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BSc (Hons) Economics

We bring economics to life. Our highly ranked (NSS) degree immerses you in different economic approaches, to understand how their impact influences how we all live, work and play.

Economics Scholarship
£2,000 scholarship available with the ‘Economics’ scholarship.

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1st in the UK for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide, 2024)

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Economics ranked top 10% in the UK for overall student positivity* (National Student Survey, 2023)

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8th in the UK for Economics (Guardian University Guide, 2023)

Course overview

Money makes the world go around, but it’s economic decisions that keep it turning. Our acclaimed course looks at how everyday decisions all make a difference - whether it's in politics, the markets, in business to even our own personal lifestyle choices.

In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, fuelled by big data and AI, trained economists with the ability to analyse challenges, problem solve and create solutions are defining the future.

This is why governments, banks and businesses turn to and rely on economists for vital help with analysis and advice. And this could be your future role if you choose to study our highly acclaimed Economics degree.

Learn how economists think, analyse, and problem solve. Explore a wide range of real-world problems encountered by individuals, businesses, and governments today and potential approaches to addressing them.

Go beyond theory, challenge yourself with stimulating discussions on traditional and non-conventional economic approaches, and the impact they have in the real-world. Study traditional theories alongside heterodox methods.

Study a variety of perspectives, think independently, challenging theory where necessary and with good reason.

Feedback from one student sums it up: 'Overall, without the support from lecturers and the programme leader I would not have had such a positive university experience nor gone onto a masters. The staff made me realise my potential which I then unlocked.' (Urvish Patel (2018 graduate), 2021).

*based on an average of questions 1-25 of the NSS survey 2023.

Why choose this course?

A student focused course, as shown in our outstanding 2023 NSS results and consistently excellent feedback from external examiners and the student body.

Boost your problem-solving skills and think like an economist - logical, focused, and capable of evaluating hard facts and data. Explore how you can use your skills to follow individual passions such sustainability, technology or conservation.

One student comments: 'My second and third years of my Herts Economics course is where I really began to love the subject - and there were some great lecturers who covered fascinating topics. I thoroughly enjoyed expanding my knowledge into Microeconomics, as well as delving into concepts such as Game Theory and Econometrics.' (Henry Finbow (2017 graduate), 2021).

We are proud of our strong relationships with professional bodies, our alumni network and business connections. You'll benefit from our collaborations as you learn and gain from their industry experience and stories.

Meet and learn from alumni working in public and private sector organisations as well as forward-thinking academic economist researchers.

Explore an array of extracurricular opportunities to strengthen your network and skills, putting your knowledge into practice before you graduate.

Take part in the national University Business Challenge, join our prestigious Enactus society working on social sustainability projects or enter our ‘Flare Ignite’ annual competition for students and alumni looking to start their own business.

We are a caring and friendly university, and you’ll receive excellent support from a staff community team to help you with any academic and personal challenges.

Your future career

Economist skills are prized in the modern workplace, and choosing our modern course will open doors into different fields besides traditional economics. Explore how you can develop your skills to follow individual passions such as sustainability, technology or conservation.

Possible roles of employment include:

  • Economist
  • Researcher
  • Actuary
  • Statistician
  • Stockbroker
  • Financial consultant

Our alumni work in key public and private sector organisations such as HM Treasury, Bank of England, Western Union, Sky, Mercer & Hole, PWC, Content Guru, NIESR and Anglian Water, as well as become forward-thinking academic economist researchers latest thinking and ideas.

With a strong focus on being work-ready, learn the principles of economics but also the thought processes and skills needed to succeed in business.

We help you find CV-enhancing opportunities such as employer competitions, insight days, digital programmes, volunteering, student leadership roles, and achievement awards.

What you'll study

"I really valued the wide range of optional modules to choose from on the course, which allowed me to explore the different avenues in the first two years, and then cater the course to my specific interests and competencies in the final year" (C.Godding, 2021).

Immerse yourself in a blend of modern heterodox and more traditional economic methods, enabling you to apply economic principles to a wide range of current issues.

You’ll study four subjects each semester, with a minimum of eight hours of in-person teaching per week. As an independent learner, you'll access online content with recommended books, videos, and podcasts to help you.

Module leaders offer weekly drop-ins and feedback, and you'll work together with your classmates on tasks and group assignments.

In your first year, study introductory modules on microeconomics, macroeconomics, and essential quantitative skills.

In your second year, deepen your knowledge further by studying techniques of economic analysis and econometrics. You also have the option to apply your learning and to experience professional life on work placement.

In your final year, study contemporary economic issues and performance, focus on key interest areas with a variety of optional modules such as Game Theory, Political Economy of Climate Change and Anatomy of Financial Crises.

Enrich your personal development through our Go Herts certification programme, internships, placements, study-abroad and our Future Success networking events.

Assessments are via essays, work-based reports and group presentations, which gives you a head-start in developing the practical skills needed for your career.

What if I need support?

