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Full Time: 3 Years
Study BSc Business Economics and use economic theory and methods to investigate markets, business environments and industry.
You will develop a strong understanding of quantitative techniques and the conceptual underpinnings of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory and how they can be applied to the analysis of business behaviour. You will cover topics including money and banking, industrial organisation and business history.
In the first and second year, you'll take many of the same core modules as our BSc Economics course to ensure you develop the skills and knowledge required to effectively study economics. You'll acquire specialist knowledge of business economics through core modules in your second and final year, which cover the topics of money and banking, industrial organisation and business history.
Optional modules allow you to explore other areas of economics or learn more about the practical aspects of business, such as accounting. Modules from other subjects such as history and politics are also available and are a good way to broaden your knowledge and pursue other interests.
In addition to traditional lectures, you'll take part in small group tutorials in which you can discuss and analyse theory and practice through case studies, group presentations and open debate. You can also apply what you learn to a placement and gain valuable real-world experience at the same time.
You also have the option of studying this degree over four years with a placement year.
For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.
For more information, please visit the Department of Economics website.
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.
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. 92% of graduates from the Department of Economics are in work or further study within 15 months of the end of their course [1].
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).
[1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18; First Degree responders from Economics.