Economics and Finance
Develop the specialised skills and knowledge to drive your career as an accountant and economist.
Develop the specialised skills and knowledge to drive your career as an accountant and economist.
If you’re a logical and numerical thinker with a curiosity to explore connections between society and the business world, then this is the course for you.
By combining Finance with Economics, you will boost your career prospects and gain a unique perspective on decision-making in the financial sector. This is your opportunity to gain the skills you need to make a difference in the world around you.
Accountants and those in financial services are essential in any business. You will learn the detail-oriented world of accountancy and finance, and how people and groups make decisions in the context of a broader economic climate. Through theoretical and practical experience, you will learn key finance and accounting principles and acquire the skills to construct and use economic models.
Access wide-ranging support through our careers and employability service, student support and wellbeing, and health services.
Our expert teaching staff appear in the top 2% of researchers worldwide.
Immerse yourself in our joint honours programme.
Study at a ‘Triple Crown’ business school accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.
Our typical offer levels are listed below and include indicative contextual offers. If you hold alternative qualifications just get in touch and we'll be glad to discuss these with you.
ABB
The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please note that these qualifications are not normally accepted without accompanying A levels. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances.
128 Tariff points from your IB Diploma, Typically H5, H6, H6 or equivalent
Mathematics grade 5 / B
Pass the University of Kent International Foundation Programme.
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
Access to HE Diploma with 45 Credits at level 3 with 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit
The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.
You take one of Mathematics for Economics Mode A or Mathematics for Economics Mode B, depending on your mathematics level, you then take all remaining compulsory modules.
Given the constant changes in business environments, how can financial accounting help managers create budgets, improve efficiency and develop short- and long-term strategies to stay competitive?
You'll study the core principles, concepts and policies in financial accounting and examine the necessary adjustments that underpin the preparation of final financial statements of sole traders, partnerships and limited liability companies.
You'll also gain practical experience with key accounting tools used by industry to prepare, analyse, and interpret financial statements, preparing you for the rest of your degree.
Finance is at the centre of everyone's decisions. In a world of tricky economic conditions and volatile financial markets, how can companies and investors apply the main principles of finance when undertaking investment and funding decisions?
You'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate various financial decisions, such as raising capital in financial markets or from financial institutions, investing in real assets or financial assets, and selling and trading securities.
You'll become proficient in using the Bloomberg terminal to gain a better understanding of financial market operations and you'll learn how companies and investors use this information and the main principles of finance to take funding and investment decisions to deliver profits and sustainable growth.
Economics is the study of how we make choices about what to produce and consume, given our limited resources. Microeconomics explores the decisions made by individuals and firms, offering a fascinating lens through which to understand the world around us.
In this module, you'll learn to think like an economist, building and using models to answer economic questions. You'll develop critical thinking skills and learn how to evaluate models and integrate empirical evidence into your analyses. This is why microeconomics training, even at an introductory level, is useful in many jobs and walks of life. The emphasis in this module will be on how economics can help us understand the society we live in.
The module covers fundamental topics, such as demand, supply, and equilibrium. It also covers other topics related to real-world problems which are relevant to understanding human behaviour and society, including labour markets, strategic choices and inequality.
Macroeconomics is the study of the economy as a whole. It aims to explain topics such as inflation, unemployment, short-term fluctuations in GDP, and long-term economic growth. It analyses the aggregate behaviour of households, firms, and the government to understand how they collectively influence economic outcomes.
This module starts by introducing you to the measurement of GDP, inflation, and unemployment in an economy. It explains equilibrium in the market for consumer and investment goods and in financial markets. It then uses this knowledge to apply macroeconomic models to analyse the effects of government and central bank policy on outcomes like consumption, inflation, and unemployment. The macroeconomic analysis in this module uses mathematical and graphical representations of economic relationships which will support the narrative arguments.
