Economics (BSc Econ)

From Brexit and the Bedroom Tax to wages and wealth, environment and energy to health and homelessness, economists have rarely held such influence in the direction and debate of issues affecting the communities of the world.

It’s no wonder then, that employers are offering high wage graduate careers across the public sector, business, banking, accountancy and consultancy for those with economic expertise.

Our BScEcon Economics seeks to discover a new generation of economic thinkers.

Our research-led faculty will encourage you to consider the social, economic and ethical implications of your decisions on modules in labour economics, development, ethics and morality.

With their support, you’ll turn theory into practice and seek answers to a range of social and political issues, in preparation for careers in business, banking and consultancy roles or postgraduate and doctoral study.  

The Economics course is a three-year full-time course of study, involving both compulsory and optional modules.  You would normally attain 120 credits each year and 360 in total. 

A significant proportion of the modules included in the programme are taught by the School’s Economics Section while certain modules, notably in year one, are taught by other sections of the School. 

Learning And Assessment:

Our teaching is heavily informed by research and combines academic rigour with practical relevance. While our internationally recognised faculty consists of academics who are at the forefront of knowledge within their field. They bring the lessons learned from their most recent research into the classroom, giving you access to critical business thinking and contemporary real life examples and scenarios.

We will provide your teaching and learning resources, and will be responsive to your needs and views. For your part, you will need to put in the necessary amount of work both during and outside formal teaching sessions, and make good use of the facilities provided.

Most modules involve a mixture of lectures and small group teaching (called classes, seminars, workshops or tutorials). 

Lectures provide an overview of the key concepts and frameworks for a topic, equipping you to carry out independent research for the seminars and to develop your own ideas. Seminars provide an opportunity for you to explore the ideas outlined in the lectures. Seminars may take various formats, including plenary group discussion, small-group work and student-led presentations.

What Skills Will I Practise And Develop? 

As a result of engaging fully with this course, you will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both those which are discipline specific and more generic ‘employability skills’. These will allow you to:

• grasp complex issues with confidence
• ask the right questions of complex texts
• have an imaginative appreciation of different views and options and analyse these critically
• identify and apply relevant data
• develop practical research skills
• propose imaginative solutions of your own that are rooted in evidence
• communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively in writing and speech
• sourcing, interpreting and presenting relevant numerical information – to support the composition of projects reports and business cases
• work to deadlines and priorities, managing a range of tasks at the same time
• work as part of a team, developing a collaborative approach to problem-solving
• use IT programmes and standard software packages, where appropriate
• take responsibility for your own learning programme and professional development.

Entry Requirements:

• We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
• A level
• AAB-ABB. Must include Maths.
• Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
• Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application.
• Eligible students will be given an offer at the lower end of the advertised grade range.
• Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional points in the selection process or be guaranteed interview/consideration.
• International Baccalaureate
• 34-32 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Maths.
• Baccalaureate Wales
• From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.