You'll benefit from an academic support team, wellbeing team and a personal tutor to help you adjust to the demands of university learning and living.

Our in-house Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement (CASE) is open to all Business School students, for extra support with academic writing, numeracy and referencing.

Optional sandwich year

At the end of your second year, you have the option to experience a year of working life with a placement, or a shorter internship, a huge CV booster!

Professional work experience is the biggest contributor to your future employability. It allows you to put your knowledge into action, while learning how a business operates and making some handy professional connections.

We'll help you make the most of the experience, holding your hand from start to finish. You also get assistance with your CV, plus help preparing for interviews and presentations, at our ground-breaking mock Assessment Centre Experience.

Put knowledge into action, learn how a business operates and make professional connections.

"We employed an economics undergraduate on a one-year placement, he has proven to be a good communicator, analyst and preformed all tasks at a high standard" (ENGIE, 2020).

Study Abroad offers the opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.

At the end of your second year, you have the option to experience a year of working life with a placement, or a shorter internship, a huge CV booster!

Professional work experience is the biggest contributor to your future employability. It allows you to put your knowledge into action, while learning how a business operates and making some handy professional connections.

We'll help you make the most of the experience, holding your hand from start to finish. You also get assistance with your CV, plus help preparing for interviews and presentations, at our ground-breaking mock Assessment Centre Experience.

Put knowledge into action, learn how a business operates and make professional connections.

"We employed an economics undergraduate on a one-year placement, he has proven to be a good communicator, analyst and preformed all tasks at a high standard" (ENGIE, 2020).

Find out more about work placements

Study Abroad offers the opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.

Find out more about study abroad options

Where you'll study

You'll be taught on our modern de Havilland Campus, with our 24/7 Learning Resources Centre, offering open and private study spaces. You also get online self-study materials to further support you.

There are dining options, a bar, and a recreational space on campus where you can shoot some pool or play video games. It also houses Hertfordshire Sports Village, featuring a gym, swimming pool, coffee shop and climbing wall.

Discover the Enterprise Hub, a vibrant destination where local firms and students work and learn in comfort.

The Student Union bar and additional facilities are only a 20 minute walk (or short bus ride) away at our second campus, on College Lane. Student housing is available at both campuses.

A train to central London takes just over 20 minutes, and you are also conveniently located on the A1(M) with access to the road network, making travel quick and convenient.

Who you'll learn from

Staff include active researchers (including several authors), giving you an understanding on how your learning is directly impacting concerns and challenges we are tackling right now. You'll also learn from guest lecturers from industry.

Your course is led by a diverse, enthusiastic teaching team with a broad range of interest areas and expertise. Industry backgrounds include global government employees, alongside those with a strong research pedigree.

Your teaching team includes a subject leader with interests in business economics, organisation economics and innovation who is enthusiastic about the power of economics, with its fusion of ideas and approaches, to improve lives and societies, and meet the challenges of the modern world. A programme leader whose areas of expertise are Game Theory, Social Choice Theory, Behavioural Economics and Political Economy. He is passionate about teaching, and he always encourages students to keep a critical eye at everything they learn. As well as tutors who are always keen to engage students to reflect on the current economic environment by bringing real life examples to the classroom. With a variety of research interests including banking efficiency and convergence, food redistribution and food vulnerability.

How we support our students

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

We offer a range of support services, from childcare to counselling, ensuring that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, having fun, and have the support you need.

Entry requirements

The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.

Typical offer (UCAS points)128–136
Typical A Level offerABB–AAB
Typical BTEC offerDDM–DDD
GCSEGrade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics.
Additional informationFind out more about our Undergraduate Entry Requirements.

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

Ready to apply?

UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK
Start date Study typeApply
September 2024Full time Apply via UCAS
Full time with placement yearApply via UCAS
Full time with study abroad yearApply via UCAS

International and EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Fees and funding

At Herts, we’re dedicated to providing world-class teaching supported by industry-level facilities and incredible social spaces. We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education, and we strive to keep both our standard and additional costs as low as possible.

Economics Scholarship
£2,000 scholarship available with the ‘Economics’ scholarship.

  Study typefees
UK students Full time £9,250 for the 2024/2025 academic year
EU students Full time £15,500 for the 2024/2025 academic year
International students Full time £15,500 for the 2024/2025 academic year

Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

Scholarships, grants  and bursaries

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship, grant or bursary to support your studies.

Disabled Students' Allowance

The Disabled Students’ Allowance can cover any study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

Student loans

Find out about securing a student loan, from how much you could be eligible for to when you need to start making repayments.

Accommodation costs

We offer a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

Additional course fees

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet.

More about the course

Course fact sheets
BSc (Hons) Economics (Revised 2024) Download PDF
BSc (Hons) Economics Download PDF
Programme specifications
BSc (Hons) Economics (Revised 2024) Download PDF
BSc Hons Business Economics Pathways Download PDF
Additional information

Applications open to international and EU students

Yes

Course length

Full Time, 3 Years Sandwich, 4 Years

Not ready to apply?