BSc Economics / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

I enjoy studying Econometrics the most, I believe it's the most practical application of Economics in real-life scenarios.

More so, I like the use of programming languages in analysing data in Econometrics.

Aryaman Talukdar / BSc Economics

The BSc Economics course is for quantitative economics specialists with a strong mathematical background.

You will discover a range of economics branches before specialising, benefitting from an engaging and interactive learning experience at one of the UK's most historic centres for economic study.

You will also receive training for the compulsory stream units in economic principles, mathematical modelling and econometric techniques.

Modern professional economists need to have a clear understanding of economic principles in order to recognise and model relevant economic problems.

We will ensure you'll be equipped with the mathematical and econometric tools to solve and analyse such problems.

Our carefully designed degree combines compulsory units in core economics and quantitative methods and the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of interest through optional course units.

Employers look for candidates who can produce sound and clear reports that make sense of the available data using advanced quantitative skills in analysis and modelling.

The analytical reasoning, essay writing and quantitative techniques we'll provide you with will give you the best employment prospects and a healthy start in your career. These skills can be developed and sharpened by choosing an optional dissertation in Year 3.

Aims

The BSc Economics is a quantitative economics degree designed for those who have already chosen to specialise in economics and have a good mathematical background.

Modern professional economists need skills in economic principles, mathematical modelling and econometric analysis of economic data, together with a detailed knowledge of their chosen specialism.

In line with this requirement, the BSc Economics degree has at its core a compulsory stream of courses in economic principles and quantitative methods.

Together with a range of optional courses this allows students to develop their specialist interests in most areas of modern economics.

Specifically the main aims of the BSc Economics degree are:

  • to provide a specialist training in the approach and methods of modern economics;
  • to develop the skills necessary to apply a quantitative perspective to the analysis of economic and business problems;
  • to equip students with the expertise necessary to develop an understanding of contemporary economic issues;
  • to help students develop a range of skills including communication, numeracy, computer literacy, problem-solving, analytical ability and logical argument;
  • to provide a sound preparation for a subsequent career in economics (whether in the public or private sector) or business;
  • to provide a sound preparation for further study in economics or related areas.

Special features

Leading research

World-leading research and teaching in economics has been at the heart of higher education in Manchester since the early days of the University.

Manchester professor William Stanley Jevons (1835-1882) helped build the foundations of modern economics.

Three winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics have worked at Manchester:

  • Sir John Hicks (1904-1989) wrote his most important works on welfare economics during his time at Manchester.
  • Sir Arthur Lewis (1915-1991) for his pioneering work in development economics.
  • Joseph Stiglitz (Nobel Prize winner 2001) has led the Brooks World Poverty Institute.

We are proud to be a leading centre for economic research, scholarship and research-led teaching in all areas of the discipline, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, financial economics, environmental and resource economics, development economics and industrial/business economics.

Study abroad

If you would like to broaden your horizons and your degree, you can apply to study overseas for a year at one of our partner universities.

You apply in Year 2 to spend a year abroad in Year 3. If successful, you will put together a programme of study at the host university in consultation with your Academic Exchange Advisor, to complement your studies at Manchester.

You will then come back to Manchester to study for a fourth year and graduate with a degree title including ‘with International Study'.

See The University of Manchester Study Abroad pages for more information, including eligibility criteria, destinations, costs and funding.

Teaching and learning

The content in your units will be delivered through a combination of online material, guided reading, lectures as well as review and Q&A sessions. Different units use these elements in different combinations optimised to the respective material. Lectures are supported by smaller tutorials or seminars where you explore the unit content in depth.

Tutorials and seminars are key in improving your written and oral communication skills through group discussions, essay-writing, and presentations.

You are assigned an Academic Advisor who takes a friendly interest in your progress and can advise you on selecting course units and career opportunities.

Coursework and assessment

The way that you study and are assessed will depend on which course units you choose. Our methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding, including: 

  • essays, coursework, and other mid-term evaluations; 
  • dissertations; 
  • presentations; 
  • group projects; 
  • exams.

Course content for year 1

In Year 1 you will follow a highly structured course with 90 out of 120 credits being specially tailored core units, including:

  • Principles of Microeconomic Theory and Macroeconomic Analysis;
  • Advanced Mathematics;
  • Advanced Statistics;
  • Applied Economics;
  • Studying Economics;
  • Introduction to Mathematical Economics.

Further options include units in Social Sciences, Business and Finance.

