BAEcon Economics and Sociology

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

• Economics
• Social Sciences
• Sociology

AAA, including at least one of the following A-Level subjects (preference will be given to applicants studying two of these subjects):

Accounting; Economics; Finance; Business Studies; Development Studies; Government and Politics; Economic and Social History; Mathematics; Anthropology; Sociology; Philosophy; Religious Studies; English Language; English Literature; Geography; Psychology; Classical Civilisation; History; Archaeology; Communication Studies; Environmental Studies; World Development; Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Modern Languages.

We accept native language A Levels providing they are taken in the same sitting as your other subjects. We will not accept thecombination of Mathematics, Further Mathematics and a native language.

We accept the Level 3 Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) as equivalent to an A-level if taken alongside two full A-levels from the list of acceptable subjects above

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below

ABB, including at least one of the following A-Level subjects (preference will be given to applicants studying two of these subjects):

Accounting; Economics; Finance; Business Studies; Development Studies; Government and Politics; Economic and Social History; Mathematics; Anthropology; Sociology; Philosophy; Religious Studies; English Language; English Literature; Geography; Psychology; Classical Civilisation; History; Archaeology; Communication Studies; Environmental Studies; World Development; Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Modern Languages.

We accept native language A Levels providing they are taken in the same sitting as your other subjects. We will not accept thecombination of Mathematics, Further Mathematics and a native language.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below

Contextual offers are available for applicants who:

• live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
• live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
• have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

BBB, including at least one of the following A-Level subjects (preference will be given to applicants studying two of these subjects):

Accounting; Economics; Finance; Business Studies; Development Studies; Government and Politics; Economic and Social History; Mathematics; Anthropology; Sociology; Philosophy; Religious Studies; English Language; English Literature; Geography; Psychology; Classical Civilisation; History; Archaeology; Communication Studies; Environmental Studies; World Development; Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Modern Languages.

We accept native language A Levels providing they are taken in the same sitting as your other subjects. We will not accept thecombination of Mathematics, Further Mathematics and a native language.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below

UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:

• have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
• have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

36 points overall. 6,6,6 in Higher Level subjects

Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade C or 4 in GCSE/iGCSE English Language and Grade B or 6 in GCSE/iGCSE Mathematics. GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School for clarification.

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries.For detailed information please refer to our country-specific requirements and requirements for foundation years .

For general requirementsnot listed abovesee accepted entry qualifications from your country .

Still need help? Email us at socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk .

All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:

• GCSE/iGCSE English Language grade C.
• IELTS 6.5 overall with no lower than 6 in any component.
• TOEFL (IBT) 90 overall with a minimum of 20 in each subset.
• iGCSE English (Second Language) grade B
• An acceptable equivalent qualification.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.

If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found  here .

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2026 will be £9,790 for the 2026/27 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £31,000 for the 2026/27 academic year. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are subject to the Government fee cap, which the Government has announced will be £9,790 for the 2026/27 academic year and £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval).

The Government has also announced that the fee cap will then increase on an annual basis to reflect inflation (i.e. increasing costs), and the tuition fee you pay in subsequent academic years will reflect any increases in the Government fee cap (which we will communicate to you as soon as we can in advance of the relevant academic year).

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.

Learn more about student finance options for UK students.

Learn more about fees and finance for international students.

As an international student you may be eligible for our Global Futures Scholarships . This is open to students starting their studies in September 2026.

If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying.

ou will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.

We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.

If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you.

Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.

Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.

The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

Further information for mature students can be found here .

Applicants classed as international students who are studying Foundation Year Programmes, will be considered on the basis they have completed their High School education in full.

Please see our list of approved UK foundation programmes and entry requirements for moreinformation. We also accept a number of qualifications from around the globe.

For further information please see our country-specific information pages. If you still need help please email us socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk .

NB Some English Language test results, such as IELTS of TOEFL, are only valid from two years from the test date.

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you can apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.

In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may refer back to previous applications or registrations at the University.

