Economics

In the fascinating world of economics every market fluctuation tells a story, and understanding the language of supply, demand, and opportunity is the key to unravelling the complexities of global dynamics.

If you choose economics, you’ll learn the fundamental forces that shape our societies. Exploring scarcity, choice, and resource allocation, economics teaches you the tools to understand complex economic systems.  

The subject has two main focuses:

  • microeconomics – looks at households, businesses, and industries
  • macroeconomics – looks at the economy as a whole

The study of economics opens many career paths, including roles in finance, consulting, government, and international organisations. You could end up at the forefront of economic policy, financial analysis, and strategic decision-making, contributing to economy growth  on a global scale. An economics education paves the way for impactful careers, where you can be a part of shaping economic landscapes and addressing contemporary challenges.

The impact you could make

  • Contribute to the development and evaluation of public policies.
  • Drive business success by applying economic analysis to strategic decision-making.
  • Play a part in positive economic change on a global scale.

What you could study

  • Macroeconomics
  • Microeconomics
  • Probability and statistics
  • Mathematics for economists
  • Programming for economists
  • Econometrics

Study options

Options to study in this field include:

Example module

"I particularly enjoyed macroeconomics as it focused on economics at the consumer or individual level."

Second year economics and finance student, Swansea University

Example project

"An applied economics project last year that compared the impact of COVID-19 in Sweden versus New Zealand, which were totally opposite in their approach to the pandemic."

Second year economics student, University of Manchester

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Subjects it's useful to have studied first

Some economics courses or apprenticeships will have requirements for previous qualifications in certain subjects. Entry requirements vary, so always check with the provider.

 

Business

Maths

Statistics

Hard skills you'll develop

  • Master statistical and mathematical techniques for analysing economic data
  • Financial analysis skills to evaluate the performance of businesses
  • Market research, including survey design, data collection, and analysis economic forecasting, including time series analysis and prediction methods

Soft skills you'll develop

  • Attention to detail, particularly in data analysis and research
  • Presentation skills to articulate economic findings and recommendations
  • Ethical reasoning skills
  • Problem-solving skills to address complex economic challenges

Careers: Where it can take you

Find out more about your career prospects from studying economics. The following information is based on a typical economics professional role.

Available jobs

172,743 vacancies in the past year

2.33% growth over next 8 years

Average salary

£43,626

Up to £75,268

Strategic Innovation Consultant giving a presentation

What is a… strategic innovation consultant?

Strategic innovation consultants collaborate with organisations to identify opportunities for growth, assess market trends, and develop creative strategies to stay ahead in competitive industries. Their role involves analysing economic data to uncover insights, applying economic principles to forecast market changes, and proposing innovative solutions to enhance business performance. This exciting career is a great opportunity to blend economic analysis with strategic thinking to contribute to the evolution and success of businesses in an ever-changing landscape.

Getting in: Entry requirements

Find out more about what you'll need to study economics at university or as an apprenticeship.

Average requirements for undergraduate degrees

Entry requirements differ between university and course, but this should give you a guide to what is usually expected from economics applicants.
 

 

A levels

A*AA

Vocational

BTEC D*DD

Considering an apprenticeship?

Applying for an apprenticeship is just like applying for a normal job. Here’s what you need to know:

 

Paragraph Timeline

  1. 1

    Deadline

    Apprenticeships don't follow the same deadlines as applying to uni, the deadline is down to the employer.
  2. 2

    Where to apply

    You apply directly through the employer.
  3. 3

    No limits

    You're not restricted to one apprenticeship application; you can do as many as you like.
  4. 4

    Apply to university and apprenticeships

    There's nothing stopping you applying to university through UCAS, while also applying for apprenticeship vacancies.
  5. 5

    Find out more

Explore further

Go deeper into topics around economics with the following:

Paragraph Timeline

  1. 1

    Economic Observatory

    Follow all the conversations happening in the world of economics.
  2. 2

    The Economist Podcasts

    Listen to episodes around current affairs, business and finance, science and technology, and global issues.
  3. 3

    Keep up-to-date with the latest news

    Find all the latest news and research on the Royal Economics Society website.

Chat to a current economics student

Chat to a current economics student using UniBuddy.

Some conversation starters for you:

  1. Ask which modules they really enjoyed.
  2. Find out how easy it was for them to make friends on their course.
  3. Do they have any tips on your personal statement?
  4. Did they do anything to prep for uni before they went?
  5. Are there books, podcasts or YouTube channels they would recommend?
     

Application advice

Whether it's personal statement tips or what to write in a cover letter for an apprenticeship application, our advice will help you get ahead in your economics journey.

Skills, experiences, and interests to mention

  • Be sure to highlight any instances where you applied analytical skills in your studies as this is an essential skill for economics.
  • Maths is also an important subject so mention your ability in successfully applying mathematical concepts.
  • How aware are you of current economic issues and trends? How do you make sure you’re informed about global economic events?

  • Do you have any experience of leadership? That could be leading study groups, organising events or maybe even joining societies or clubs related to economics.
  • What difference do you want to make in the world and how would studying economics help you achieve that goal?

Personal statement builder

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