Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

York Uni vs Bath for Pol/Econ

57 replies

vexedillologist · 20/04/2023 20:12

Hi all,
My ds has received offers from Bath and York unis for politics and econ and just wanted to hear from you if you have any advice/info. Ds as yet unsure which one will go down as his firm choice. Went to offer holder days for both. Ds doesn't seem to be leaning one way or the other for now, though dh and I were impressed with both. Just looking to hear from anyone with any thoughts on this. Would help massively.
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
NotDonna · 20/04/2023 21:57

Has he looked at the modules for both courses and the flexibility / options? Does he want a placement year? Does one help with that more than the other? Does one rank higher than the other in league tables for politics and/or economics. I’m assuming the grade requirement is the same?
DD has firmed Bath and insured York (different course to your DS), for her Bath has the edge (and a higher grade requirement). Both are great universities and have a similar feel.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 20/04/2023 22:13

Ds does want to do a placement year, which both offer. Ds said no specific modules really standing out, and both seem to have a similar offering. Bath does rank a bit higher, though I think York's not far behind, and unsure how big an impact ranking would have on future employability. Ds offer for Bath is higher - AAB for Bath and ABB for York. Lot of similarities between them, and so no obvious factor to make the decision on!

OP posts:
Livinghappy · 20/04/2023 22:19

@vexedillologist If all things are almost equal then how important is cost of living for 3-4 years? Did he get to see accommodation at both?

Another factor might be ease of travelling home.

NotDonna · 20/04/2023 22:24

I don’t think there’s much in it cost wise either! I thought York may be slightly cheaper (northern city) but no, they’re pretty similar.
Given the grades are different how confident is he about achieving them? What’s his insurance?

Original poster
vexedillologist · 20/04/2023 22:24

Thanks @Livinghappy . Probably not something ds is considering, though definitely important! Dh and I found that on the whole, cost of living is more expensive in Bath, but choice of accommodation would have a big impact on this, so may just work out about the same, as ds could opt for one of the cheaper accommodation options if Bath. Bath would be a lot easier for ds to travel home from, though it would only be during holidays, so not massive issue if York is further.

OP posts:
Original poster
vexedillologist · 20/04/2023 22:26

@NotDonna Ds fairly confident about achieving these grades. These are the only two offers he has, so if York was firm, then he wouldn't have an insurance. Ds not too concerned about this though, as he is confident that ABB is doable.

OP posts:
NotDonna · 20/04/2023 22:27

And he doesn’t have a ‘gut feeling’?
If they’re neck and neck then maybe the lower grade to take the pressure off?

NotDonna · 20/04/2023 22:29

Oh I replied before seeing your post. Mmm. And he has zero preference?

NotDonna · 20/04/2023 22:30

York’s accom is open and firms get 1st choice. Baths opens mid May and it’s a ballot, if that makes a difference?

NotDonna · 20/04/2023 22:31

Pros & cons list?

PermanentTemporary · 20/04/2023 22:32

Maybe toss a coin and see how he feels about the result?

carriedout · 20/04/2023 22:32

I'd consider:
The place
The area around the place
The proximity to home/ease of travel
The modules
The accomodation
If any good friends will be nearer one or the other

The thing is - it IS hard choosing between two good options that are very similar. But that choice also does not really matter as both will give basically the same output.

WearyElf · 20/04/2023 22:35

DD1 went to Bath and had a fantastic time . They really looked after the students during the pandemic ; here's hoping we won't have lockdowns again but their approach was impressive (especially compared to the pitiable effort at DD 2's uni which I won't name but it wasn't York!) .

If your son wishes to do a placement , the good thing about Bath is that most students do so they all come back together for the fourth year . At other unis , there is a mixture of 3 and 4 year courses so you can lose close friends at the end of the second year.

Bath is a lovely city . Accommodation is pricey but whole city feels safe and friendly . Good luck with the decision . I don't know York uni but York is a beautiful city too!

