Finance and economics do overlap, but they involve very different skills and appeal to different students. Finance is quite specialised, and focuses on very specific topics such as markets, prices and interest rates. Economics on the other hand is a lot broader, embracing the social, political and psychological perspectives of how money and resources affect the world we live in.

Most economics courses in the UK will expect three A-levels of AAA, one of which is mathematics. Typical requirements for International Baccalaureate will be around 36 points, with an IELTS of 6.5 overall, and no lower than 6.0 in any one component.

Economics undergraduate degrees typically take around three years to complete in the UK. Postgraduate degrees are usually between one and two years, with many universities offering integrated master’s courses in which you can complete both elements in just four or five years.
You will also find a wide range of joint-honours degrees to choose from, where economics is combined with related subjects such as law, history, and politics.

Most undergraduate economics degrees will spend the first year providing key insights into the two separate ways of looking at economics – microeconomics and macroeconomics. Macroeconomics looks at entire economies, while microeconomics looks at how individual people, groups, and businesses, approach using their wealth.
You will also cover mathematics, probability and the history of economics, among other things. As you progress through your course you will have the chance to specialise in the areas that interest you, whether that’s international economic growth, political economics, or something entirely different. Whatever you choose, you will be able to develop strong transferable skills, such as problem solving, data analysis, written and oral presentation, and analytical thinking.

The UK has a unique heritage in the field of economics and has helped to define our understanding of it in the modern age. We have a long history of creating highly influential thinkers in economics, such as Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes. In fact, ten Nobel Laureates in Economics either studied or worked at the London School of Economics alone.
With an advanced and inclusive attitude to the subject throughout the country, and the fifth biggest economy in the world, it’s easy to see why UK economics graduates are highly sought after by employers worldwide.

An economics degree in the UK can open up a wide range of careers. As well as roles as a dedicated economist, you could go on to pursue roles as a financial risk analyst, investment analyst or political risk analyst, or go into accountancy or financial roles, such stockbroking.
The average starting professional salary for an economics graduate is £27,000 but with the nature of the career paths on offer the earning potential is virtually limitless, with opportunities constantly opening up worldwide.