Financial Economics

Our BSc Financial Economics will provide you with a core set of rigorous and applicable skills in financial economics, and an extensive knowledge of the financial sector. You will acquire the knowledge and skills you need for successful employment in professions requiring economic and financial literacy and you will gain hands-on experience in academic research and data analysis.

Why choose this course?

• You will be taught by academics who are professional practitioners in the world of economics and provide specialist advice and in-house training for government departments and City firms and banks, including the Treasury and Bank of England.

• Your tutors actively work to extend the boundaries of knowledge. Many of our academics are recognised as world-class experts in their fields and their research feeds directly into our teaching.

• Graduates of our economics-related courses are among the highest paid of London institutions. Earnings after five years have been the third highest among London universities for three consecutive reporting years. (Department for Education).

What you will learn

You will learn about financial markets and their interplay with economic systems. Finance modules offer you knowledge of institutional contexts, key concepts like stocks, bonds and options, and skills such as asset pricing. In economics we will teach you the fundamentals of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, and how they interact with the financial world and policy.

You will also gain proficiency in statistics and econometrics to analyse real-world data and make informed decisions. You will develop critical-thinking, problem-solving and communication skills essential for success in diverse career paths, from finance and consulting to government and beyond.

You will then be able to choose from a range of option modules to tailor your learning experience to your interests and career aspirations.

How will you learn

You can choose between full- and part-time study, and evening teaching will enable you to balance studies with work or other commitments. The course is delivered through a combination of lectures and small-group tutorials.

Foundation Year

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

Highlights

• Birkbeck was ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Economics and Econometrics research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

• We bring together research and teaching across economics and finance, mathematics and statistics which creates significant interdisciplinary synergies.

• Goldman Sachs and Birkbeck Diversity Scholarships are available for this course for students from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this course, you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including:

• the ability to analyse data and evaluate trends

• the capacity to assess information critically and solve problems

• effective communication of ideas, findings and recommendations to diverse audiences.

The course is designed to prepare you for careers including in:

• finance, e.g. investment banking, asset management or financial consulting

• government in economic policy analysis, research, or in central banks, treasury departments or international organisations

• business, as a business analyst or market researcher, or in strategic planning and corporate finance

• data analysis as an analyst or econometrician in industries such as banking, insurance or market research

• nonprofit and NGOs, e.g. in economic development, policy advocacy or research positions.

You may also choose to pursue your studies further at postgraduate level.