Financial & Business Economics
Financial and business economics occupies a distinctive position within the social sciences, combining the analytical tools of economics with the applied concerns of finance and business strategy. Where pure economics asks broad questions about markets, incentives, and resource allocation, this discipline focuses those questions on the behaviour of firms, financial institutions, and the global systems that connect them. It is a field that rewards both mathematical precision and the ability to think strategically about uncertainty, risk, and decision-making under real-world conditions.
At Royal Holloway, this three-year full-time degree blends financial analysis with business economics to give you a curriculum that speaks to how markets and organisations actually function. You will develop skills in quantitative methods, economic modelling, and financial reasoning alongside an understanding of how firms make decisions in competitive and international environments. The programme includes a sandwich year, giving you the opportunity to gain professional experience in industry before returning to complete your degree, as well as a year abroad, which broadens your perspective and strengthens your adaptability in a globalised economy.
Work placement experience is also built into the programme, ensuring that your academic development is grounded in practice.
Graduates from financial and business economics programmes are well-positioned for careers across the financial services sector, including investment banking, asset management, financial analysis, economic consultancy, and corporate finance. The combination of economic rigour and business insight also opens doors in strategy roles within large corporations, in public policy and government economics departments, and in international organisations. For those who wish to continue their studies, the degree provides a strong foundation for postgraduate programmes in economics, finance, business administration, or related fields.
The entry tariff for this programme is 120 points, reflecting a course that expects strong academic preparation in analytical and quantitative subjects.