Cardiff for economics or Exeter for business studies

[andwhy]

That's it really. My daughter unfortunately slipped one grade and lost her place at Bath. She has to decide by tomorrow between doing economics at Cardiff (her original degree at Bath was to be economics) or to go to Exeter to do business studies. Or she could take a gap year. Just after people's advice/ thoughts really. Thank you

Has she visited both universities?
Has she looked in detail at the course content and assessment?
what ideas does she have for a gap year? Is she considering a resit?
have you sat down with school or college to discuss this?

Cardiff for Economics. Better degree and it’s an excellent university.

She has visited Exeter but not Cardiff. She has looked at the courses but it all feels such a rush. We have spoken to school, they have said a resit is not worth doing / wasting a year for one grade. Gap year is just a thought so that she doesn't have to rush this decision now.

I’d second Cardiff. Anecdotally, I only ever hear great things about it - the students seem to love it. It is a much more exciting city than Exeter too.

Economics no question. I know employability is not the only thing but economics graduates earn much more than business graduates

Economics is way more challenging than business studies and will lead to better job prospects. Stick with her original subject choice. Both reasonable unis but agree with the comment about Cardiff being a more exciting city.

Thank you. I feel that school have 'implied' that perhaps the university is as if not more important than the degree. Which is why she started to look at business studies at universities 'better' than Cardiff. I'm wondering if this is actually incorrect. It's all very confusing

But BS wouldn't even be considered for certain jobs particularly those that require a reasonable level of mathematical ability. Economics is viewed more highly.

In what way is Exeter a ‘better’ university than Cardiff? I’m a teacher and have always felt the opposite. It is very well-regarded and seems to be a fun place to live. Economics much more highly regarded than business studies.

Assuming that you’re talking about Cardiff University, not Cardiff Met?

On the DiscoverUni site the earnings figures are slightly higher for Uni of Exeter Business if its this course https://discoveruni.gov.uk/course-details/10007792/UFS3SBESBECA_N110/Full-time/ than Cardiff for economics but there's very little in it.

So I would base it on which one she would prefer. This is saying Cornwall campus as well for Exeter, maybe check out exactly where. Also what career is she wanting, if its an economist role she obviously needs at least 50% economics. It may be worth looking at joint degrees as well. I would prefer Cornwall as a place but depends what you like doing and whether distance from things is an issue. If she isn't happy with either choice then a gap year could be a good option to give her more time.

I feel school were implying that Exeter (Bristol and Bath) were better than Cardiff, so suggested looking at other courses there, but there's not much available. Also the grades for economics are higher at Exeter, it was in her original top 3, so we just therefore assumed it was thought of as better than Cardiff.

Bristol has a couple of joint course with Economics available, Economics and Accounting and Economics and Management might be worth considering.

The earnings figures for both those are higher than the 2 courses mentioned but obviously depends on what she wants to study / likes.

Those courses don't seem to have spaces, please correct me if I'm wrong. We think we've just checked

If she wants a fun city and good course then I would go to Cardiff. But to be honest, wherever she goes, her enjoyment will depend on who she meets there and the strength of friendships. Economics is harder than Business Studies and so it will depend on how strong her Maths is.

Why only choose between those two unis?

Thank you, and yes I agree about enjoyment. We are trying to help her decide what is the better academic decision to make. Only choosing between those because they have space and she sort of knows them. If we start looking at everything that's available it just gets to overwhelming!

Exeter does tend to sit above Cardiff in the league tables but depending on where you look, it varies as to how much higher it sits and the rankings can vary massively from year to year. They aren’t really based on the golden question anyway, ie which one would future employers prefer! My bil works with a lot of universities and when my dd asked him for advice he was VERY much in favour of Cardiff due to the students he had met there and the staff he had worked with. Dd hadn’t considered Cardiff previously so applied there. She didn’t get offered though 😠. She was, funnily enough, offered Exeter however she turned it down in favour of a more ‘buzzing’ city oop North.

Cardiff

Cardiff for Economics. A very well respected degree and a great respected university in a really amazing city with loads to do.

I'd compare the courses, rather than the Universities. Imho it's better to be on a good course at a lower ranked University than a poor course at a higher ranked one.

I'm wary of rankings, having seen first hand how teams of consultants are paid eye watering sums by Universities to basically game the system.

If I had to make a snap decision, I'd go with Cardiff. Based on the similarity of her original choice and the postgraduate choices of economics vs business.

I went to Cardiff, several aeons ago. I also happen to come from the area. It’s a brilliant student city, loads going on just for students. The city itself is vibrant, a lovely compact centre and also there’s Cardiff Bay. A short hop from Gower, Bristol, Brecon Beacons. I would thoroughly recommend it.

DSis went to Exeter and had a brilliant 3 years, but then left and never returned. It’s a great university but the town is nowhere near as exciting as Cardiff.

Well Exeter is a better uni overall. Can't she do Economics at Exeter?!

No she didn't get the grades for economics at Exeter. She did get an offer but didn't make it her firm or insurance because it's the same grades as economics at Bristol and Bath, which is A*AA. She got AAA and lost her place. So is now needing to make a rush decision or take a year out.