Bath, Edinburgh or Exeter for Economics?

[wishIwasinsagaponack]

DD is currently struggling to decide between firming Bath (AAA), Edinburgh (A*AA) and Exeter (AAA) for Econ. First exam on Monday, so she could really do without the distraction at this stage. I was wondering if anyone has an opinion regarding these Unis with regards to reputation/career prospects. DD's heart is slightly with Exeter as she loves the campus and the all round fun vibe. Her instincts are leading her towards Bath due to support for year in industry and belief that having some experience on her CV upon graduation could be beneficial. She is quite practical/determined. However, she is battling with the historic prestige of Edinburgh. She is aware that she is very fortunate to have great options.

In terms of career prospects, I'm conscious that it's very early days and likely this will change over the next few years. However at the moment one of the options she is very interested in is IB (knowing that its a very very long shot and very aware that these Unis are not targets). Not in investment banking/corporate finance but more interested in sales & trading, asset management and researching a few other areas also. She is also open to other paths.

We've suggested that career prospects won't differ massively with these options and to choose based on where you think you'll have a happy Uni experience.

Our daughter is at Uni of Bath - have to say we have been very impressed by the pastoral care eg they have campus support/ security cars and the students are told if you get in to difficulties in Bath call the support number and the car / security staff will come to you ( seen no trouble in Bath) a fire alarm went off around midnight in our daughters off-campus student halls and in minutes the Uni squad car was there and arrived knowing which room had triggered the alarm from a central console - the student union have a fund / help number and new students are told if you eg lose your wallet on an evening out and need to get a taxi to campus call this number and we will send a taxi that you pay us for when you get your replacement debit card - havent needed it and Bath has been lovely but locals know not to bother students because of this protective back up and our daughter felt more confident knowing about the safety net

That's the world rankings, which have their own in built issues.

Here is The Times 2026 University rankings with Bath at number 7 and Edinburgh languishing at 26 (down 8)

https://www.thetimes.com/uk-university-rankings/league-table?t=1778396099348

So much of Edinburgh's reputation is purely cachet and undeserved in terms of actual quality . Bath is so popular with employers that I have heard of students being headhunted in their first year for grad positions. But , what with blind recruitment and AI bots sifting applications , you might as well go to the uni that is the best fit and where you get the best teaching. If one did want to work abroad in some cut and thrust institution then, yes, Edinburgh might be the better choice. To be honest for economics Warwick is the place to be outside of the obvious Oxbridge and LSE.

There is no need to sneer , either - No one would say Bath was 'less work' or 'easier' than Edinburgh. And students do not all 'prefer' that either. Certainly my DS wanted to be somewhere doing something that would stretch him. I have literally never heard a sixth former cite lack of work as a reason for applying to a university.

For economics specifically,however, Edinburgh ranks slightly higher than Bath in those tables. Neither are very high. The CUG will be what the PP used .

I am a MN outlier as I do think student experience matters. Discover Uni is a good measure of a range of data showing what students got out of a degree. Student experience isn't just whether someone had 'fun' The course my DS applied to had pretty woeful stats on student experience - we ignored it. He started the course and swapped after three weeks : lo, everything that those stats warned about were true.

PS Bath is lower for subject in The Times subject ranking because it overly weights Russell Group 'research quality' stuff which pushes it down. in The CUG it is 9th and Edinburgh 14th. Exeter is 11th , so relay all very good , and very similar in rankings.

All high Cost of Living too - so other factors need consideration. Campus v city, location in UK relative to home, lifestyles, sports, music - all sorts. Some people choose Sheffield for climbing , for example, and some unis have no music or have great sport.

I would say the CUG rankings are more accurate but employers won’t really care! As discussed, it’s getting over the employment hurdles they really matters!

I think Bath. Year in industry in the current climate is invaluable. Also a nice campus and lovely place to study. Edinburgh is not a campus uni. Both are higher in the rankings than Exeter. University choice has to be pragmatic these days.

A huge thank you to all who have taken the time to reply to this thread. There has been a wealth of information and I think it has really helped DD.

@Chipstickcats it was particularly useful to get your view in terms of interviewing graduates and what you look for. Similarly for understanding how important work experience of any kind is. I think looking back that my work experience (not in a particularly prestigous role but over a long period) was likely what helped me get a graduate role in a different field. Also appreciate your view on not viewing the difference between the universities. I have a younger DC soon to be going through this and it will really change how I approach it with them.

@PriscillaQueenoftheKitchen I definitely get your point regarding Edinburgh's international reputation and that is definitely worth considering.

@Alljan thank you again for your view on A Levels Vs University ranking and in particular for the skills that you would look for in hiring grads. I also appreciate your personal expereince of getting hired as a graduate.

@MeetMeOnTheCorner I fully understand your concerns and agree with them - regarding the difficulty in getting placements and the difference between the students who are chosen out of the large no of applicants. I felt the same way about university offers for competitive courses when lots of applicants have similar grade profiles/personal statements etc. It definitely seems like there is a strong element of luck involved. I'd like to think fate, although I don't know if I believe in fate.

@OneZanyCat thanks for your view. Thats an interesting way of looking at it. A 4 year course including placement wouldn't put you ahead of a 3 year course and first years of work completed. I also agree that Edinburgh would be a lovely place to spend 4 years.

