Program Overview
The University of Reading's BSc Economics program delves into the multifaceted world of economics, equipping students with analytical skills and knowledge to tackle real-world economic issues. Through a blend of theory and data analysis, the program covers core topics such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, while also offering optional modules that explore current economic challenges. The program emphasizes the application of economic principles to understand economic behavior and societal problems, preparing graduates for careers in various sectors.
Program Outline
This three-year course will enable you to tackle a diverse range of economic issues and problems. You will acquire the skills, knowledge and understanding that are required to become an economist or use economics as a major aspect of your career. You will also work extensively with data and learn how to apply theory and models to analyse real-world issues. We also offer a BA Economics degree at the University of Reading, which covers an even wider range of economic markets and social policy issues but focuses less on techniques for working with data. Choose economics at the University of Reading Established for more than 50 years. 100% of our research impact has been classed ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ (REF 2021, combining 4 and 3 submissions – Business and Management Studies, and Anthropology and Development Studies). We are ranked in the top 200 universities in the world for Economics (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023) and is ranked 10th in the UK in Business and Economics subjects (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024, United Kingdom providers only) Our BSc programme will help you analyse what's happening in the world: how do economies grow, what can be done to manage business cycles, is a 5-day week really necessary and so on. You will analyse these using a range of theories and methods including the theory of games and strategic interactions, natural and behavioural experiments. Your degree will help you to understand and make predictions about individual and collective economic behaviour. Your core modules will cover a range of topics, including: Microeconomics Macroeconomics Statistical and Econometric Methods Mathematics for Economists Economic Theory Behavioural Economics. In computer lab sessions, you will learn how to work with specialist software that professional economists commonly use in business, government bodies, and research organisations. Optional modules will bring your studies to life and relate to what is happening outside of the classroom, with interactive modules such as: Development Economics, understanding of the causes and consequences of underdevelopment and the policies that help bring people out of poverty. Economics of Banking, exploring the weaknesses in the banking sector, the strategies adopted by banks to address risks, and the rationale for government intervention in the financial sector and banking regulation. Economics of Sport and Games, studying how the competitive and controlled environments within sport can provide laboratories to study human behaviour, to test theories, and to observe the impacts of policy.
Outline:
Year 1
Compulsory modules Principles of Economics 1 Gain an analytical introduction to the modern concepts of economics. You'll learn how the real world works by developing your understanding of key economics concepts, mathematical tools and, microeconomics. Principles of Economics 2 Gain an analytical introduction to the modern concepts of economics and develop your understanding of key economics concepts and mathematical tools. You’ll learn concepts of macroeconomics and how they overlap with microeconomics. You’ll also consider key topics such as what can markets do and cannot do, and when can government improve economic performance. Applied Economics and Policy Develop your understanding of the range of theoretical approaches and perspectives within economics, and the ways in which economic thinking can be employed to investigate and understand a variety of world-relevant topics, issues and policy making. You’ll learn how to assess the work of economists and analyse a wide range of issues. Mathematical Methods for Economists Learn advanced mathematical techniques and their economic applications. You’ll understand how mathematics can be used to describe and extend economics in a rigorous fashion. Core Competencies in Economics Develop key academic skills and strategies such as time management and independent learning, academic writing and referencing, and making effective use of feedback. Explore a range of challenges frequently encountered by students along with coping strategies and advice on accessing the network of support available. Introductory Economic Theory Learn the basic concepts of economic modelling in a more formal and structured way. Optional modules Economics of Climate Change Acquire an economic perspective on the causes and consequences of climate change. You’ll learn key theoretical concepts, such as externalities and public goods, and policy tools such as command and control measures, taxation and subsidies to devise adequate responses to climate change. You’ll gain a perspective on national and international climate change policy approaches and their implications for economic development. History of Economic Thought Become acquainted with the main schools of thought in economics and understand the origins of economic ideas. You’ll learn about scholars and their ideas from a historical perspective, and consider their relevance in the context of contemporary debates. Globalisation and the History of Western Capitalism Learn about the evolution of international economic activity from 1200 to the present. You’ll examine how the world economy got to where it is today, from the development of great port cities to the modern ‘networked global village’.
