Are you interested in current affairs and politics? Do you want to know more about the important role different economies play in politics and international relations? Our Economics and Politics joint honours programme provides a thorough grounding in core political and economic concepts.
Our degree is your first step to a wide range of careers, from accountancy and banking, to national and local governments. We provide you with the tools that economists have developed for analysing real economic problems and the tools used in politics to the analysis of political ideas, practices and issues in the global arena.
Shape your degree outside the classroom with our thriving student led societies. Kent Invest focusses on financial markets holding an annual trading competition. The Economics Society explores issues of the moment through the lens of the discipline, culminating in an annual networking conference. The Politics and International Relations Society hosts public speaker events covering thought-provoking topics which allow the opportunity for discussion between members.
You'll be introduced to economic theory and practice as well as the fundamentals of political science. There’s also an opportunity to choose specialist modules that suit your interests in topics such as financial crises, policy analysis, mathematical economics, political economy, and the politics of the European Union.
In your Year in Industry, you will enhance your CV and have the opportunity to apply your academic skills in a practical context.
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 are responsible for finding your placements, but the School offers structured support for the application process. You must pass Stage 2 of your degree before you can embark on the year in industry.
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. All applications are assessed on an individual basis but some of our typical requirements are listed below. Students offering qualifications not listed are welcome to contact our Admissions Team for further advice. Please also see our general entry requirements.
BBB-BBC from three full A levels
Mathematics grade B / 5
The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant 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.
30 points overall or 15 points at HL, including Mathematics at 4
Pass all components of the University of Kent International Foundation Programme with a 65% overall average including 65% in the Economics module (plus 70% in LZ013 Maths and Statistics if you do not hold GCSE Maths at 7/A or equivalent).
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes. Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.
Please note that meeting the typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you do not meet our English language requirements, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. 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.
The module provides students with a thorough understanding of economics at an introductory level and provides the basis for all subsequent study that is taken on economics degree programmes. It is designed to teach students how to think as an economist and how to construct and use economic models. It also shows them how to be critical of economic models and how empirical evidence can be used in economic analysis.
The module explores how people make choices about what and how to produce and consume. It looks at the differences in economic outcomes between firms, people and countries and how they can be related to the effects of choices they, and others, make. It builds on the very simple and plausible assumption that people make decisions in their own interests and subject to constraints.
The first term covers the principles of microeconomics and shows how they can be applied to real-life situations and economic policy. The second term develops a framework for understanding macroeconomic events and macroeconomic policy. The emphasis throughout both terms is to demonstrate the usefulness of economics as an analytical tool for thinking about real world problems.
The module introduces students to a basic understanding of mathematics necessary for intermediate and advanced level modules (levels 5 and 6) taken in Stages 2 and 3. The module is designed for students who have A-Level mathematics or an equivalent qualification, or who meet the minimum entry standard. The module (or its equivalent for students without A-level mathematics) is compulsory for all Single and Joint Honours degree programmes in economics.
The module considers the following topics: linear equations, quadratic equations, multivariable functions; matrix algebra; differentiation; techniques of optimisation; constrained optimisation; non-linear functions and integration. These topics cover the important uses of mathematics in economics (and business) and are developed within a clear, contextual framework derived from first principles. Each topic is applied to a range of economic phenomena and problems and linked explicitly to the core Stage 1 economics module - ECON3040 Principles of Economics. Notably, the analytical and quantitative skills developed in the module are transferable across many different occupations.
This module introduces students to the basic concepts of probability and statistics, with applications to a variety of topics illustrated with real data. The techniques that are discussed can be used in their own right to solve simple problems, but also serve as an important foundation for later, more advanced, modules. Importantly, the module serves as a prerequisite for Stage 2 econometric modules ECON5800 and ECON5810.
The module commences with an overview of descriptive statistics. It then considers the key ideas in probability theory before moving on to statistical inference - the science of drawing conclusions from data. The main topics covered in the module include:
• Graphical and numerical analyses of data
• The principles of probability
• Probability Density Functions
• Sampling and its use in inference
• Regression and correlation
The module helps prepare students to acquire and develop the employability and transferable skills necessary to search and successfully apply for work experience, internships, placements for Year in Industry degrees and graduate opportunities in the commercial and public sector.
The curriculum introduces applications, CVs, careers advice, interview and assessment centre techniques, numeracy and competency tests, and psychometric evaluation at a level appropriate to students studying at Stage 1. These materials form the building blocks for related employability modules at subsequent stages of academic study.
With all its complexity and variety, studying Politics and International Relations can appear a little daunting. This module equips you with the skills and knowledge needed for succeeding in your studies and beyond. You will learn about the key historical influences upon contemporary political events, such as the origin and development of the State, the beginning and end of Empire, and the nature of world order, develop key skills for academic study and research by exploring these influences, and begin to critically and pro-actively reflect upon your own development as an independent learner and researcher.
