Why Choose A Joint Honours Degree?

When I was in sixth form, I had always thought that I would take Economics at university, because I was good at Maths and had a pretty good idea that I wanted to work in Finance. However, when it came to applying, I spent ages researching degree options at different universities in which I was interested, in order to find the course that best matched me.

I feel as if everyone always tells you to apply for the course that you think you will enjoy the most, rather than the degree that you think you should you take for whatever reason – albeit its practicality in the real world or job focus. And I never really believed them until I did just that. Realistically, a degree is a degree, and when it’s from a Russell Group University, like Warwick, the course itself makes little difference. It is the act of having completed the degree that has value in the world of work.

Even now, applying to spring weeks and internships for finance roles, I notice that the majority of students come from backgrounds outside of Finance or Economics. In fact, this is exactly what banks are looking for: diversity. Different degrees offer students different skills and perspectives, and this is what makes businesses thrive.

When I was in sixth form, I knew I liked Maths and Economics, but I also had a passion for languages. And it was this passion inside of me that encouraged me to take a Joint Honours course at Warwick. Now, I cannot imagine studying anything else.

With a Joint Honours degree, you get the flexibility to keep your options open and to broaden your horizons in a multitude of different fields. Economics and French seem to be a contradiction of a degree course as they are so very different. But this allows me to hone in on different skills and to perfect talents I had in opposite fields. Equally, I never get bored of my degree because it is so different and gives me such variety. Studying languages also pushed me to take a year abroad whilst at university, that I perhaps never would have had the confidence to do alone. I learnt so much about myself and the country in which I was staying, whilst having the best year of my life, making friends and memories.  

I truly believe that there is the perfect course out there for everyone. You just have to find it. Much of the time, we aren’t even aware of what is on offer. Universities have progressed so much since when our parents were students, to the extent that the variety of courses available has doubled, with each university offering something slightly different. It is definitely worth putting the time in to research find the course perfectly tailored for you, as you are going to be studying it for at least 3 years. And for those on the fence between two courses, see if there is an opportunity to combine your passions into one degree. You’ll definitely find it more fulfilling and rewarding.