Economics at Bath: What do I need to know?

Learn more about studying an undergraduate economics degree, and what to expect in terms of lectures, careers support, and student experience at Bath.

Why should I do an economics degree?

By studying economics, you'll learn about how and why people, businesses, and governments make decisions and allocate resources.

You’ll analyse factors that influence these choices and their impacts on things like prices in shops and employment, as well as global challenges such as inflation, climate policy, and the effects of government incentives.

You can use ideas you'll have learnt in subjects like maths, geography, politics, and history alongside economic theory, to develop your understanding of the world and how it works.

Ultimately, you’ll learn to ‘think like an economist’. This means you'll be able to analyse trends, interpret data, and assess the impacts of policies on firms, consumers and citizens.

A group of people working together on computers

What is studying economics at Bath like?

We offer three economics degrees. They allow you to study the fundamentals of the subject and explore how it intersects with other areas like maths and politics.

At Bath, the study of economics is split between:

microeconomics: how individual agents, like consumers and firms, allocate their limited resources
macroeconomics: how aggregate behaviour, such as consumers' and firms' actions together, determine prices

You can focus entirely on economics or combine it with maths or politics:

BSc (Hons) Economics: learn about economic theory and how to use empirical methods to test this and analyse policy
BSc (Hons) Economics and Mathematics: put a greater focus on mathematical methods to complement your understanding and application of economic theory
BSc (Hons) Economics with Politics: use the knowledge gained through studying economics and politics to understand the interactions between these two areas

You'll study a mix of compulsory and optional units, allowing you to learn fundamental ideas and methods and also pursue topics that interest you. Depending on your chosen course, you may be able to study some units from outside economics (management and social and policy sciences).

What are lectures like?

Studying at university can be quite different from school or college.

Lectures are a key part of university life. As part of a larger group, you'll listen to your lecturer as they talk you through a chosen area or topic and explain core aspects.

Lectures are then normally followed by seminars, workshops, or tutorials. In these, you’ll work in smaller groups alongside your lecturers and classmates to build on what you learnt. You’ll also use the independent studies you’ll be doing outside of the classroom to help you contribute.

You’ll learn from teaching staff with diverse backgrounds and expertise in different areas. In many cases, their teaching is informed by their own research.

Next to this section, you can watch a taster lecture from Dr Bruce Morley on the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of the sort of things you’ll study at Bath.

Will I get a job and what will I be able to do?

A university degree doesn't guarantee you a job. However, an economics-related degree from the University of Bath will put you in a strong position to start an exciting and rewarding career.

Our economics courses are in the top 10 in the UK for career prospects in both the Complete University Guide 2026 and The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, and in the top 10 for Career after 15 Months in The Guardian University Guide 2026 ¹.

According to Graduate Outcomes Survey data for 2022/23, 80% of our economics graduates went on to professional employment, further study, or self-employment.

Many work as financial or business analysts, accountants and tax professionals, or brokers across private and public sector organisations.

Examples of where they’ve gone on to work include:

Amazon
Bank of England
Deloitte
Ernst & Young (EY)
Goldman Sachs Group
JP Morgan Chase
Lloyds Banking Group
PwC

How will an economics degree at Bath prepare me for a career?

Alongside promoting a keen interest in economics, politics and maths, our courses provide an excellent route into the world of work.

One opportunity open to you is a professional placement. Like an internship, this is your chance to be a full-time member of staff in a real-world organisation related to your studies.

You’ll work with professionals in the industry you choose, learning more about how it functions, what you’ll do, and workplace expectations.

It’s a great chance to enhance your CV and gain an advantage in a competitive job market.

Alternatively, you can spend Year 3 at one of our partner universities in Europe, North America or Asia. This allows you to experience life in a different culture and live independently.

Bath’s careers service also offers support with things like CV writing and interview preparations, as well as project and internships around the university.

A student writing mathematical equations on a clear board

Will I enjoy studying economics at Bath?

Recent students Cici and Constantinos shared their positive experiences of studying economics at Bath. They told us about placements, the classroom experience, and why they chose to study the subject.

What if I want to study an economics degree with less maths?

Our three economics degrees require at least an A in A-Level mathematics (or your country's equivalent grade) because of the topics you'll study.

However, we also offer two courses that combine the study of economics with other subject areas:

These courses are delivered by our Department of Social Policy Sciences and Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies, respectively, with core units taught by these departments.

Neither of these courses require an A in A-Level mathematics, as they put less emphasis on core mathematical principles within their units.

Next steps...

Continue your journey to studying economics at Bath.

Choose the right economics course for you

Still not sure about which degree is the one for you?

Compare our courses and find out what makes each one unique.

Visit us at an Open Day

Experience our campus and hear from experts from within our Department of Economics at one of our Open Days.

If you can’t join us in person, you can get an idea of what it’s like to study with us, no matter where you are in the world, with our virtual experience web pages.

Chat to a Bath student

You can talk to some of our current undergraduate economics students about what it’s like to study at Bath, living in student accommodation, or about life in the city.