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Business Economics BA (Hons)

This course explores contemporary topics in business economics with issues of policy, international economics and sustainability embedded throughout the duration of the course. You will develop a wide range of skills for future employability. This includes software, data analysis and programming as well as teamwork, presentation and writing skills.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

On this course, you will learn about the economic challenges faced by business, and develop skills and knowledge in line with the industry demand to help become part of the solution. Bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world challenges faced by business, you will develop a deep understanding of the economics landscape.

The modules, including 'Macroeconomics for Business', 'Data Modelling and Analytics', and 'International Economics, Sustainability, and Emerging Markets', have been carefully crafted by experts in the field. Throughout your learning, you will explore a wide range of economic issues, such as the impact on standards of living, market crashes, and how economics shapes our market structures and the global business landscape. You will also explore cutting-edge trends within the sector, including ‘green’ economics, digital transformation, and market challenges.

The curriculum has been thoughtfully designed not just to educate but to empower you with analytical skills, critical evaluation capabilities, and a deep understanding of economic dynamics. To compliment your theoretical knowledge, you will develop of a robust set of skills that are highly valued in the business and economics sector, mastering key software, data analysis, teamwork, presentation skills, critical analysis, and essay writing. In our state-of-the art Trading Floor, you will bring all you have learnt to life. With the opportunity to use tools and information platforms used by top decision-makers in business, banking, and government, this practical learning will equip you with skills and confidence to excel in a competitive job market.

When you graduate, you can look forward to a fulfilling career across a variety of sectors. Previous graduates from our Economics courses have obtained roles such as Assistant Economist, Data Analyst, Investment Risk and Compliance Analyst, Senior Personal Banker, Purchase ledger Clerk, Trainee IFA and Financial Adviser at a range of companies and organisations including the Department for International Trade, Ion, HM revenue & Customs, Natwest and Collins Aerospace.

Key features

  • Bring learning to life in our state-of-the-art Trading Floor, which is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. Equipped with industry-standard software, Bloomberg and LSEG Workspace, you will experience what it’s like to work as a real-world Economist.
  • Learn from passionate academics with a wealth of professional experience to draw on to enhance your learning. Our Economics team have enjoyed careers in research, real estate, consultancy, banking and public engagement.
  • Enhance your CV and gain valuable connections on a work placement. Our award-winning Careers Team have helped students from this course gain placements with global companies such as PwC and Caterpillar.
  • Enjoy an unforgettable experience with ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global as part of your studies. Students from this course have previously examined inflation and the market in Berlin, and visited the Stock Exchange in New York to analyse the financial system structure.
  • Engage in significant research projects. Guided by leading academics, you will develop innovative solutions to economic problems. Researches lie on themes such as ‘green’ economics, development economics, analytics, and land economy, among others; or you can also develop applied-business-projects.
  • Enjoy a varied curriculum, which includes a mix of lectures, hands-on workshops, and real-world case studies, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of economics. Learn through a variety of assessment methods including reports, portfolios, presentations, data visualisations, tests, reflective work and exams.
  • Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

 


 

Scholarships

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International student scholarships

Find out about available international scholarships or visit our fees and funding page for more information.

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: L100

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: L100

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £15,750.

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

Entry criteria

GCSEs

  • Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and Maths

Plus one of the following:

A levels

  • A typical offer is 112 UCAS points. You need to study at least two subjects at A Level or equivalent (e.g. BTEC)

T Levels

  • Merit

BTEC

  • BTEC National Diploma - Distinction/Distinction/Merit
  • BTEC Extended Diploma - Distinction/Distinction/Merit

Alternative qualifications include:

  • Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE overall 112 UCAS tariff  with at least 30 L3 credits at Merit.
  • English and Maths GCSE required as separate qualification. Equivalency not accepted within the Access qualification. We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course. 
  • International Baccalaureate: 26+ points.

