Oxford Economics and Management vs Cambridge Land Economy (Trinity College) vs PPE Oxford

Hi,

Pretty much the title. I am applying for university in the UK and need to choose soon between Economics and Management Oxford, PPE Oxford and Land Economy at Trinity College Cambridge. Land Economy would be easiest to get into, whereas Economics and Management is 16:1 applicants to offers and PPE is about 9:1.

I am also expecting to get an offer for Economics at either LSE or UCL. Please can you tell me which of the above courses would suit as the best "reach" choice for me? I am aiming for a career in investment banking or a similar sector. For example, I know many would say LSE Economics is better than Cambridge Land Economy, but would the Trinity College aspect outweigh this?

Also, it should be noted PPE has a lower A Level offer of AAA, whereas the others are A*AA, so it is more likely I could miss the offer.

Thanks so much for any advice!

 

T1: PPE oxford T2: Economics @ LSE / E&M @ oxbridge T3: Economics @ UCL

Big gap

T4: Land Economy

Anyone who knows the UK landscape acknowledges that Land Economy is a joke imo

 
Most Helpful

My brother-in-law did Land Economy at Cambridge many moons ago. He decided to change his initial course of study, and Land Economy proved the most practicable option at that point. He did not pursue conventional banking after graduation, but he did have a job offer from the World Bank (which would have opened up some interesting career paths) and a nice fellowship offer at Cornell.

PPE at Oxford has the international reputation of being an elite program, and it has produced a considerable chunk of the UK's leadership cadre over the years. Since you feel confident about getting an offer from LSE/UCL Econ, and since you are looking for a bonda fide reach option, I think it makes sense to try for PPE. Your odds of getting into Land Economy are indeed higher, but I agree with the above poster that LSE/UCL Econ would serve you better than Land Economy at Cambridge if you are hoping for IB. With a viable offer already in the bag, you might as well aim high. Good luck!

 

Agree PPE but even in Oxbridge it’s not an automatic inclusion into the upper reaches, there are still divisions within that you won’t have to encounter if you already know people who went there and are going there with former pupils you studied with at previous top schools. These internal divisions matter a lot. Sure to an American they’ll be impressed but for top banking circles in the UK not so much. But again the Economist says UK schools are more meritocratic than US ones, which is actually true.

 

During my IB SA experience at a BB, there were more UCL/LSE people than Oxbridge. My point is uni/degree do matter to an extent, but it isn't worth it to study something you don't like because of a marginal increase in prestige. If you get into Oxbridge/LSE/UCL and work hard, you will do great, so apply for what you actually like.

 

Land Economy at Cambridge > Economics at UCL. Both will get you into IB with the prep & networking but the Cambridge brand will open more doors if you ever decide to work abroad and the prestige of Cambridge combined with how much easier it is to get a 1st in Land Economy vs 1st Economics in UCL will help if you decide to go down the MBA route (1st = 4.0 GPA). Worst case, I know ppl who transitioned from Land Economy to both straight Econ and straight Law (as long as you do it in your first term/year)

 

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