Economics

Economics is one of the most versatile and rigorous of all social science disciplines. It analyses how individuals, firms, and governments make decisions about scarce resources and examines the aggregate consequences of those decisions for markets, industries, and whole economies. The discipline combines mathematical modelling with empirical analysis, philosophical reflection on assumptions, and engagement with the real-world complexity of economic life.

At degree level, economics moves well beyond common-sense observation to the construction and testing of formal theories that can explain and predict economic behaviour.

At Cardiff University, this three-year, full-time programme provides a thorough grounding in both microeconomics and macroeconomics, alongside the quantitative methods, statistics, and econometrics that modern economists use to test their theories against data. You will study how markets work and when they fail, how firms make pricing and production decisions, how consumers respond to incentives, and how national economies grow, fluctuate, and respond to policy. Cardiff's economics department has strong research activity, and you will engage with contemporary debates in the field rather than simply receiving settled knowledge.

A typical entry tariff of 152 UCAS points reflects the mathematical and analytical preparation expected for the programme.

Economics develops strong quantitative reasoning, the ability to construct and evaluate formal arguments, and the habit of thinking carefully about evidence and its limitations. These skills are among the most transferable produced by any social science degree.

Graduates from economics programmes are sought in finance, banking, the civil service, management consultancy, economic research, public policy, and international organisations. The analytical toolkit an economics degree provides is relevant across virtually every sector. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in economics, finance, public policy, or data science.