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BSc Economics

  • UCAS code
    L100
  • Typical offer
    ABB
  • Year of entry
    2024/25 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  3 Years
  • Year of entry
    2024/25 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  3 Years

Learn how to approach the world’s problems as an economist with our BSc Economics degree.

This three-year course will enable you to tackle a diverse range of economic issues and problems. You will acquire the skills, knowledge and understanding that are required to become an economist or use economics as a major aspect of your career. You will also work extensively with data and learn how to apply theory and models to analyse real-world issues.

  • We also offer a BA Economics degree at the University of Reading, which covers an even wider range of economic markets and social policy issues but focuses less on techniques for working with data.

Choose economics at the University of Reading

  • Established for more than 50 years.
  • 100% of our research impact has been classed ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ (REF 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions – Business and Management Studies, and Anthropology and Development Studies).
  • We are ranked in the top 200 universities in the world for Economics (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).

Our BSc programme will help you analyse what's happening in the world: how do economies grow, what can be done to manage business cycles, is a 5-day week really necessary and so on. You will analyse these using a range of theories and methods including the theory of games and strategic interactions, natural and behavioural experiments. Your degree will help you to understand and make predictions about individual and collective economic behaviour.

Your core modules will cover a range of topics, including:

  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Statistical and Econometric Methods
  • Mathematics for Economists
  • Economic Theory
  • Behavioural Economics.

In computer lab sessions, you will learn how to work with specialist software that professional economists commonly use in business, government bodies, and research organisations.

Optional modules will bring your studies to life and relate to what is happening outside of the classroom, with interactive modules such as:

  • Development Economics, understanding of the causes and consequences of underdevelopment and the policies that help bring people out of poverty.
  • Economics of Banking, exploring the weaknesses in the banking sector, the strategies adopted by banks to address risks, and the rationale for government intervention in the financial sector and banking regulation.
  • Economics of Sport and Games, studying how the competitive and controlled environments within sport can provide laboratories to study human behaviour, to test theories, and to observe the impacts of policy.

Your learning environment

Our research in the Department of Economics has real-world applications and has informed policy decisions by governments, major multinational organisations, and agencies such as the UN and the World Bank.

At Reading, our researchers are addressing some of the key issues of the twenty-first century, such as the environmental impact of economic growth:

  • Read about Dr Stefania Lovo's research into calculating the cost of a clean environment.

Elsewhere, our innovative research into leisure and sport is providing vital economic insights:

  • Dr James Reade combines his interests in sports and econometrics to understand what drives people's economic behaviour

What you study throughout your degree will be aligned with our research clusters, keeping you up to date with the latest developments in economics. This learning is complemented by guest speakers from outside the University and the student-led Economics Society.

Popular optional modules on the BSc Economics programme include:

  • Economics of Climate Change
  • Urban Economics
  • Financial Economics.

As well as lectures, you'll take part in small-group tutorials, enabling you to discuss and analyse both theory and practice through case studies, group presentations and open debate.

Supporting your learning

The Department of Economics will support your learning in several ways:

  • Economics Surgeries offer one-to-one appointments with staff allowing you to discuss the topics you've studied and get help with specific study skills.
  • Economics Conversations provide the opportunity for you to discuss an economic issue in the news with staff and other students from across the department in a relaxed, informal setting.
  • The Economics Society is a student-led body that you can get involved in. It arranges social events for students, careers-focused events as well as lectures and discussions with economists on a range of topical matters, such as the economics of health and feminism.

Work placements with BSc Economics

Enhance your employability and build your network by applying for work placements during your degree.

If you are interested in doing a year-long placement, you can opt for our four-year BSc Economics with a Placement Year degree, which includes an integrated professional placement between your second and third years.

We have a dedicated placement coordinator who can provide advice and support in your search for a placement.

Previous students from the Department of Economics have undertaken placements with:

  • 3M
  • Airbus
  • Bank of England
  • Crowe
  • Deloitte
  • Disney
  • Emperor
  • HP Enterprise
  • IBM
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • NHS England
  • Nissan
  • Oracle
  • the Government Economic Service (including the Treasury, the Office for National Statistics, and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office).

Study Abroad

As part of your degree, you can apply to study for a year or term abroad at one of our partner universities in Australia, Canada, the USA, or across Europe.

Visit our Study Abroad website for more information.

Overview

Learn how to approach the world’s problems as an economist with our BSc Economics degree.

This three-year course will enable you to tackle a diverse range of economic issues and problems. You will acquire the skills, knowledge and understanding that are required to become an economist or use economics as a major aspect of your career. You will also work extensively with data and learn how to apply theory and models to analyse real-world issues.

  • We also offer a BA Economics degree at the University of Reading, which covers an even wider range of economic markets and social policy issues but focuses less on techniques for working with data.

Choose economics at the University of Reading

  • Established for more than 50 years.
  • 100% of our research impact has been classed ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ (REF 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions – Business and Management Studies, and Anthropology and Development Studies).
  • We are ranked in the top 200 universities in the world for Economics (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).

Our BSc programme will help you analyse what's happening in the world: how do economies grow, what can be done to manage business cycles, is a 5-day week really necessary and so on. You will analyse these using a range of theories and methods including the theory of games and strategic interactions, natural and behavioural experiments. Your degree will help you to understand and make predictions about individual and collective economic behaviour.

Your core modules will cover a range of topics, including:

  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Statistical and Econometric Methods
  • Mathematics for Economists
  • Economic Theory
  • Behavioural Economics.

In computer lab sessions, you will learn how to work with specialist software that professional economists commonly use in business, government bodies, and research organisations.

