| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-23 | 2023-07-04 |
| 2024-01-23 | - |
Program Overview
Develop the skills and knowledge to become a thoughtful political economist. You'll explore the relationship between economics and political decision-making.
During this course, you’ll learn about the connections between society, the government, and the economy. You’ll examine the challenges facing individuals, countries and the international community using theories and methods from economics, complemented by key concepts from political science, like power, justice, conflict, and sovereignty.
You’ll learn to apply economic methods to policy issues while increasing your knowledge of UK and global institutions. This will help you understand how policies are formed and evaluated.
Year 1 will focus on building your economic intuition and core skills in mathematics, statistics, data analysis, and coding. You’ll also explore the exercise and evolution of power in societies and the role of politics in conflict resolution and consensus-building.
In Year 2, you’ll strengthen your command of economic theory and the econometric techniques and software tools used to estimate and forecast economic relationships. You’ll deepen your understanding of political theory and issues of conflict and security.
In your final year, you’ll choose from a range of optional units. This will give you the freedom to focus on your interests and career ambitions.
By the end of the course, you will have a deeper and more refined knowledge of the complex links between economics and political science.
Informed teaching to advance your learning
You’ll learn from teaching staff with diverse backgrounds and expertise in different areas of economics. Their passion, knowledge and research shape their teaching with the aim of enhancing your learning experience.
Benefit from specialist resources
You’ll have access to some of the latest industry-standard statistical, mathematical and econometric software. This will allow you to access up-to-the-minute data on real-world trends to enhance your learning experience.
Develop your professional skills
We work to provide you with the tools and support to prepare you for employment and further study.
These include:
Prepare for your future career
Many of our economics graduates have gone on to careers in both the private and public sectors, working as economists, financial or business analysts, researchers, accountants and tax professionals.
They have worked for organisations such as:
Develop the skills and knowledge to become a thoughtful political economist. You'll explore the relationship between economics and political decision-making.
During this course, you’ll learn about the connections between society, the government, and the economy. You’ll examine the challenges facing individuals, countries and the international community using theories and methods from economics, complemented by key concepts from political science, like power, justice, conflict, and sovereignty.
You’ll learn to apply economic methods to policy issues while increasing your knowledge of UK and global institutions. This will help you understand how policies are formed and evaluated.
Year 1 will focus on building your economic intuition and core skills in mathematics, statistics, data analysis, and coding. You’ll also explore the exercise and evolution of power in societies and the role of politics in conflict resolution and consensus-building.
In Year 2, you’ll strengthen your command of economic theory and the econometric techniques and software tools used to estimate and forecast economic relationships. You’ll deepen your understanding of political theory and issues of conflict and security.
In your final year, you’ll choose from a range of optional units. This will give you the freedom to focus on your interests and career ambitions.
By the end of the course, you will have a deeper and more refined knowledge of the complex links between economics and political science.
Informed teaching to advance your learning
You’ll learn from teaching staff with diverse backgrounds and expertise in different areas of economics. Their passion, knowledge and research shape their teaching with the aim of enhancing your learning experience.
Benefit from specialist resources
You’ll have access to some of the latest industry-standard statistical, mathematical and econometric software. This will allow you to access up-to-the-minute data on real-world trends to enhance your learning experience.
Develop your professional skills
We work to provide you with the tools and support to prepare you for employment and further study.
These include:
Prepare for your future career
Many of our economics graduates have gone on to careers in both the private and public sectors, working as economists, financial or business analysts, researchers, accountants and tax professionals.
They have worked for organisations such as:
Program Outline
Course structure
This course lasts 3 years. It starts in September 2023 and ends in 2026. Welcome week starts on 25 September 2023.
Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
Units
At Bath, our courses are made up of units of study. Compulsory units cover core concepts that you'll need to understand as part of your degree programme. Some of our courses also offer the opportunity for you to study optional units. These allow you to specialise in particular areas of knowledge that interest you.
As an undergraduate, you will be expected to take 60 credits (ECTS) in each academic year. These are usually split into 30 credits for each semester you study. Sixty credits are the equivalent of 1200 notional hours of study; this includes contact time with staff and your own independent learning.
Year 1
Compulsory units
Essential study skills in politics
5 credits
Macroeconomics 1
15 credits
Mathematics for economics
5 credits
Microeconomics 1
15 credits
Politics: key concepts and analysis
15 credits
Statistics for economics
5 credits
Year 2
Compulsory units
Introduction to econometrics
10 credits
Macroeconomics 2
10 credits
Microeconomics 2
10 credits
Thinking the world politically
10 credits
Options
Year 2 Options
20 credits
Year 3
Options
Final Year Options
60 credits
Learning and assessment
You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.
Learning
Assessment
Learning and teaching
Contact hours
Timetabled contact hours, which may be made up of lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops vary throughout your course and between courses but are typically between 12 and 15 hours a week in your first year.
Independent learning
In addition to timetabled contact hours, you are expected to undertake independent learning and assessment activities. Typically, this might be around 20 to 28 hours per week in your first year, and include individual research, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments, presentations, or revising for exams. After your first year, the emphasis on independent learning becomes greater, for example, you may do a final year project in the final year. You’ll be expected to work both on your own and as part of a group.
Assessment breakdown
You will be assessed in a range of methods designed to develop and test your skills and knowledge.
50% to 75% of your course will be assessed through examinations.
25% to 50% will be assessed through essays, reports, and presentations.
The balance of assessment methods may vary throughout your degree.
The final degree classification is determined by your second and final year marks and each contributes 32% and 68% respectively.
You will primarily be assessed as an individual, but may also be assessed as part of a group.
We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities, take a look at our Disability Service’s pages for information.
Recognition of professional qualifications
As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).
The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.
The United Kingdom currently subscribes to The Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (MRPQ) Directive. The MRPQ Directive provides a reciprocal framework of rules which enables European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals to have their professional qualifications recognised in a state other than the one in which the qualification was obtained. In the event of a no deal Brexit, from 1 January 2021, the MRPQ Directive will no longer apply to the UK. However, it is anticipated that there will be a new system for recognising professional qualifications between the UK, EEA, and Switzerland.
