BA Politics and Economics
-
UCAS code
LL12 -
Typical offer
BBB -
Year of entry
2023/24 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
-
Year of entry
2023/24 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
Combine the specialist study of politics with a grounding in economics, and explore the key forces driving contemporary democratic society, with our BA Politics and Economics degree.
At the University of Reading, our three-year joint course is offered by the School of Politics and International Relations and the Department of Economics.
In politics, our wide range of core and optional modules will give you a strong foundation in topics such as:
- comparative government and politics
- political theory
- international relations
- contemporary democracy.
In economics, you will examine practical economic issues and, more widely, the relationship between economics and society, focusing on topics such as:
- macroeconomics
- microeconomics
- economic institutions
- economics of social policy.
You will focus on how economic tools can be applied to different markets and situations, acquiring the skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable you to solve the problems that are challenging policy makers and businesses all over the world.
You will also analyse economic issues using a range of economic theories and methods, including the theory of games and strategic interactions, and natural and behavioural experiments.
Learn from active participants in the world of politics and economics
You will benefit from a learning environment driven by high-quality research:
- We are ranked 6th in the UK for research output in Politics and International Studies, with 97% of research output rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Times Higher Education analysis of the latest REF 2021 – Politics and International Studies, when scoring by GPA Output).
- In Economics, 100% of our research impact rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Excellence Framework [REF] 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions – Business and Management Studies).
Our research has real-world applications and has informed policy decisions by governments, major multinational organisations, and agencies such as the UN and the World Bank. What you study throughout your degree will be aligned with our research clusters, keeping you up to date with the latest developments in economics.
Our academics regularly feature in academic literature and the media, offering their expertise on current issues and engaging in real-world politics. As such, our teaching is research-led and relevant.
In your final year, you can construct your own portfolio of specialist, research-led modules in both subjects and write a dissertation in either politics or economics.
Shape your degree with real-world modules
You will be able to bring your studies to life and relate to what is happening outside the classroom, with optional modules, such as:
- Model United Nations – Visit an overseas conference and take part in a simulation of the United Nations in action, engaging with students and academics from other universities across Europe and the UK.
- Media and Politics – Introduce yourself to key topics in the study of the media and media power, and produce a politics radio show.
- Economics of Sport and Games – Study how the competitive and controlled environments within sport can provide laboratories to study human behaviour, test theories, and observe the impacts of policy.
- Public Economics – Assume the role of a government adviser and write policy briefs that address public policy issues.
Work placement opportunities
Enhance your employability and build your network by applying for work placements during your degree. We have a dedicated placement coordinator who can provide advice and support in your search for a placement.
If you are interested in doing a year-long placement, you can also opt for our four-year BA Politics and Economics with a Placement Year degree, which includes an integrated professional placement between your second and third years.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can apply to study for a year or a term abroad at one of our partner universities in Australia, Canada, the USA, or across Europe.
Overview
Combine the specialist study of politics with a grounding in economics, and explore the key forces driving contemporary democratic society, with our BA Politics and Economics degree.
At the University of Reading, our three-year joint course is offered by the School of Politics and International Relations and the Department of Economics.
In politics, our wide range of core and optional modules will give you a strong foundation in topics such as:
- comparative government and politics
- political theory
- international relations
- contemporary democracy.
In economics, you will examine practical economic issues and, more widely, the relationship between economics and society, focusing on topics such as:
- macroeconomics
- microeconomics
- economic institutions
- economics of social policy.
You will focus on how economic tools can be applied to different markets and situations, acquiring the skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable you to solve the problems that are challenging policy makers and businesses all over the world.
You will also analyse economic issues using a range of economic theories and methods, including the theory of games and strategic interactions, and natural and behavioural experiments.
Learning
Learn from active participants in the world of politics and economics
You will benefit from a learning environment driven by high-quality research:
- We are ranked 6th in the UK for research output in Politics and International Studies, with 97% of research output rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Times Higher Education analysis of the latest REF 2021 – Politics and International Studies, when scoring by GPA Output).
- In Economics, 100% of our research impact rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Excellence Framework [REF] 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions – Business and Management Studies).
Our research has real-world applications and has informed policy decisions by governments, major multinational organisations, and agencies such as the UN and the World Bank. What you study throughout your degree will be aligned with our research clusters, keeping you up to date with the latest developments in economics.
Our academics regularly feature in academic literature and the media, offering their expertise on current issues and engaging in real-world politics. As such, our teaching is research-led and relevant.
In your final year, you can construct your own portfolio of specialist, research-led modules in both subjects and write a dissertation in either politics or economics.
Shape your degree with real-world modules
You will be able to bring your studies to life and relate to what is happening outside the classroom, with optional modules, such as:
- Model United Nations – Visit an overseas conference and take part in a simulation of the United Nations in action, engaging with students and academics from other universities across Europe and the UK.
- Media and Politics – Introduce yourself to key topics in the study of the media and media power, and produce a politics radio show.
- Economics of Sport and Games – Study how the competitive and controlled environments within sport can provide laboratories to study human behaviour, test theories, and observe the impacts of policy.
- Public Economics – Assume the role of a government adviser and write policy briefs that address public policy issues.
Work placement opportunities
Enhance your employability and build your network by applying for work placements during your degree. We have a dedicated placement coordinator who can provide advice and support in your search for a placement.
If you are interested in doing a year-long placement, you can also opt for our four-year BA Politics and Economics with a Placement Year degree, which includes an integrated professional placement between your second and third years.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can apply to study for a year or a term abroad at one of our partner universities in Australia, Canada, the USA, or across Europe.
Entry requirements A Level BBB
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
BBB
International Baccalaureate
30 points overall including minimum 4 in Maths at standard level
GCSE
GCSE Maths at grade B (6)
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
DDM
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.
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.
Structure
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EC113 | Introductory Microeconomics | DR Vivien Burrows |
EC114 | Introductory Macroeconomics | DR Mark Guzman |
EC115 | Introductory Quantitative Methods in Economics and Business 1 | DR Kiran Karrouchi |
EC116 | Introductory Mathematics for Economics 1 | DR Andy Chung |
PO1DCC | Degree Core Competencies | DR Amanda Hall |
PO1ICD | Introduction to Contemporary Democracy | DR Christoph Arndt |
PO1IPI | Introduction to Political Ideas | DR Andrew Reid |
PO1IRS | Politics: International Relations and Strategic Studies | DR Amanda Hall |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EC201 | Intermediate Microeconomics | DR Carolyn Molesworth-St Aubyn |
EC202 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | DR Mark Guzman |
PO2ADC | Advanced Degree Competencies | DR Amanda Hall |
PO2SOP | The Study of Politics | DR Christoph Arndt |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EC207 | Empirical Methods for Economics and Social Sciences | MR Adesola Olumayowa Sunmoni |
EC208 | Business Economics | DR Nigel Wadeson |
EC238 | Economics of Social Policy | DR Samantha Benvinda Rawlings |
EC243 | Economic History | DR Andrew Primmer |
PO2AMG | American Government and Politics | DR Graham O'Dwyer |
PO2BGP | British Government and Politics | DR Rose De Geus |
PO2CGP | Comparative Government and Politics | DR Kiwi Ting |
PO2COS | Contemporary Strategy | DR Kenton White |
PO2GPH | Global Politics and History | DR Kerry Goettlich |
PO2MIR | Modern International Relations | DR Joseph O' Mahoney |
PO2MUN | Model United Nations | DR Sarah Von Billerbeck |
PO2PHC | Political Classics | PROF Alan Cromartie |
PO2PWS | Politics of the Welfare State | DR Christoph Arndt |
PO2RTW | Russia in the World | DR Vladimir Rauta |
PO2THI | Political Thinking | DR Alice Baderin |
PO2TMP | The Media and Politics | DR Dawn Clarke |
PO2WAP | War and Peace Since 1800 | DR Geoff Sloan |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EC311 | International Economics | DR Hussein Hassan |
EC314 | Public Economics | DR Vivien Burrows |
EC320 | Money and Banking | DR Christos Mavrodimitrakis |
EC322 | Economics of Labour | DR Sarah Jewell |
EC325 | The Economics of Sports and Games | PROF James Reade |
EC334 | Environmental Economics | DR Stefania Lovo |
EC343 | Behavioural Economics | DR Joo Young Jeon |
EC347 | Industrial Organisation | DR Joo Young Jeon |
EC349 | Financial Economics | DR Fangya Xu |
EC3DSI | Dissertation (for Joint degrees) | DR Hussein Hassan |
PO3BFD | British Foreign and Defence Policy since 1945 | DR Kenton White |
PO3CSS | Introduction to Critical Security Studies | DR Andreas Behnke |
PO3DCW | Dynamics of Civil Wars | DR Vladimir Rauta |
PO3DIS | Dissertation | DR Adam Humphreys |
PO3FAR | The Far Right | PROF Daphne Halikiopoulou |
PO3FPT | Feminism and Political Theory | DR Sarah Goff |
PO3GAP | Gender and Politics | DR Rose De Geus |
PO3INT | Intelligence, War and International Relations | DR Geoff Sloan |
PO3IOG | International Organizations in Global Politics | DR Martin Binder |
PO3IPE | International Political Economy | DR Jonathan Golub |
PO3ITE | International Terrorism | DR Amanda Hall |
PO3MAR | Karl Marx | PROF Alan Cromartie |
PO3MEA | Politics & International Relations of the Middle East | DR Younis Lahwej |
PO3NUK | The Politics of Nuclear Weapons | DR Joseph O' Mahoney |
PO3USF | US Foreign and Defence Policy since 1950 | DR Graham O'Dwyer |
PO3WPE | War, Peace and International Ethics | PROF Alan Cromartie |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250*
New international students: £20,300
*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
Our degree will help you develop strong analytical and research skills and gain experience in delivering presentations and working as part of a group, which makes you suitable for a wide range of careers. Graduates with degrees in social science subjects such as politics and international relations are highly sought after by employers for their wide range of transferable skills.
Overall, 92% of graduates from Economics are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation, and 91% of Politics and International Relations graduates.[1]
Past students have put their skills to direct use in:
- home and European civil services
- political research units
- think tanks
- non-governmental organisations
- journalism
- media
- retail
- management consultancy
- banking.
Hear from our alumni in Politics and Economics.
[1] Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes first degree Economics responders and first degree Politics and International Relations responders.