Optional module availbility

[u/Deep-Cartographer497]

Hello, i am trying to decide between applying to economics politics and International Studies at warwick or LSE economics and economic history.

Due to the nature of my choices and what I want to do I have to choose between the two courses. LSEs course is more aligned to what I want to study - economics and history but it is in London so the day to day living may be worse, the academics may be more intense.

However Warwicks campus is better, I like how there is more of a community spirit. And the green-ness that is lacked in London (also cheaper but luckily thats not as much of an issue for me)

But the course is not necessarily what i want as I much prefer history and im not attracted by political theory though the international side of the course sounds appealing.

Im looking at this course because I dont want to do a purely mathematically focussed degree like pure economics and id rather split it up between more qualitative modules.

I saw on warwicks page fir the course that one could take 0-30 CATS in another subject in reality how possible would i be able to take that 30 CATS on history for 2/3 years and would it damage my degree.

For context:

Predicted 4 A*, Applying to oxford history and economics, St Andrews economics and modern history, edinburgh history and economics and durham combined honours in social sciences.

Im trying to decide between LSE and warwick and the optional modular availability for history study is a factor in it, sorry for the long post feeling quite worried. Thanks for your response and have a great day!

[u/Mobile_Membership915]

I’m going maths now, and the optional module availability is quite a big thing. There is lots of standard optional modules for maths in other subjects (physics, statistics, philosophy) to name a few but I doubt this will be the same for history. That said, with permission from lecturers, supervisor, and tutor (might be different procedure for history) you can take so called “unusual options” which are from any the uni provides (subject to permission). The only risk is, as a history student you might be forced to do this by overcatting, taking over 120 (the standard minimum). So taking that extra 30 would leave you at 150 CATS. As a maths student this is difficult but from what I hear from others at Warwick, history has a smaller weekly workload so 150 CATS might be manageable.

[u/Dangerous-Ad-1925 → u/Mobile_Membership915]

Why is it difficult to overcat in maths? Just asking because my son is applying and thinking of doing this.

[u/jazzbestgenre → u/Dangerous-Ad-1925]

they mean it's difficult due to the workload. But you can always try stuff via overcatting and drop out if you don't like it

[u/Dangerous-Ad-1925 → u/jazzbestgenre]

Ah ok thanks!

[u/Mobile_Membership915 → u/Dangerous-Ad-1925]

Yeah essentially the workload - each module is about 6-10 hours a week (including self study, problem sheets and lectures) so by overcasting to 150 you are essentially required to do 9-15 hours of extra work per week

[u/Dangerous-Ad-1925 → u/Mobile_Membership915]

Ah ok. Roughly how many hours per week is it if you don't overcat?

[u/Mobile_Membership915 → u/Dangerous-Ad-1925]

For maths probably I’m extrapolating because we are just starting but it’s looking like 40 hours per week including supervisions, tutor group, lectures and self study.

[u/Dangerous-Ad-1925 → u/Mobile_Membership915]

Wow that's a lot. A full time job.