This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
Economics examines some of the profound issues in our times: economic growth and sustainable development, unemployment, poverty, financial and monetary crises, trade and aid. As a Kent Economics student, you analyse and discuss these crucial areas and are challenged to contribute to possible solutions.
Overview
Economics at Kent is consistently ranked in the top 10 economics departments in the UK for student satisfaction and teaching quality. Our economists are internationally recognised for their research and are also exciting and innovative teachers.
Economics at Kent was ranked 8th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2017, 94% of our students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
Our degree programme
In your first year, you learn how economists think and become familiar with the tools they use for analysing real economic problems. You can also study modules on the European economy in the 20th century, as well as strategy and games.
In your second and final years, you study macroeconomics, microeconomics and quantitative economics. Optional modules cover areas such as international finance, industrial and monetary economics, and the economics of money and banking. Our wide range of modules means you can tailor your degree to support your particular career ambitions; for example, you can choose modules that prepare you for life as a professional economist.
Study resources
Resources to support economics students include:
- a wide range of publications, reference materials and news resources in the Templeman Library
- the Student Learning Advisory Service, which provides information on all aspects of effective learning and study skills.
Welcoming community
The School of Economics provides outstanding academic support. Each student has a dedicated academic adviser and we also run a peer mentoring scheme where experienced final-year students offer advice and support to new students. We are an international community with academic staff and students from many countries so you develop a global perspective on your subject.
The School hosts events including:
- public lectures
- symposia
- employability workshops
- networking events.
You may also want to take part in economics-related societies run by our students.
- The Economics Society organises lecturers and conferences, as well as social events.
- Kent Investment Society focuses on the financial markets and is made up of analysts, head analysts and committee members who each cover a particular financial market. The Society organises an annual virtual trading competition.
Our professional network or Professional links
Many of our staff advise UK, European and international organisations. These include:
- the Treasury (UK)
- the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) (UK)
- the Bank of England
- the European Commission
- the European Central Bank
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
These links mean we can bring real-life examples and scenarios into our teaching, ensuring it is up-to-date and relevant.
Your options
Around 15% of Economics students choose to take a year in industry. You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent but certain conditions apply. Recent participating organisations include:
- the Bank of England
- the Government Economic Service (GES)
- Deloitte
- Ernst & Young
- PwC.
We also offer four-year European economics programmes, where you spend a year at one of our partner universities in France, Germany, Spain or Greece.
Internships, either for a week or two or for the whole summer, can be a valuable addition to your studies. We provide guidance and assistance on where to look and how to apply. The University also offers a bursary to help with work experience expenses. [is this universal?]
And don’t forget – at Kent you can always enhance your degree studies by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language.
Independent rankings
Economics at Kent was ranked 8th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2017, 94% of our students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
For graduate prospects, Economics at Kent was ranked 2nd in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Of Economics students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 92% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
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 in industry
Students can opt to take a year in industry with any of our single honours programmes, or the Economics and Business joint honours programme, that contributes towards your final degree classification. The year in industry is not available on other joint programmes in Economics or the four-year European Economics programmes.
The year in industry is taken between the second (Stage 2) and third years (Stage 3) of the degree. The placement must be with a suitable employer, but the reference to 'in industry' is intended to cover employers in any service sector as well as in manufacturing.
Students are responsible for finding their placements, but the School offers structured support for the application process in the form of a non-contributory module, 'Preparing for a Placement'.
Students must have passed Stage 2 of their degree before they can embark on the year in industry.
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 high-quality teaching motivates students to achieve their full potential.
- provide a flexible and progressive curriculum that is suitable for students who have or have not studied economics before.
- develop the ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills in a range of theoretical, applied and policy problems.
- provide a range of options to enable students to study selected areas of economics in depth. The teaching of these options is informed by the research and scholarship of teaching staff.
- 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 in all students, through the study of economics, 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 develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the main concepts, principles, theories, models and methods of modern economic analysis and their application in different areas of economics.
- the analytical skills that allow students to formulate and consider a range of economic problems and issues
- the mathematical, statistical and computing methods used in economics.
- economic data and methods used to analyse such data.
- economic analysis of policy.
- specific problems, issues and policies in a range of areas in economics.
- key concepts affecting decision-making.
- critical discussion of economic problems, issues and policies in politics and media.
- an economic topic chosen by the student and submitted as a supervised final year project.
- the study of other social science subjects in the first year.
Intellectual skills
You develop the ability to:
- abstract the essential features of a complex system.
- think about the important variables and fixed parameters in solving a problem.
- analysis 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 chosen by the student.
Subject-specific skills
You develop the following subject-specific skills:
- Analytical skills in Economics
- Ability to apply economic principles and analysis to a range of issues, problems and policies
- Ability to abstract the essential features of an economic issue, problem or system
- Knowledge of the principal sources of economic data and information and ability to use and present this information
- Be able to carry out economic/econometric analysis of economic data
- Knowledge and ability to make and provide advice on how to make economic decisions
- Ability to synthesise and compare critically different economic analyses of an economic issue
- Ability to research the literature on an economic issue
- Ability to apply economic skills to investigate a supervised final-year project on an economic topic chosen by the student.
Transferable skills
You develop the following transferable skills:
- Effective communication of analysis and ideas both orally and in written form
- Ability to assemble, analyse, use and present data
- Understanding of and ability to use economic, mathematical and quantitative methods to analyse issues and problems
- Ability to analyse and make decisions using economic concepts, eg opportunity cost and strategic behaviour
- Development of information technology skills through using statistical and econometric packages
- Independence in initiating and executing work
- Ability to think critically about proposed analyses and solutions to a problem or issue
- Become responsible for managing own learning and academic performance
- Manage a supervised final year project on an economic topic chosen by the student.
Careers
Alongside a thorough understanding of economic issues, you develop key transferable skills that will appeal to employers; these include the ability to:
- think critically
- communicate your ideas and opinions succintly
- work independently
- use your initiative and be proactive
- work as part of a team and independently
- manage your time and plan effectively
- problem solve.
Graduate destinations
Our Economics graduates have developed careers in accountancy, banking and finance, journalism, management consultancy and business. Recent graduates have gone on to work for:
- Deloitte
- the Government Economic Service
- HMRC
- Citibank
- KPMG
- PwC
- Bank of America
- Schroders
- Goldman Sachs
- Barclays.
Help looking for a job
The School of Economics supports and advises you in thinking about and deciding what to do after your Economics degree, and how to be successful in applying. We offer:
- one-to-one advice from a member of our employability team
- employability workshops
- talks from alumni and outside employers.
The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Independent rankings
For graduate prospects, Economics at Kent was ranked 2nd in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Of Economics students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 92% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
According to Which? University 2017, the average starting salary for graduates of this degree is £24,000.
Graduate profile quotes
“All my lecturers were amazing, approachable, helpful, supportive and super knowledgeable.” Alexandra Neto
Graduate in Economics with Econometrics and Year in Industry
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 grade B |
| 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. |
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.