‘Quantitative methods’

[crazycrofter]

Just noticed that Notts have a BSc in Politics/IR with quantitative methods in clearing. What does it mean exactly, is it research methods, similar to what you’d cover in a Psychology degree? What would be the (employment) benefits of having studied Quantitative methods?

It's maths based, which always helps with employability.

It means statistics courses - really useful.

If you are reasonable at Maths, go for it.

In my limited experience not all social scientists count Maths/Statistics among their strengths, so it’s a positive advantage if you can offer ‘quant’.

There are quantitative and qualitative methods: quant isn’t just manipulating numerical data but also interpreting it - despite what some Google results have just told me.

Research basically falls into two main approaches:
quantitative
qualitative

So, for example, Maths is primarily quantitative; English Lit is primarily qualitative

“Quants” used to be highly employable in banks and insurance companies - not sure that’s still so lucrative in the wake of the global financial crisis and AI, but I imagine it is still a relatively employable field of knowledge and approach.

It will be stats / maths based, the course content is available on the university website.

Employability, always useful to have maths and writing skills. Would have thought you'd more be looking at a policy type role in the civil service or similar than a quant role in finance which would normally have a much higher maths content degree / Masters / PhD.

It looks a fascinating course - tempted to apply for it myself!

It looks like a good course for anyone wanting to go into politics as you'd be familiar with the types of data used, which many won't be.

Teaches you to back up your research and theories with numbers - always useful with Politics 😀

One of mine has a "with quantative methods" social science degree. Just about to start a CS social research job. On my DDs course those with quants have had better job outcomes this year than those without probably as they got better internships/ placements (although useful for numeric/data analysis grad tests even if you have plans outside research). Useful for dissertation too.

There’s hardly any policy roles for grads in the civil service! Look at the employment stats vs applicants. It’s extraordinarily tough to get in to do anything!

There's 34,865 people working in policy in the civil service and you normally have to be a graduate. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-policy-profession/about Its the second most common civil service job type. I wouldn't say it is especially hard to get a job in policy as a graduate - Fast Stream is harder to get into but you can just apply for any job advertised externally. Its all about whether you can get through competency based interview now and some people are very good at those. Obviously some departments like Foreign Office / Treasury will be much harder than other ones.

design, use, collection and interpretation of statistics - very practical and useful in many fields

@MsPengiuns How many grads taken on every year though? Employment stats of those in work are not necessarily a reflection of grads starting out. Movement later is different.

Don't worry @TizerorFizz he's not pinning all his hopes on the civil service. But clearly the PP's social sciences with quants grad got in so it does happen...

Ds was offered the course in clearing and has accepted it. I'll let you know in four years or so whether it was a total waste of time 😂