We have an outstanding reputation for our teaching and research, ensuring you will have an excellent experience studying with us.

Full entry requirements

Economics at Leicester

The Department of Economics was established in 1932, and is now one of the largest departments of economics in the UK. We have 35 academic staff, nine of whom are professors.

We offer a range of degree programmes, all of which include a core component that provides students with a thorough grounding in the ideas, techniques and principles of modern economic analysis. The wide variety of core and optional modules that we offer reflect the diverse research interests of the 35 academic staff in the Department. We also offer a number of taught postgraduate MSc programmes as well as research degrees leading to a PhD. We have eight degree programmes. All our BA degree programmes are suitable for those with a mathematics background equivalent to GCSE Grade B. All our BSc degree programmes require the equivalent of A-level mathematics Grade B or above. Our range of provision, in Economics, Business Economics, Financial Economics, and Banking and Finance enables you to focus on your particular interests. In addition, we offer specialist joint degree programmes with, the Department of Mathematics, the School of Management and the Department of Politics and International Relations, which enable students to study the core elements of two subjects and explore how they interconnect.

Why Choose Economics at Leicester?

Research rating: 100%
Places: 167
Applications: 1642
Example Jobs: Analyst; Management Accountant;  Audit Assistant; Data Analyst; Editorial Assistant; Equity Sales Trader; Financial Analyst; Graduate Econometrician; Marketing & Fundraising Officer; Pricing Analyst; Quality Controller; Senior Business Associate.
Example Employers: Alliance and Leicester; Bloomberg; BMI Group; British Gas Business; Citigroup Egg Card; HSBC; KPMG LLP; Lloyds Banking Group; Mattioli Woods; Mediacom; NatWest; NHS; Noel Media Limited; O2; Royal Bank of Scotland; Santander.
Example jobs and employers information comes from the University’s ‘Where Did They Go?’ survey, and shows destinations of 2009/10 graduates 6 months after graduation

The Department prides itself on its reputation for teaching and research excellence that few other economics departments can match. You will be taught by leading experts who have both an excellent academic reputation and real world experience. Our staff are internationally renowned and have acted as advisers and consultants to many international and national organisations, including the European central bank, the United Nations, the International Monetary fund, the Central Bank of Poland, the Central Bank of Greece and a number of UK Government departments. The close relationship between research and teaching is one of the great advantages of studying within the department.

In macroeconomics, we have produced research on central bank independence, economic growth and development, economic transition in Eastern Europe, the East Asia crisis and UK monetary and fiscal policy.

All our degrees include core modules in micro and macroeconomics. These cover issues relating to behaviour of individuals, households and firms, as well as issues relating to the economy as a whole, to ensure that you have a good core economics knowledge.

You will be given the opportunity to produce a dissertation or project in the Final Year, in a particular area of interest chosen by you, giving you the chance to consolidate all the knowledge you have learnt.

Our team of helpful and approachable staff will always be at hand to offer guidance and support throughout your studies, helping you to achieve the best from your time with us.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Typically, you are likely to have eight hours of lectures and six hours of classes or tutorials per week, although this may vary between modules. The lecture programme is supported by small-group tutorials, seminars or practical classes, designed to encourage discussion, exploration and application of issues arising from lecture material.

During the course of your degree you will be assessed by a mixture of examinations, course work and, in your Final Year, an independent research project. This will give you the opportunity to work on a topic of your choice that you are particularly interested in.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to transfer, during the First Year, to a four-year ‘With a year in Europe’ degree programme through the Erasmus scheme. Appropriate language tuition is offered during the Second Year. The Third Year is spent at a partner university in Europe before returning to complete the Final Year at Leicester.

These degrees will offer you an excellent opportunity to broaden your studies either in English or in a foreign language and to enhance your career prospects. Many organisations have an international scope so knowledge of a foreign language and a global outlook can give you a vital edge.

Subjects studied during the year abroad can include areas of economics, business, management, law, European history and politics and computing. Our students have recently studied modules such as: retail management, development of the Swedish welfare state, poverty analysis in developing countries, innovation management, European institutions and economics, law of the firm and computing applications in business.

We have carefully chosen links with some of the top European universities, offering opportunities to study at:

• Universite de Toulouse, France
• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
• Universitat de Valencia, Spain
• Universidade Complutense de Madrid, Spain
• Göteborg Universitet, Sweden
• Universitat Regensburg, Germany
• Università degli studi di Roma, Italy “Tor vergeta”
• Università degli studi di Milano, Italy “Tor vergeta”
• Panepistimio Kyprou, Cyprus

Studying at Toulouse, Valencia, Madrid, Regensburg or Cyprus will help you to become fluent in French, Spanish, German or Greek. Universities in Göteborg and Italy offer courses taught in English with the opportunity to take language modules in Swedish and Italian.