Year 2
Compulsory modules Intermediate Microeconomics Develop an in-depth and rigorous understanding of the core concepts and methods of microeconomics. You’ll learn more about consumer and producer theory, and discover new topics including game theory, bargaining, market competition, general equilibrium and welfare. Intermediate Macroeconomics Develop in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles and analytic concepts related to economic growth, inflation, unemployment and interest rates. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the interrelationship between macroeconomic variables and government policy, and be able to analyse relevant issues discussed by news and politicians. Introductory Econometrics Develop your understanding of basic econometrics, with an emphasis on interpreting basic linear regression results and their relevance in economic analysis. Intermediate Econometrics Learn techniques in econometrics for time series, with applications to macroeconomic and finance datasets. You’ll develop econometric software skills and gain hands-on experience in analysing a wide range of economic questions. You’ll also develop a solid grounding in recent developments in time series econometrics. Intermediate Economic Theory Get acquainted with the basic concepts of economic modelling by applying previously learned economics in a more formal, structured way. You’ll progress to advanced microeconomics and advanced macroeconomics by learning what constitutes a formal model, how micro-foundations form the basis of modern macroeconomic models, and how to use formal mathematical models to answer economic questions and analyse real world policies. Optional modules Business Economics Develop your understanding of a number of areas of business economics, with a focus on theory. Games and Economic Behaviour In this module, you’ll actively participate in one or more models of economic phenomena through an online gaming platform. You’ll gain greater insight into the assumptions and mechanisms underlying models of economic behaviour with the game-based versions of each model. Economics of Social Policy Develop your understanding of how economic analysis can be applied to the real-world problems faced by policy makers. You’ll study socioeconomic problems and the role of Government policy. You’ll learn techniques from both microeconomics and macroeconomics to analyse topics such as poverty and inequality, housing, crime, health and education, economics. Economic History Understand how the world economy got to be where it is today, focusing on significant periods of economic change from the commercial revolution of the medieval period through to the modern digital revolution.
Year 3
Compulsory modules Advanced Microeconomics Build on the methods you developed knowledge of in Intermediate Microeconomics and Economic Theory to learn advanced topics in microeconomic theory. Topics include decision under uncertainty, incomplete markets, labour economics, credit, insurance, various markets with asymmetric information, mechanism design, and richer theories of the firm. Advanced Macroeconomics Learn major theories of long-run economic growth and short-run economic fluctuations, and understand issues such as what causes economies to grow, why some countries are richer than others, and what poorer nations can do to catch up. You’ll explore alternative explanations for what causes economies to fluctuate in the short run, and what role the government can, or should, play, in smoothing out fluctuations. Optional modules Public Economics The module aims to examine the rationale for government intervention in the economy. You’ll apply microeconomic theory to contemporary policy issues, analysing some of the principles involved in tax design and the equity and efficiency implications of taxation. Econometric Methods Gain an up-to-date treatment of econometrics with a focus on various causal inference techniques and learn about the problems that arise in the practical application of econometrics. You’ll learn to apply and interpret econometric techniques in the context of real economic examples with the help of computer programming. Behavioural Economics Understand the limitations of the neo-classical theory in explaining many economic phenomena. You’ll become familiar with the common biases and their implications on decision-making. You’ll also gain knowledge of basic theories of behavioural economics and an understanding of games used to test these theories. Industrial Organisation Learn from theoretical industrial economics to understand corporate decision-making, such as price-setting, output-setting, advertising, product differentiation, and collusive behaviour. Financial Economics Learn about the economic reasoning that underpins much of modern finance, including portfolio theory and asset pricing. You’ll apply neoclassical financial analysis to financial decision making in the world of uncertainty and market imperfections. You’ll also learn about the role of financial intermediation in facilitating investment. The Economics of Sports and Games
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250 New international students: £22,350
