Economics and Finance with Study Abroad

Economics and finance is a degree that combines the theoretical rigour of economics with the applied knowledge of financial markets, institutions, and decision-making. Economics provides the conceptual framework: models of how individuals, firms, and governments behave, how markets allocate resources, how monetary and fiscal policy shape the economy, and how to evaluate the effects of different choices using evidence and data. Finance applies and extends these frameworks to the specific world of financial assets, investment, corporate funding, risk management, and the institutions, including banks, investment managers, and regulators, that constitute the financial system.

Together they produce a degree with both intellectual depth and strong practical relevance.

At the University of Bristol, this four-year programme builds a strong financial foundation and the quantitative skills required for real-world decision-making, and includes an additional year studying abroad. The study abroad year gives you the opportunity to engage with economics and finance in a different institutional and cultural context, broadening your comparative understanding and developing the international perspective that global financial careers increasingly require. The main programme develops rigour in economic theory and econometric methods alongside the financial knowledge needed to analyse markets, corporate decisions, and investment strategies.

Bristol's research strength in economics and finance and its connections to the financial sector, including the growing Bristol financial services community and proximity to London, give the degree good connections to professional practice.

Graduates from economics and finance programmes are highly sought after across financial services, investment banking, asset management, economic consultancy, central banks, corporate finance, and the civil service. The quantitative and analytical skills developed are also valued in data science, fintech, and research roles. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in economics, finance, or related quantitative fields.