Study
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Economics

Entry requirements

Personal Statement:

Your personal statement should describe your motivation for choosing this programme and information about your non-academic interests and achievements. You can demonstrate a commitment to the discipline through your general reading, any related work experience and an appreciation of contemporary issues in economics and international development or politics if you are applying to a joint degree.

A Levels

Typical Offer: A*AA
In exceptional circumstances we may make a slightly lower offer (typically AAA)

Essential:

  • GCSE Mathematics A or A* or IGCSE Mathematics A
  • A2 Mathematics is required at grade A or above
  • General Studies is excluded
  • Critical Thinking will not normally form part of an offer
  • languages which are intended for non-native speakers are not normally acceptable when taken by native speakers of that language
  • A* can be in any of the three A levels 

In addition preference will be shown to applicants who can demonstrate the following skills, attributes and qualifications:

  • evidence of a strong interest in Economics demonstrated by extra-curricular activity, research or work experience 
  • evidence of study in addition to core subjects such as additional AS level(s), additional A2 level(s) (including Critical Thinking) or an Extended Project


Preference will be shown to students who are taking any of the following as second and third subjects
:

  • Economics
  • Further Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Geography
  • History
  • Biology
  • Modern Language

Preferred subject combinations:
We consider all subjects except General Studies but would be unlikely to make offers to applicants with narrow subject combinations that rely predominantly on the same mental capabilities. For example, the following types of narrow subject combinations would be less likely to receive an offer:

  • Business Studies and Economics
  • French, German and Italian
  • History, English Literature and Religious Studies

The following is a list of A-levels considered 'less effective preparation' for our course.
Candidates offering one of these subjects will usually offer at least two of the more traditional subjects to be successful. This list is not exhaustive and is only included for guidance:

  • Communication Studies
  • Dance
  • Drama / Theatre Studies
  • Film Studies
  • Health and Social Care
  • Home Economics
  • Home & Community Studies
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Leisure Studies
  • Media Studies
  • Music Technology
  • Musical Appreciation
  • Performance Studies
  • Performing Arts
  • Photography
  • Physical Education
  • Sports Studies
  • Travel and Tourism

AS level examinations are not normally included in our offer. However AS level grades are taken as an indication of A2 performance in conjunction with predicted grades. Candidates are required to indicate their AS grades (not UMS score) in the application even if they are not being certificated. We may contact you or your school for details about your academic progress if we need further information before we are in a position to make a decision.

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Access to HE Diploma

We welcome applications from students studying for an Access to HE Diploma. Our economics programmes are academically challenging and require solid foundations of knowledge in mathematics. We will consider the applications of students whose applications indicate that they have studied a suitable level of mathematics (at least 12 units of Level 3 maths) to be able to succeed on our programmes. However, due to the time-limited nature of Access programme delivery, it is expected that you will have also completed a significant level of independent study in order to further develop and refine these mathematical skills.

Please see the lists of preferred subjects and subject combinations in the A Level section above, for an indication of the type of units that should be studied alongside maths, as suitable preparation for these programmes.

If your application indicates that you may be suitable for our programmes, you will be invited to attend an interview at the university. During this interview, you will be asked about your motivation to study an economics programme at Bath, and you will be asked to work through a variety of programme-relevant mathematics problems. Applicants who are able to demonstrate the necessary skills and knowledge will be considered for an offer for a place at Bath.

Typical offer:

Pass the Access to HE Diploma, with at least 39 credits achieved from units awarded at Distinction. This must include 12 credits from mathematics units awarded at Distinction. Applicants must also achieve GCSE equivalence in English, if an equivalent qualification has not already been achieved.

BTEC

BTEC Level 3 qualifications are acceptable when offered in combination with two A Levels at grade A: one of which must be A-level in Mathematics. You will need to achieve a Distinction grade in all units from these qualifications.

Cambridge Pre-U

Typical Offer: D2, D3, D3 to include Mathematics.

