Economics/Scottish History

Economics and Scottish history is a combination that pairs one of the most rigorous analytical disciplines in the social sciences with a deep engagement with the distinctive historical experience of one of the oldest nations in Europe. Economics trains you to think carefully about how individuals and societies make choices under conditions of scarcity, how markets function, and how policy shapes outcomes. Scottish history places those questions in a rich and specific context, tracing Scotland's political, economic, and cultural development from its medieval kingdom through union with England, industrialisation, and the contemporary debates about devolution and national identity.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution in another country. This international experience enriches both disciplines, exposing you to different economic traditions and to perspectives on Scottish history from outside the British academic context. You will develop core economic skills in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and quantitative analysis alongside a detailed grounding in the events, structures, and ideas that shaped Scotland across the centuries.

The programme develops your ability to work with both theoretical models and historical evidence, and to draw on both disciplines to address complex questions about how societies develop and change.

Graduates go on to careers in finance, the civil service, policy research, journalism, education, heritage, and business, drawing on the combination of analytical rigour and historical awareness the degree provides. Many continue to postgraduate study in economics, Scottish history, or related fields, and some pursue research careers in universities or policy institutions. Glasgow's strength in both economics and Scottish studies makes this a particularly well-supported combination.