Economics and Politics

Economics and politics address questions that are inseparable in the real world. Economic choices are shaped by political decisions, and political outcomes are driven by economic interests and forces. Understanding both disciplines together gives you a more complete and sophisticated analytical toolkit than either provides alone.

Economics brings quantitative rigour and formal models of how individuals, firms, and governments behave; politics brings institutional analysis, comparative method, and the study of how power is organised and exercised. Together they address some of the most important questions facing contemporary societies.

At the University of Leeds, this three-year full-time degree develops expertise in both disciplines with a genuinely interdisciplinary approach. You will study microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics, and the economics of policy alongside comparative politics, political theory, international relations, and the empirical study of political institutions and behaviour. Research methods run through both disciplines, developing your capacity to work with quantitative data and to evaluate political and economic arguments critically.

A placement or work experience year is built into the course, and a year abroad is also available, both of which broaden your professional and international experience.

You will graduate with strong analytical skills, quantitative literacy, and the capacity to engage with economic and political questions at a level of sophistication that employers in many fields value. The combination is particularly suited to roles where economic analysis and an understanding of governance and policy are both relevant.

Graduates from economics and politics degrees pursue careers in economic consultancy, the civil service, public policy, think tanks, journalism, finance, international organisations, and academia. The combination of quantitative and qualitative analytical skills makes these graduates versatile across many professional contexts. Postgraduate study in economics, politics, public policy, or international relations is a common path for those who want to develop deeper expertise.