Economics BSc (Econ) (Hons)

Overview

Do you get a buzz out of discussing economic issues such as the consequences of the Brexit vote, climate change and government budgets? Do you want to develop skills valued by employers while you learn with like-minded students and economic experts?

On this BSc (Econ) (Hons) Economics degree, you'll learn to become a professional economist with expert understanding of markets, trade, commercial policies, and political perspectives.

In year 1, you'll develop a thorough understanding of foundational economics topics and theories, and learn how these apply to daily life.

In years 2 and 3, you'll learn how to use your economics knowledge and skills in the situations you'll encounter in your career. You can also study specialist modules that match your interests and career ambitions in areas such as competition policy, financial risk management and game theory.

After year 2, you'll have the chance to enhance your career prospects and apply your skills in the workplace on a placement year. You can also spend your sandwich year studying abroad.

Economics relates to every aspect of our lives, from the decisions we make as individuals or families to the structures created by governments and firms. When you complete the course, you'll be able to work as an economist within business, banking or the Government. The economics knowledge and analytical, communication and decision-making skills you develop are also valuable in many other business functions and industries.

This degree shares some first-year elements with several other economics courses. This gives you the flexibility to transfer to another course after year 1 if you develop an interest in a specific subject area.

What you'll experience

On this degree course, you'll:

• Grapple with economic issues that affect the UK and the rest of the world
• Build a strong foundation in economic theory, and use it to develop your analytical, financial and research skills
• Learn from active researchers, whose expertise on topics such as monetary policy and behavioural economics has helped shape our society and the economy
• Use the same software as professional economists, including Eviews
• Analyse market movements and learn to make fast-paced investment decisions using our Bloomberg Suite, the trading platform used by professionals
• Get the Bloomberg Certificate as part of your studies, demonstrating to future employers that you know your way around the Bloomberg Suite
• Learn to apply your economic knowledge to inform decisions and tackle challenges in your career

You can also:

• Apply your knowledge in the workplace on a year-long work placement, boosting your employability prospects after the course
• Study abroad through our links with overseas universities
• Learn a language while you earn credit towards your degree as part of the University's IWLP programme

Careers and opportunities

Economists are at the heart of analysing contemporary issues in the private and public sectors, such forecasting the implications of proposed Government policies or estimating consumer demand.

The logical, rigorous and analytical nature of your economics training will also suit many business functions.

Roles our graduates have taken on include:

• Financial analyst
• Account manager
• Trader in financial assets
• Purchasing and acquisitions officer
• Graduate econometrician
• Risk analyst
• Product manager
• Head of consumer lending
• Investment case manager
• Data analyst