BSc (Economics)

What are the factors that determine income, wealth and well-being? How do economic policies impact the world around us? Economic issues capture our attention on a daily basis. This degree lets you study them in detail and, along the way, learn how to apply your skills to real-world issues.

Course description

• Leicester’s School of Business has an international reputation for being at the forefront of innovation in economic science, and you will be among the first to study at our new £16 million Brookfield campus. You will study the core areas of microeconomics and macroeconomics and the application of basic mathematical and statistical techniques to the solution of economic problems.
• Economic issues occupy the news, capture our attention and affect our everyday lives. This course offers a comprehensive and critical understanding of the ideas, concepts and issues central to economics, enabling you to better understand these issues and the world around you.
• You will engage with modern policy issues and economic analysis, and develop analytical abilities and critical appraisal skills. These are particularly beneficial transferable skills for graduate employment and will prepare you for a career in the public or private sector, whether that be in financial services, business management or the Government Economic Service. Your time here will also equip you with the research techniques that are vital to postgraduate study. Job prospects are excellent, with 95% of our economics students employed (or studying for a Master’s) six months after graduating (The Uni Guide).
• In addition all of our economics degrees are accredited by CIMA, the professional body of management accountants.
• The close relationship between research and teaching is one of the great advantages of studying with us, and we welcome talented students from countries all over the world. Our staff are active researchers of international renown, and have acted as advisers and consultants to many international and national organisations, including the European Central Bank, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the Central Bank of Poland, the Central Bank of Greece and a number of UK Government departments.

The first year of this degree is shared with the following BSc degrees:

• Business Economics BSc
• Economics and Data Analytics BSc
• Economics and Accounting BSc
• Financial Economics and Banking BSc

This means that you have the option to switch to any of these courses at the end of your first year.

Course structure
Year 1

• Contemporary Issues in Economics, Finance and Business
• Microeconomics
• Maths for Economics 1
• Statistics for Economics
• Contemporary Issues in Economics, Finance and Business 2
• Macroeconomics
• Maths for Economics 2
• Introduction to Economic Data Analysis

All five of our Economics courses share the exact same first year. This means that you can switch to any of these degrees at the end of your first year:

• Economics and Accounting BSc
• Economics and Data Analytics BSc
• Business Economics BSc 
• Financial Economics and Banking BSc

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2
Core modules

• Introductory Econometrics
• Game Theory
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• Topics in Applied Econometrics
• Firms, Markets and Welfare

Option modules
Choose two option modules from:

• Economic History
• Money and Central Banking
• Labour Economics
• Environmental and Resource Economics
• Business Data Science

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Final Year
Core modules

• Dissertation 
• Advanced Microeconomics
• Advanced Macroeconomics

Option modules
Choose two option modules from:

• Industrial Economics
• Development Economics
• International Trade
• Managerial Economics

Then choose three option modules from:

• Economics of Education*
• International Finance
• Public Economics
• Economics of Health*
• Behavioural Economics

Why Leicester?

• Our Brookfield campus is equipped with state-of-the-art learning facilities including the ULSB Trading Room. Our 16 dual-screen Bloomberg terminals let you see how traders work using real-time stock quotes 24/7 and providing access to industry-leading data, research, news and analytics.
• Our Economics, Economics and Accounting, Business Economics and Financial Economics and Banking degrees have the same first year so you can switch your course at the end of your first year, tailoring your degree to your strengths and interests.
• Our economics courses are accredited by CIMA, giving you exemption from exams that will give your career a head-start. In addition we are a CFA University Affiliation Program Partner.

Careers and employability

• Whether you want to reach the top in an organisation, start your own business or make a difference in the voluntary sector, there are specially designed programmes and activities at Leicester that will support you in gaining the right skills, experiences and exposures you need. Employability is embedded in our courses with all offering a year in industry opportunity. In addition, the School of Business has a dedicated Careers Team who work to make sure you get support to achieve your aspirations.

Graduate destinations
Our economics graduates have gone onto work for employers such as:

• Santander
• PWC
• Virgin Media
• Deutsche Bank
• JP Morgan
• KPMG
• Deloitte