In addition the department has travel opportunities for students to study abroad in the U.S.A, Canada and Australia.

Skills Gained

You will be given a coherent knowledge of ideas, concepts and issues that are central to economics, as well as being prepared for careers and training opportunities in both public and private sectors. The course also encourages the development of quantitative, communication and IT skills, and their application in business contexts.

Student Support and Career Development

The Department of Economics believes that you come to university for more than just a degree and therefore will support you to achieve your potential throughout your studies and beyond. There are numerous opportunities which can help you to develop your career and broaden your horizons. Many of these are fun and rewarding projects that can also have a positive impact on your academic progress. You may be interested in:

• Volunteering and work experience placements
• Opportunities to network with local and national employers (including top graduate recruiters)
• Accreditation for your skills development through our unique Leicester Award for Employability
• Project work with student societies and employer led organisations
• Peer mentoring to help you achieve personal, academic and career goals
• Prizes to acknowledge your achievements
• Information, advice and guidance through the graduate job application process.

We are always seeking new and fun ways to help students reflect on their personal and career development both as part of the academic curriculum and through extracurricular activities.  

Graduate/Career Opportunities

We have a high success rate in the graduate employment market, with students going on to senior positions in industry, accountancy, finance, education, research, marketing, government service and local and national media. Some examples of companies that have employed our graduates are as follows:

• Alliance & Leicester
• MediaCom
• Aviva
• Deutsche Bank
• KPMG
• BUPA
• Bloomberg Business News Ltd
• HSBC
• Volvo Financial Services
• Co–operative Group
• M & G Securities Ltd

Our Final Year programme, offers a broad range of options in applied economics, business and finance, which helps to give our graduates this competitive edge.

The BA Degree Programmes

Our specialist BA degree programmes follow a common First Year involving economics, basic mathematics, statistics and IT. They then diverge in the second and Final Years through the provision of modules specific to each programme.

The main aim of the BA Economics degree programme is to develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the ideas, concepts and issues central to economics.

The main aim of the BA Business Economics degree programme is to develop an understanding of the relevance of modern economic analysis to business and financial decision making contexts.

The main aim of the BA Financial Economics degree programme is to develop an understanding of the application of the principles of economics to the study of financial systems and institutions.

The main aim of the BA Banking and Finance degree programme is to combine the study of modern economics with banking and finance.

Skills Gained

You will gain transferable skills in problem-solving, written and oral communication, quantitative methods, statistical analysis and the use of information technology. You will learn to critically analyse and evaluate economic events and issues with specific reference to the business environment, government policy and the financial world.

Graduate Opportunities

Graduates from these degree programmes at the University of Leicester are equipped for many career directions, including business management, accountancy, banking, business, market and financial analysis, government service, teaching and postgraduate study.

The BSc Degree Programmes

All of our BSc degree programmes develop specialist skills in applied statistics and modelling for students entering with a background in mathematics. After a common First Year involving economics, mathematical statistics, mathematics and IT, the four programmes diverge through the provision of modules specific to the chosen specialism. For example, BSc Economics students study mathematical approaches to economics, advanced microeconomics and advanced macroeconomics; BSc Business Economics students study managerial economics, management strategy and management science; BSc Financial Economics students study money and banking, international finance and financial derivatives. BSc Banking and Finance students study principles of banking, international finance, corporate finance and accounting.

All programmes have Final Year modules in econometrics or economics and business forecasting from which students prepare an applied computer-based statistical project.

Skills Gained

Students in all degree programmes will gain transferable skills in critical analysis, problem-solving, group work, written and oral presentations. They will also have numerical, mathematical, IT and statistical skills.

Graduate Opportunities

These degree programmes prepare students for a wide range of careers including business management, finance and accounting as well as quantitatively orientated careers in business research and statistical forecasting.

Full entry requirements

Opportunities to Visit and Further Information

Choosing where and what to study at university is an important decision for you. If you would like further information about whether our degree programmes are the right choice for you, including information about opportunities to visit the Department, please contact us:

0116 252 2890
Fax: 0116 223 1028
economicsug@le.ac.uk
www.le.ac.uk/economics

Request a prospectus

Book an open day