Politics and Economics
Politics and economics is one of the most intellectually productive combinations in the social sciences, connecting the study of power and governance with the analysis of how resources are allocated and incentives shape behaviour. Politics without economics lacks the analytical tools to understand why governments make the choices they do and what their material consequences are. Economics without politics lacks the institutional and historical context that determines how markets actually function and what forces shape economic outcomes.
Studied together, they illuminate each other in ways that make both more powerful.
At Leicester this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you a combination of international and professional experience that is particularly valuable when you are studying subjects with direct relevance to how the world is organised and governed. Leicester has a strong reputation in both political science and economics, and you will benefit from the expertise of staff in both departments. You will study political theory, comparative politics, and international relations alongside micro and macroeconomic analysis, quantitative methods, and applied economics, developing the ability to move fluently between empirical and theoretical approaches to social questions.
Graduates find careers in the civil service, public policy analysis, political consultancy, economic research, international organisations, journalism, finance, banking, and the voluntary sector. The combination of political understanding and economic analysis is particularly valuable in roles that require both an appreciation of institutional and political contexts and the ability to deploy rigorous quantitative reasoning. The international experience from the year abroad is a significant asset in roles with international dimensions.
Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in politics, economics, international relations, public policy, or law.