Economics

Economics is the study of how societies manage scarce resources and how decisions made by individuals, businesses, and governments ripple through markets and affect welfare. It is a discipline that is simultaneously theoretical and empirical, using mathematical models to understand how economic systems work and statistical methods to test those models against data. From the way interest rates affect investment to the consequences of trade policy or climate regulation, economics provides the framework for understanding some of the most consequential decisions made in public and private life.

At the University of Southampton, this BSc Economics gives you an in-depth understanding of economic theory alongside the skills needed to work in finance, commerce, and industry. You will learn how our economic decisions affect others, and how the choices of business and financial institutions shape society more broadly. The programme develops both your theoretical understanding and your quantitative analytical skills, covering microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and a range of applied fields.

It includes a sandwich placement year and a work placement, ensuring that your academic training is complemented by real professional experience. The programme runs over three years full-time.

Graduates of economics degrees pursue careers in investment banking, financial analysis, economic consulting, the civil service, central banking, data science, management consulting, and policy research. The analytical and quantitative skills economics develops are valued across virtually every sector that depends on evidence-based decision-making. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in economics or related fields, where the rigorous training of the undergraduate degree provides direct access to advanced academic and professional programmes.