Economics - BSc (Hons)

with a Foundation Year

Course structure

Duration: 4 years full-time

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. 

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 an estimated 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.

Contact hours

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.

Programme aims

• To provide a flexible and progressive curriculum that is suitable for students who have or have not studied Economics before.
• To provide stimulating education and training in the principles of Economics and their application, in which high quality teaching motivates students to achieve their full potential.
• To stimulate students intellectually through the study of economics and to lead them to appreciate its application to a range of problems and its relevance in a variety of contexts
• To provide a firm foundation of knowledge about the workings of economic systems and to foster an understanding of alternative approaches to the analysis of economic phenomena
• To provide students with the ability to abstract and to develop simplifying frameworks for studying the real world.
• To develop in students, the ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills across a range of theoretical, applied and policy problems.
• To provide a range of options to enable students to study selected areas of Economics in depth, the teaching of which is informed by the research and scholarship of teaching staff.
• To provide students with the knowledge and skill base from which they can proceed to further studies in economics, related areas or in multidisciplinary areas that involve economics.
• To develop in all students, through the study of economics, a range of skills that will be of value in employment and self-employment.
• To widen the student learning experience through the provision of a well-organised student exchange programme with high quality partner institutions abroad. To build on close ties within Europe and elsewhere, reflecting Kent’s position as the UK European University.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

• The main concepts, principles, theories, models and methods of modern economic analysis and their application in different areas of Economics.
• The history and development of economic ideas and the differing methods of analysis that have been and are used by economists.
• 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 dissertation or extended essay in final year. 
• Cultures, languages and societies of year abroad countries. 

Intellectual skills

• Ability to abstract the essential features of a complex system.
• Ability to think about what are the important variables and fixed parameters in solving a problem.
• Ability to analysis complex issues using deductive and inductive reasoning.
• Ability to organise and use information to analyse complex issues and test different hypotheses.
• Ability to review critically alternative explanations and analyses of a problem.
• Ability to manage a supervised final year dissertation or extended essay on an economic topic chosen by the student.

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

• Effective communication of analysis and ideas both orally, aurally and in written form 
• Ability to assemble, analyse, use and present data.
• Understanding and ability to use economic, mathematical and quantitative methods to analyse issues and problems.
• Ability to analyse and make decisions, using economic concepts, e.g. 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 dissertation or extended essay on an economic topic chosen by the student. 

Careers

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 finding a job

The School of Economics supports and advises you in deciding what to do after your Economics degree. 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.

Work experience

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.

Career-enhancing skills

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 succinctly
• work independently
• use your initiative and be proactive
• work as part of a team and independently
• manage your time and plan effectively
• problem solve.

You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.