You’ll learn to appreciate the close relationship between an economic argument and the underlying economic theory. You’ll also learn how different assumptions and theories can lead to different economic predictions. This module builds the foundation for macroeconomics in the second year and later macroeconomics-related optional modules.
Economists face a fundamental problem: we aim to describe in simple terms complex interactions that involve millions of very different actors such as households, businesses and policymakers. How can we make sense of what is happening and help others understand how the economy works? More importantly, what can we do about those aspects of the economy that aren’t working well? The answer is to use mathematics, which helps us comprehend complex problems.
This module has two aims. The first is to build your confidence and ability to understand the mathematical tools that economists use, such as linear algebra, differentiation, logarithms and exponentials. The second is to use economic applications to illustrate how mathematical economics differs from the textbook mathematics you will have studied at school. These applications will also show that even the simplest mathematical tools are powerful at explaining economic behaviour.
Mode A of this module is designed for students who already have a background in mathematics. It therefore focuses more on the applied part to develop your ability to think like an economist.
Economists face a fundamental problem: we aim to describe in simple terms complex interactions that involve millions of very different actors such as households, businesses and policymakers. How can we make sense of what is happening and help others understand how the economy works? More importantly, what can we do about those aspects of the economy that aren’t working well? The answer is to use mathematics, which helps us comprehend complex problems.
This module has two aims. The first is to build your confidence and ability to understand the mathematical tools that economists use, such as linear algebra, differentiation, logarithms and exponentials. The second is to use economic applications to illustrate how mathematical economics differs from the textbook mathematics you will have studied at school. These applications will also show that even the simplest mathematical tools are powerful at explaining economic behaviour.
Mode B of this module is designed for students who have not studied much mathematics at school. It therefore focuses on helping you build a solid foundation in mathematical methods.
One of the most important skills of an economist is the ability to routinely work with data and be the ‘numbers person’ for their team. By extracting the information that exists in the correlations between variables, we can test our theoretical models and identify the most useful ones, or make forecasts that can be used to help decision makers.
All these important components of the economist’s toolkit are rooted in statistics, a field that is becoming increasingly relevant and valuable in a world characterised by Big Data and machine learning.
This module introduces you to some of the fundamental concepts in statistics, such as probability distributions, sampling and inference, correlation and regression, all of which will form the foundation for other modules later in your degree. Most importantly, it gives you an insight into the practical questions and problems that statistics can solve. It will also teach you how to detect and understand the common ways in which statistics are misused and misinterpreted in everyday situations.
Your second year allows you to enhance your understanding of financial systems and core areas of accounting while expanding your learning in key areas of micro and macroeconomics. You’ll explore the worlds of international financial reporting and taxation and gain an understanding of financial markets to set you up for success for the rest of your degree.
How do financial markets work? Who are the major players? How do central banks’ monetary policies affect financial markets?
You’ll develop a broad understanding of the financial system and how the market works within it. You’ll also examine the roles of financial intermediaries and various financial instruments, and explore how these are connected with the wider economy.
By the end of this module, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to be able to analyse current developments in financial markets and the wider economy, a crucial skill for a successful career in finance.
Corporate finance is concerned with the way companies can efficiently manage financial resources. Managers are concerned about provision of resources (capital funding decisions) and allocation of scarce resources (investment decisions). What factors do they consider when deciding how to fund their operations and where to invest?
In this module, you’ll examine the underlying financial economic theories and concepts that help managers to run sustainable businesses. You’ll develop analytical and problem-solving skills to advise managers on investment opportunities, capital structure decisions, dividend policies, and merger and acquisitions activities.
Why are some economies rich and others poor? How do investment and new ideas affect our living standards? Why do some occupations earn so much more than others? And why can’t the market find work for every jobseeker?
This intermediate module in macroeconomics focuses on medium to long-term economic outcomes including economic growth, employment, and inequality. Economic growth is the most important determinant of living standards in the long run, but it alone doesn’t necessarily improve living standards for all. Income distribution is also crucially important for ensuring widespread progress in living standards.
