Economics and Politics with Study Abroad
Economics and politics address the two most powerful forces shaping the world we live in: the way resources are produced and distributed, and the way power is organised and contested. Studied together, they illuminate how economic and political structures interact, how policies are made and with what consequences, and how ideas about markets, states and institutions have shaped modern history. At the University of Bristol, this four-year full-time degree includes an additional year studying overseas, giving you direct experience of economic and political systems beyond the UK and the international comparative perspective that makes analysis of contemporary issues more rigorous and grounded.
You will study microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, including market behaviour, monetary and fiscal policy, growth and international trade, alongside the core areas of political science including comparative politics, international relations, political theory and the analysis of policy processes. The two disciplines develop complementary skills: economics brings quantitative reasoning and formal modelling; politics brings institutional analysis and the study of ideas. Bristol's programme is designed to develop both, and the year abroad extends your analytical perspective by placing you in a different academic and political environment.
A typical entry tariff of around 168 points is expected.
Graduates pursue careers across a wide spectrum. Government departments, international organisations, development agencies, think-tanks, consultancies, financial services, journalism and the civil service all draw heavily on economics and politics graduates. The analytical rigour the combination develops, together with the international experience gained from studying abroad, is particularly valued in careers that engage with cross-border policy, diplomacy or economic strategy.
Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in economics, international relations, public policy or law.