Economics with professional placement or study abroad

Economics is the social science that studies how individuals, organisations, and societies make decisions about the allocation of scarce resources. It encompasses the microeconomic analysis of individual and firm behaviour and market structures, the macroeconomic study of aggregate phenomena such as growth, inflation, unemployment, and trade, and the mathematical and statistical methods, including econometrics, that allow economic theories to be tested against evidence. It is a discipline with broad analytical applicability and is among the most valued quantitative social science degrees in the graduate labour market.

The University of Bath's four-year full-time Economics programme, offered with a professional placement or study abroad, combines rigorous academic content with substantial real-world experience. Bath's economics department is research-active and applies economic thinking to policy-relevant questions in areas including inequality, public finance, and behavioural economics. You will build a strong foundation in micro and macroeconomics and develop advanced quantitative skills including mathematics for economists, probability, and econometric analysis, before applying these in optional areas that allow you to develop expertise relevant to your interests.

The inclusion of either a professional placement in an economics-related organisation or a year of study at a partner university abroad is central to the programme's value: both routes deepen your understanding of how economic analysis is used in practice and in different national and institutional contexts, and both significantly strengthen your preparation for competitive graduate careers.

A typical entry tariff of 184 points reflects Bath's highly competitive admissions context and the mathematical demands of the programme.

Graduates pursue careers in finance, banking, economic consultancy, government analysis, central banking, data science, international organisations, and management consultancy. Many also proceed to postgraduate study in economics, finance, or public policy.