The ranking, which is blind to universities’ prestige and research quality, has been created by The Economist magazine.
The magazine looked at how much former students earn five years after graduation. In its calculations, it statistically controlled for other determinants of graduates’ wages – particularly A level results, family income, age and whether they went to private or state school. In this way, the magazine was able to measure how much attending a particular university course impacts on graduate wages.
Providing value for students
The Economist found that five years after graduation, studying economics at the University of Bath adds £5,465 to graduate earnings, compared with the average economics course across all British universities. You can read more about their methodology.
This substantial value added is partly due to the fact that about two thirds of Bath Department of Economics students undertake a one-year work placement as part of their undergraduate course. Over the years, the Department of Economics has built up contacts with a large number of top employers, both in the private and in the public sector. The placement scheme is highly valued by employers, boosting graduates’ career prospects and salaries.