This module first analyses the long-term determinants of economic growth, including the role of investment in new capital, education, and new ideas. You’ll then analyse the labour market, exploring issues such as why some people who want to work are unemployed, and how different skills or occupations drive changes in economic inequality.
Understanding how markets work is a crucial skill for those working in the finance industry. It can enhance strategic decision making in finance and management by allowing business leaders to better recognise and take advantage of market opportunities when they arise.
This module introduces the theoretical foundations of microeconomics with examples of their applications and an emphasis on policy issues and controversies. You’ll learn to analyse the way in which the market system functions as a mechanism for coordinating the independent choices of individual economic agents. You'll focus on the behaviour and decision making of consumers and firms, and evaluate the efficiency and equity implications of competition and other market structures. You’ll also explore how the government can address market failures and incentivise socially beneficial economic behaviour.
The world of fixed-income markets is becoming increasingly complex. Debt instruments have various payoff structures and fixed-income derivatives products are becoming extremely important in managing multiple financial risks. We'll explore a range of fixed-income securities, and explore in great detail their characteristics, as well as the main players and their roles in the debt markets.
You'll learn various analytical techniques to price these instruments, to construct a range of important yield curves used in the valuation of financial assets. You’ll sharpen your quantitative skills, which will considerably increase your employability within various financial sectors. These include investment banks, pension funds and any other financial institution that deals with the pricing of old and new financial instruments.
Economists invariably need to make assumptions to try to understand how the economy works. We can use mathematics to understand the link between these economic assumptions and their implications. Without using a clear mathematical framework, our assumptions can imply things we did not expect. We see this in some of the labour market examples we analyse such as monopsony power and efficiency wages.
The module is split into two parts, optimisation and dynamics. In optimisation, you'll use Lagrangians to solve problems with equality and inequality constraints. You'll consider the relationship between production functions, returns to scale and firm profitability, and also cover the duality theory of cost minimisation, and consumer theory. With dynamic systems, you learn to solve second-order difference equations, and, in so doing, learn about complex numbers. You can use this analysis to generate insights about monetary policy.
Both dynamic systems and optimisation draw on matrix algebra when analysing multiple-equation dynamic systems or working out when you have found a genuinely desired optimum. This understanding of matrix algebra also provides an important foundation for future studies in economics.
Economists have an abiding interest in providing an answer to what causes some countries to be poor and others rich. Is it the case that deep-rooted factors such as geographical endowments, institutions, culture, and human diversity are pivotal in determining long-run economic development? Do these factors interact with each other in furthering development? Can history be used as a medium through which to analyse the effect of these factors, and their interactions, on economic development? You’ll study some of the answers that have been proposed to these fundamental questions. In doing so you will engage with cutting-edge research in comparative development that examines the historical roots of contemporary economic performance. You’ll also gain an understanding of the empirical methods and data sources that such research employs. Ultimately, the module is designed to immerse you in an ‘inclusive approach’ to teaching economic history that encompasses diverse growth experiences from across the world, with particular emphasis on the Global South.
What kind of questions are economics researchers currently interested in? How do we tackle these questions? How does economic research feed into policy. What are the upsides and downsides of different approaches used? How can contradictory findings be reconciled? The eight teaching weeks will be split into four topics, each will start with a non-technical introduction to the paper(s) and their findings. Then knowledge and understanding of the paper and the skills to evaluate it will come from both lectures and interactive workshops. Understanding and evaluative skills will be assessed through moodle quizzes and group presentations. The final piece of assessment will be an individual project based on a topic of choice.
How do cognitive biases influence economic decision-making and outcomes? What role do emotions and heuristics (mental shortcuts) play in economic decision-making? How do they sometimes lead to sub-optimal choices? How can behavioural economics principles be used to improve the design of programmes and policies? You're introduced to behavioural economics, which combines economic analysis with insights from psychology, to understand human behaviour. Begin with a brief presentation of the classical model of rational, selfish economic agents, outlining limitations of this model in predicting and explaining behaviour. You'll move on to models which relax assumptions of the classical model, incorporating insights from psychology instead and cover evidence on the power of these behavioural models in explaining human behaviour. Finally, you'll cover the implications of these models for the design of public policy. Alongside formal lectures, workshops and the assessments are designed to develop academic research skills and the ability to communicate ideas verbally and in writing.
