Cambridge or LSE/Sciences Po (Fulbright)??

[10Daphne]

Any advice you can give would be much appreciated! I have a very tough choice ahead of me.

-Cambridge MPhil in International Relations and Politics.

-Fulbright for Sciences Po Paris, with LSE the following year (dual degree).

-Oxford MPhil in International Relations

-Others: LSE MSc in IPE on its own (1 year), PSIA International Public Management on its own (Fulbright first year, second year much less expensive than if I did the LSE dual degree but less impressive/wouldn't open doors in London), UCL Masters in International Public Policy, SAIS Bologna/DC (offered no money), SIPA MIA (offered no money)

 

 

Edited March 21, 2016 by 10Daphne
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[10Daphne]

Some background: I am an American, recently graduated from an Ivy League school with two years of job experience (1 in London, which I fell in love with). I want to go back to live and work in London, but without a lot of direction about what I want to do (considering consulting/intl development/intl business). As I studied international relations as an undergrad, I was hoping to go back to the UK for a degree and use that as a platform for finding a job in London and figuring out what I want to do. I'm not interested in academia, nor did I want to go for an MBA or a degree in finance. I've gotten into some great schools, but need to decide what would be best from a funding point of view and also what would open the most doors for me!

-Cambridge MPhil in International Relations and Politics- no money (as of yet), about 36,000 GBP including housing. Only one year, which is a draw as less expensive than 2 year. And I've fallen in love with Cambridge and think it would be great from a student life perspective. However, it is quite expensive and not as practical of a degree.

-Fulbright for Sciences Po Paris, with LSE the following year (dual degree). This is really exciting! I've gotten into the dual degree- Sciences Po PSIA Master in International Public Management and LSE MSc in International Political Economy. And Paris would be amazing. However, I would have to pay for the year at LSE when the Fulbright ends- ~20,000 GBP not including housing.

-Oxford MPhil in International Relations- more prestigious than Cambridge's program (is this considered true?) but more expensive for 2 years and includes a year of required courses like research methodology which wouldn't be as useful for my career goals.

-Others: LSE MSc in IPE on its own (1 year), PSIA International Public Management on its own (Fulbright first year, second year much less expensive than if I did the LSE dual degree but less impressive/wouldn't open doors in London), UCL Masters in International Public Policy, SAIS Bologna/DC (offered no money), SIPA MIA (offered no money)

[10Daphne]

Thank you @RetroFuturism! This is really helpful. You're the first person to tell me to go to Cambridge- other friends and family have said that the combination of Fulbright/Sciences Po degree/LSE degree, along with having lived in Paris, would be too hard to turn down. I agree with you that, Fulbright aside, I would pick Cambridge over LSE, but I'm stuck when it comes to turning down the Fulbright year in Paris to go to Cambridge. Your analysis removes Fulbright from the equation, but I wonder if it's better to look at it removing LSE from the equation (Fulbright funding a degree from Sciences Po vs. Cambridge)?

Also, are you currently in the MPhil in IR at Cambridge? I would appreciate all the information about it you can give! 

[10Daphne]

UPDATE: The Fulbright gives 16200 Euros and does not cover tuition. So I'd still be paying tuition at Sciences Po... This may change things.