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BA ECONOMICS WITH A PLACEMENT YEAR L102
Full Time: 4 Years
Study BA Economics with Placement Year and apply economic analysis to international problems.
On this course you will explore and develop a deep understanding of the increasingly critical economic and related issues that dominate the news agenda and shape the world in which we live. You will study practical issues in economics and explore the relationship between economics and society more widely.
This course places less emphasis on mathematical and statistical content, and instead you will focus on the relevance of these techniques to applied problems. You will still learn necessary maths skills in your core modules with extensive support, should you need it.
Each year you will be able to choose from a wide range of specialist optional modules and tailor the degree to your own interests. These span a number of topics, including business, policy, economic history and even the economics of climate change. You can also choose to do modules in other subjects such as history and politics, some of which cover topics and issues related to economics.
In addition to traditional lectures, you will take part small group tutorials in which you can discuss and analyse theory and practice through case studies, exercises, group presentations and open debate. You will have the opportunity to extend your study of economics beyond the classroom through our student-run Economics Society, which has arranged lectures on topics ranging from 'How happy are you?' to 'Are you a Marxist economist?' as well as conversations with economists on topical matters such as the economics of health and feminism.
Placement
During the first two years of this course you will have additional timetabled support for pursuing and applying for internships and placements. You will then have the opportunity to do a paid placement at a company or organisation in your third year (please note that a placement cannot be guaranteed). The Department of Economics also has a specialist placement officer who can provide you with one-to-one support in your placement applications and preparing for a placement.
For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.
Typical offer A Level ABB | IB 32 points overall
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £17,320 per year
* UK and EU fee changes
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students
For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Placement Year fees
If you spend a full year on placement – including professional and research placements and industrial experience – you’ll pay a discounted tuition fee for that year.
For Home/EU students, the discounted fee is subject to parliamentary approval and is currently capped at £1,385.
For International students, the discount is 15% of your normal tuition fee.
For more information, please contact placements@reading.ac.uk.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
* UK and EU Fee Changes
Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.
The tuition fee will remain £9,000 per year for the full duration of this course if you start in the 2016/17 academic year or have accepted an offer but deferred your entry until the 2017/18 academic year. This is unlike other institutions who are planning to raise fees midway through courses.
For further information, please see our webpage on the Teaching Excellence Framework and future tuition fees.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
What career can you have?
Our graduates are in high demand as a result of the analytical skills and specialist knowledge of economics they develop through this course. 94% of graduates from the Department of Economics are in work or further study within six months of graduating (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, 2016/17).
Our recent graduates have secured roles as economists with the Government Economic Service and consultancies such as PwC and KPMG. Others have entered related and non-related careers in finance, business, marketing, publishing, PR and media.
You can choose to study your degree over four years with a paid Professional Placement Year or by applying to spend a full academic year studying abroad. The University provides support to applicants in securing their placements. This includes timetabled support and training from the Department of Economics placement coordinator and focuses on the search, application and selection processes associated with placements.
Past and current students have undertaken placements with 3M, Bank of England, Deloitte, Disney IBM, Johnson and Johnson, NHS England, Nissan, Oracle, and the Government Economic Service (including the Treasury, the Office for National Statistics and Foreign & Commonwealth Office).