Your final year allows you to develop your specialist knowledge with the flexibility to choose modules to shape your course to your interests. Choose to do modules with an accounting and finance focus and look more closely at topics like taxation, auditing, financial and management accounting or choose to do options with more of an economic focus and look at topics including econometrics, financial economics, and economic trends (e.g. financial crises). You’ll also have the opportunity to pick modules from our wider portfolio of business-related topics. This allows you to develop your competencies in areas that matter to you and tailor your degree to suit your career goals.
Topics in Advanced Macroeconomics builds on the Stage 1 teaching of macroeconomics and provides a comprehensive framework for understanding short-run fluctuations in economic activity.
You will integrate theoretical concepts and recent real-world examples, with a focus on examining the emergent policy implications. You’ll develop your extant analytical skills which will enable you to assess the key determinants of economic fluctuations and evaluate the range of policy responses to stabilise the economy in the presence of shocks.
You start by examining stylised facts about business cycles, such as the alternating phases of expansions and contractions in economic activity, fluctuations in output, employment, and inflation. A key part of the module is learning about how and whether policymakers should respond to these fluctuations using monetary and fiscal policy. Through exploring these questions, you will learn how to distinguish between demand and supply drivers of these fluctuations, and how the appropriate policy response differs in these two cases.
In open economies, we show how important it is to understand the behaviour of exchange rates, and how they both affect and are affected by macroeconomic policy. We also cover in detail macroeconomic research on the modelling of economic agents’ expectations about the economy and the crucial contribution this has made in allowing us to understand how macroeconomic policy affects wages, prices and employment.
In an ever-changing financial world offering a wide variety of investment opportunities, investors and portfolio managers face the challenging task of identifying securities and allocating assets optimally to earn risk-adjusted returns. This module addresses these issues by covering various contemporary asset pricing and security valuation models, as well as modern portfolio construction techniques.
You’ll build on your knowledge of market and industry analysis and use real-world securities market data to construct optimal portfolios. You’ll also use a range of methods to evaluate their performance.
This module will present you with the opportunity to explore current issues in financial markets including responsible, ethical, and sustainable investing. It will prepare you for a variety of roles in the investment industry such as financial analysis, investment advice, and portfolio management.
What are the essential practical skills you need to succeed in the world of finance? This module explores this question in three sections.
To successfully complete this module, you’ll be expected to demonstrate theoretical knowledge as well as be able to apply the concepts you learn to actual data.
More businesses are incorporating sustainability as a core corporate strategy. Sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important to customers and investors. Navigate through ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) regulation and industry initiatives which are designed to improve transparency and accountability, encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and protect investors from greenwashing. You will gain analytical skills that will help you integrate sustainability into financial decisions taken by both corporate managers and professional investors.
For centuries taxation has been an important fact of national life. Without tax it would be impossible to pay for the country's defence services, its health, welfare and social services, it schools and universitites and its transport systems. In addition , taxaion is a means for government to influence our everyday activites. In this module you will be introduced to how the taxation system operates in the UK, providing a core knowledge of the underlying principles and major technical areas of taxation as they impact the activities of individuals and businesses. Through case studies, practical examples and discussions, you will gain a core understanding of the various UK taxes. We will explore the areas of tax compliance, reporiting obligations and develop effective tax planning strategies. In this module, you will gain a deeper appreciation of how taxation impacts on every area of our personal and business lives.
Gain the knowledge and skills required for meeting the strategic needs of businesses in the digital age. You will develop competences in the application of management accounting techniques to complex organisational problems, learn how to analyse data, solve problems related to cost, pricing, variances and performance management and convey your solutions in a succinct and impressionable manner for the purpose of planning, controlling, evaluation and decision-making.
