There are many factors to consider when selecting a specific degree program. Not every university will offer the exact type of degree you desire, so it's important to weigh the ideas in this section alongside your earlier considerations about the type of university you want to attend.
BA (hons) in Economics (or economics-related courses)
May be quite broad in scope, encompassing aspects of psychology, geography, sociology and history.
A good grade in GCSE Maths is likely to be required, but it is less likely that there will be a requirement for A level Maths.
Likely to use more qualitative data and information than quantitative.
May help to prepare graduates for roles that involve problem solving and analysis but without that involving large amounts of quantitative data.
If graduates want to pursue further study, it is less likely to be in the field of economics, and more likely to be in areas such as law, politics, etc.
Around 40-45% of UK universities offering economics-related courses will offer a BA(hons) course; do be aware that nearly all degrees at Oxford and Cambridge are a BA, regardless of how much mathematical content there is.
BSc (hons) in Economics (or economics-related courses)
May have more emphasis on the scientific and quantitative aspects of economics, making strong use of pure maths (calculus and algebra) as well as statistics.
A good grade in A level Maths is likely to be required; very few courses also require Further Maths although there are a few exceptions to this.
May help to prepare graduates for roles that involve data handling, for example mathematical modelling, and economic research, perhaps for financial institutions.
If graduates want to pursue further study, it will be possible to take courses that require stronger quantitative aspects such as finance, further study in economics, or other scientific/technical areas.
Around 70-75% of UK universities offering economics-related courses will offer a BSc(hons) course; do be aware that nearly all degrees at LSE are a BSc, regardless of how much mathematical content there is.
A level requirements
No UK university economics courses currently require you to have studied A level Economics; however, you may find the first few weeks of the first-year microeconomics and macroeconomics easier to grasp with A level Economics.
Around 80% of the BSc(hons) courses require a good grade in A level Maths (or, occasionally, they will accept an AS); 50-55% of all Economics courses require A level Maths. Further maths is highly recommended for the BSc in Economics at LSE, and for several colleges at Cambridge is compulsory.
Some universities, for example Oxford’s PPE degree, suggest that A level History can be helpful, but certainly not essential. Most economics-related courses, whether BA or BSc, strongly prefer candidates to have taken at least one essay-based A level.
Requirements may differ for Joint Honours degrees; for example, economics with a language will almost require an A level in that language, and economics with geography will almost certainly require an A level in Geography.
Schools of thought
Traditionally, many university economics departments may be aligned with a particular ‘school of thought’ or approach to economics – it is worth thinking about this before applying, to check that the teaching/research will be in line with what you would prefer
Universities that, on balance, offer a Keynesian perspective include Cambridge and LSE; universities that, on balance, offer a monetarist perspective include Warwick and Nottingham; universities adopting a more heterodox approach include Leeds, SOAS and Goldsmiths
However, it is important that you investigate specific faculty/department members and currently-available course offerings to understand the full spectrum of theories and methodologies taught in each department.
Research-driven economics departments
Economics departments typically have some key areas of research that they undertake, and this can filter down to the types of courses and tutors/lecturers available – try to find out which ‘research centres’ or ‘institutes’ tend to be linked to the universities you are most interested in. Some examples are given below.
Cambridge – macroeconomic theories, development economics, and econometrics
LSE – international economics, public policy, and econometrics
Warwick – game theory, behavioural economics, and labour market economics
Nottingham – monetary economics, industrial economics, and international trade
Edinburgh – applied microeconomics, climate change economics and financial economics
Manchester – macroeconomics and poverty-reduction
Bristol – environmental economics and public economics
Carry out your own thinking and wider research based on the ideas presented above. Jot down your notes and thoughts.
Comments