Mature students

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

English language

If English is not your first language, an IELTS core of 6.0 (including a minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent is normally required.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer 

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessment

Teaching contact hours

 

Year 1

  • Block 1: Contemporary Issues in Microeconomics
  • Block 2: Quantitative Methods for Business Economics
  • Block 3: Macroeconomics for Business
  • Block 4: The History of Business and Economics

Year 2

  • Block 1: Macroeconomics Analysis and Policy
  • Block 2: Microeconomics: Ethics, Policy and Practice
  • Block 3: Data Modelling and Analytics
  • Block 4: Contemporary Issues in Global Business

Year 3

  • Block 1: Advanced Business Economics
  • Block 2: International Economics, Sustainability and Emerging Markets
  • Block 3 - choose one from the below:
    • Behavioural Economics
    • Economics Institutions and Policy
  • Block 4  choose one from the below:
    • Applied Business Project
    • Economics Dissertation

See detailed module information


Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, workshops, lab sessions, online activities, group work and self-directed study. Assessment is through coursework (presentations, essays and reports), exams and tests. 

Teaching contact hours

This is a full-time course and in total you should be prepared to devote approximately 38 hours a week to your studies. You will typically have up to 10 contact hours of teaching. Teaching is through a mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars, online activities and lab sessions and the breakdown of these activity types is shown in each module description.

Other: In addition, each module provides a two-hour surgery each week for individual consultation with the academic leading the course. You will also have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor and careers and/or subject meetings scheduled throughout the year.

Self-directed study: In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to use our on-line resources, participate in flipped or virtual classroom discussions on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study and revision for approximately 28 hours per week.

All years follow a similar pattern, however, the contact time will vary depending on your subject mix and options chosen, and the teaching methods appropriate to the module. Further details are contained in each module description.

Facilities and features

Hugh Aston Building

You will be taught in our purpose-built Hugh Aston Building equipped with lecture theatres and classrooms, break-out spaces for group work, quiet study zones for individual work, and high-spec IT labs installed with professional software.

You’ll also have access to the building’s new £5.5 million extension called The Yard, which provides more than 22,000 square metres of extra space. This is designed to facilitate your learning experience with large and airy breakout spaces, a new Student Advice Centre, and a balcony on the top floor. The Yard also features more comfortable classrooms and self-study spaces, allowing you to carry out independent study as well as group work.

Students benefit from The Trading Floor, which can provide simulation of what it is like to work in the financial industry in roles such as trading, portfolio management, investment banking, corporate finance and financial or economic analysis.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our , e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live , online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our , and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Careers Team
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Placements

During this course, you will have the option to complete a paid placement year, an invaluable opportunity to put the skills developed during your degree into practice. This insight into the professional world will build on your knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing you to progress on to your chosen career.

Previous students have taken up placements in the private and public sectors, with leading companies such as PwC, the Government Economic Service, Caterpillar and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Our Careers Team can help to hone your professional skills with mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and an assigned personal tutor will support you throughout your placement.

Lauren landed a job offer after a successful placement year with the Government Economic Service (GES).

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²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global

Our innovative international experience programme ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global aims to enrich studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers. 

Through , we offer an exciting mix of overseas, on-campus and online international experiences, including the opportunity to study or work abroad for up to a year.

Our Business Management and Economics students have previously benefited from opportunities to visit Hong Kong, Berlin, San Diego and the financial district of New York, where they learned about the financial institutions in these locations and gained a global outlook on their studies, as well as enjoyed an exclusive tour of the Bloomberg headquarters in New York.

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Graduate careers

Our Business Economics degree helps to open up a wide range of career opportunities for graduates in areas such business, finance and the civil service.

Economics has been at the centre stage of policy analysis in the aftermath of the financial crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, with sound economic skills and competencies being sought-after in many areas.

Recent graduates have progressed to professional roles such as business analyst, audit associate and financial analyst in globally renowned organisations, including Deutsche Bank, KPMG and PwC.

Hamza Zaheer landed a graduate job as a people and talent consultant while studying in his final year at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ.

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