I got an offer from Durham University that I am very much interested in taking, but it is only for Economics. I was hoping to read Economics and Mathematics. So, would it be possible for me to take maths courses to get enough credits to have my major be Eco and Maths? The course I got an offer to study is L100. Would this be possible? Because this could be a potential deal breaker.
You need to be aware that the UK system is much less flexible than the US one, and if you want to combine subjects you need to do your research before you apply.
It looks as if you can take joint honours in economics and maths, but only if you’re accepted to their Natural Sciences program: https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/faculty.handbook/degrees/frameworks/cfg0.pdf Send an e-ail to the admissions office to see if you can switch to that course under the terms of your existing offer.
Have you been accepted anywhere else?
You need to ask them. Typically you would need to be admitted to that specific program.
I have offers from York, Bristol and Liverpool; all for Economics and Maths. But I really liked Durham so I wanted to switch to my preferred course.
In that case, ask (now) if you can switch. Good luck - and if it doesn’t work out, then you do at least have solid alternative options.
Agreeing with the others- ask asap. Ime, Durham as an institution is relatively flexible. The base Econ offer & Nat Sci offer is the same (A*AA), and the Nat Sci only requires 1 STEAM, which you would have through your Math for Econ, so on paper you are fine.
But…go READ the course description for the courses you have applied to (including NatSci). They are spelled out online in detail. You don’t “major” in a subject- you take what is laid out for you. The Econ pages list very specifically all the courses you take each year (it even lists the ‘optional’ modules). There is no room to take other courses. NatSci is popular b/c you get so many choices, but even so if you go for Econ + Math, this is what you will take:
http://www.maths.dur.ac.uk/php/natural.sciences.php?dept1=econ&dept2=math&programme=jh_bsc
Be sure that sounds like a good idea to you.
No, you can’t double ‘major’ in the UK. You apply for one degree and that degree only. However, some universities offer a combined degree e.g ‘History and English’ at Oxford or ‘English and Philosophy’ at St. Andrews.
^ Almost the same thing.
Any update from the OP?
@PurpleTitan Yes, a combined degree is similar to a double major, but are no means the same. With a combined degree you do half as much work for each subject and you can’t choice which two subjects to combine - the university will list which joint courses they offer.
@FutureFreshman Since you have already been through UCAS and offers have been given out, I’d say it is too late to chance your degree. Places have already filled up.
Half of 3 years, or 1.5 years in each subject, give or take. Each major in the US takes a quarter to half of 4 years with the remainder filled up with gen eds and electives.
So a combined course is very similar to an American double major, except with less flexibility or gen EDS.
And @TheGr8Gatsby, I don’t think you work for a uni or college so I don’t know why you’re trying to sound authoritative. Some UK unis/colleges are a bit flexible. It’s not unheard of for someone who got in to Oxbridge for law to read history and vice versa, for example.
^I should say “American majors outside of some professional ones like engineering/nursing/design which may take up 3 of 4 years”.