Economics BSc

From tackling the gender pay gap to informing policy decisions on the impact of global warming, studying economics at Aston will develop business-critical skills that are transferable across whatever career path you choose.

Our four year BSc in Economics has been created with industry specialists to ensure that you develop the right skillset needed for modern business.

The course addresses current issues and learning gaps in the study of economics with a focus on applying theory to solving real-world issues. Everything you learn will be applied to a real-world context, even down to the way that you are assessed, where you will communicate complex economic theories to non-specialists.

What you’ll learn

You will learn about economic theories and build on your analytical and mathematical skills in order to understand how economics is used to solve a breadth of issues in business and wider society.

You’ll learn about the principles of micro and macroeconomics, mathematics and statistics in economics, econometrics and competition policy, as well select modules to tailor your learning to your areas of interest.

Through case studies, real-world examples and challenges, you’ll explore economics in an applied context and your placement year gives you an opportunity to develop your employability skills. 

Your first year is designed to give you a broad knowledge of economics in a business and management setting, which not only helps to appeal to employers, but it also gives you the opportunity to better understand the areas aligned to economics that interest you most. You will then go on to select the modules that best suit your interests and growing range of skills.

Professional accreditation

Accreditation is a stamp of quality and prestige for a business school and its programmes. Aston is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation. 

Whether you’re interested in a career in audit and consulting, as a business analyst or financial planner, our BSc in Economics may also lead to accreditation or exemptions from professional bodies such as:

• ACCA  Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.
   
• CII Chartered Insurance Institute  Graduates may be able to claim a CII 'standard award', which gives credits towards CII professional qualifications in financial services and insurance. Graduates must apply directly to the CII. 
   
• CIMA Chartered Institute of Management Accountants  Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.
   

Two undergraduate degrees

This course offers an Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway, meaning you could study overseas at one of our partner institutions during your placement year and graduate with two undergraduate degrees for the price of one. 

Find out more about our Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway

International students

Information for international applicants

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

For more information on applying as an international student, visit our webpage: www.aston.ac.uk/international/students-applying

 

Post-study work visa

Graduate Immigration Route

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Find out more information about the Graduate Immigration Route.

Foundation programme

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course. During your foundation year, you’ll have excellent support from academics while group projects will give you the chance to meet new people, make new friends and build a network of peers who will share your university journey. We also have a Learning Development Centre that can provide additional support and offer pre-sessional English language programmes.

For International Students intending to do a foundation year, visit ONCAMPUS

Modules

The first year of BSc Economics is designed to give you flexibility in choosing your further course of study. If you find yourself less interested in mathematical modelling and statistics, you can switch to our BSc Economics and Management course, which provides training in both Economics and Management and has less technical content.

Year 1

You will study key principles of economics and learn to apply them to a wide variety of real-life problems. You will start learning appropriate mathematical and statistical techniques, and gain a foundation in business by studying several modules outside economics.

The core modules are:

• Principles of Macroeconomics
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Political Economy and Industrial Policy
• Mathematics for Economics
• Statistics for Economics
• Applied Topics in Economics
• Introductory Accounting for Business
• Marketing Management

Year 2

You will develop a good understanding of economic theories and business strategies. In addition, you will learn to perform data analysis using quantitative methods and computing techniques. The modules will lay a solid foundation towards your final year studies.

The core modules are as follows:

• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Markets, Games and Strategy
• Econometrics 1
• Econometrics 2

Optional modules are as follows:

• Strategic Finance
• Corporate Financial Management
• Public Economics 
• Sports Economics and Finance
• Business, Government & Society
• International Business and Emerging Market Economies
• Business Management Simulation
• Software for Analytics
• International Business Economics 

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Year 3

This is when you will undertake a professional placement or choose an international study opportunity at one of our partner institutions. This year is compulsory for all UK students.

See placement year section or find out more about the Aston placement year. 

Final Year 

The final year continues with deepening your knowledge of economic theories and advanced quantitative techniques, with a strong emphasis on their application in a diverse range of international settings. Subject areas include International Trade, Behavioural Economics, Environmental Economics and Economics of Entrepreneurship.

The core modules are as follows:

• Further Topics in Microeconomics
• Further Topics in Macroeconomics
• Competition Policy

Choose at least one of:

• Microeconometrics
• Macroeconometrics

Optional modules are as follows:

• Behavioural Economics
• Environmental Economics
• International Trade
• Regional and Urban Economics
• Economics of Entrepreneurship
• Derivatives

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

4 year with integrated placement year / 3 year course without integrated placement year option only available for non-UK/EU students

Typical offers:

A Levels

BBB – standard offer

BBC (with EPQ or Core maths minimum grade B)

BBC (Contextual offer)*

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here. 

IB

31 points overall in the IB diploma with 5,5,5 at HL. Minimum score of 5 in Maths at Standard level.

BTEC, Access & other

BTEC Extended Diploma DDD – standard offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma DDM – Contextual offer.

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

The University also accepts the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma and BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/BTEC Level 3 Diploma for entry onto degree programmes, provided that they are studied in combination with other qualifications that are equivalent to three full A2 Levels.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here. 

T Levels

The following T levels are accepted qualifications for this course:

• T-Level - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Grade D
• T-Level - Digital Production, Design and Production Grade D
• T-Level – Education and Childcare Grade D
• T-Level – Onsite Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Building Services Engineering for Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Business Services Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Support Services Grade D
• T-Level – Health Grade D
• T-Level – Healthcare Science Grade D
• T-Level – Science Grade D

GCSEs

5 GCSE grades A*/9 – C/4 to include:

GCSE Maths – grade B/5

GCSE English Language OR English Literature – grade C/4

Please note that General Studies does not contribute towards the UCAS points requirement but is welcomed as an additional qualification.

Our Admissions Policy

View our Admissions Policy

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

Entry onto our Foundation Year maybe offered as an alternative to the degree course if lower entry grades are achieved.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

International students

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements.

For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your country webpage.

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston. Find out more.

Our close links to industry and our focus on delivering practical business experiences provides a blend of learning experience to equip you for your future career.

Learning and teaching

As an economics student at Aston, you will experience various approaches to teaching, which combines a range of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work, in-class games, case studies, computer simulation exercises and computer labs to practice exam questions.

Traditional teaching is supported by our virtual learning environment, which is used to host a range of electronic supporting materials. For example, all business students undertake the Business Game module and compete in teams in a computer simulation exercise that culminates in a presentation to a panel of internal employers.

Aston University has subscriptions to both the Financial Times and The Economist, which you can benefit from whilst studying here.

Our economics teaching team include experienced practitioners and well-respected authors on the subject. The largest employer of economists in the UK is the Government Economic Service (GES). Currently, our teaching staff include two GES assessors, which gives you a unique opportunity to learn from people making hiring decisions for one of the most prestigious professional bodies. Our teaching team also includes the authors of one of the best-selling economics textbooks and winners of  national teaching awards.

Assessment

You will have a wide range of assessments from the first to third year, including traditional style exams and coursework, combined with more modern techniques such as poster reports, online assessments and group video projects, the highest quality of which are nominated for the Royal Economic Society undergraduate competition.

Personal development

Our economics degree is designed to give you a range of transferable and practical skills to succeed within your chosen career. We make extensive use of group working and presentations to prepare you for the reality of working life. This experience will develop your team working and negotiating skills.

This course will provide you with theoretical knowledge and skills to apply to real-world situations, beneficial to a broad range of career paths. You will develop analytical and problem-solving skills enabling you to provide logical solutions to challenging business problems.

Your communication skills will develop throughout this course through assignments that ask for economic theories to be written and communicated to a non-specialist audience, which will support your transferable skills.

The integrated placement year gives you practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

Placement year

The Aston placement year forms an integral part of your educational journey and is compulsory for all home students. International/EU students can request permission to opt out of the placement year, but we strongly recommend that it is completed where possible. 

Find out more about the Aston placement year.

The integrated placement year gives you the genuine, practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

We have a dedicated Employer Team within our Careers and Placements department who have links with local, national and international organisations and advertise vacancies to students through an online platform exclusively for Aston students and graduates.  

Aston University was recognised as the 'Best University Placement Service'.

The Careers and Placements team at Aston University won the 'Best University Placement Service' category at the National Undergraduate Employability (NUE) Awards 2022. This was achieved by launching Virtual Employability Festivals and recognising the power of peer-to-peer communication by pairing 500 students looking for placements with 500 students who had completed placements.

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as Home students.

Further information
 

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees and funding

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. 

Find out more about our scholarships here.

During your placement year, you will develop your learning, showcase your skills and accelerate your employability through real work experience.

Economics graduates are employed in a variety of businesses including banks, consultancies, insurance and accountancy firms, charitable and not-for-profit organisations, and government departments.

Aston economics graduates are some of the most employable in the UK (5th in the UK for Career Prospects, Economics. The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019).

Recent graduates

Our recent graduates have been successful in securing roles such as:

• Trade Capture Analyst
• Technology Consulting Graduate Scheme
• Graduate Tax Scheme
• Transfer Pricing Analyst.
   

Graduates have gone on to work at well-known organisations such as Barclays Investment Bank, KPMG, HMRC and Ernst & Young.

 

From left to right:

Gerry Loughrey, Trustee of the Birmingham Stock Exchange Benevolent Fund 

Caroline Elliott, Deputy Dean, Aston Business School

Paul Cusack, Trustee of the Birmingham Stock Exchange Benevolent Fund

Kitti Mar (student)

Daniel Wood (student)

Clive Duckitt, Trustee of the Birmingham Stock Exchange Benevolent Fund

Paul Watts, Trustee of the Birmingham Stock Exchange Benevolent Fund

Two exceptional Aston Business School undergraduates get £2,000 boost in second year

3 December 2019

Two Aston University students have been announced as the latest recipients of the Birmingham Stock Exchange Scholarship, in association with Aston Business School.

The scholarship programme is intended to provide some financial assistance to exceptional students who are looking for a career in the investment management or the wealth management industry within the Birmingham or Midlands business community.

Recipients are awarded £2,000 in each of their second and final year of undergraduate degrees to help support their studies. Successful applicants also receive a range of benefits aimed at developing exclusive career opportunities to students within the local community.

These benefits include invitations to events from the local branch of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments and invitations to the Birmingham Stock Exchange Association Annual Dinner. 

Kitti Mar, is a second year Economics and Management student, looking to secure a career in the financial industry. As well as studying she works at a local solicitors firm as a legal assistantand interpreter. In addition, she spends her free time building her brother’s personal tennis brand through content marketing and securing sponsorships.

Daniel Wood, is a second year undergraduate studying BSc International Business and Economics. He has a strong interest in financial markets and risk management and aspires to forge a career out of these interests in the finance industry. As a recipient of the Birmingham Stock Exchange Scholarship he is committed to making his career in the West Midlands, to utilising this opportunity with finance professionals and to attend seminars and events with the Chartered Institutefor Securities and Investment to support his studies.

Caroline Elliott, Deputy Dean, Aston Business School commented:

“We are so grateful for the continued support from the Birmingham Stock Exchange Benevolent Fund that allows some of the brightest Aston Business School students not only significant financial support, but careers advice and networking opportunities. This can really help ‘kick-start’ their careers in finance and wealth management.”

 

Why study economics at Aston?

Economics at Aston has been specifically designed with industry to meet the growing demand for economics graduates with the right skillset. This means you’ll learn about economic theories, building on your analytical and mathematical skills, but you’ll also develop the skills to communicate complex theories to non-specialists, in order to apply knowledge to real-world settings.

Is a placement useful for economics?

Aston has some of the most employable economics graduates in the UK and the placement year helps to demonstrate to employers that you are able to transfer your knowledge to a real-world environment. A placement also helps you to understand the type of career you may want to establish once you graduate.

What kind of jobs does a degree in economics lead to?

Studying economics and gaining both theoretical and practical experience means you can progress a career in a broad range of settings including banks, consultancies, insurance and accountancy firms, charitable and not-for-profit organisations as well as government departments.

Economics can help answer some of the biggest questions in modern society today that affect everyone, so the skills you’ll develop are invaluable to a variety of organisations.

Why Aston Business School?

Aston Business School is part of the top 1 per cent of business schools globally to have triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. We are also recognised for the quality of our teaching. We are ranked first in the UK for Value Added by Guardian University Guide 2020, based on our students’ entry grades with their final degree result. All of this demonstrates our commitment to your learning experience and the skills you develop and demonstrate as part of your course.

What is the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway at Aston Business School?

You can deepen your learning and stand out from other graduates whilst gaining a fantastic learning experience overseas. The Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway is similar to an exchange programme, but during your placement year you’ll follow a particular curriculum, setting you on the track for our partner institutions degree award. This means, if successful, you will graduate with two undergraduate degrees.

Find out more about the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries choose to study with us every year.  Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career.