Economics with Finance

Economics with finance is a degree that combines the broad analytical science of economics with the more applied study of financial markets, institutions, and decision-making. Economics provides the theoretical and empirical tools to understand how markets allocate resources, how macroeconomic policy shapes growth and stability, how individuals and firms respond to incentives, and how inequality and market failure can be addressed. Finance applies and extends those tools to the specific problems of capital allocation, investment, risk management, and the operation of financial systems.

The two disciplines are deeply complementary, and their combination produces graduates who can analyse economic questions with financial sophistication and financial questions with economic rigour.

At Queen's University Belfast, this three-year full-time degree develops both disciplines across a structured programme. You will study macroeconomics and microeconomics in depth, developing the analytical and quantitative skills to understand how economies function at both the aggregate and individual level. The finance strand introduces you to financial institutions, capital markets, corporate finance, investment, and risk, building the applied knowledge of financial systems that many employers specifically seek.

Throughout the programme you will develop computing skills, data analysis capabilities, presentation skills, and scientific writing competence, giving you a portfolio of transferable skills that are consistently valued across the industries where economists and finance professionals work.

Graduates are exceptionally well placed for careers in financial services, economic analysis, consultancy, and the public sector. Common roles include economist, financial analyst, investment analyst, risk manager, and management consultant. The private sector recruits economics with finance graduates into banking, asset management, insurance, treasury functions, and financial technology companies.

Public sector roles in economic research, policy analysis, and regulatory bodies are also common destinations. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in economics, finance, financial economics, or related fields, using the quantitative and analytical foundations of the degree to pursue research or specialist professional qualifications.