If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should include additional evidence of your suitability for the course.

If you are applying through clearing you will need to meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing places will be subject to availability.

Year 1 is designed to give you a solid grounding in core economic theory, alongside a broad introduction to sociological and social- scientific thinking. You will develop the analytical tools and conceptual foundations needed for more advanced study in later years.

You study 120 credits in total, with a balanced workload across the year.

Economics foundations

You will be automatically enrolled in core economics units covering:

• Microeconomics - how individuals, firms and markets make decisions.
• Macroeconomics - how the economy works at a national and global level.

Alongside this, you will take Mathematics and Statistics for Economists, at either introductory or advanced level depending on your prior qualifications. This ensures you build the quantitative skills required for later economics and data- focused units.

Social science core

All students take a core social sciences unit introducing key ideas about power, value and society, providing a shared interdisciplinary foundation across the BA (Econ).

You must also take foundational Sociology units, introducing major sociological traditions and ways of thinking about society, inequality and social change.

You will choose additional units from across Sociology and related social sciences, with options exploring topics such as:

• inequality and social divisions;
• global social challenges;
• culture, power and everyday life;
• environment and society;
• politics, philosophy and ethics.

You may also take a small number of optional economics or related units, such as economic history or development studies.

One of the big advantages of the BA (Econ) programme is flexibility. You may be able to switch to a different specialisation at the end of Year 1, such as, for example, Economics and Politics or Economics, if your interests change. Switching isn’t automatic, but your Academic Advisor and the Programme Director will talk you through whether it’s possible and what conditions apply- so you can make the choice that’s right for you.

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

In Year 2, you build on your foundations with more advanced economics while strengthening your training in sociological theory and research methods. You continue to study 120 credits across the year.

You will study intermediate- level:

• Microeconomics;
• Macroeconomics.

These units deepen your understanding of economic models, behaviour and policy analysis. You can also choose from a wide range of economics pathway units, including:

• Econometrics and quantitative methods;
• Mathematical economics;
• Environmental and development economics;
• Public policy and the history of economic thought.

These options allow you to tailor your economics training to your interests and future ambitions. You must take at least one core sociology research methods unit, choosing between:

• Qualitative research design and methods;
• Survey design and quantitative social analysis.

These units develop essential skills in designing, analysing and interpreting social research. You will also select sociology pathway units examining topics such as:

• capitalism and work;
• social class and inequality;
• migration and global change;
• gender, culture and identity;
• sustainability and consumption;
• flexibility and choice.

You may take a limited number of optional or free- choice units (up to the permitted maximum), allowing you to explore areas such as business, politics, philosophy, anthropology or applied data skills.

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 .

Year 2 is where your Economics and Sociology degree really comes into its own- deepening your technical skills while letting you explore what matters most to you.

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

Year 3 is your most flexible and advanced year. You will complete 120 credits, focusing on higher- level economics and sociology while integrating the two disciplines.

You must select a substantial number of advanced economics pathway units, choosing from areas such as:

• advanced microeconomics and macroeconomics;
• econometrics and data science;
• behavioural economics;
• development, labour, health and education economics;
• environmental, climate and resource economics;
• international trade, finance and monetary economics.

Your choices allow you to specialise in theoretical, applied or policy- oriented economics, depending on your goals. You must also take advanced sociology pathway units, with options exploring:

• inequality, identity and power;
• cities, culture and everyday life;
• social thought from global perspectives;
• protest, resistance and social movements;
• mental health, embodiment and material culture.

You may choose to complete a Sociology dissertation, conducting an independent research project under academic supervision. You can use remaining credits for optional or free- choice units (within limits), including interdisciplinary, business, political or data- focused courses that complement your specialisation.

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.

Year 3 is all about owning your degree- developing advanced economics and sociology expertise, showcasing your interests, and graduating with a profile that sets you apart.

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

If you are selected for the Professional Experience opportunity in Year 3, then you will take Year 3 course content in Year 4.

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

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 .