BSc (Hons) Economics

Improve your knowledge of global markets and economic theory, and sharpen your decision making skills – an Economics degree at Nottingham Business School is your gateway to a career in financial services, and a wide range of other opportunities.

Economics is built on some simple, yet important, ideas known as threshold concepts. These apply to decisions taken every day by individuals, firms and governments. Some of these decisions can have very important effects for all of us – for example, decisions made by financial institutions in 2008 which lasted for five quarters and resulted in the deepest UK recession since the war.

You’ll study the key concepts of modern economics, learning how these principles are applied by individuals, businesses and governments. You’ll work with professionals and industry experts and test your knowledge in a range of real-world business environments.

As an Economics student you’ll have access to our unique Business Lab facility. With double-screen workstations, the room gives you a simulated experience of working in the fast-moving world of shares and trading. You can access sophisticated analysis tools and data on worldwide financial markets.

Nottingham Business School enrols its economics students with The Society of Professional Economists (SPE). SPE is the leading organisation serving professional economists in the UK and has more than 600 members, drawn from all areas of the profession including finance and commerce, industry, government departments, private sector consultants, business schools and universities.

This course can be studied over three years full-time or four years with a placement, and offers all students the opportunity to gain some industry experience or travel overseas to study abroad in one of our partner universities with our unique opportunities scheme.

Nottingham Business School is a UK leader in financial and business education – an Economics degree from NTU gives you the foundations and opportunities to pursue a wide range of exciting careers.

What you’ll study

• The course begins in September 2025. Take a look at the academic calendar for term dates. The academic calendar will apply throughout your course, aside your placement year (if you have chosen to undertake one).

Year One

• Principles of Macroeconomics-This module will introduce you to key macroeconomic variables, such as growth, inflation, unemployment and trade, and to theoretical perspectives on their determination applying models in a national and international context. It provides the building blocks for further critical analysis later in the course.
• Principles of Microeconomics-This module will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to microeconomic theory and enable you to analyse markets, institutions and policy. In doing so, you will learn to understand the interconnectedness of economic participants, such as consumers and producers.
• Quantitative Methods for Economists-An ability to understand and analyse quantitative data is an important part of an economist’s toolkit. This module will develop your numeracy, enabling you to explore, describe and utilise data in economic and business analysis.
• Introductory Finance for Economists-Learn how to apply economic principles to the analysis of business and finance issues. You will develop an understanding of the link between economics, finance, and business.
• Economic Policy in Context-Provides an historical background to the process of economic development and introduces influential economic scholars and schools of thought. You will reflect on the parallels between contemporary economic issues and debates with those of the past.
• Personal and Academic Development-Helps you recognise the personal skills, behaviours and attributes you currently have, and supports you in formulating a continuous personal and professional development plan to develop the skills and knowledge you need to achieve your future ambitions and realise your full potential.

First half of Year Two – Core modules

Intermediate Macroeconomics

• This module looks to develop students understanding of macroeconomic theory. It will provide students with the necessary conceptual foundations to appraise alternative perspectives on key controversies in macroeconomics. In looking consistently to draw potential policy implications its focus will be on both the short- term dynamics of economies frequently buffeted by economic shocks and the longer-term drivers and influences on economic growth and development.

Intermediate Microeconomics

• This module aims to deepen and widen students understanding of microeconomics by building upon the foundations students acquired from the Principles of Microeconomics module. This module will explore the complex interconnectedness of individual decisions, which arise because of rival demands on globally scarce resources. Additionally, this module will introduce students to some of the controversies associated with alternative theoretical approaches.

Economic Evaluation

• This module provides a broad treatment of micro and macroeconomic policy issues that affect contemporary society. The module will use the toolkit of the economist to analyse contemporary economic issues.

Second half of Year Two
You can either select one of our unique opportunities initiatives or continue with your taught modules.

Option 1 – study abroad

• Experience life in another country by studying at one of our partner universities. Choose from a host of countries in Europe or go further afield and study in the USA, South America, Australasia and South East Asia. This is a great opportunity to develop your independence and explore another culture.

Option 2 – enterprise project

• Explore your entrepreneurial side and start to develop the meaningful and practical skills needed to run your own business. Supported by NTU Enterprise, NTU's centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, during this opportunity you'll work alongside other young entrepreneurs and a dynamic network of mentors and advisors, to develop your own ideas into a live enterprise project.

Option 3 – internship

• Get a taste of the working world and gain some essential industry insight with a 16-18 week work placement. The experience will allow you to put your learning in to practice, with the experience gained improving your future career prospects, and sharpening your interpersonal and professional skills.

Option 4 – continue with taught modules

• If you didn't fancy doing any of the above options then you can continue your studies at university. With a mixture of both compulsory and optional modules, the first will enhance your knowledge and skills set in your area of study, with the later allowing you to tailor your learning experience.

