This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
Economics examines some of the profound issues in our life and times: economic growth and sustainable development, unemployment, inflation, poverty, emerging market economies, financial and monetary crises, environmental and natural resource problems, international trade and aid to poor countries, currencies and the balance of payments, the impact of minimum wages and the problems of global economic change are just some of the areas covered.
Overview
On our European Economics (Spanish) programme you have the opportunity to study for a year at a partner university in Spain.
The first year of this programme introduces you to the way in which economists think about different issues and develops the kinds of tools that economists use for analysing real economic problems.
In your second and final years, you take compulsory modules in macroeconomics, microeconomics and quantitatitve economics, together with a number of specialised modules from the wide variety offered by the School.
About the School of Economics
Economics at Kent is consistently ranked in the top 10 economics departments in the UK for student satisfaction and teaching quality. Our passion for the subject and research-led approach to teaching helps provide students with a first-class academic experience, as well as building personal skills and enhancing career prospects. Our cosmopolitan academic and student community, coupled with a thriving research culture, creates an inspiring and challenging environment to study economics.
We offer a range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate taught degrees that combine up-to-date real-world applications with solid theoretical knowledge and an excellent training in core economics. Our programmes allow students to specialise in areas such as finance, econometrics, microeconomic theory, international development, and agri-environmental economics.
At Kent you will be taught by economists who are internationally recognised for their research but who also take a practical approach to the subject, combining modern theoretical and applied economics, taught in exciting and innovative ways.
Many of the Economics staff advise government bodies including the UK’s Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission. Staff also advise international organisations including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Bank of England, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Independent rankings
Economics at Kent was ranked 9th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2016, and 10th in the National Student Survey 2015, with 93% of our students satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
Modern languages and linguistics were ranked 15th in the UK overall and 3rd in the UK for course satisfaction in The Guardian University Guide 2016.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
Year abroad
On our European Economics (Spanish) programme you have the opportunity to study for a year, between the second (Stage 2) and final year (Stage 3) at a partner university in Spain.
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 lecture, seminar and other formal contact time per week.
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.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide a stimulating education in the principles of economics and their application, in which students are motivated to achieve their full potential
- offer a flexible and progressive curriculum that is suitable for students who have or have not studied economics before
- develop in students the ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills in a range of theoretical, applied and policy problems
- To widen the student learning experience through providing an opportunity to study economics at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and develop Spanish language skills
- provide a range of options to enable students to study selected areas of economics in depth
- provide students with the knowledge, analytical and other skills from which they can proceed to employment in a related area to economics or further study in economics
- develop a range of skills that will be of value in future employment
- provide information and advice on future employment and higher education opportunities.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the concepts, principles, theories, models and methods of modern economic analysis and their application in different areas of economics
- analytical skills to formulate and consider a range of economic problems
- mathematical, statistical and computing methods used in economics
- economic data and methods used to analyse such data
- economic anlaysis of policy
- specific problems, issues and policies in a range of areas in economics
- key concepts affecting decision making
- critical discussion of economic issues and policies in politics and media
- an economic topic of your choice, submitted as a supervised final-year project
- the study of other social science subjects in the first year
- Oral, aural and written fluency in the Spanish anguage.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- abstract the essential features of a complex system
- knowledge of the important variables and fixed parameters in solving a problem
- analyse complex issues using deductive and inductive reasoning
- organise and use information to analyse complex issues and test different hypotheses
- review critically alternative explanations and analyses of a problem
- manage a final-year supervised project on an economic topic of your choice.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- analytical skills relevant to economics
- the ability to apply economic principles and analysis to a range of issues, problems and policies
- abstract the essential features of an economic issue, problem or system
- knowledge of the principal sources of economic data and information, and the ability to use and present this information
- economic/econometric analysis of data
- provide advice on how to make economic decisions
- synthesise and compare critically different analyses of an economic issue
- research the literature on an economic issue
- the ability to investigate a supervised final-year project on an economic topic of your choice
- Written, aural and oral fluency in the Spanish language.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- effective communication of analysis and ideas both orally and in writing
- the ability to assemble, analyse, use and present data
- understanding of, and ability to, use economic, mathematical and quantitative methods to analyse issues and problems
- analyse and make decisions using economic concepts, such as opportunity cost and strategic behaviour
- development of IT skills using statistical and econometric packages
- independence in initiating and executing work at university level and in a foreign country
- think critically about proposed analyses and solutions to a problem or issue
- responsibility for managing your own learning and academic performance
- manage a supervised final-year project on an economic topic of your choice.
Careers
Economics at Kent has 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. Our range of modules provides the opportunity to tailor your degree to support your particular career choice, giving you a competitive edge in the employment market. Additionally, there are modules that concentrate on preparing you for life as a professional economist.
Our degrees not only provide you with economics training but also with many transferable skills. Most employers are looking for skills such as good communication, initiative and proactiveness, team working, time management, planning and organisation, analysing information and problem solving.
Economics at Kent has been recognised for its excellent employability record in the national league tables:
- 7th for Graduate Prospects (based on 88% of full-time, first degree UK graduates taking up professional level employment or further study within 6 months of graduation) in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016
- 5th for career prospects in the The Guardian University Guide 2016
Recent Economics graduates have gone on to work for Deloitte, the Government Economic Service, HMRC, Citibank, KPMG, PwC, Bank of America, Schroders, Goldman Sachs and Barclays.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB from 3 full A levels, or BBB if A level Mathematics is included. |
| GCSE | Mathematics at grade B and a modern European language (other than English) at grade C. |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | BTEC National Diploma at DD or BTEC Extended Diploma at DDD plus A level Mathematics at grade B. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL, including Mathematics SL or HL at 4, or Mathematical Studies at 6. A modern European language (other than English) SL at 5 or HL at 4. |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.