Apply your learning, experience, skills and curiosity to varied contemporary accounting and finance issues. Under the guidance of academics, alumni and businesses, you'll be given the autonomy to select, investigate, report on and defend a contemporary accounting and finance problem or topic leading to the development of a business case or dissertation.
Auditing of companies' financial accounts help increase transparency as it assures stakeholders and potential investors that companies' accounts are reliable, unbiased, and faithful representations of companies' financial performance. You'll gain a thorough understanding of a range of auditing topics together with an appreciation of the regulatory and social environment within which auditing process takes place. Through real-life case studies, you will gain technical knowledge and critical thinking skills that will help you undertake efficient auditing processes and provide assurances to all interested stakeholders.
What are the causes and effects of booms and recessions in economic activity? How can policy respond to fluctuations in the macroeconomy to stabilise the economy? What can we learn from past recessions for future economic policy?
This specialist macroeconomics topic focuses on the short-run behaviour of the macroeconomy, as opposed to economic growth or international macroeconomics. You’ll study inflation, unemployment and short-run output fluctuations. You’ll analyse macroeconomic policy tools to control short-run economic outcomes. Gain an understanding of short-run macroeconomic issues and available policy tools and how to use macroeconomic models in order to rationalise observed macroeconomic data. This set of skills is crucial and gives you a real edge in the job market where your ability to contextualise economic policy changes and interpret data is in high demand.
Through combining aspects of environmental economic and green finance with knowledge of mathematical and statistical methods, you’ll be on your way to understanding the link between theory and policy application.
You’ll be introduced to fundamental key skills used by environmental economists in the application of economics to real world environmental issues and will understand how economic theory can be translated into practical policy advice. To demonstrate the link between theory and applied settings you’ll use appropriate software such as Excel and R, continuing your development in using information technology within a structured environment.
You’ll consider a variety of practical environmental economic and green finance issues. Alongside formal lectures, computer workshops and seminars are designed to develop academic research skills and the ability to communicate ideas both verbally and in writing. This gives you the full toolset you need to stand out to employers and make informed decisions in environmental economics.
Economics is more interconnected than ever before. So an understanding of international economics is crucial to operate across borders in both business and government,
Focused topics in international trade include the analysis of the effects of trade on economic development, policy debates, and the role of international trade in shaping economic outcomes at both the micro and macro levels. Through consideration of the key concepts of international finance, such as the balance of payments, exchange rates, and the impact of globalisation on current account and macroeconomic policies, you’ll gain a solid understanding in the theoretical underpinnings and practical aspects of monetary and financial relations between countries and enhance their abilities to analyse trade-related issues.
By studying trade and finance topics, you’ll gain a comprehensive overview of the global economic environment. You’ll be equipped with the analytical frameworks and institutional knowledge necessary to engage effectively with international economic issues, preparing you for careers with an international outlook.
Understand a variety of economic growth issues from both empirical and theoretical perspectives.
After exploring historical and modern statistics you’ll learn about the core theories of economic growth. Building on the insights from the core theories of growth and empirical observations, You’ll consider key growth questions. What are the determinants of economic growth? Can we sustain long-run economic growth by just investing in machines and why is it essential to have productivity growth to sustain long-run growth in the standards of living? Why are some countries more productive than others? Can the lack of knowledge of modern production processes be the whole answer? What roles do management practices and allocation of economic resources to different uses play in productivity differences across countries?
Through exploring these key questions, you'll come to understand economic growth from all angles, meaning you are able to suggest policy and improvements to help drive economic growth.
Game theory is a theoretical framework for conceiving social, economics and business situations among competing players. It is the science of strategy, or at least the optimal decision-making of independent and competing actors in a strategic setting. The curriculum is enriched with Game theory and is used in various fields to lay out various situations and predict their most likely outcomes. Businesses may use it, for example, to set prices, decide whether to acquire another firm, and determine how to handle a lawsuit.
