u/lucanneva

I have two PhD offers, both fully funded. One is at LSE, and the other is at Exeter.

The research fit is good at both, albeit in different ways. I also like the supervisory teams at both institutions. LSE is obviously the more prestigious option (especially for my research area), but I dislike London. I'm in my 30s, and I'd prefer not to live with others in a house share situation, but it would be that or a small studio if I took up the LSE place. Conversely, I like Devon a lot – I really value closeness to nature, and Exeter is much cheaper than London, so I'd be able to rent a one-bed flat.

I'm hoping to pursue a career in academia, and given how competitive that is, I'm nervous about choosing Exeter.

What would you do?