Please see A Level section for details of preferred and less preferred subjects and subject combinations.

 

European Baccalaureate

Typical Offer: An overall score of 82%

82% in 5 period Mathematics. Due to the applied nature of the programme, preference will be given to students who are taking Economics; Advanced Mathematics; Physics; Chemistry; Biology and a Modern Language.

French Baccalaureate

For students studying the Baccalauréat Général, we will typically make an offer of 15 (‘mention bien') out of 20. As part of this offer, we will also require you to achieve a grade of 15 in Mathematics. Students achieving 14 in English as a foreign language will be exempt from the need to have an additional English language qualification, such as IELTS or TOEFL.

Students taking the optional Option Internationale du Baccalauréat will be required to obtain an overall score of 14.5, with a grade of 14.5 in Mathematics. No further English language requirements are required if a grade of 14 is achieved in English as a foreign language.

German Abitur

Grade of 1.2 overall required. You will need a grade of at least 13 in Mathematics. If you achieve a grade of 12 in English as a foreign language you will be exempt from the need to have an additional English language qualification, such as IELTS or TOEFL.

Hong Kong

Typical offer: ABB from 3 Hong Kong A-levels.

Mathematics is required at grade B. (HK A levels are norm-referenced so grades do not equate directly with UK A-levels. This means that, for maths and science subjects in particular, a grade B at HKAL would be equivalent to grade A at UKAL, for example.) You will be exempt from the need to have an additional English language qualification, if you achieve Grade C or above in Hong Kong Examinations Authority Advanced Use of English or Grade B or above in Hong Kong Certificate of Education English Language (Syllabus B).

Economics or Business Studies are considered to be useful for our programmes.

Indian Qualifications

From Indian Year XII you should take at least 5 subjects (CBSE, CICSE or equivalent), including Mathematics. An overall minimum score of 85% overall is required, to include 80% in English and 85% in Mathematics. No other English qualification is required if 80% in English is achieved (alternatively see English language requirements below).

International Baccalaureate

Typical Offer: 38 points (including bonus points) with grades of 7, 6 and 6 in a combination of 3 subjects at the higher level 

Mathematics at Higher Level is preferred, but applicants with Mathematics (not Mathematical Studies) at Standard level at grade 7 will be considered.

 Due to the applied nature of the course preference will be given to students offering second and third subjects at HL from the following:

  • Economics
  • Business and Management
  • Physics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • a modern language

International Students

We accept a wide range of non-UK qualifications as entry either to our Foundation Year or directly on to the first year of our undergraduate programmes. For further information please visit our International Office web page.

English Language Qualifications:

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency in order to study Economics. The minimum requirement is IELTS: grade 7.0, with 7.0 in writing and with no mark less than 6.5 in any of the elements. Applicants should submit their results by 31st July.

For a list of other English language qualifications we accept please go to the English Language Entry Requirements web page.

Irish Leaving Certificate

Typical Offer: AAAAAB at higher level with an A in Mathematics.

Italy

Attending a Liceo scientifico you will need to achieve an overall mark of 95% from the Diploma di Esame di Stato, with a grade of 95% in Mathematics.

Netherlands

Minimum of 8 in all subjects from Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO), including Mathematics (A(1,2)) and English.

Scottish Highers

Typical Offer: AAAAA at Higher level and AA at Advanced Higher level which must include Mathematics. See A level entry requirements for preferred subjects.

United States

Typical Offer: an ACT score of at least 30 out of 36 OR 675 in the Writing and Maths Papers AND At least three appropriate subjects at Grade 4. (One of which must be AP CalculusBC. APs in microeconomics and macroeconomics are also considered desirable.) OR Three or four appropriate subjects in SAT 2 Tests with at least 650 in each.

Welsh Baccalaureate

Typical Offer: Grades A*AA at GCE A-Level or AAA AND a Pass in the Welsh Baccalaureate Core is required. A2 Mathematics is required at grade A or above.

 
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