BA(Hons) Economics (with Foundation Year)
Page last updated 1 May 2025
This course is open for applications
Introduction
BA(Hons) Economics prepares you to solve current and future problems that matter to you while developing your future employability. You'll study economics through interdisciplinary lenses, mastering your economic knowledge and analytical skills for professional impact.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study this course?
BA(Hons) Economics is for you if you're interested in people's and firms' behaviours and their consequences, and keen to learn economic theory to address societal issues such as environmental crisis, unemployment, and financial instability.
Why UWE Bristol?
Our course combines deep economic theory with real-world issues such as sustainability and social justice to develop your critical and interdisciplinary thinking, and your ability to gather and interpret economic data. You'll develop your creative thinking and analytical skills as well as your digital and collaborative skills.
You'll be introduced to several schools of thought and disciplines and learn about economic and social issues through interdisciplinary lenses such as using ecological sciences, politics, sociology, and philosophy.
Learn from leading academics with strong national and international research profiles.
Developed in collaboration with industry partners including the Government Economic Services, DEFRA, Office for National Statistics, Marsh Insurance, Hays Recruitment, Arup, and Airbus, you'll learn all the up-to-the minute skills needed by employers. Link theory to practice through our industry partner activities such as guest lectures, live project briefs, and immersion days.
Develop advanced digital skills using digital platforms for analysis, decision making and communication, and advance your digital literacy by applying modern digital technology to study economic problems using data analysis software, programming, and information repositories.
You'll work on a Career Development Portfolio throughout your degree to develop and report your personal and professional identity through curricular and career development activities. Alongside this, you'll prepare an Enquiry Skills Portfolio to develop your research and enquiry skills, shaping you into a professional economist, able to influence policy and societal outcomes.
Where can it take me?
BA(Hons) Economics will prepare you to succeed in a range of careers in the private and public sectors and tap into opportunities that extend beyond economist roles to professions where your economic knowledge will prove an advantage. This could take you into careers in the civil service, finance, business, consultancy, international, and not-for-profit organisations.
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Structure
Content
You normally need to pass your foundation year before going onto year one.
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year zero (foundation year)
All foundation year students in Bristol Business School study together on 'Year Zero' and take the below compulsory modules, which includes an introduction to university-level academic and study skills. This will ensure that you have the necessary grounding, enabling you to develop a range of perspectives and skills that will enrich your learning at Year one and beyond.
You'll study:
- Foundational Concepts in Business and Law
- Foundations in Professional and Personal Development Planning.
Year one
You'll study:
- Economic Reasoning with Professional Development
- Evolutions: Culture, Technology and Economic Progress
- Histories and Schools of Economic Thought
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics.
Year two
You'll study:
- Economic Research Skills with Professional Advancement
- Intermediate Macroeconomics
- Intermediate Microeconomics.
Plus, optional modules as follows:
- Emerging Economies or Money, Banking and Finance.
- Political Economy or Quantitative Methods and Programming in Economics.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University after year two, on a work placement or study year abroad.
Depending on which you choose, you'll either complete a placement learning or learning and development module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Final year
You'll study:
- Client Facing Briefing
- Debates in Economic Policy
- Economics Project.
Plus, one optional module from:
- Behavioural Economics*
- Econometrics*
- Sustainable Business.*
*these modules are not available to study if you complete the sandwich year.
Plus, one optional module from:
- Dynamics of Development, Trade and Migration
- Global Finance and Banking
- Topics in Political Economy.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Learning and teaching on this course emphasises active participation and learning by doing, supporting you to gradually become more independent in your learning as you progress through the course. Each module is inspired and informed by a learning and teaching approach that enables you to prepare for and participate in your classes and practise your skills.
You'll prepare by engaging with suggested materials, such as pre-recorded lectures, to gain background knowledge. This will support you to participate in timetabled interactive sessions, applying your knowledge to develop your understanding and skills. Finally, you'll practise applying your knowledge to real-world business challenges.
