Economics

Modules and Teaching

• Starting in October 2026

  • Three years full-time, on campus

    Course structure

    You must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.

    • Years 1 and 2: four compulsory modules in each year

    • Year 3: one compulsory module and three option modules

    If you are also interested in studying finance as well as economics you may want to consider alternatively our BSc Financial Economics. There is an opportunity to switch into this course at the end of Year 1, should your interests change during your first year.

    Year 1 compulsory modules

    • Current Economic Problems
    • IT and Professional Skills
    • Introduction to Economics
    • Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance I

    Year 2 compulsory modules

    • International Economics
    • Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
    • Microeconomic Theory and Policy
    • Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance II

    Year 3 compulsory module

    • Applied Statistics and Econometrics

    Indicative option modules

    • Applied Statistics and Econometrics
    • BSc Project
    • Behavioural Economics and Finance
    • Data Science for Economics and Finance
    • Economics of Public Policy
    • Financial Markets
    • Macroeconomics
    • Microeconomics

    Please note that option modules are subject to availability and timetable constraints and may change from year to year.

  • Four years part-time, on campus

    Course structure

    You must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.

    • Years 1, 2 and 3: three compulsory modules in each year
    • Year 4: three option modules

    If you are also interested in studying finance as well as economics you may want to consider alternatively our BSc Financial Economics. There is an opportunity to switch into this course at the end of Year 1, should your interests change during your first year.

    Year 1 compulsory modules

    • IT and Professional Skills
    • Introduction to Economics
    • Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance I

    Year 2 compulsory modules

    • Current Economic Problems
    • Microeconomic Theory and Policy
    • Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance II

    Year 3 compulsory module

    • Applied Statistics and Econometrics
    • International Economics
    • Macroeconomic Theory and Policy

    Indicative option modules

    • Applied Statistics and Econometrics
    • BSc Project
    • Behavioural Economics and Finance
    • Data Science for Economics and Finance
    • Economics of Public Policy
    • Financial Markets
    • Macroeconomics
    • Microeconomics

    Please note that option modules are subject to availability and timetable constraints and may change from year to year.

  • Four years full-time, on campus, with Foundation Year

    Course structure

    For the Foundation Year, you undertake four core modules at Level 3 to a total of 120 credits.

    If you successfully complete these modules, you will automatically advance onto the three-year, full-time BSc Economics or onto one of our other Economics degrees: 

    • BSc Economics and Business
    • BSc Financial Economics

    Foundation Year core modules

    • Economic Principles (Foundation Year)
    • Essential Maths and Data Analysis
    • Fundamentals of Study
    • Introduction to Management

  • Six years part-time, on campus, with Foundation Year

    Course structure

    Our part-time Foundation Year degrees allow you to spread out your Foundation Year studies over two years. As the 'Foundation Year' is made up of 120 credits, as a part-time student you can take 60 credits in each of your first and second years before starting the main four-year BSc Economics or one of our other Economics degrees listed below. This means that you can take six years to complete the part-time degree with Foundation Year.

    You take two core modules in each of Foundation Years 1 and 2, to a total of 120 credits.

    Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will automatically progress onto our four-year, part-time, evening study BSc Economics or onto one of our other Economics degrees:

    • BSc Economics and Business
    • BSc Financial Economics

    You need only complete one application and you enrol onto one course.

    Foundation Year 1 core modules

    • Fundamentals of Study
    • Introduction to Management

    Foundation Year 2 core modules

    • Economic Principles (Foundation Year)
    • Essential Maths and Data Analysis

• Starting in October 2027

  • Three years full-time, on campus

    Course structure

    You must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.

    • Years 1 and 2: four compulsory modules in each year

    • Year 3: one compulsory module and three option modules

    If you are also interested in studying finance as well as economics you may want to consider alternatively our BSc Financial Economics. There is an opportunity to switch into this course at the end of Year 1, should your interests change during your first year.

    Year 1 compulsory modules

    • Current Economic Problems
    • IT and Professional Skills
    • Introduction to Economics
    • Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance I

    Year 2 compulsory modules

    • International Economics
    • Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
    • Microeconomic Theory and Policy
    • Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance II

    Year 3 compulsory module

    • Applied Statistics and Econometrics

    Indicative option modules

    • Applied Statistics and Econometrics
    • BSc Project
    • Behavioural Economics and Finance
    • Data Science for Economics and Finance
    • Economics of Public Policy
    • Financial Markets
    • Macroeconomics
    • Microeconomics

    Please note that option modules are subject to availability and timetable constraints and may change from year to year.

  • Four years part-time, on campus

    Course structure

    You must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.

    • Years 1, 2 and 3: three compulsory modules in each year
    • Year 4: three option modules

    If you are also interested in studying finance as well as economics you may want to consider alternatively our BSc Financial Economics. There is an opportunity to switch into this course at the end of Year 1, should your interests change during your first year.

    Year 1 compulsory modules

    • IT and Professional Skills
    • Introduction to Economics
    • Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance I

    Year 2 compulsory modules

    • Current Economic Problems
    • Microeconomic Theory and Policy
    • Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Finance II

    Year 3 compulsory module

    • Applied Statistics and Econometrics
    • International Economics
    • Macroeconomic Theory and Policy

    Indicative option modules

    • Applied Statistics and Econometrics
    • BSc Project
    • Behavioural Economics and Finance
    • Data Science for Economics and Finance
    • Economics of Public Policy
    • Financial Markets
    • Macroeconomics
    • Microeconomics

    Please note that option modules are subject to availability and timetable constraints and may change from year to year.

  • Four years full-time, on campus, with Foundation Year

    Course structure

    For the Foundation Year, you undertake four core modules at Level 3 to a total of 120 credits.

