Oxford MCF Decision Dates

[Yeat]

I have the quite the dilemma, I just got an offer for Imperial MSc Maths and Finance but I have also applied for:
-UCL Computational Finance
-Oxford MCF
-LSE Financial Maths
I am certain my current offer is better than UCL or LSE degrees. Thus this leaves Oxford or Imperial. I have heard great things about both, yet Imperial's career support seems to slightly edge out that of Oxfords. My issue is that Imperial wants me to pay 10% of the course fee in the next month in order to secure my place. I am concerned that after I pay the deposit I might then get the Oxford offer and lose out on £4.3k if I do decide to go to Oxford. Oxford says that a response should come in 8-10 weeks after the deadline which was the 29th of January, but does anyone have any idea on any exact details from personal experience? Also for someone with limited internship experience would it be beneficial for me to go with Imperial and make the most of their career's services and dissertation in industry?

 

[shrdlu]

Sup, I am pretty much on the same boat right now.

I tried emailing Oxford's math fin admissions about their decision timeline last week, but I haven't heard back yet. From what I've seen on the tracker their decisions seem to be spread between mid-feb and and early-march last year. So I think I'll wait out 'til the end of this week, but I am personally settled on Imperial regardless of the decision from Oxford.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

@Yeat
Congrats on the offer. It's the top ranked program on our 2024 UK ranking so you won't go wrong with either Imperial or Oxford.
Can you add your timelines of those programs to the Tracker so we have more data for our growing UK audience.
@shrdlu
Congrats and thank you for sharing your timelines on the Tracker. Appreciate your participation on the site.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

I just looked at 2024 data on the Tracker and it appears most admission came out on Feb 27-28.

UK

quantnet.com

 

[Yeat]

I just looked at 2024 data on the Tracker and it appears most admission came out on Feb 27-28.

UK

quantnet.com

Thank you, I should have thought of checking myself but I am new to this forum.

 

[Yeat]

Sup, I am pretty much on the same boat right now.

I tried emailing Oxford's math fin admissions about their decision timeline last week, but I haven't heard back yet. From what I've seen on the tracker their decisions seem to be spread between mid-feb and and early-march last year. So I think I'll wait out 'til the end of this week, but I am personally settled on Imperial regardless of the decision from Oxford.

If you don’t mind me asking what makes you sway towards Imperial? Is it the career support or another factor?

 

[shrdlu]

If you don’t mind me asking what makes you sway towards Imperial? Is it the career support or another factor?

Keep in mind that I am 1) coming in from the US/KR. 2) have little to no connections in finance. If you're already familiar with UK then most of the points are moot.

1. Location
- Networking can be a pain in the ass if you're not in the right location. I've had EU colleagues from other STEM fields complain 24/7 about how all the jobs are concentrated in London for UK. I could only imagine finance being about the same if not worse.

2. 12 months over 10 months. Cheaper. More teaching hours. More industry practitioners / seminars, etc.
- I took a look at program profiles at risknet and reviews on quantnet. Most of the practical metrics that impact student experience were more or less the same if not better, and the student reviews were consistent.

As for research, I don't think PGT degree is a stage where research topic / advisor is as impactful as a PhD program, and both institutions collaborated in area I am interested in.

Frankly speaking, I feel like the only hook for Oxford over Imperial is the general brand name. But I couldn't care less on this one given they are in the same ballpark. All in all, looks about the same in my eyes and I already have an offer from one. So I am not missing out by facing a rejection from the other.

 

[Yeat]

Keep in mind that I am 1) coming in from the US/KR. 2) have little to no connections in finance. If you're already familiar with UK then most of the points are moot.

1. Location
- Networking can be a pain in the ass if you're not in the right location. I've had EU colleagues from other STEM fields complain 24/7 about how all the jobs are concentrated in London for UK. I could only imagine finance being about the same if not worse.

2. 12 months over 10 months. Cheaper. More teaching hours. More industry practitioners / seminars, etc.
- I took a look at program profiles at risknet and reviews on quantnet. Most of the practical metrics that impact student experience were more or less the same if not better, and the student reviews were consistent.

As for research, I don't think PGT degree is a stage where research topic / advisor is as impactful as a PhD program, and both institutions collaborated in area I am interested in.

Frankly speaking, I feel like the only hook for Oxford over Imperial is the general brand name. But I couldn't care less on this one given they are in the same ballpark. All in all, looks about the same in my eyes and I already have an offer from one. So I am not missing out by facing a rejection from the other.

Honestly I have spent 3 years at LSE and have very little to show for it in terms of connections. In hindsight I should have been more on top of things, but hey what can you do. So for me too london would make more sense, however the risknet and quantnet reviews currently have a small sample size and metrics such as graduate salary obviously are subject to bias. Looking at whatdotheyknow often gives varied metrics year on year.

Like you mentioned the courses are pretty much the same but I have to say I'm biased towards Oxford because my brother studies there and I guess it's cool to live in a place like Oxford as London gets boring after a while.