Optional modules will bring your studies to life and relate to what is happening outside of the classroom, with interactive modules such as:

  • Development Economics, understanding of the causes and consequences of underdevelopment and the policies that help bring people out of poverty.
  • Economics of Banking, exploring the weaknesses in the banking sector, the strategies adopted by banks to address risks, and the rationale for government intervention in the financial sector and banking regulation.
  • Economics of Sport and Games, studying how the competitive and controlled environments within sport can provide laboratories to study human behaviour, to test theories, and to observe the impacts of policy.

Learning

Your learning environment

Our research in the Department of Economics has real-world applications and has informed policy decisions by governments, major multinational organisations, and agencies such as the UN and the World Bank.

At Reading, our researchers are addressing some of the key issues of the twenty-first century, such as the environmental impact of economic growth:

  • Read about Dr Stefania Lovo's research into calculating the cost of a clean environment.

Elsewhere, our innovative research into leisure and sport is providing vital economic insights:

  • Dr James Reade combines his interests in sports and econometrics to understand what drives people's economic behaviour

What you study throughout your degree will be aligned with our research clusters, keeping you up to date with the latest developments in economics. This learning is complemented by guest speakers from outside the University and the student-led Economics Society.

Popular optional modules on the BSc Economics programme include:

  • Economics of Climate Change
  • Urban Economics
  • Financial Economics.

As well as lectures, you'll take part in small-group tutorials, enabling you to discuss and analyse both theory and practice through case studies, group presentations and open debate.

Supporting your learning

The Department of Economics will support your learning in several ways:

  • Economics Surgeries offer one-to-one appointments with staff allowing you to discuss the topics you've studied and get help with specific study skills.
  • Economics Conversations provide the opportunity for you to discuss an economic issue in the news with staff and other students from across the department in a relaxed, informal setting.
  • The Economics Society is a student-led body that you can get involved in. It arranges social events for students, careers-focused events as well as lectures and discussions with economists on a range of topical matters, such as the economics of health and feminism.

Work placements with BSc Economics

Enhance your employability and build your network by applying for work placements during your degree.

If you are interested in doing a year-long placement, you can opt for our four-year BSc Economics with a Placement Year degree, which includes an integrated professional placement between your second and third years.

We have a dedicated placement coordinator who can provide advice and support in your search for a placement.

Previous students from the Department of Economics have undertaken placements with:

  • 3M
  • Airbus
  • Bank of England
  • Crowe
  • Deloitte
  • Disney
  • Emperor
  • HP Enterprise
  • IBM
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • NHS England
  • Nissan
  • Oracle
  • the Government Economic Service (including the Treasury, the Office for National Statistics, and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office).

Study Abroad

As part of your degree, you can apply to study for a year or term abroad at one of our partner universities in Australia, Canada, the USA, or across Europe.

Visit our Study Abroad website for more information.

Entry requirements A Level ABB

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.

Typical offer

ABB including A level Maths at grade B

International Baccalaureate

32 points overall, including standard level Maths at grade 5 minimum 

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma

Not accepted, unless studied alongside A level Maths. The BTEC Extended Diploma cannot be accepted to cover the Maths subject-specific requirement.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

  • Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Compulsory modules:

  • Principles of Economics 1
  • Principles of Economics 2
  • Applied Economics and Policy
  • Mathematical Methods for Economists

Optional modules:

  • Economics of Climate Change
  • History of Economic Thought
  • Globalisation and the History of Western Capitalism

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available between May and July 2023. We suggest that you regularly revisit this webpage during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Compulsory modules:

  • Intermediate Microeconomics
  • Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • Introductory Econometrics
  • Intermediate Econometrics
  • Intermediate Economic Theory

Optional modules:

  • Business Economics
  • Games and Economic Behaviour
  • Economics of Social Policy
  • Economic History

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available between May and July 2023. We suggest that you regularly revisit this webpage during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Compulsory modules:

  • Advanced Microeconomics
  • Advanced Macroeconomics

Optional modules:

  • Public Economics
  • Econometric Methods
  • Behavioural Economics
  • Industrial Organisation
  • Financial Economics
  • The Economics of Sports and Games
  • Environmental Economics
  • International Economics
  • Development Economics
  • Money and Banking
  • Economics of Labour
  • Theory of Macroeconomic Policy
  • Dissertation

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available between May and July 2023. We suggest that you regularly revisit this webpage during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250*

New international students: £22,350

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

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 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.

Careers

Your analytical skills and specialist knowledge of economics are highly sought by employers. Your degree will also equip you with valuable transferable skills, from problem-solving to communication and presentation.

Overall, 92% of graduates from Economics are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation. [1] Many of our graduates are employed as economists with governmental and commercial organisations. Others have entered related careers in accounting, finance, business, marketing, publishing, public relations, and the media.

Recent BSc Economics graduates from the University of Reading have started their careers with organisations such as:

  • Government Economic Service - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  • Government Economic Service - HM Treasury
  • Government Economic Service - Home Office
  • The Financial Conduct Authority | FCA
  • Association of British Insurers | ABI
  • Nationwide Building Society
  • Grant Thornton UK LLP
  • University of Oxford
  • Kimberley-Clark
  • NHS England
  • PwC
  • Intel.

[1] Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes first degree Economics responders.

Economics is relevant to everyone and everything. It is influential in every decision made and can have a real impact on our lives. It is this that I find most intriguing about the subject, and I enjoy being able to relate what I learn to real-life situations.

Poppy Small
BSc Economics

Meera discusses the course

Contextual offers


We make contextual offers for all our courses.

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