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Studying Economics ECON10011 10 Mandatory
Advanced Mathematics ECON10071A 10 Mandatory
Advanced Statistics ECON10072A 10 Mandatory
Applied Economics ECON10162 10 Mandatory
Principles of Microeconomic Theory 1: Consumers, Welfare, Production and Costs ECON10171 10 Mandatory
Principles of Microeconomic Theory 2: Markets, Prices and Strategy ECON10172 10 Mandatory
Macroeconomic Analysis 1 ECON10181 10 Mandatory
Macroeconomic Analysis 2 ECON10182 10 Mandatory
Introduction to Mathematical Economics ECON10192 10 Mandatory
Financial Decision Making BMAN10522 10 Optional
Fundamentals of Financial Reporting A BMAN10621A 10 Optional
Fundamentals of Management Accounting BMAN10632 10 Optional
An Introduction to Development Studies ECON10002 10 Optional
Computing for Social Scientists ECON10151 10 Optional
Economic History ECON10212 10 Optional
Geographies of Globalisation GEOG10101 10 Optional
Capitalism in Historical Perspective: 1700-1913 HIST10182 20 Optional
Critical Thinking PHIL10041 20 Optional
Introduction to Comparative Politics POLI10202 20 Optional
Introduction to International Politics POLI10601 20 Optional
Introduction to Political Theory POLI10702 20 Optional
Work, Organisations and Society SOCY10912 20 Optional
Measuring Inequalities (Unequal Societies) SOST10021 20 Optional
Applied Statistics for Social Scientists SOST10142 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 24 course units for year 1

Course content for year 2

In Year 2 you will follow a highly structured approach, with specially tailored units that complete your training in the core of Economics, including:
  • Intermediate Microeconomic Theory and Macroeconomic Analysis;
  • Econometrics;
  • Mathematical Economics.

You also have 40 credits to pursue interests including further Economics units and units in Social Sciences, Business and Finance.

Upon completing your training in the core of Economics, you are ready to pursue your interests in a more specialised way in Year 3.

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Econometrics ECON20110 20 Mandatory
Mathematical Economics I ECON20120 20 Mandatory
Intermediate Microeconomic Theory 1 ECON20501 10 Mandatory
Intermediate Microeconomic Theory 2 ECON20512 10 Mandatory
Macroeconomic Analysis 3 ECON20521 10 Mandatory
Macroeconomic Analysis 4 ECON20532 10 Mandatory
Investment Analysis BMAN20072 10 Optional
Financial Markets and Institutions BMAN21011 10 Optional
Foundations of Finance A BMAN23000A 20 Optional
Economic History ECON20212 10 Optional
Development Economics: Growth, Capital Accumulation and Structural Change ECON20321 10 Optional
Development Economics: Understanding Poverty ECON20332 10 Optional
Economics for Public Policy ECON20431 10 Optional
Economic Geography: Understanding the economy. creating economic spaces GEOG20101 20 Optional
Capitalism in Historical Perspective: 1700-1913 HIST21202 20 Optional
Market Research SOST20042 10 Optional
Applied Statistics for Social Scientists SOST20142 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 17 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

In Year 3 there are no compulsory units.

You choose from a range of specialised course units, including the option to produce a dissertation in applied economics.

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
International Finance BMAN30060 20 Optional
Financial Derivatives BMAN30091 10 Optional
Advanced Corporate Finance BMAN30111A 20 Optional
Financial Engineering BMAN30242 10 Optional
Corporate Contracting and Managerial Behaviour BMAN30702 10 Optional
Financial Market Microstructure BMAN31792 10 Optional
Applied Practical Investing BMAN32082 10 Optional
Advanced Microeconomics ECON30001 20 Optional
Advanced Macroeconomics ECON30002 20 Optional
Topics in Inequality & Poverty ECON30041 20 Optional
The Chinese Economy ECON30102 10 Optional
Natural Resource Economics ECON30232 10 Optional
Mathematical Economics II ECON30290 20 Optional
Micro Econometrics ECON30342 10 Optional
Mathematical Finance ECON30382 10 Optional
Financial Economics ECON30432 10 Optional
Topics in Development Economics ECON30451 20 Optional
Topics in Economic History ECON30542 20 Optional
Money, Banking & Financial Markets ECON30852 10 Optional
Managerial Economics II ECON31002 20 Optional
Advanced Econometrics ECON31031 20 Optional
Climate Change Economics and Policy ECON32111 10 Optional
Health Economics ECON32202 10 Optional
Applied Economics Dissertation A (Semester 1) ECON32211 20 Optional
Applied Economics Dissertation B (Semester 2) ECON32212 20 Optional
Topics in Economic Growth ECON32221 20 Optional
Topics in Labour Economics ECON32242 20 Optional
Econometrics and Data Science ECON32252 20 Optional
Macroeconomics of Development ECON33001 20 Optional
Topics in Applied Macroeconometrics ECON33021 20 Optional
Topics in Education Economics ECON33032 20 Optional
Theory & Method in Demography SOST30012 20 Optional
Answering Social Research Questions with Statistical Models SOST30031 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 33 course units for year 3

Course content for year 4

If completing a year abroad, you will take the Year 3 course content in Year 4.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk