Our Economics with Data Science degree allows you to tackle some of today’s economic problems using big data. Data science in economics teaches programming, artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will develop the skills to analyse economic problems, apply theory to real-world economic situations, and exploit big data to guide your economic decisions in any sector, whether it’s finance, government, entertainment or industry.
As a Kent Economics student, you develop the skills to analyse and discuss crucial areas such as poverty and economic growth, developing economies, environmental protection, and financial and monetary crises. You also consider the dilemmas facing households, firms and governments, such as the provision of education, roles of labour markets and regulation of markets. You are challenged to contribute and defend your own theories and solutions.
Along with all Economics students, you take the common core modules described below, and in addition you take specific modules in data science covering areas such as: object-oriented programming, programming for artificial intelligence, big data and other analytical techniques, machine learning for econometrics, and modelling and computation.
Our School of Economics is ranked highly among UK universities for student satisfaction. Our economists are internationally recognised for their research and are also exciting and innovative teachers who place a particular emphasis on making economics relevant to the real world.
The School 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.
In your first year, you learn how economists think and become familiar with the tools they use for analysing real economic problems. You will also study specific modules in programming and have the option to choose a module in professional economics, strategy and games or the economic development of Europe.
In your second and final years, you study macroeconomics, microeconomics and quantitative economics, together with specific modules on computation, machine learning and big data. Plus you would undertake either a dissertation or an extended essay on a topic of your choice.
We also have a wide range of optional modules at Stage 3 covering areas such as mathematical economics, international finance, industrial, monetary and financial economics.
This programme includes an opportunity to spend a year working in industry between Stages 2 and 3. This greatly enhances your CV and gives you the opportunity to apply your academic skills in a practical context. In previous years students have worked at:
You may wish to join the following student-run societies:
The School of Economics also hosts events that you are welcome to attend. These include:
Many of our staff advise UK, European and international organisations. These include:
These links mean we can bring real-life examples and scenarios into our teaching, ensuring it is up to date and relevant.
Please also see our general entry requirements.
ABB-BBB from three full A levels including A level Mathematics grade B and excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Applicants who have not studied A level Mathematics but hold GCSE Mathematics at grade 6 or higher will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis.
If we make you an offer, you will need 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.
The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and National Extended Diploma qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis.
34 points overall or 15 points at HL, including Mathematics SL or HL at 5.
Pass all components of the University of Kent International Foundation Programme with a 60% overall average.
International students should visit our International Student website for further specific information. International fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot study part-time due to visa restrictions.
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
If you need to improve your English language standard as a condition of your offer, you can attend one of our pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes before starting your degree programme. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
Duration: 4 years full-time
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
You take all compulsory modules and then either Mode A or Mode B from the list of optional modules depending on your existing level in Mathematics.
Compulsory modules currently include
EC304 - Principles of Economics (30 credits)
EC309 - Statistics for Economics (15 credits)
EC314 - Data Analysis for Economists (15 credits)
CO320 – Introduction to Object-Orientated Programming (15 credits)
CO359 – Programming for Artificial Intelligence (Python programming) (15 credits) This is a new module - information available soon
Compulsory modules currently include
EC500 - Microeconomics (30 credits)
EC502 - Macroeconomics (30 credits)
EC580 - Introduction to Econometrics (15 credits)
EC581 - Introduction to Time-Series Econometrics (15 credits)
ECXXX - Modelling and Computation for Economists (15 credits) This is a new module - information available soon
MA5956 – Big Data and Other Analytical Techniques (15 credits)
Optional modules may include
EC305 - Mathematics for Economics Mode A (15 credits)
EC306 - Mathematics for Economics Mode B (15 credits)
You have the opportunity to select elective modules in this stage.
Compulsory modules currently include
EC542 - Econometrics I: An Introduction to Modern Econometrics using Stata (15 credits)
EC543 - Econometrics 2: Topics in Time Series (15 credits)
ECXXX – Machine Learning for Economists (15 credits) This is a new module - information available soon
Optional modules may include
EC541 - Economics Dissertation (30 credits)
EC565 - Extended Economics Essay (15 credits)
EC569 - Economic Growth (15 credits)
EC570 - Microeconomics of Development (15 credits)
EC538 - Economic Controversies (15 credits)
EC540 - Development Economics (15 credits)
EC534 - The Economics of Money and Banking (15 credits)
EC585 - Mathematical Economics (15 credits)
EC603 - Financial Crises (15 credits)
EC583 - Political Economy (15 credits)
EC582 - The Economics of Human Capital (15 credits)
EC544 - Economic Integration in the EU (15 credits)
EC545 - Economics of the Labour Market (15 credits)
EC546 - Games for Economics and Business (15 credits)
EC547 - Industrial Economics (15 credits)
EC548 - International Finance (15 credits)
EC549 - International Trade (15 credits)
EC550 - Monetary Economics (15 credits)
EC553 - Public Economics (15 credits)
EC562 - Financial Economics: Financial Markets and Instruments (15 credits)
EC563 - Financial Economics and Asset Pricing (15 credits)
EC531 - Policy Analysis (15 credits)
EC631 - Applied Environmental Economics (15 credits)
The 2021/22 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
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.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Search scholarshipsKent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
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.
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
All modules are taught by a combination of lectures and small group sessions. These small groups can include workshops, seminars, computer terminal classes, problem-based classes, peer teaching, student presentations, debates, role play, experiments, group work, students own guided work, 1-2-1 supervision, VLE based learning activities and research projects.
In addition, all staff are accessible for student consultations for two hours a week outside direct teaching time.
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.
Some 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.
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. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
The programme aims to:
You gain a knowledge and understanding of:
You gain the following intellectual skills:
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
You gain the following transferable skills:
Economics at Kent scored 89% overall in The Complete University Guide 2021.
Over 93% of final-year Economics students were satisfied with the quality of their course in The Guardian University Guide 2021.
Computer Science at Kent scored 90% overall in The Complete University Guide 2021.
For graduate prospects, Computer Science at Kent scored 92% in The Complete University Guide 2021.
Our Economics graduates have developed careers in accountancy, banking and finance, journalism, management consultancy and business. Recent graduates have gone on to work for:
The School of Economics supports and advises you in deciding what to do after your Economics degree. We offer:
The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:
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.
Alongside a thorough understanding of economic issues, you develop key transferable skills that will appeal to employers. These include the ability to:
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
This course page is for the 2021/22 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.
T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk
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