Economics with Foundation Year
Economics is the discipline that tries to understand how societies allocate scarce resources, how markets work, and why some people, firms and nations prosper while others do not. It is one of the most rigorous and practically relevant of the social sciences, drawing on mathematics, statistics, history and political theory to analyse questions that range from the pricing decisions of individual firms to the consequences of government policy and the dynamics of global trade. At the University of Derby, this four-year BA with foundation year is designed to produce forward-thinking economists with both strong analytical foundations and genuine professional competence.
The foundation year gives you the opportunity to build the quantitative and academic skills needed for degree-level economics before progressing into the full programme. You will develop a solid grounding in economic theory, both microeconomics and macroeconomics, and become skilled in handling economic data, conducting research and meeting the standards of analytical rigour that employers in economics and related fields demand. A placement year gives you direct professional experience, and a year abroad extends your academic and international formation.
Work placement opportunities are integrated throughout the programme.
Economics graduates are among the most versatile in the humanities and social sciences, moving into careers across finance, government, business, research, the media and the public sector. Roles in economic analysis, policy research, financial services, management consultancy, central banking, think-tanks and international organisations are all well-established routes. The analytical and quantitative skills the degree develops are valued across a wide range of employers who need people who can work rigorously with data and communicate evidence-based arguments.
Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in economics, finance, public policy or data science, while others move directly into professional practice in finance or government economic services.