剛才腦袋有一點亂........整理一下:
1. 覺得讀MSc Econ大多數都是為了academic purpose
2. UCL have good industry reputation for sure, which is nice
3. In general, UK education are quite expensive, whether it worth or not, it's quite from one to one; 個人覺得唔太worth that price.
4. For this price, one get the reputation, especially back far east. but indeed if one solely for PhD, this is not a key issue.
5. a program with both academic + industry reputation are likely to have a higher admission requirement and/or less scholarship/higher tuition that one with smilar academic reputation but no/lower industry reputation. so if OP is dedicated to do a PhD in economics (and not consider other stuffs), OP should rank may consider other program first.
6. getting a program with both strong academic + industry reputation is a good idea, especially one want to reserve/plan to work outside pure academic afterwards. though one may need to prepare more $$ for it....