You’ll study the main equilibrium concept, the Nash equilibrium, and it’s several refinements under different types of games, guiding students thorough the analysis of strategic choices in a variety of game structures, from cooperative engagement to competitive stand offs. A number of different scenarios and examples will be considered to explain how strategic decision making plays a role in solving every-day problems.
The strategic interaction between firms and the dynamics of competition between them in different markets are both interesting from a theoretical point of view and important from an applied policy perspective. What competitive weapons do firms use? Which strategies can firms use to soften competition To what extent are mergers driven by efficiency or by market power considerations?
You’ll be encouraged to ask the question of when, and how, the government should intervene to facilitate the competitive process. Study the theories that are key to understanding firm strategies and the basis for regulatory intervention. You’ll approach issues that are present in everyday news such as anti-competitive practices, the effect of market power on consumer welfare and the incentives for product innovation, private and public effects of mergers. You will have the chance to discuss and understand many of these topics in a more structured and economically informed way, so you can suggest new approaches and improvements to industrial economics and government intervention.
Why are living standards in some countries so much higher than in others? How did they get that way, and what can be done to promote growth and improve livelihoods in poorer countries? We will engage with these questions as well as some of the answers that have been proposed.
You'll study the structure of poor economies and the behaviour of individuals, firms and governments within them. Focus will be placed on providing a strong theoretical background for understanding these issues and engaging with data and modern empirical techniques that are commonly used by development economists when conducting research. This knowledge of development economics will help you in looking to drive growth to developing countries in a sustainable way, in order to improve living conditions for those in the countries.
This is your introduction to the topic of political economy using microeconomic analytical tools. The idea that economic policy in any country or even internationally is a product of not just economic rationale but also of ambient political realities will be explored in a variety of settings.
You’ll gain an overview of microeconomic theories and current empirical methods that have been used to bring new insights to issues related to political economy. There will be an emphasis on connecting theoretical models to observed empirical findings and evaluating the analytical rigour of both aspects in different contexts. You’ll also explore how these issues relate to themes in development, public and environmental economics. By understanding political economics, you will be better able to evaluate different global approaches to economics from different nations, allowing you to operate more effectively in a global marketplace and across borders.
Public expenditure accounts for a large fraction of the economy and has a major impact on its functioning. You’ll be introduced to the theories that allow us to analyse the economic role played by the state. Use the tools of microeconomics and empirical analysis to study the impact of government policies on individual behaviour and the distribution of resources in the economy.
You’ll explore the economic arguments for and against government intervention in the economy and take on insights from behavioural economics into the analysis and design of public policies. You’ll also review literatures on relevant and timely policy issues. This will allow you to find your own views within the debate and effectively suggest improvements to theory or policy in order to drive economic growth and stability.
Delve into how decisions by individuals, families, and households impact and are impacted by the distribution of wages, employment, and opportunities. Scrutinize inequalities among men and women, social classes, and ethnic groups, considering the role of policies and institutions in shaping these dynamics. The field also explores the intricate relationship between the world of work and the macroeconomic performance of the economy, providing insights into trends in the distribution of welfare within and across countries.
You’ll explore areas of topical interest and importance that will cover the main insights of and approaches taken by researchers in the field. Theoretical issues, empirical evidence and questions of policy are considered, drawing on research covering a range of OECD countries. A key focus will be on the discussion and evaluation of data and research. You will gain an understanding of how the world of work effects households and families as well as the tools to help you evaluate both research and policy. You will be able to synthesise information from various sources and present findings to diverse audiences, giving you the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to launch a career in economics.
Teaching is delivered via a variety of learning activities, including cohort workshops, practical sessions, engaging lectures, interactive seminars, and personalised individual consultation and supervision.
Assessments include, but are not limited to, written assignments (such as research papers, blog posts, essays, technical reports), presentations, exams, problem-solving assessments, and computer-based exercises (programming and data work).
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.
Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
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