Economics

Key facts
Location: Canterbury
Award: BSc (Hons), BA (Hons)
Type: Full-time and part-time
Options: A year working in industry or studying in Europe.
Further information
Download: Subject leaflet
Online: Department
Profile: Student profile

Economics examines some of the profound issues in our life and times: economic growth and sustainable development, inequality and poverty, emerging market economies, unemployment, inflation, financial and monetary crises, environmental and natural resource problems, the provision of food for all, international trade and aid to poor countries. All of which are impacted by problems of global economic, demographic and climatic change. When you study at Kent, you have the chance to learn about these issues from economists who are highly regarded within the profession for emphasising the practical application of economics in action. Student satisfaction with our programmes is very high and we consistently appear in the top 10 economics departments in the National Student Survey.

The School has a strong international reputation for research in key areas of economics and was ranked 16th in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. Many staff members act as economic advisers to government bodies including the UK’s Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Department for International Development (DFID), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), and the European Commission. Staff also provide advice to international organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Central Bank (ECB), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Degree programmes

We offer a choice of degree programmes that have been carefully designed to cater for the strengths and interests of individual students, and with an opportunity to spend a year in industry or to study in Europe.

Single honours
Did you know?

Economics at Kent was ranked 3rd in the UK for overall student satisfaction in the 2009 National Student Survey, with over 90% of our students saying they were satisfied with the quality of their course.

  • Economics (L100)
  • Economics with a Language (Spanish) (L1R4)
  • Economics with a Year in Industry (L102)
  • Economics with Computing (L1G4)
  • Economics with Econometrics (L141)
  • Financial Economics (L111) 3 years
  • Financial Economics with Econometrics (L142)

These are some of the more popular Economics options. For other combinations, see the Honours Degree Quick Reference Guide (pdf).

European programmes
  • European Economics (L171)
  • European Economics (French) (L176)
  • European Economics (German) (L174)
  • European Economics (Spanish) (L177)
Joint honours

Economics and…

  • Accounting & Finance (LN14)
  • Business (LN11)
  • Law (ML11)
  • Politics (LL12)
  • Sociology (LL13)

Core modules

Stage 1
Core modules
  • Economics
  • Mathematics for Economics and Business
  • Statistics for Economics and Business

Plus any other compulsory modules for your chosen programme, for example, students on a European programme take language modules.

Options
  • The Contemporary European Economy
  • Strategy and Games

And other optional modules drawn from a list available in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Stage 2/3
Core modules
  • Macroeconomics
  • Microeconomics
  • Quantitative Economics

Plus other compulsory modules depending on your chosen programme.

Options

Including, but not limited to:

  • Applied Economics Project
  • Development Economics
  • Dissertation
  • Econometrics 1: Foundations of Econometric Theory
  • Econometrics 2: Topics in Time Series
  • Economic Integration in the EU
  • Economics of Finance 1: Financial Markets and Instruments
  • Economics of Finance 2: Asset Pricing
  • Education, Skills and Earnings
  • Environmental Economics, Institutions and Policy
  • Extended Essay
  • Financial Analysis
  • Games for Economics and Business
  • Industrial Economics
  • International Finance
  • International Trade
  • Monetary Economics
  • Policy Analysis
  • Public Economics 1: Public Finance
  • Public Economics 2: Public Sector Economics
  • The Public Sector.

Plus other options depending on your chosen programme.

Year out

You can spend a year working in industry. Alternatively, our European Economics programmes provide an opportunity to study at a partner university in France, Germany, Greece or Spain. The year out is between Stages 2 and 3. The School has a placement officer who can offer advice and guidance.

Teaching and assessment

All of our modules are taught by a combination of lectures and small group sessions, which include seminars, computing practicals, problem sets, debates and role-play games. On average, you have a total of 12-14 hours of teaching per week across all modules.

The School of Economics is committed to making sure that you leave Kent with much more than just a degree in Economics. We put great emphasis on the development of transferable skills including numeracy, analytical problem solving, data analysis, and written and oral communication, as well as subject-specific skills for further study at postgraduate level.

The modules are assessed by continuous assessment of coursework throughout the year and an end-of-year exam in the final term. A number of modules at each Stage are assessed solely through coursework.

Entry requirements

Passing the Kent Foundation Programme for International Students guarantees you entry onto the first year of these degree programmes.

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Offer levels

A/AS level 320 points (3 A level equivalents) inc BB at A level or GCE double A level, IB Diploma 33 points inc 4 in Mathematics (5 in Mathematics Studies) or IB Diploma with 16 points at Higher inc 4 in Mathematics (5 in Mathematics Studies).

Required subjects
  • All programmes: Economics grade B at A level where taken.
  • L100, L174, L176, L177: Minimum of GCSE Mathematics grade B.
  • L141, L142: Mathematics grade B at A level.
  • L174: German grade B at A level.
  • L176: French grade B at A level where taken or GCSE grade B/C French.
  • L177, L1R4: Spanish grade B at A level where taken or GCSE grade C modern European language other than English.

Careers

Kent graduates have a high success rate in the graduate employment market, with past students going on to careers in accountancy, banking, finance, journalism, management consultancy, and business. Employers who have recruited our graduates in recent years include the Government Economic Service, Bank of England, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Financial Services Authority.