What degree can DS do with Maths, Econ, History and Physics?

[ConfusedaboutAlevels]

My DS is in Y11, predicted 9/10 grade 8-9's and he definitely wants to do Maths, Econ and History at A level. They all have to start with 4 a levels and he wanted to do FM but they probably will not let him do it as he did not pass internal tests (lots want to do Further Maths so school does internal tests to decide). Therefore he probably can't do an economics degree as he won't make a competitive application for Cambridge/ LSE/ Warwick. If he took physics as a fourth, what degrees related to economics/ history could he do. He doesn't want to do straight history as he loves Maths. At his school they also have to do either an EPQ or AS FM so he is not sure which one of those to do. He feels AS FM may help him with an econ application but he feels an EPQ may make him stand out- he loves writing essays too and he got an A* in the HPQ. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Firstly I would be kicking off robustly challenging the rationale that a pupil getting 8/9 is not able to do FM and would probably move to another provider.

They are preventing him doing a Maths degree.

But not an engineering one. Thousands of engineering grads don’t have FM. They went to schools that don’t teach it!! You don’t need it - it’s nice to have. Imperial and a few other lofty universities excepted.

There is the possibility that they ask at interview why the candidate didn't do further maths. If it's not offered at their school/college, that will be fine. If the answer is "my school wouldn't let me do it", it doesn't look good!

@ConfusedaboutAlevels If you didn’t mind updating, I was just wondering how your DS got on and what he ended up doing at University? My DC is doing the same subjects but isn’t sure about next steps. Thanks 😊

It’s been 5 years, time has flown! DS did get to do Further Maths in the end so he did Maths, Further Maths, Economics & History.

Achieved 4A* and is at Cambridge studying economics. Loves it there but the course is very mathematical.

Thanks so much for such a positive update! So glad his school let him do FM and he did so fantastically at A-level and he is now at Cambridge! I love it when kids have that determination to beat the system. You must be so proud. My DD thinks it is economics that she wants to do, but my concern is that it is a high paid future she is interested in and not the subject. DD has been thinking about Maths or possibly economics at Cambridge - can I ask a question that might be impossible to answer, but how much harder is the maths for Cambridge Economics than FM? I know that it is clearly much harder, but does it feel like another whole universe of difficulty, or is it challenging but building in a way that feels manageable? I know that is going to be very personal but my DD isn’t passionate about maths, but she has been very good at it up to now, and she is afraid of a maths degree because she is used to getting the answer rather than the very abstract reasoning of a maths degree. You may not have an answer but I am asking just in case 😊

No, you're not . The only one thinking that, I mean.

Manchester offers BA Economics, and Im sure that other universities do, too. It is actually possible to approach the subject from an 'Economics as a Social Science' point of view, not just 'Economics to get me into Investment Banking, Consulting - coming from a medical household, I always wonder, Consulting upon what? - etc' pov.

BAEcon Economics (2026 entry) | The University of Manchester share.google/JXAbtep1jogviUpzP

Thanks, yes we are very proud. He worked hard.

it’s an interesting one regarding the Maths. DS found uni level quite hard but more because you have to learn it independently. Also it is a lot more formalised and somewhat abstract. However it’s certainly very doable if you plug away at it and easier than Engineering, Physics or Maths.

A lot of the difficulty isn’t the Maths per se, but how it links to economics. For example in econometrics, it’s learning all the assumptions , conditions and interpretations of the results that is much harder than the actual mathematical techniques.

Ds personally is more of an essay person so in later years he chose essay based optional modules but all parts require a level of Mathematics that is at least FM standard.

@ConfusedaboutAlevels that is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much. If my DD decides she is actually really interested in Economics, it sounds like that mix between maths (that isn't quite as intense as a Maths degree, but which clearly is still going to be highly demanding) and essay-based might work really well for her. It is good to know that an Economics degree will allow her to make a bit of a choice, as she progress through a degree, so she could lean more maths or essay.

So, my hope is now she leans that way, loves it, does well, is focused, works hard, gets what she wants and is totally happy. #lifesorted As a teenager/young/older adult, I was fine changing directions until I found the right thing (three different degrees, and then a change of path without the need of an extra degree), but for my kids I can't help hoping that they just know, get it right, are supremly happy and successful and job done!

Anyway, I really appreciate you having shared the update. It is so nice to hear when things work out too :)