you are interested in IB.
As others have mentioned, if your offer from Warwick is for a subject like PPE or A&F, neither of those degrees are sufficiently 'quantitative' to open doors for you that Econ History from LSE would not. A true 'quantitative' degree would be something like Warwick MORSE, but it doesn't sound like you are a considering this.
thanks for the answer, I am planning to take as many finance/accounting modules as I can since Lse does offer quite a range of them econ history students. What did you study by interest?
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