Original poster
vexedillologist · 20/04/2023 22:40

@NotDonna Yes that is something ds is aware of , and so he is keen to make the decision sooner rather than later, but is difficult given there's not much between them. Ds is at a lost for now!
@carriedout Yes it is. Decision seems almost impossible for ds at the moment
@WearyElf That's good to hear about Bath. They definitely sold their placements programme well, and the students also mentioned that they like the fact most come back together for the 4th year. York was pretty similar on placements, and both seem to offer similar support, though placements don't seem to be as popular at York.

OP posts:
Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 12:25

Bump - just hoping to see if I can get any more insight on this.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 22/04/2023 13:47

In terms of politics, York has always been a uni known for the subject.

In terms of economics, Bath is streets ahead.

Bath really has become THE uni for social sciences.

I say that as someone who has a DS who rejected an offer from Bath and had York as an insurance...

Piggywaspushed · 22/04/2023 13:48

Is he sporty?

TizerorFizz · 22/04/2023 14:25

A big question might be: Bath is known for placements. Does York have enough to go round and does the student have to find them? His offer from Bath is lower than advertised. Is it contextual? Seems a good deal to me and I’d go with Bath as they are stronger in Economics. Strength in politics is less important in the world of work.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 14:32

Thanks @Piggywaspushed Good to know. Ds not particularly sporty, but was impressed with the facilities at Bath. Didn't get a chance to see them at York.

@TizerorFizz Bath did seem to offer more support on placements, and they do seem to be known for them. Though both make clear it is ultimately up to the student to find them, so would be down to ds. Not contextual, but he got a lower offer as he has done an EPQ. Strength in Econ something to consider definitely, thought the courses are slightly different. Bath offer is for Pol with econ, being 2/3 Pol and 1/3 Econ, where as at York is 1/2 pol 1/2 econ.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 22/04/2023 14:37

@vexedillologist
So does 50/50 appeal more? Or the Bath ratio?

I do know political placements can be very competitive so would Bath be slightly better with economics placements? I agree it’s a bit dancing on a pin head, but realistically there’s better opportunities with economics in the workplace. I see Bath do Economics with Politics which presumably reverses the ratios. Does the 1/3 ratio at Bath reduce options - presumably the core must be quite a big percentage?

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 14:46

@TizerorFizz I think the 1/3 does possibly. looking at some graduate programmes that want econ, most accept joint hons, as long as it 50% econ, so that may be a downside. Ds still unsure about this. Ds did have a look at the other course at Bath too, and thought the one with more politics would be a safer bet, as he dosent do econ a level or similar. Though Ds did say he felt that the econ on the pol with econ course may be not as advanced, as there's no a level maths requirement. ds said may be worth a phone call to bath to see if it would be possible to switch to the other if he found that he did prefer the more econ and slightly less pol

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 22/04/2023 14:56

I can see Bath offer no options in y1 at all and y2 only 10 credits of choice. So not much choice. I think Bath is popular but a phone call won’t cost anything! If he is doing maths A level I actually think economics is better in the jobs market.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 15:00

@TizerorFizz Yes he is. In fact ds was struggling with it at the beginning, but has worked hard to get his grades up. Think he also feels like that would have been a bit of a waste when gcse maths would have sufficed! Jobs market is something ds or I dont really have any idea about, so not really sure how more econ vs more pol would be. Ds will definitely be phoning up on Monday even if its just to find out.

OP posts:
OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 22/04/2023 15:02

DD is at York. It was her insurance and got accommodation no problem, just in case you are wondering about that.

Plus she is either very lucky or York has put people into flats with similar interests, she is in a non-party, low alcohol flat (seriously they go to museums / galleries at the weekend) which suits her perfectly.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 15:05

Thanks @OhBeAFineGuyKissMe that's good to know. Ds was worried that if he didn't make a decision soon enough and put York as firm, then he wouldn't be left with too many options, as York's accom is already open. Think that would suit ds too! definitely more of a museum than party person 😆

OP posts: