Economics BSc(Hons)

Course in brief

The 2008 financial crisis had a seismic effect not just on the global economy but also on the study of economics. Our Economics BSc(Hons) takes a contemporary, applied approach, combining both traditional and post-2008 theory to analyse real-world issues.

On this course, you will develop high-level analytical and quantitative skills keenly valued by employers in many fields, including investment banking, economic analysis, consultancy and public policy.

Along with core modules in microeconomics, macroeconomics and quantitative methods, you have the opportunity to choose from a wide selection of optional modules and explore specific branches of economic study, including behavioural economics, game theory, globalisation and applied econometrics.

You can also choose to complement your study of economics by taking modules in related subject areas such as finance, business management, digital marketing and law.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code L100

Full-time 3 years
With placement year 4 years

Book your open day place

Apply now with UCAS for 2019 entry

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–CCC (120–96 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DDM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

We will generally make you an offer if your predicted grades are at the top of this range. If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still make you an offer if you have a good GCSE (or equivalent) profile or relevant non-academic achievements.

International Baccalaureate
30 points, including 16 at Higher level.

Access to HE diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Units in business, management or humanities required. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least English language and maths.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Course in detail

Why choose this course?

Fresh perspective on global economics post-2008
Excellent career prospects in economics and finance
Option to take a paid placement year

Our Economics BSc(Hons) will provide you with the professional skills sought after by employers; equipping you with the knowledge to analyse, solve and advise private and public sector organisations on a variety of complex economic problems.

You’ll learn numeracy, communication, data handling and problem-solving skills and their application for business situations in the UK and internationally. As you progress, the flexibility of this course allows you to tailor your learning to your interests through optional modules.

Learning is delivered through a stimulating mix of seminars, academic and industry lectures and workshops. You will mainly be assessed through group work, presentations, exams and essays.

During your third year, you can take a year’s salaried placement in industry, giving you the change to apply your learning, gain valuable experience and make professional contacts for your future career.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. If you apply to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Year 1

In your first year you will gain an essential foundation in economics and quantitative techniques alongside core business modules.

Core modules will include topics such as:

Introduction to Economics 1
Introduction to Economics 2
Quantitative Methods for Economics and Finance
Financial Knowledge and Skills for Business
Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
Academic and Professional Skills

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. If you apply to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Year 2

In your second year you will develop your understanding of core analytical methods in economics and how to effectively apply them. You will also be able to choose from optional modules to start tailoring your course to your interests and career aspirations.

Core modules

Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Introduction to Econometrics
Research Methods

Options*

Environmental Economics
Money, Exchange Rates and Trade
Understanding Finance Theory and Practice
Financial Modelling and Dealing
Business Law
Operations and Process Management
Marketing in Practice

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement year

The optional paid work placement year is a vital part of the course. It gives you the chance to apply your learning to real-life situations and challenges, to meet and network with potential employers, and have opportunities to get real work experience before you graduate – something that employers value highly.

On your placement, you will complete a business project. This project contributes to your degree and, depending on the topic you choose, could provide valuable insight for your placement employer.

Our students have completed placements at American Express, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, Dow Jones, Ernst & Young, the Financial Services Authority, FTSE Group, HM Revenue and Customs, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and The Bank of England. It is also possible to undertake a placement year abroad.

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team will support you throughout, helping you to get a placement and during your placement. Read more about our placements.

Final year

In your final year, the majority of modules are optional, allowing to you to choose what interests you from a wide range of economics and business-related modules such as behavioural economics, globalisation, human rights and corporate strategy. If you took a placement year, your placement project will also contribute to your final year.

Modules

Contemporary Issues in Economics
Dissertation

Options*

Further Econometrics
Development Economics Game
Theory in Economics, Finance and Business
Behavioural Economics
Financial and Capital Markets
Globalisation and International Markets
Applied Financial Techniques
Political Economy in Europe
Placement Project
Corporate Financial Management
International Finance
Financial Management
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Social Enterprise: New Business Planning
Employee Selection and Development
Understanding Employee Relations
Human Resource Management and Organisational Change
Digital Marketing
E-commerce and Online Behaviour
Commercial Law
Negotiation, Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution for Law and Business
Human Rights and Business Intellectual Property Law
Family Law
Purchasing and Supply
Big Data and Business Intelligence
Corporate Strategy

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Staff profile

Simon Collie, Course Leader

Simon is a senior lecturer in economics and the programme leader of our Economics degree. Simon leads a number of undergraduate modules in the economics subject area and he also manages the Erasmus exchange partnership with universities in Italy.

He has experience teaching a wide range of subjects in economics and related areas, including business economics, economics of financial markets, and international business. His research interests centre around financial instability, economic inequality and labour markets.

Course statistics

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats enable you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Unistats data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

Careers and employability

Career prospects

Through its focus on developing the analytical, quantitative and research skills employers require, this course gives you an advantage in fields such as investment banking, insurance and risk management, economic analysis (e.g. for large corporations, NGOs and the Civil Service), business consultancy and economic policy.

It also gives you a solid foundation for further study in economics and related disciplines, for example on our Economics and Finance MSc.

Graduate Careers

Some of the roles related to an economics degree include:

Actuarial analyst
Chartered accountant
Chartered certified accountant
Chartered public finance accountant
Data analyst
Economist
Financial risk analyst
Forensic accountant
Investment analyst
Statistician
Stockbroker
Actuarial analyst
Chartered accountant
Chartered certified accountant
Chartered public finance accountant
Data analyst
Economist
Financial risk analyst
Forensic accountant
Investment analyst
Statistician
Stockbroker

Work-related experience

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team provide a huge portfolio of employers offering business-related placement opportunities. They support all students find a placement.

They offer several services to improve your employability including CV and cover letter reviews, mock assessment centres, fast-track interviews and interview practice sessions.

They will also support you throughout your placement and act as referees if you are offered a permanent role, or wish to continue to a masters degree.

JobTeaser
We are one of the first UK universities to use JobTeaser, a new online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and Europe. It gathers together all the job opportunities, events and resources you need to help you with your professional development.

Placement and recruitment events
Placement fairs are held twice a year involving companies from well-known names such as Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Enterprise-Rent-a-Car and IBM, through to smaller and more local businesses.

Our regular Employability Weeks offer activities designed to enhance your employability, including LinkedIn workshops, sessions on working abroad, advice from the university’s volunteering service and support from the Careers team.

Careers advice

Careers Service
Our Careers Service provides help and advice from the very start of your studies, on subjects including careers counselling sessions, CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business. Find out more on our careers service website.

Mentoring
Momentum is our award-winning mentoring scheme. It pairs students with professionals who wish to share their experience. Students and their mentors meet regularly to exchange ideas. The scheme helps students to develop new skills and enhance their career prospects.

Starting your own business

Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship support network. They offer free support for any student or graduate with their business ideas, freelance plan or social enterprise project.

Beepurple run events throughout the academic year, designed to equip you with skills that will improve your employability and help you grow a successful business.

By taking part in beepurple activities, you will meet like-minded people, hear how other recent graduates have set up their own businesses and gain key enterprise skills that will help you stand out from the crowd.

For more information visit beepurple.

Postgraduate study

If you decide that you would like to go onto postgraduate study, we offer a 10% discount to alumni. Here are some courses that might interest you:

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 12,900 GBP

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2018–19.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, a nursery, fitness facilities and Students’ Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build
A major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus began in summer 2018. By the time the Big Build is complete, there’ll be new halls of residence, academic building, and Students’ Union and fitness facilities – all created with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

As the development grows it will provide many exciting learning opportunities for our students, ranging from live projects, placements and internships with the companies involved to guest lectures and site visits. Find out more...

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Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We have halls of residence across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

Eligible students can apply for any of these options. Find out if you are eligible…
You’ll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Varley Park and Moulsecoomb Place halls.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms and catering options. Varley Park is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Moulsecoomb Place halls are catered and are located on campus.

We also offer Unihomes and Unilets, student houses that we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option provides the most choice and flexibility and can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other commitments.

There’s plenty of support if you choose private rented accommodation. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. And we run our housemates service over the summer for students, new and returning, looking for a place to live.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages.

Moulsecoomb Place accommodation close to the Moulsecoomb campus

Student in the Moulsecoomb Place hall of residence

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Moulsecoomb campus map

Find out more

Finance and economics news

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