@Lampzade I actually think this thread will be the best advice that DD could receive in terms of the importance of experience.

@Aim4Lesscortisol Thank you for sharing your daughters experience of Bath. I think that the pastoral care and safety aspect are important factors in teh decsion making process. Lovely to hear that your DD is getting on well.

@Piggywaspushed I had actually been slightly confused by the various rankings and hadn't know whether CUG/times/guardian etc was more reputable so had abandonned them. I couldn't figure out why Bath Econ was so far down the Times list. It ranked similar to higher ranking Unis in terms of teaching, student satisfaction and employability. I now understand that it seems to be down to research which I don't think is as important for ungergrad. So I've decided not to put much weight on that. I definitey agree that student satisfaction is an important factor for me. I hadn't really considered blind recruiting and AI sifting applications. Thats a valid point to consider and I agree with your conclusiont hat you might as well go to the Uni which is the best fit for you.

@Scotiasdarling I really do take your point about Edinburgh's prestige. Its hard to ignore and hard to pass up an opportunity to study there and get to live in such a fab city.

@Timetakesacigarette Thank you for your vote. Quite a lot of love for Bath generally on this thread.

My DD graduated from Bath a year ago. Shed have been applying for placements 2022/23 - which was difficult enough and it has probably been even harder the past two years. However, everyone she knew who wanted a placement got a placement. A lot of students give up before Easter but something like 40% of students secure placements post Easter (post start of financial year I guess) My DD didn't study economics but knew plenty who did.

But I think Exeter has a great careers department very focussed on employability too so lots of opportunities to get work experience instead of a year in industry. So long as you seek out the opportunities.

What are your DD's predictions? I would say Bath economics was rife with of all A* students many with further maths. It's a huge cohort too. Not sure if that's the same at Exeter and Edinburgh.

@fortyfifty Thanks for the recent info on Bath placements. Predictions are 3 X A + A in EPQ. No further maths. But I'm not expecting her to achieve the 3 A*. I did get the impression from chatting to students at open days that a lot had further maths. I didn't think to ask if they were doing Econ + maths or straight Econ. I understand that the straight Econ is a very maths heavy course.

Complete University Guide rankings. Considered the ranking guide with the least amount of bias. The Times is going to be very right leaning.

And, as aforementioned , that is the Times HE world rankings...which measures in a very different way.

CUG rankings for Economics are: Bath 9, Exeter 11 and Edinburgh 14. All are top 20 and pretty interchangeable really. Times just doesn’t rank in the same way and what has politics got to do with it @PriscillaQueenoftheKitchen. ? The CUG is a more reliable guide though but the standard Times rankings are ok. No international rankings matter much - well maybe Oxbridge and a few others! Generally though, the difference between 9 and 14 is next to nothing.

My Son is at the end of his first year at Bath studying Economics. He deliberately chose it cause of its standing , he wants to work in wealth management. It’s lived up to expectations so far

I didn't mention international rankings. I said that Edinburgh was highly regarded internationally. If you think studying Economics is not something that potentially leads to working in an international bank, or an international setting then you're beyond saving.

I think international rankings make very little difference in recruitment anywhere. It’s more about what you can do in terms of the recruitment process @PriscillaQueenoftheKitchen

Haven't RTFT but honestly I'd go for the one whose vibe she likes most - they're all great unis (on paper at least, I think all are struggling with cuts etc). I'd choose Edinburgh as I know so many amazing, successful people who went there and it's such a fabulous city to be a student, but in the end a degree from any of these could lead to great career prospects or not, depending on your dd's work ethic and attitude, which I'm sure is not in question.

My DS is 2nd year at Exeter studying Economics with Industrial placement and has been having a great time and loved the Uni and the city. If they are on the industrial placement course they have a unit which is solely focused on helping them acheive one. That said, it is such a competative process and the time and effort it takes should not be under estimated. A lot of his course had given up after not managing to find one by xmas as they can't organise accomodation for the 3rd year and focus on exams etc until they make that decision. My DS was determined to carry on and in the end has ended up being offered 3 in April. These however are not in the field he wanted but has decided the work experience will be invaluable but hoping not at the expense of his exam results (which so far are down on last year). If he had his time again he woud not do the indusrial placement year but focus on getting spring weeks / summer internships. There is no issue finding accomodation in Exeter and most is all within walking distance of uni so no additional travel costs.

Again and slowly, especially for you

I did not mention international rankings

To be fair to priscilla who seems to be being tagged in all this , it was another poster who plopped the Times HE world rankings in.

Apologies! My mistake.

DD graduated from Bath last year and controversially decided not to do a placement year in the end. She did Politics and has had no problem in securing some fantastic internships that have now led to a FT role. She worked in PR but for a political lobbying firm in central London, then she worked in West Minster for an MP for 6 months and now she has secured another PR role that takes her travelling a lot again the role has a political focus. All of her friends, a few of whom she now lives with have also walked straight into good city roles. DD adored Bath, the are, the campus and the teaching. She would move back in a heartbeat if she could it is a wonderful place to be at Uni (I can well imagine Edinburgh would be too though). Tough choices for her!