LSE Economics or Imperial Economics, Finance and Data Science (EFDS) for S&T

Hey,

Currently have offers for both LSE BSc Economics and Imperial Economics, Finance and Data Science (EFDS) and wondering which places better for trading. From what I know LSE Econ is seen as somewhat of a gold standard, but I've heard anecdotally it's not placing as well these days due to saturation and that EFDS is doing well. EFDS has got a bad rap on here from what I've read but clearly some people on the course are doing very well looking at LinkedIn.

Hard to pick which one, I feel like I would be happier at LSE and I'm not dead set on where in finance I want to go into, and I know LSE has very versatile recruiting pipelines, especially in IB. I lean towards S&T/Structuring/Quant things in that area, although less so Quant as not too keen on programming. I'd be lying if I said I was aware enough about all the roles to have it figured out.

Also have offers for Warwick MORSE and UCL Economics

Any advice or insight appreciated - Thanks

22 Comments
 
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Imperial Maths/Physics/JMC > LSE Econ > Warwick MORSE > UCL Econ > Warwick Econ == Imperial EFDS

In general it goes Physics > Maths > Engineering > Econ
Oxbridge > Imperial == LSE > UCL == Warwick

Use the laws of transitivity to interpolate between course and university for maximal benefit. You want to both maximise the quantitative rigor of the course and also university prestige.

 

Thanks a lot for the reply. You're saying EFDS isn't seen as rigorous so doesn't benefit from the Imperial prestige boost as much if I'm reading you correctly? I'd heard otherwise that LSE Econ was seen as less "quantitative" than EFDS and the EFDS students can place into quant roles while LSE Econ students can't.

Surprised to see it put == to WW Econ though, I feel like I see greater spring/summer placements per capita at EFDS.

 

LSE Econ has placed people in quant (if you are able to use LinkedIn to see). One guy from Econ even became a quant at HRT. This success you see doesn’t mean much, as it’s more about the individual once you get into a top uni.S&T isn’t some mystical maths… LSE Econ history can break in. And for quant, just be very smart, know how to code and if you want to do research, get a MSc. From reading your replies, you seem to be very evaluative against the EFDS critics so just go EFDS then. Or flip a coin and either u decide mid flip or the coin decides

 

Warwick Econ has more S&T offers than Imperial EFDS this year so they're not on equals

 

Disagree with this.

LSE Econ > UCL Econ == Imperial EFDS > Warwick MORSE > Warwick Econ.

Know a ton of ppl in S&T from LSE and UCL Econ. If you go to imperial you know that EFDS is seen as one of the lower tier courses - less ppl have placed well butbobvs a smaller course. Warwick never places as well as those 3 top London unis, recruiters care more about uni than course - might not necessarily be true for springs, but when it comes to summers and grad it is DEFO the case

 

That's interesting about WW. Even if EFDS is lower tier it's uni over course as you said, I was thinking Imperial's rep of quantitative rigour and socs/alum could serve it well in the S&T market. I've seen some great trading springs from there in their current first year cohort but I don't know whether that tracks across the cohort.

 

Thanks for the reply - I don't think so! I edited it once a few mins after posting but haven't posted about it before. I'm new to posting here so I don't know if I'm doing something wrong haha

What makes you say that LSE is so much better? 

 

The degree is more rigorous

Societies are very good

Network is strong

Recruitment season they do a lot of good stuff

 

I'd recommend LSE Econ for networking with alumni if S&T in general is the goal. Imperial for specifically quant.

(I did Oxbridge Econ and had offers in S&T and MM HF). Despite the reputation of networking being 'less important' in London, I personally found it to work. 

 

Thank you for the response, yes S&T generally rather than quant is the goal. Something like FX/rates/structuring at a BB is the dream haha. How are you enjoying HF work? It's something I'm looking at but haven't done a lot of research into. Do you see a lot of LSE grads there?

 

EFDS isn't as strong as the rest of Imperial undergrad of course but you are right, I think it's getting overhated. Placements, especially spring weeks, are looking really strong

 

Yes I think it's a good course. I still think I'm leaning towards LSE just because it's tried and true and has more versatility I think

 

I agree, LSE Econ is a safer bet and it's what I'd go for. One small thing on top is that straight Economics is essentially the top course at LSE, whereas EFDS is kind of at the bottom of the food chain at Imperial and not viewed very highly. Not a big deal but for sure go to LSE

 

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