This module introduces students to the empirical study of the key structures, institutions, processes, outcomes and behaviours in political systems. It familiarises students with both the content and shape of political life and how academic scholars study it. It also introduces the data, methods and techniques that allow students to study it themselves. Students learn about political life by learning how to do basic political research. Students will be able to apply their methods skills to empirical evidence commonly found in policy and academic work.
The module introduces students to the exciting fields of game theory, experimental economics and behavioural economics, and equips them with all the essential tools to analyse strategic interaction, in economics, politics and other social sciences. The module provides an understanding of the basic principles of game theory as well as experience in the practical issues of experimental economics. The emphasis throughout the module is on discussing practical applications and providing hands-on experience of experimental economics and game theory.
This module introduces students to the application of economic analysis and the role of professional economists within the real-world economy. It exposes students to the main fields of activity that require the involvement of economists, to the institutions involved in these fields, their responsibilities, and the types of economic problem that are addressed. It also provides them with opportunities to contextualise their learning of conceptual economic ideas and issues, and to apply their knowledge and understanding to practical everyday issues.
Training to become a professional economist requires students to learn and develop a variety of different skills, many of which go beyond an understanding of the concepts of economic theory or statistical analysis. These skills include the ability to abstract and simplify complex economic behaviour, to adapt the general concepts of economic theory to the particular case of investigation, to think through and present logical arguments, to communicate ideas effectively both verbally and in writing, to engage in critical analysis of arguments and, more generally, to problem-solve, make decisions and organise work.
Module content is organised thematically around a series of both microeconomic and macroeconomic topics. These topics are diverse and updated in line with contemporary issues and developments in the field. Each topic is examined in the context of how professional economists put into practice economics across a range of different institutional settings such as the Government Economic Service, regulatory authorities, private sector consultancy and academia.
Violence is at the heart of war while peace is often defined as the absence of violence. This module aims to introduce students to these three crucial aspects of international relations and conflict and how they are inter-related. Specifically, the aim of this module is to introduce students to a) the conceptual distinctions between war and violence and how to define peace and b) the methods and skills needed to study war, violence and peace. The module will use case studies and negotiation simulations to help students engage directly and better grasp how states go from peace to war and back to peace. The students will emerge with knowledge of the central theories and concepts of war and peace studies, and with an initial set of skills (negotiation and mediation) which can be used to further understand international politics but also in their personal relationships with others.
This module aims to introduce students to some of the key political systems of the world. It will provide them with a broad overview of politics in selected countries including their institutional structures, elite politics and citizen perspectives. It will enable students to start developing an understanding of the cultural, historical, social and economic context which shape politics in these countries. In addition, it will enable students to start developing an understanding of the contemporary challenges faced by these countries.
This module introduces students to the key elements of the British political system. That system has undergone a number of important changes in recent years, and the module enhances students' understanding of what these changes consist of, why they have taken place and what their implications are. Focusing on changes in the power to shape and make policy decisions, the module explores the shifting role of key actors such as the legislature and media, and at the exercise of policy authority at the sub-national, national and international levels. The module also considers changes in the relationship between citizens and political authorities, and particularly on shifting patterns of individual engagement with politics. Throughout, the module is designed to enhance students' critical skills in being able to analyse changes in policy authority within a political system.
The year in industry is taken between the second (Stage 2) and third years (Stage 3) of the degree and contributes towards your final degree classification. 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.
The 2023/24 annual tuition fees for this course 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.
Fees for undergraduate students are £1,385.
Fees for undergraduate students are £1,385.
Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
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.
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 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.
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.
Our main teaching methods are lectures, seminars, working groups, PC laboratory sessions and individual discussions with your personal tutor or module teachers. Assessment is through continuous feedback, written examinations, assessed essays and oral presentations.
Politics Open Forum
We hold a weekly extra-curricular Open Forum organised by our School research groups, where students and staff have the opportunity to discuss and debate key issues of the day that affect higher education and politics in the world today.
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.
For programme aims and learning outcomes, please see the programme specification for each subject below. Please note that outcomes depend on your specific module selection:
Economics at Kent was ranked 22nd for student satisfaction in The Complete University Guide 2023.
Our graduates have gone on to work in:
Recent graduates have joined:
The School offers an employability programme with specially designed modules aimed at helping you develop the skills you'll need to look for a job. In addition, we offer:
The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:
Alongside a thorough understanding of economic issues and politics, you develop key transferable skills that will appeal to employers. These include the ability to:
You can also gain additional skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
We are no longer taking applications for the 2023/24 academic year. Please visit the 2024 online prospectus for a list of current undergraduate courses.
Discover Uni is designed to support prospective students in deciding whether, where and what to study. The site replaces Unistats from September 2019.
Discover Uni is jointly owned by the Office for Students, the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Scottish Funding Council.
It includes:
Find out more about the Unistats dataset on the Higher Education Statistics Agency website.