Core modules
Applied Professional Development

• Following on from the Personal Development module in Year One, this module supports you to build upon and reflect on your personal and professional skills, attributes and behaviours. You will attend a conference with a varied programme of events focused on the future of work, and later in the module you will immerse yourself in a period work or work-like experience to develop a range of skills designed to enhance your employability.

Environmental and Resource Economics

This module will give you the opportunity to apply economic analysis to issues related to the use of the environment and natural resources. Indicative topic areas include:

• Introduction to environmental economics and sustainability
• Economic characteristics of the environment and natural resources- their public good characteristics and the role of externalities
• Pollution control regimes: command and control regulation, taxation and tradeable permit schemes
• Models of natural resource management, development and use
• Economics of energy markets
• Economics of climate change and the role of institutions and international environmental agreements.

Plus one optional module from:

Econometrics

• This module will develop further the tools and techniques that enhance your ability to use quantitative data to evaluate economic and business decisions. It will help you to build and test models of economic phenomena and introduce you to forecasting and hypothesis testing.

Survey Research and Analysis for Business

• This module draws on conceptual material in the area of Survey Methods widely used in business and the application of analytic methods to the data generated. One of the primary focuses of this module is to help you understand how to plan and conduct surveys but also interpret the results within the appropriate business context. With the aid of appropriate professional statistical software you will be encouraged to apply statistical methods of analysis to data. The module is designed to allow you the opportunity to analyse and interpret “real data” from various areas of the business world. In studying this module you will develop your knowledge and skills in conducting survey research within business.
• You will be given the opportunity to plan and execute a survey; design and implement a survey instrument; analyse survey results using applications software; and interpret and communicate analytical findings.

Year Three
Placement year

• In year three, you have the option to take a placement year. This time spent working in business provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. We have links with a wide range of sectors, firms and organisations that offer student placements. If you have decided to undertake a placement year then this will last for a minimum of 48 weeks during your third year.
• Our Employability Team is here to inspire and enhance every stage of your career planning and as a graduate of NTU, you will be able to access their services for three years after your course has finished.

Services they provide include:

• Finding placements, internships and part-time work
• Pursuing self-employment
• Taking gap years and time out
• Getting into volunteering
• Providing advice on further study.
• Or
• Taught modules

If you have decided to continue with your studies please view the 'final year' tab for your list of modules.

Final year
Developing Professional Impact

• This module is designed to expand your horizons and challenge your attitudes and behaviours both in relation to subject specific issues and wider business concerns such as global citizenship and sustainable business practices. It will encourage you to build on your strengths and explore a range of possibilities as you embark on your next steps.

Choice and Welfare

• The module builds on the microeconomic theory developed previously on the course to provide a critical analysis of economic theories, concepts and techniques of relevance to individual, government, business and managerial decision-making. In doing so, students will apply economic ideas to analyse a range of issues of concern to individuals, policy makers and businesses in a contemporary setting.

Macroeconomics Issues and Policy

• The module extends and uses economic theory already encountered on the degree to analyse macroeconomic issues facing policy-makers in the modern economy. By applying economic concepts and theories to macroeconomic problems, the module aims to deepen understanding of macroeconomic debates about policy.

The World Economy

• This module critically applies relevant economic theories to develop your understanding of key contemporary issues in the world economy. Individual country differences will see different countries exposed to, and respond to, common problems in different ways. The module therefore introduces you to several of the common economic issues and challenges that all countries face.

Plus one optional module from:
Applied Business Research Project

• This module will see you undertake an individual in-depth study of a topic related to economics. During the project you will develop your skills to independently manage a major piece of work. The work will be written in the style of an academic article giving you the chance to practice writing for an academic audience.

Sustainability in Enterprise Project

• This module is designed to give you a deeper understanding of sustainability issues affecting firms. It incorporates a live consultancy experience, where you are required to apply your knowledge to critically review aspects of enterprise practice and infrastructure and recommend ways to reduce carbon emissions. You will learn how to critically review sustainability issues presented by an enterprise and analyse evidence, arguments, concepts and data to formulate sustainability and carbon management recommendations for an enterprise.

Plus one optional module from:
Contemporary Economic Perspectives

• This module will provide you with a critical perspective on the methods and analysis of economists. You will compare the different interpretations of contemporary economic issues and events and the lessons that can be drawn. The module adopts a pluralistic approach enabling a critique of mainstream economic thinking.

Investment Portfolio Management

• This module examines appropriate Investment and Portfolio Management theory. You will have the opportunity to put this theory into practice principally via the construction and running of a portfolio of equities.

Econometric Methods

• This module build on the econometrics from earlier in the course to develop your ability to use appropriate statistical methods to test economic and financial theories to aid the evaluation of government, business and investments policies and strategies.

Careers and employability
Graduates from this course have gone onto working in both public and private sector, undertaking positions such as:

• Auditor
• Business Analyst
• Civil Servant
• Credit Controller
• Financial Consultant

In the last few years, graduates from this course have gone onto securing roles with well know employers such as:

• PwC
• Lloyds Banking Group
• Capita
• Acenture
• HSBC
• Department of International Trade
• ONS
• Treasury