Economics BSc
3-4 years
What are the factors that determine income, wealth and well-being? How do economic policies impact the world around us? Economic issues capture our attention on a daily basis. This degree lets you study them in detail and, along the way, learn how to apply your skills to real-world issues.
Start date:
Course information
Typical offer ABB
UK fee £9,535
UCAS code L120
International fee £19,700
Institute code L34
Taught by School of Business
Accredited by CIMA
Course description
Course description
Leicester’s School of Business has an international reputation for being at the forefront of innovation in economic science, and you will be among the first to study at our new £16 million Brookfield campus. You will study the core areas of microeconomics and macroeconomics and the application of basic mathematical and statistical techniques to the solution of economic problems.
Economic issues occupy the news, capture our attention and affect our everyday lives. This course offers a comprehensive and critical understanding of the ideas, concepts and issues central to economics, enabling you to better understand these issues and the world around you.
You will engage with modern policy issues and economic analysis, and develop analytical abilities and critical appraisal skills. These are particularly beneficial transferable skills for graduate employment and will prepare you for a career in the public or private sector, whether that be in financial services, business management or the Government Economic Service. Your time here will also equip you with the research techniques that are vital to postgraduate study. Job prospects are excellent, with 95% of our economics students employed (or studying for a Master’s) six months after graduating (The Uni Guide).
In addition all of our economics degrees are accredited by CIMA, the professional body of management accountants.
The close relationship between research and teaching is one of the great advantages of studying with us, and we welcome talented students from countries all over the world. Our staff are active researchers of international renown, and have acted as advisers and consultants to many international and national organisations, including the European Central Bank, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the Central Bank of Poland, the Central Bank of Greece and a number of UK Government departments.
The first year of this degree is shared with the following BSc degrees:
- Business Economics BSc
- Economics and Data Analytics BSc
- Economics and Accounting BSc
- Financial Economics and Banking BSc
This means that you have the option to switch to any of these courses at the end of your first year.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: ABB. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-level. Own language may be considered.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ at grade B.
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass relevant Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 credits at Distinction.
- GCSE: Grade 5/B in Mathematics and Grade 4/C in English Language
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Full Diploma with 30 points, including a minimum of grade 4 in SL Maths Analysis and Approach or 6 in SL Maths Application and Interpretation or 4 in HL Maths if not held at GCSE. Must include a minimum of grade 4 in English A or 5 in English B if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language at GCSE.
- BTEC National Extended Diploma: DDD in Business (plus 5 GCSEs at grade 5/B including Maths and English Language).
- T Levels: Distinction in Finance (plus 5 GCSEs at grade 5 including Maths and English)
Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Contextual offers
The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
Selection process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School of Business.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries ListFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2025
The tuition fees that will be payable by you to the University for the 2025/26 academic year will be £9,535
- £9,535 in your first year. Tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation, subject to government regulations. The inflation rate used will be the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage payments (RPIX)
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,430 for that year
- Year in Industry: your fee will be £1,907 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2025
- £19,700 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,925, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
- Year in Industry: £2,955, which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Accreditation
Accreditation
This course hold exemption accreditations with CIMA on eight of our modules. CIMA is the professional body of management accountants. Exemptions are subject to satisfactory completion of the selected modules.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Whether you want to reach the top in an organisation, start your own business or make a difference in the voluntary sector, there are specially designed programmes and activities at Leicester that will support you in gaining the right skills, experiences and exposures you need. Employability is embedded in our courses with all offering a year in industry opportunity. In addition, the School of Business has a dedicated Careers Team who work to make sure you get support to achieve your aspirations.
Graduate destinations
Our economics graduates have gone onto work for employers such as:
- Santander
- PWC
- Virgin Media
- Deutsche Bank
- JP Morgan
- KPMG
- Deloitte
James graduated with a degree in Economics. After working for an events company and in the delivery team for the London 2012 Olympic Games, James is now a Senior Consultant at Deloitte.
