- UCAS course code
- LV15
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BAEcon)
BAEcon Economics and Philosophy
Duration: 3 or 4 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: LV15 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Study abroad
Industrial experience
- Typical A-level offer: AAA including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: ABB including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBB including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36 points overall with 6,6,6 at HL, including specific subjects
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
The Economics Department is proud to be a leading centre for economic research, scholarship and research-led teaching in all areas of the discipline, including financial economics, economic theory and econometrics.
The Manchester Accounting and Finance Group is one of the leading and largest accounting and finance units in Europe and rated among top three in the UK. We have strong links with the three main UK accounting bodies: ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW, as well as the 'Big 4' accounting companies.
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.
Professional Experience Year
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 Year 2.
You will complete your Professional Experience Year in Year 3 extending your degree to four years, before returning to University to finish your final year.
Your degree title will include 'with Professional Experience', giving you an advantage of work experience when entering the 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 greater 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
Year 1 gives you a broad introduction to Economics and Social Sciences. This will help you decide what to study in Years 2 and 3.
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);
- 10 credits other optional courses (e.g., Introduction to Mathematical Economics, Economic History, Development Studies, accounting and Finance).
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 B | BMAN10621B | 10 | Optional |
| An Introduction to Development Studies | ECON10002 | 10 | Optional |
| Introductory Mathematics | ECON10061 | 10 | Optional |
| Advanced Mathematics | ECON10071A | 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 B | BMAN10621B | 10 | Optional |
| Fundamentals of Management Accounting | BMAN10632 | 10 | Optional |
| Investment Analysis | BMAN20072 | 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 | BMAN23000A | 20 | Optional |
| Business Law 1: Common Law and Common Business Liabilities | BMAN24761 | 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 |
| Business Law 1: Common Law and Common Business Liabilities | BMAN24761 | 10 | Optional |
| Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting and Regulation | BMAN30030 | 20 | Optional |
| International Finance | BMAN30060 | 20 | Optional |
| Share Prices and Accounting Information | BMAN30071 | 10 | Optional |
| Financial Derivatives | BMAN30091 | 10 | Optional |
| Advanced Corporate Finance | BMAN30111A | 20 | Optional |
| Accountability and Auditing | BMAN30131 | 10 | Optional |
| Corporate Governance in Context | BMAN30211 | 10 | Optional |
| Financial Engineering | BMAN30242 | 10 | 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.
Disability support
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.
For more information, please email dass@manchester.ac.uk .