Business Economics/Economic & Social History

Business economics and economic and social history together offer a powerful and complementary education in how economies work and how they have developed over time. Business economics applies microeconomic theory and quantitative analysis to the decisions facing firms and markets, asking how organisations allocate resources, respond to competition, manage risk and operate within regulatory and macroeconomic environments. Economic and social history contextualises those questions historically, examining how capitalism, industrialisation, labour markets, trade and welfare systems have evolved across different societies and periods.

Together, they give you both the analytical tools of the economist and the interpretive depth of the historian.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time degree includes a year abroad, giving you an international dimension to your education. With a typical entry tariff of 200 UCAS points, the programme attracts students with strong analytical ability and genuine intellectual curiosity. You will develop a rigorous grounding in economic theory, quantitative methods and business analysis, while also engaging with the historical evidence, debates and methodologies that illuminate how economies have changed over time.

You will be taught by faculty at the forefront of economic research, within a vibrant academic community that takes seriously both the scientific and the humanistic dimensions of economic understanding.

Graduates from business economics and economic history programmes pursue careers across finance, consulting, policy, international business, research and the public sector. The combination of rigorous economic analysis and historical perspective is particularly valued in roles that require understanding of how markets evolve, how institutions shape economic outcomes, and how historical context illuminates contemporary challenges. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in economics, economic history, finance or business administration.

The analytical and research skills developed through the degree are also highly transferable into data science, technology, journalism and the law.