Careers and Employability Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 1: No poverty
- Goal 3: Health and well-being
- Goal 4: Quality education
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
- Goal 13: Climate action
- Goal 14: Life below water
- Goal 15: Life on land
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
- Contemporary Issues in Economics, Finance and Business
- Microeconomics
- Maths for Economics 1
- Statistics for Economics
- Contemporary Issues in Economics, Finance and Business 2
- Macroeconomics
- Maths for Economics 2
- Introduction to Economic Data Analysis
All five of our Economics courses share the exact same first year. This means that you can switch to any of these degrees at the end of your first year:
- Economics and Accounting BSc
- Economics and Data Analytics BSc
- Business Economics BSc
- Financial Economics and Banking BSc
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
Core modules
- Introductory Econometrics
- Game Theory
- Intermediate Microeconomics
- Intermediate Macroeconomics
- Topics in Applied Econometrics
- Firms, Markets and Welfare
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
- Economic History
- Money and Central Banking
- Labour Economics
- Environmental and Resource Economics
- Business Data Science
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year in Industry or Abroad (optional)
Year in Industry or Abroad (optional)
On a ULSB course you have the option of spending your third year gaining work experience on an industry placement or studying abroad at one of our partner institutions. Alternatively you can continue studying and complete your degree in three years.
Year in Industry
A Year in Industry is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience of a working environment within the sector of your choice. It is normally a paid position, more than offsetting the additional cost of your extra year and can take place either in the UK or overseas.
If you decide to undertake a Year in Industry you will be responsible for securing your own placement, with support from the School and the University Careers and Employability Service. Please note that deciding to search for a Year in Industry does not guarantee you a placement.
During your Year in Industry you will be supported by the School of Business Careers Team. This will include communication with you and your manager and a visit to your place of work, which may be face to face or virtual (depending on location). You will also undertake written work to capture the learning from your experience, which will include reflection on your personal and professional development. This work will be assessed to allow you to gain recognition for your Year in Industry.
Your Year in Industry effectively begins in Year 1 when you will be introduced to various opportunities to develop your skills, your understanding and experience. In Year 2 will be given access to bespoke extra-curricular support to aid you in searching for suitable placement opportunities, and undertaking the recruitment and selection process.
A Year in Industry is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the types of professions you can choose after you graduate, and can also point you towards postgraduate studies that may help you on the path to your chosen career.
Year Abroad information
We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
- Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
- Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
Core modules
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
Then choose three option modules from:
- Economics of Education*
- International Finance
- Public Economics
- Economics of Health*
- Behavioural Economics
You cannot choose both the modules marked *.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Our Brookfield campus is equipped with state-of-the-art learning facilities including the ULSB Trading Room. Our 16 dual-screen Bloomberg terminals let you see how traders work using real-time stock quotes 24/7 and providing access to industry-leading data, research, news and analytics.
Our economics courses are accredited by CIMA, giving you exemption from exams that will give your career a head-start. In addition we are a CFA University Affiliation Program Partner.
Our Economics, Economics and Accounting, Business Economics and Financial Economics and Banking degrees have the same first year so you can switch your course at the end of your first year, tailoring your degree to your strengths and interests.
Teaching and learning
During your first year you will typically have 9-10 hours a week of timetabled sessions – around 6 hours of lectures and 3-4 hours of seminars or small group work. Lectures will provide you with the framework and foundational knowledge for each subject, whilst seminars, held in smaller groups, provide you with the opportunity to discuss key ideas with your tutor and peers. A variety of teaching methods are used with the aim of creating a stimulating environment in which you are encouraged to develop your learning skills and to actively engage and participate in your learning process.
Assessment methods varied to allow you to develop a range of academic and transferable skills throughout your programme and these include examinations, individual and group based assignments, mid-term problem-solving tests and presentations.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence and our learning spaces at Brookfield.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Economics | Qualification BSc | Duration 3 years full-time | UCAS Code L120 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Economics with Year Abroad | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code L120 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Economics with Year in Industry | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code L120 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
Economics has introduced me to current worldwide phenomena in our global interconnected society, leading me to question existing approaches and ideas.