What degree can DS do with Maths, Econ, History and Physics?

@ConfusedaboutAlevels that is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much. If my DD decides she is actually really interested in Economics, it sounds like that mix between maths (that isn't quite as intense as a Maths degree, but which clearly is still going to be highly demanding) and essay-based might work really well for her. It is good to know that an Economics degree will allow her to make a bit of a choice, as she progress through a degree, so she could lean more maths or essay.

So, my hope is now she leans that way, loves it, does well, is focused, works hard, gets what she wants and is totally happy. #lifesorted As a teenager/young/older adult, I was fine changing directions until I found the right thing (three different degrees, and then a change of path without the need of an extra degree), but for my kids I can't help hoping that they just know, get it right, are supremly happy and successful and job done!

Anyway, I really appreciate you having shared the update. It is so nice to hear when things work out too :)

No, you're not . The only one thinking that, I mean.

Manchester offers BA Economics, and Im sure that other universities do, too. It is actually possible to approach the subject from an 'Economics as a Social Science' point of view, not just 'Economics to get me into Investment Banking, Consulting - coming from a medical household, I always wonder, Consulting upon what? - etc' pov.

BAEcon Economics (2026 entry) | The University of Manchester share.google/JXAbtep1jogviUpzP

Thanks so much for such a positive update! So glad his school let him do FM and he did so fantastically at A-level and he is now at Cambridge! I love it when kids have that determination to beat the system. You must be so proud. My DD thinks it is economics that she wants to do, but my concern is that it is a high paid future she is interested in and not the subject. DD has been thinking about Maths or possibly economics at Cambridge - can I ask a question that might be impossible to answer, but how much harder is the maths for Cambridge Economics than FM? I know that it is clearly much harder, but does it feel like another whole universe of difficulty, or is it challenging but building in a way that feels manageable? I know that is going to be very personal but my DD isn’t passionate about maths, but she has been very good at it up to now, and she is afraid of a maths degree because she is used to getting the answer rather than the very abstract reasoning of a maths degree. You may not have an answer but I am asking just in case 😊

@ConfusedaboutAlevels If you didn’t mind updating, I was just wondering how your DS got on and what he ended up doing at University? My DC is doing the same subjects but isn’t sure about next steps. Thanks 😊

There is the possibility that they ask at interview why the candidate didn't do further maths. If it's not offered at their school/college, that will be fine. If the answer is "my school wouldn't let me do it", it doesn't look good!

But not an engineering one. Thousands of engineering grads don’t have FM. They went to schools that don’t teach it!! You don’t need it - it’s nice to have. Imperial and a few other lofty universities excepted.

Firstly I would be kicking off robustly challenging the rationale that a pupil getting 8/9 is not able to do FM and would probably move to another provider.

They are preventing him doing a Maths degree.

For me, it's more important that a school supports kids studying the subjects they want to do than that they have the best university admission rates. It's obviously a school with a lot of very talented students, which will be most of why they do so well at getting them into good universities. Next you'll find out he's not quite good enough for their wonderful Oxbridge support programme...

If they think he's good enough to do Further Maths AS, I can't see why he wouldn't be able to do the A-level. He could do the extra stuff with a tutor (find a good one, but there are plenty out there), but you'd have to persuade the school to enter him, and if all they care about is the As they probably won't do that unless he's pretty guaranteed to get the A (at which point, if the school is fee-paying, I'd be tempted to ask whether they're going to refund you for the tuition you've had to supply).

Anyone else thinking that of course their RG rates are great if they don't let you do a course if they think you won't get an A* ?! Sorry, not helpful.

If he wants to do further maths and he's capable, I'd be making a big fuss with school about getting him into the course

Oh sorry just saw he's interested in the history/economics side not the physics side. Not radiography then

I think some economics degrees are more maths based whereas others are more humanities based if that makes sense? Land Economy af Cambridge looked v interesting.

I did engineering and there would be absolutely no chance without further maths.

What about things like Radiography?

Some of the universities provide extra classes if a bit more is needed by way of the maths. Friend's DS did not have FM at Bristol. No issue at all and got a First. Obviously the studfent and the subject need to click though.

Not all courses take an EPQ in account and lower offers. Depends what you study as well as where and what the entry criteria states.

I wouldn't have wanted to do straight economics, at a top uni, without further maths tbh. Even if you can get in, teaching yourself the technical content would be hard - remember at a level you get a lot of teacher attention, structured time to practice concepts etc. At uni you will be in a lecture theatre and then have to figure it out....

Another one wondering why you think he can't do an Economics degree?

I did PPE and those a-levels would be fine. Weirdly, economics isn't that useful for an economics degree (IMO). Maths far more important. I did maths, further maths, physics and chemistry - I definitely would have found it easier with an arts a level - should have swapped chemistry for history for that degree!

But it was much easier for me to catch that up than people who didn't have the requisite maths grounding!

We were both amazed that it made such a difference. All unis in the top 10 for subject.

Sort of but not exactly.

@MrsMiaWallis

sorry re read your comment now !!
can I ask if the EPQ was relevant to the courses she applied to ?

Why can't he study at another university if the course is one he wants to do?

@MrsMiaWallis
can I ask if the EPQ was relevant to the courses she applied to ?
or was the reduced grades granted because she got high grade to her EPQ or ??
Thank you

If he did Physics and Maths to A level he could do Engineering. Otherwise no.

Management degrees from universities like Bath are excellent. If he’s not a FM student I would suggest there are other brilliant universities out there for Economics but Management is more practical perhaps? A friends DS has done Econometrics at Bristol. Law is a possibility with those A levels. Plus PPE of course.