    If you successfully complete these modules, you will automatically advance onto the three-year, full-time BSc Economics or onto one of our other Economics degrees: 

    • BSc Economics and Business
    • BSc Financial Economics

    Foundation Year core modules

    • Economic Principles (Foundation Year)
    • Essential Maths and Data Analysis
    • Fundamentals of Study
    • Introduction to Management

  • Six years part-time, on campus, with Foundation Year

    Course structure

    Our part-time Foundation Year degrees allow you to spread out your Foundation Year studies over two years. As the 'Foundation Year' is made up of 120 credits, as a part-time student you can take 60 credits in each of your first and second years before starting the main four-year BSc Economics or one of our other Economics degrees listed below. This means that you can take six years to complete the part-time degree with Foundation Year.

    You take two core modules in each of Foundation Years 1 and 2, to a total of 120 credits.

    Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will automatically progress onto our four-year, part-time, evening study BSc Economics or onto one of our other Economics degrees:

    • BSc Economics and Business
    • BSc Financial Economics

    You need only complete one application and you enrol onto one course.

    Foundation Year 1 core modules

    • Fundamentals of Study
    • Introduction to Management

    Foundation Year 2 core modules

    • Economic Principles (Foundation Year)
    • Essential Maths and Data Analysis

• Teaching

  We encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching to help ensure you have the best learning experience and provide a range of different modes of learning to help you juggle study with work and other commitments.

  Find out more about our teaching and teaching hours.

  What are the methods of teaching?

  Three years full-time and four years part-time: Some modules are delivered via distance-learning or blended-learning formats, but most teaching is via lectures and classes, including individual and group presentations or case studies. Problem-solving is a key aspect of learning, especially in more technical modules, and you will be encouraged to complete exercises in preparation for the problem-solving classes.

  Foundation Year degrees: Face-to-face teaching, lectures and seminars.

• How will I be assessed?

  Three years full-time and four years part-time: The usual methods of assessment are unseen two-hour or three-hour examinations, in-class tests, assessed take-home assignments, project work, and classroom presentations and group discussions.

  Foundation Year degrees: For most modules, you will do coursework and sit examinations. The relative weights of these components will vary from module to module and you will be given this information on the individual module syllabus/reading list.

  Coursework assignments will vary, but may include essays, problem-solving (modules involving quantitative techniques are likely to involve exercises designed to test your ability to apply these techniques to solve problems) and in-class and mid-term tests.

  Please see individual modules for more details.

  Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Entry Requirements

• Full-time study - how many UCAS points do I need?

  • Three years full-time: 120 points (e.g. A-levels BBB)
  • Four years full-time with Foundation Year: 48 points

  For full-time study on this course, you apply via UCAS. The UCAS tariff score applies if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a tariff calculator for you to work out what your qualification is worth.

• Part-time study

  For part-time study our standard requirements are a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.

• What GCSEs do I need?

  Three years full-time and four years part-time: GCSE grade A*-C or grade 9-4 in English and mathematics is also required.

  Foundation Year degrees: Applicants are expected to have GCSE grade C or grade 4, or equivalent, in English and mathematics.

• Alternative entry routes

  Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DDM

• What are the English language requirements?

  If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

  If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

  Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

• What are the visa and funding requirements?

  If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

  The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
  • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

  International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

  As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

  For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

  Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

  Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

• Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

  If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Fees

• Birkbeck's Lifelong Learning Guarantee

  If you've studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.

• Tuition fees and maintenance loans

  Eligible full-time and part-time students from the UK don't have to pay any tuition fees upfront, as government loans are available to cover them.

  Maintenance loans are also available for eligible full-time and part-time UK students, to help cover living costs, such as accommodation, food, travel, books and study materials. The amount you receive is means-tested and depends on where you live and study and your household income.

  Find out more about tuition fee and maintenance loans, and the financial support available to help with your studies at Birkbeck. 

• Can I apply for an international scholarship?

  We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. View Birkbeck's available scholarships.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this BSc Economics, you'll have a gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

• the ability to analyse data and evaluate trends
• the capacity to assess information critically and solve problems
• effective communication of ideas, findings and recommendations to diverse audiences.

Studying our course will prepare you for roles in a range of fields:

• Finance: investment banking, asset management or financial consulting
• Government: economic policy analysis, research, or in central banks, treasury departments or international organisations
• Business: business analysis, market research, strategic planning or corporate finance
• Data analysis: data analysis or econometrics in industries such as banking, insurance or market research firms
• Nonprofit and NGOs: economic development, policy advocacy, or research positions
• Academia: pursuing further education with a postgraduate degree for roles in research or academia.

Student Support

How to Apply

• How do I apply to study full-time (UCAS entry)?

  If you are applying for a full-time undergraduate course at Birkbeck you apply through UCAS. Use the Apply now button on this course page which will direct you to UCAS. There you will be prompted to sign in and create an account. You will have to give UCAS a few personal details, including your name, address and date of birth, and then you can start working on your application.

  The first UCAS deadline is in January, and the majority of university applications through UCAS are made by then. Find the exact deadline date on the UCAS website. We welcome applications outside of the UCAS deadlines, so you can still apply through UCAS after the January deadline, depending on the availability of places. We also take late applications via the UCAS Clearing system in August.

• How do I apply to study part-time?

  If you are applying for a part-time undergraduate course (usually four or six years), you apply directly to Birkbeck online by using the Apply now button. You will need to prove your identity when you apply.

  Please note that online application opens in September.

• When should I apply?

  You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

  You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

• How can I get help with my application?

  Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

  Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

• International agents

  If you are an international agent applying to Birkbeck on behalf of an international student, please use Birkbeck's agent portal.