Economics with Placement

Economics is the study of how individuals, organisations, and societies make decisions about scarce resources. It provides tools for understanding markets, prices, growth, inequality, public policy, and the behaviour of firms, applying both rigorous mathematical reasoning and empirical analysis to questions that shape everyday life. A modern economics education increasingly draws on data science and digital tools, reflecting the way in which the profession itself has evolved as technology transforms both the economy and the methods available to study it.

At London South Bank University, this four-year programme, which includes both a foundation year and a placement, has been redesigned to reflect the growing importance of digital technologies, data-driven decision making, and artificial intelligence in professional economics. You will study both macroeconomic ideas, including how national economies grow and fluctuate, and the microeconomic logic of how firms and individuals make choices. The curriculum incorporates industry-standard software and analytical tools, ensuring that the skills you develop are relevant to employers in a market that is changing rapidly.

The placement year gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in a real professional setting before you graduate, building practical experience alongside your academic understanding. The foundation year provides a supported entry point for students who need to consolidate their preparation before the main degree.

Economics graduates are among the most employable of any discipline. Common career destinations include roles in financial services, government and the civil service, economic consultancy, business analysis, international organisations, and the Bank of England, as well as positions in the private sector where analytical and quantitative skills are valued. The combination of economic theory and digital literacy that this programme develops is particularly relevant to roles in data analysis and technology-focused economic research.

Postgraduate options include economics, finance, public policy, and data science.