Economics

Receive training in economics-relevant mathematics and statistics, and develop your knowledge of fundamental economics concepts, on our BA Economics programme.

In this programme, you will study microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics – the application of statistical methods to estimate causal relationships between economic variables. There are also modules that allow you to shape your degree to your interests and career ambitions - enabling you to gain additional in-demand employability skills, like programming and data visualisation.

Mathematics is a tool used by economists to model the world around us, and to understand how and why individuals make the decisions that they do. Within this programme, we will teach you the core mathematic tools that are used by economists to build models about the work around us. This makes our BA programme ideal for those with a good base level of numeracy, but who might not have studied A-level Mathematics or an accepted equivalent (if you have a suitable Mathematics A-level or an accepted equivalent, or are currently studying for one, you should consider applying for our BSc Economics instead).

You’ll benefit from teaching informed by cutting-edge research – research which ranks in the top 5 for economics and econometrics amongst UK universities (REF 2021). We are also home to the Economics Network, which improves the teaching and learning of economics in universities throughout the UK and Europe.

The skills you’ll develop as an economist – such as problem solving, data analysis, and communicating ideas to a range of stakeholders – will place you in high-demand with modern employers. On average, Bristol economics students earn 26% more than other UK economics graduates within 5 years of graduation – typically enjoying salaries between £42,500 and £77,500 per year (discoveruni.gov.uk, 2024).

Should I choose the BSc or BA in Economics?
Our BSc Economics is designed for students with a suitable A-level Mathematics qualification (or an accepted equivalent), and a high level of maths skills is required to succeed on the programme. Our BA Economics degree also has a quantitative focus, but this route is specifically designed to embed accelerated learning of the statistics and mathematical skills required of modern economists.

We would normally recommend that BSc Economics is well suited for those who have studied A-level Mathematics (or suitable equivalent), while BA Economics is well suited for those who have strong numerical and data skills, but have not formally studied mathematics to a full A-level (or suitable equivalent). Please see the programme structures and full entry requirements for both our BA Economics and BSc Economics, including which A-level equivalent qualifications we accept, to help with your decision-making.