Economics

Economics offers more than mathematical technique: it gives you a set of conceptual tools for understanding how the world works, from the pricing decisions of a small business to the monetary policy of a central bank and the global dynamics of trade and development. When you understand how economic systems function, you are better placed to identify how they might work better, and this practical orientation makes economics one of the most transferable and sought-after degrees available.

At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year full-time programme takes that premise seriously, developing rigorous economic thinking alongside the practical skills to apply it. You will study micro and macroeconomics, quantitative methods, econometrics, and economic policy, building a genuine analytical foundation while engaging with real economic problems and the evidence that bears on them. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement, making it one of the more generously structured undergraduate economics programmes in terms of professional and international experience.

These opportunities allow you to encounter economic questions in genuine professional and cross-cultural contexts, which deepens your understanding and strengthens your employability before you graduate.

Graduates from economics programmes go on to careers in banking, financial services, government, management consultancy, economic analysis, international trade, and commercial management. The analytical skills the degree develops are valued across virtually every sector that requires careful reasoning about data, incentives, and decisions. Further study at postgraduate level in economics, finance, public policy, or quantitative social science is available for those who wish to specialise or pursue research careers.