Economics and Finance with Foundation Year

Economics and Finance is a degree that develops the analytical foundations of both disciplines in parallel, giving you the rigorous theoretical understanding of how economies and markets function alongside the quantitative and technical skills of financial analysis and investment. Economics provides the conceptual framework for understanding how individuals, firms and governments make decisions and how those decisions aggregate into market outcomes and macroeconomic patterns. Finance applies and extends that framework to the pricing of assets, the management of risk, the structure of capital markets, and the valuation of financial claims.

At the University of Surrey, this four-year programme includes a foundation year, widening access to the degree by providing additional mathematical and analytical preparation before you engage with the main curriculum. Surrey's active integration of digital skills and AI tools into its programmes ensures that you develop the technological literacy that employers increasingly expect from economics and finance graduates alongside the core disciplinary content. You will study microeconomics, macroeconomics, financial mathematics, econometrics, asset pricing, corporate finance, and quantitative methods, building a comprehensive and technically rigorous understanding of both disciplines.

Graduates of Economics and Finance programmes are in strong demand across financial services, investment banking, asset management, corporate finance, economic consultancy, the civil service, and technology companies. The combination of economic reasoning and financial analysis is particularly valued in roles involving forecasting, investment analysis, risk management, and commercial strategy. Many graduates also pursue professional qualifications in finance, accountancy, or actuarial science, and some go on to postgraduate study in economics, finance, or data science.