Economics

Our degrees have a modular structure. This means that compulsory modules provide you with the core knowledge and skills that you need, while optional and discovery modules allow you to shape your course to suit your personal interests and career aspirations.

Year 1 will give you a firm foundation in economic theory and history, the structures and institutions of industry and debates surrounding economic performance. You’ll also develop your mathematical and statistical skills to support the rest of your studies.

In the following year you’ll build on your understanding of microeconomics and macroeconomics, as well as econometrics and theories concerning economic growth and wealth distributions. You’ll continue to improve your skills in mathematics and statistics, and explore topics that suit your interests and career plans through your choice of optional modules. You could focus on industrial economics, or explore how ethics, innovation or labour are dealt with in economics, or consider how economics can be applied to the areas of health or transport.

Your final year will give you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of more complex microeconomic and macroeconomic topics, while diverse optional modules mean you could focus on topics including economic development, international banking and finance, public enterprise or environmental economics. You’ll also apply the knowledge and skills you have gained to an independently researched dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Academic and Professional Development for Studies in Economics 10 credits
• Mathematical Economics 10 credits
• Economics and Global History 10 credits
• Economic Institutions (Industry) 10 credits
• Research Skills for Economists 10 credits
• Economic Theory and Applications 1 20 credits

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Theories of Growth, Value and Distribution 10 credits
• Intermediate Microeconomics 10 credits
• Mathematics for Business and Economics 2 10 credits
• Applied Economics 10 credits
• Introduction to Econometrics 10 credits
• Intermediate Macroeconomics 10 credits
• Statistics for Business and Economics 2 10 credits

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• Advanced Microeconomics 10 credits
• Economics Dissertation 30 credits
• Advanced Macroeconomics 10 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Economics BSc in the course catalogue

Broadening your academic horizons

At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. This course gives you the opportunity to broaden your learning by studying discovery modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

You’ll be taught using a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. The rest of your time will be spent in independent learning, which allows you to develop your skills in research and analysis. Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.

You’ll also benefit from dedicated academic counselling from your Head of Year, a lecturer in your subject area who will meet you individually during the year and act as a personal tutor.

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods to help you develop a range of transferable skills that you’ll need in professional life. These are likely to include coursework, exams, oral presentations, group reports and dissertations.