University College London

[Blondin]

Hi,

I know this forum is more orientated towards US universities, but I would be interested in gathering some views about the PhD program at UCL.

Is there by any chance a TMer currently enrolled in this program?

[Valfierno]

I'm not enrolled in UCL but I know they are very strong in applied micro stuff, particularly in labor economics. They are also very strong in economics of education, and you have the advantage of being able to take some classes in the London Business School if you want, so if you like finance stuff that is good.

I think it is a very strong program and its ranking is not what is should be, I would put it in the 20-30 rage tilting towards the 20. Congrats on the admit, it is really great.

[Blondin]

Thanks Valfierno :-)

I'm mostly interesed in micro theory (game theory, contract theory, public economics). My game theory teacher (from LSE) told me UCL also had a strong theory group.

I saw they had an exhange program called ENTER, which allows you to visit another uni during your second year (Barcelona, Tilburg, Toulouse, Bruxelles or Mannheim). I was wondering if this thing was indeed possible and if was a good idea (I would be interested to go to Toulouse for example).

One of my concerns about the program at UCL is that there is only one year of taught courses, so I wondered if you're able to really specialize in a field (plus the elective courses are shared with the MSc Econ). But the first year seems very intense.

I'm still completing my application for the Master in Toulouse, but I don't know what I would do if I had the choice - quality of life wise there is little doubt I would be better off at Toulouse, and I already spent 2 and a half years in London (not that it's enough to see everything...).

Also, if someone has an idea on the number of people who get kicked out after the first year..

Anyway, these are just random thoughts I'm having now that I have this offer.. Any comments are welcome!

[Valfierno]

Blondin if you got into the MPhil at UCL is because you already have a good MSc program (from what you said it is from LSE, so it is great preparation).

What I make of the UK education system is that it works kind of the same as the US, you have 2 years of classes (1 year of MSc and one of MPhil) and then 2 to 3 years of research towards thesis. The first year in an US program is the basic Micro, Macro, Econometrics sequence (what you have covered in the MSc in LSE), and the second year you pick a couple of fields and some extra course work, which is basically what you are going to do in the MPhil in UCL, so I think its enough. Also I guess no one minds if in your 2nd or 3rd year at UCL you assist to some courses you are interested in (that is if you feel you need some extra courses in your field).

From the comments I’ve heard from the ENTER program it actually works pretty well, and I think it is quite valuable to go to another university and work there with different people, hear different perspectives, exchange idea, etc.

I hope this helps you.

[Nebuchadrezzar]

how would you compare msc economics in ucl, msc economics in lse and m2 econ (metric & theory) in toulouse programmes?

[Blondin]

Thanks again for your comments Valfierno!

I think I lack a certain baggage in econ theory as my masters from LSE did not cover the traditional micro/macro/metrics 1st year curriculum, and prior to that I was mostly studying stats. But I'm trying to catch up a little bit, especially in micro by reading MWG.

I'm glad to hear ENTER works pretty well, it looks like a good thing to do (although I'd be happy to settle a little bit somewhere rather than moving every year or year and a half :-) )

Did you hear anything about how students would fund the PhD after the first year, i.e. can you easily get scholarships, or a TA position (paid roughly 11k apparently)? From the website I understand that not everyone gets the opportunity of being TA.

[Valfierno]

Blondin regarding funding I do not have a lot of info, but the impression I got is that the tough part is to get into the MPhil with funding, and after that I thinks it’s easier to get a TAship or RAship, but here I am speculating.