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BAEcon Economics and Philosophy / Course details
Year of entry: 2022
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Course description

It has been so wonderful and there are always ways to feel involved, meet people, engage with staff, and with the outside community.
I really do feel a part of Manchester - and not just as a student!
Sammun Mumtaz / Economics student
The BA(Econ) is an interdisciplinary course allowing you to specialise in Economics plus other social science units such as philosophy, politics, and sociology.
You have the flexibility to either delve into technical units in Economics such as Econometrics and Mathematical Economics or combine Economics units covering inequality and climate change with social science units to develop a well-rounded understanding on social issues.
Our Philosophy department covers a wide range of specialisms and choice of optional units, so you can tailor your studies to suit your interests.
Economics and all joint social science pathways share a common first year, allowing you to switch to a different pathway after Year 1, if you want to.
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 to 1882) helped build the foundations of modern economics.
Three winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics have worked at Manchester:
- Sir John Hicks (1904 to 1989) wrote his most important works on welfare economics during his time at Manchester.
- Sir Arthur Lewis (1915 to 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
You can 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.
Professional Experience Year Opportunity
You apply in year 1 to boost your employability through a paid Professional Experience Year.
If you meet the criteria, the Professional Experience Team and Careers Service will work with you to find a suitable placement in your 2nd year.
You will then complete your Professional Experience Year in 3rd year extending your degree to four years, before returning to University to finish your final year.
Your degree title will be extended to include 'with Professional Experience', giving you the added advantage of relevant work experience when entering the competitive graduate jobs market.
Teaching and learning
Course units feature formal lectures supported by smaller tutorials or seminars where you explore the contents of lectures and recommended reading 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 can advise you on selecting course units and career opportunities.
Coursework and assessment
The range of methods is designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding, including:
- essays, coursework and other mid-term evaluations;
- dissertations;
- presentations and group projects; and
- exams.
Course content for year 1
You will take 120 credits overall made up of:
- 40 credits of Economics;
- 20 credits of either Introductory or Advanced Mathematics/Statistics (depending on your A-level qualifications or equivalent);
- 10 credits of an introductory core unit in Social Sciences;
- 40 credits from a list of Social Sciences optional units (eg, Politics, Philosophy, Sociology, Social Anthropology and Data Analytics)
- Remaining 10 credits from Economic History, Development Studies, Finance or Accounting.
At the end of your Year 1, you have the option to switch to a different pathway.
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.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Microeconomics 2 | ECON10232 | 10 | Mandatory |
Macroeconomics 1 | ECON10241 | 10 | Mandatory |
Macroeconomics 2 | ECON10262 | 10 | Mandatory |
Microeconomics 1 | ECON10331 | 10 | Mandatory |
Power and Value: Perspectives from Social Sciences | SOCS15001 | 10 | Mandatory |
Fundamentals of Finance | BMAN10552 | 10 | Optional |
Fundamentals of Financial Reporting A | BMAN10621A | 10 | Optional |
An Introduction to Development Studies | ECON10002 | 10 | Optional |
Introductory Mathematics | ECON10061 | 10 | Optional |
Advanced Mathematics | ECON10071 | 10 | Optional |
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Course content for year 2
In Year 2, you study your chosen pathway in depth and take 120 credits over the year.
Single pathway
You take a maximum of 80 credits in your single pathway and up to 40 credits from other pathways from the BA(Econ).
Joint pathway
You also take a maximum of 80 credits in any one pathway but have the freedom to split these between the two disciplines depending on what you would like to study.
Free choice units
You can also take up to 20 credits from across the University. For example:
- Study a language and improve your career prospects.
- Go beyond the boundaries of your degree with University College for Interdisciplinary Learning
- Expand your business and entrepreneurship skills with Business and Management for all Programmes
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.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Fundamentals of Finance | BMAN10552 | 10 | Optional |
Fundamentals of Financial Reporting A | BMAN10621A | 10 | Optional |
Fundamentals of Management Accounting | BMAN10632 | 10 | Optional |
Financial Statement Analysis | BMAN20081 | 10 | Optional |
Financial Markets and Institutions | BMAN21011 | 10 | Optional |
Financial Reporting and Accountability | BMAN21020A | 20 | Optional |
Intermediate Management Accounting | BMAN21040A | 20 | Optional |
Foundations of Finance A | BMAN23000 | 20 | Optional |
Foundations of Finance A | BMAN23000A | 20 | Optional |
An Introduction to Development Studies | ECON10002 | 10 | Optional |
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Course content for year 3
In Year 3, you take 120 credits depending on your chosen pathway.
Single pathway
You will take a minimum of 80 credits in your single area and up to 40 credits from other pathways from the BA (Econ).
Joint pathway
You will choose a selection of units in each of the two pathways to fulfil your credit requirements. You will also have an option to do a 20-credit dissertation working with a Philosophy Supervisor to develop your thesis.
Free choice units
You can also take up to 20 credits from across the University, such as:
- Study a language and improve your career prospects.
- Go beyond the boundaries of your degree with University College for Interdisciplinary Learning
- Expand your business and entrepreneurship skills with Business and Management for all Programmes
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.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Business Law 2: Law and the Modern Corporation in an International Context | BMAN24052 | 10 | Optional |
Share Prices and Accounting Information | BMAN30071 | 10 | Optional |
Financial Derivatives | BMAN30091 | 10 | Optional |
Advanced Corporate Finance | BMAN30111 | 20 | Optional |
Accountability and Auditing | BMAN30131 | 10 | Optional |
Digital Transformation in Accounting | BMAN30151 | 10 | Optional |
Corporate Governance in Context | BMAN30211 | 10 | Optional |
Financial Engineering | BMAN30242 | 10 | Optional |
Corporate Contracting and Managerial Behaviour | BMAN30702 | 10 | Optional |
Econometrics | ECON20110 | 20 | Optional |
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Course content for year 4
If completing a year abroad, you will take the Year 3 course content in Year 4.