Economics and Management BSc

Studying economics and management at Aston will equip you with both the theoretical and applied understanding you need to excel in your professional life. These skills will help you whether you’re interested in careers in different aspects of management or want to run your own business.

What you’ll learn

Studying this course will give you an in-depth understanding of business and strategic decision-making, while developing both your analytical and quantitative skills. Knowledge of statistical and experimental methods used in economics is increasingly important for a successful professional career.

Theories, models and methods are brought to life through teaching that focuses on active learning and content that stresses real-world examples and applications. The placement year helps to equip you with highly relevant transferable skills that further increase your value in the graduate labour market.

The course will help you to understand the relationships between different parts of an organisation, and its interactions with the economic environment. Theories and frameworks in both management and economics education also develop your decision-making skills and your ability to manage teams effectively.

Professional accreditations

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. 

Economics and Management graduates can claim exemptions from the examinations of a number of professional bodies.

At present exemptions are available from:

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
   

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 the 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

Year 1

In your first year you will study a wide range of modules designed to ensure you have a broad foundation and knowledge of management.  You will consider the economic, financial, human and legal issues managers deal with and the tools and techniques that they use.

The core modules are:

• Introductory Accounting for Business
• Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
• Mathematics for Economics
• Statistics for Economics
• Introduction to Marketing Management
• Applied topics in Economics
• Principles of Macroeconomics
• Principles of Microeconomics

Year 2

In the second year, you will begin specialising in Economics and Management subjects. These modules will lay a solid foundation towards your final year studies. In addition to developing a good understanding of theories, there is also an emphasis on application of the theories towards understanding how businesses and economies operate and subsequently devise policies to enhance how they function.

The core modules are as follows: 

• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Business, Government and Society
• Business Management Simulation
• Corporate Financial Management  

Optional modules:

• Markets, Games and Strategy
• Introduction to Econometrics 1 
• Introduction to Econometrics 2 
• International Business and Emerging Market Economies
• International Business Economics 
• Sports Economics and Finance

*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

You will spend this year in professional placement, or you may choose to take up an international study opportunity at one of our partner institutions. This placement 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 the subjects studied in Year 2 with further specialisation in Economics and Management subjects, and a strong emphasis on application of theories towards understanding and enhancing the functioning of businesses and economies.

During your final year you will study the following compulsory modules:

• Strategic Management 
• Behavioural Economics 

Students must choose one module from the following options: 

• Further Topics in Microeconomics 
• Further Topics in Macroeconomics

Optional modules:

• Competition Policy
• Microeconometrics
• Macroeconometrics
• 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.

UCAS Code: LN12

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 business experiences provides a blend of learning and teaching experience to equip you for your future career.

Learning and teaching

As an Economics and Management student at Aston, you will experience our innovative approach to teaching, which combines a range of different methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group working, short in-class games, debates and computer simulation exercises. For example, all students on the course will take a Business Game module where they are placed in teams that operate a simulated company. The teams will compete against one another, providing a simulated competitive environment. The game draws on a range of theories studied in the first year and develops a range of professional skills needed by managers.

Five members of the economics team are winners of national teaching awards whilst two are co-authors of one of the best-selling economics textbooks. All teaching staff use the virtual learning environment at Aston to host a range of electronic supporting materials including quizzes and audio feedback on coursework. The department also has excellent links with the Government Economic Service – the largest employer of economists in the UK. Two members of staff are currently assessors for their graduate recruitment programme. This gives you a unique opportunity to learn from people making hiring decisions for one of the most prestigious employers in the UK.

Assessment

You will have a wide range of assessments from the first to final year, including - exams and coursework combined with more innovative approaches such as poster reports, online assessments, debates and group video projects. The department enters the highest quality video presentations into a national student competition run by the Royal Economic Society.

Personal development

Our business degrees are designed to also give you a range of transferable and practical skills to help you 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 teamworking and negotiating skills.

The integrated placement year gives you - practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, 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.

Find out more about Jordan Wrigley's placement journey at Stockholm Business School in Sweden. 

Learn more about Jennifer Akussah's placement that was split between Stockholm University, Sweden and International School Moshi, Tanzania.

Find out more about Jordan Charlton's placement on a graduate scheme for Atos based in Nottingham. 

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.

This course provides you with skills, theory and knowledge that can be applied to real world situations, and which will be beneficial to any career path, business or organisation. You will develop analytical, problem solving skills that will enable you to provide logical solutions to challenging business problems. 

During the placement year, you will be able to develop your learning and showcase your skills in a real-life working environment, helping you to accelerate your employability.

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

Economics and management graduates are employed in a variety of settings 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 (13th in the UK for graduate-level employment 15 months after graduation. (Guardian University Guide, 2022).

The largest employer of economists in the UK is the Government Economic Service (GES). Our economics 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.

Recent graduates

Our graduates have been successful in securing roles such as:

• Technology consulting graduate scheme
• Corporate Finance Associate
• Commercial banking graduate scheme
• Data Analyst
• Graduate Risk Analyst
• Audit Trainee
• Tax Professional
• Accounting Coordinator.

Recent graduates have gone on to work at companies such as Nestle, KPMG, Accenture, Grant Thornton, Ernst & Young, DPD Group UK, HMRC and Barclays.

"My advice would be to not rush into a career straight away if you don’t know what you want to go into. It’s great getting some experience before you start your career to understand what you do and don’t like; which is why the placement year at Aston is so vital."

Jordan Bains
Graduate Management Consultant at Sopra Steria

 

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 and management at Aston University?

You won’t just learn about the theories, models and methods of economics and management, you’ll get real-world examples and practical experience within your placement year, helping you to develop your understanding and skill set to prepare you for your career.

Is a placement year within economics and management useful?

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 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 and management lead to?

Studying economics and management, you’ll gain both theoretical and practical experience in both areas, meaning you can progress in roles in a range of settings including banks, consultancies, insurance and accountancy firms, charitable and not for profit organisations.

Why Aston Business School?

We are part of just 1 per cent of universities globally to be awarded a triple crown and be recognised by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. We are rank first in the UK for ‘added value’ in the Guardian University Guide 2020.  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 on many of our undergraduate programmes. 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.