Economics and Sociology
Economics and sociology together examine two of the most fundamental forces shaping modern life: the allocation of resources in a world of scarcity, and the social structures and cultural forces that influence how people live, relate to one another, and experience inequality. Economics brings rigorous quantitative analysis and formal modelling to questions about markets, incentives, and the behaviour of individuals and institutions. Sociology enriches that analysis with attention to power, class, race, gender, and the institutional arrangements that shape social outcomes in ways that purely economic models can miss.
At the University of Manchester, this three-year full-time degree draws on two of the university's distinguished social science departments, combining the quantitative rigour of Manchester economics with the critical sociological tradition for which the university is known. You will study microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics, sociological theory, research methods, labour markets, inequality, social policy, and a range of applied topics in both disciplines. The programme develops strong skills in quantitative analysis and statistical reasoning alongside the ability to interpret social phenomena through theoretical and empirical frameworks.
Manchester's research strengths in both fields mean you will engage with current scholarship throughout your studies.
Graduates from economics and sociology programmes go on to work in policy analysis, the civil service, social research, public health, financial services, consultancy, journalism, international development, and the third sector. The combination of quantitative and qualitative analytical skills the degree develops is valued wherever organisations need to understand both the economic and the social dimensions of the challenges they face. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in economics, sociology, social policy, or public policy, and some pursue doctoral research at the intersection of the two disciplines.