Choosing between Warwick Maths & Stats, Bristol and Bath Maths courses for finance careers

[Cratos]

DS just received his final offer so now he has to choose his firm and insurance from the below options.
Any word of advice about which options would be best for future job prospects would be very helpful. He is interested in working in Finance at the moment.

• Warwick Maths & Stats
• Warwick Maths & Physics
• Bristol Maths
• Bath Maths

He visited all the unis and it looks like he may go for Warwick and Bristol. We have another one in Bristol as well. I suspect he may go for Stats rather than Physics as well. Thank you

This is tricky, OP. If only DS could see the future!

All of these are fine degrees. However for my money as a STEM academic, the COWI institutions have added cachet when it comes to the financial industry. Also Statistics is of more practical value for Finance than Physics.

Against this, every programme you’ve listed is excellent so really it is a question of where DS is most likely to thrive. The opportunities and even ‘luck’ that enthusiastic students create for themselves can end up meaning more than the institution.

However I do have a concern about the Insurance. IMO none of these programmes are likely to budge if an applicant misses their grades. I’ve been an admissions tutor. We also have a very high offer with little flex and I know that you can never predict who will have a weak set of exams.

DS must work with what’s in front of him. Is one offer lower than the others? If so I suggest that he make that his Insurance choice. It will be much better than anything on offer in Clearing. Of course, if he is willing to take a gap year and resit or reassess his options, that doesn’t apply.

Best wishes to him

I think they’re all great courses - I’m biased because DH did maths and physics but he and his 4 best mates (who all did the same course) have all ended up with good jobs in finance. All but one went on the train as an accountant with a Big 4 firm and are now working across a variety of finance roles. The other one went straight into investment banking.

Thank you very much for your helpful insight. Yes they are all very high offers actually. Warwick Maths and Stats is the highest. Bristol and Warwick Maths and Physics are slightly better.

All great options.

The key to getting a job in finance nowadays is gaining work experience through the university years, e.g. a spring break week in the first year, and a summer internship (or a years placement) at the end of 2nd year.

Employers are far more interested in your professional/commercial experiences (and your motivations to gain those experiences) than the university/course you studied

We have a YP in the family in the financial industry. They did a traditional STEM degree at Imperial and really enjoyed it. (No Maths) I think Warwick Maths and Physics is the closest thing here.

@mynameiscalypso and my relative validate the idea of making your opportunities. If the Maths and Stats offer at Warwick is higher then unless DS is super confident I would defo take this into consideration.

All are very good. Well done to your DC.
I would also say Warwick Maths and Stats. It has a great reputation. I know Bristol had Math places in clearing last year and accepted students with AAB. They have places at the moment in clearing. Bath and Warwick were not in clearing and from my experience at school usually do not accept those that miss their offer.

As someone who spent 37 years in finance I worked with many people who did their degrees at Warwick. I can’t think of one past colleague who went to Bristol - so I would go for Warwick (probably Maths and Stats, although Maths and Physics would be a strong choice too).

Warwick maths and stats for sure - I know lots of financial professionals with this exact degree (actuaries and investment banking)

I realise I didn’t include the crucial detail that DH and friends were all at Warwick!

Surprising to hear that the excellent Bristol Maths programme was in Clearing last year. That’s useful for this DS and others, although the past does not predict the future.

@poetryandwine yes of course it may not be the case this year. However, they are on UCAS EXTRA at the moment, a friend’s son has just applied so they may have places in clearing.

That is great to know. So these degrees all open doors to finance. Thank you.

DH, maths academic says both universities have good maths departments. I think he would lean towards Warwick and says stats would help with job prospects

Maths and stats for finance roles. I’m an actuary and most of my peers have maths and stats degrees.

Definitely Maths and Stats at Warwick. Our DS did this quite a few years ago and most of his cohort went into finance. Many into actuarial careers. He decided to go into retail and is now a Director in a multinational earning a very high salary. He also really enjoyed his Warwick time and still keeps in touch with a few of his halls flatmates.

@NorthernStar96 thank you for your advice. We have heard it is getting more and more difficult to get the placements but I can see how this can really help.

@AprilMay75 it is interesting to hear that Bristol Maths is on clearing. We have no visibility since I think only students with no offers can see them on UCAS. Thank you for letting us know. I wonder which other maths courses are on UCAS Extra.

@ItsReallyOnlyMe thanks for sharing your experience. I think Warwick Maths and Stats will be his firm.

@user946372 thank you very much. It is good to know that this particular degree opens doors in the finance sector.

@Cratos you can see where there are still offers on UCAS Extra even if you have all your offers. I pop the link here. Just search by university and course.

https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses-beta?query=

Bristol, Durham, Exeter, Manchester and Southampton have Maths places available through UCAS Extra and are often in clearing on results day.

@AprilMay75 thank you so much. I just had a look at courses with vacancies. It feels like it might be possible to get into Bristol in August during clearing. So Warwick Maths & Stats can be firm and Bath insurance. Of course when the time comes there is a chance things may not go according to the plan.

@Cratos sounds like a great plan. My DC is deciding between Imperial, Warwick, UCL and LSE for Maths. He has grades in hand so no pressure this year. He just needs get on with making a decision.
Good Luck to your DC, and all others, for their A Levels 🍀🍀

@AprilMay75congratulations to your son! Great offers to choose from. All London unis except Warwick. Best wishes to your son.

To Your son or your daughter. Sorry I said son.

@Cratos A career depends on far more than the degree! I’d choose a university where a critical mass want this career. The three you mention would have dc like this who will be looking to London for jobs. They will be competing against Oxbridge dc of course so they are not a shoe in. They need the internships and a good cv as well as being presentable and interesting. Plus the hours are very long. 17 year olds often don’t appreciate this! I know several who, when they graduate, want an easier life without the hours! So no university listed is a bad choice but the jobs are hugely competitive.