Learn through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, and workshops, involving both individual and group work. You'll explore a variety of course materials and activities, such as case studies, live briefs, portfolios, pitches, presentations, online exercises, and simulations. You'll also interact with guest practitioners and speakers and undertake professional practice field visits.
See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.
Study time
In a typical week, you could expect to be timetabled with academic staff for an average of 12 hours. You'll also engage with a range of additional academic and professional development activities, and work on practice and assessment tasks through independent self-study for 28 hours per week on average.
The balance between taught sessions and independent study hours may vary between modules and at points across the academic years. This enables both the development of new skills, concepts, and knowledge and to facilitate the space to produce assessment tasks.
Assessment
Our assessment strategy focuses on developing subject knowledge, practical skills, and professional attributes within key business environments, including your chosen area of specialism. The scaffolded structure ensures your assessments progressively challenge you as you advance through each year of the course.
You'll be assessed through a broad range of methods, such as written assignments, presentations and posters, projects, case studies, reports, examinations and set exercises.
Throughout the course, you'll also complete a professional practice portfolio of evidence, alongside a reflective workbook to document your own personal development. Your portfolio will demonstrate that you have developed the required professional skills and attributes for a career in business.
In your professional practice modules, you'll be encouraged to engage in collaborative learning and contribute to group tasks as part of your assessments. These modules will include support through mentor groups to facilitate your collaborative learning.
Features
Professional accreditation
We are currently seeking re-accreditation of this course by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). This accreditation provides valuable exemptions from professional exams.
Placements
We encourage you to do a 40-week paid sandwich placement after Year two, either in the UK or abroad. This allows you to gain real-world experience and skills that will increase your employability.
Economics at UWE Bristol has a strong track record for securing placements with the Government Economic Service (i.e. the Treasury, Home Office, Department for Business Innovations and Skills, Department of Work and Pensions, and the Office of National Statistics).
You'll be supported through the application process, receiving advice on how to complete the Government Economic Service (GES) application form and how to succeed at interview.
Wherever you choose to do your placement, you'll receive guidance throughout from UWE Bristol's award-winning Careers Service.
Study Year Abroad
You'll also have opportunities to study overseas on courses that are taught in English and relevant to your degree. The study year abroad isn't a paid placement.
Study facilities
The Bristol Business School offers state-of-the-art lecture theatres, learning spaces for individual and group study, and bookable conference rooms. You'll also have access to cutting-edge learning spaces like the Bloomberg trading room.
Our specialist library and learning hub supports you with vast collections, workshops, and study skills resources. The library and Business School offer group study spaces, access to books, press, journals, and industry databases.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Economics facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Life
Accommodation
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
High demand for graduates with this degree means you'll benefit from diverse career prospects and a competitive place in the jobs market.
This course is an ideal launch pad for a career in government (for example the Government Economic Service), banking, finance, management, accountancy, marketing, corporate finance, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), charities, and postgraduate studies.
Previous graduates have secured roles as economists in the Government Economic Service, including the Treasury and the Home Office; in finance and banking for organisations such as Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, and Goldman Sachs; and as economists and analysts across industry and the retail sector.
Our award-winning Careers Service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering, and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.
Learn more about our graduate destinations.
Fees
Full-time; Sandwich
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the five year course and then transfer to the four year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
Entry
Typical offers
You will need to meet the following Level 2 requirements:
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
In addition to the above Level 2 qualifications, you'll need to achieve the published tariff points from your Level 3 studies prior to entry. Below is an indicative list of the main qualification types. However, we will consider any Level 3 qualifications towards meeting our entry requirements.
- Tariff points: 48
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you'll need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.
- A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required. We accept the IB Career-related Programme in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
- Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
- T Levels: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
If you exceed the entry requirements you may be eligible for BA(Hons) Economics.
International applicants
If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College, which upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance, guarantees entry to year one of the degree.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644