Overview

Course overview

  • Combine data science with economic theory techniques to analyse and interpret complex, real-world information.
  • Use data analytic methods, such as programming, data visualisation, and machine learning, to evaluate policies, understand macroeconomic trends, predict and classify economic phenomena, and map and analyse complex network relationships between firms, institutions, policy makers, and other agents in society.
  • Gain hands-on experience with Python, R, and other statistical software to collect, process, and model diverse forms of data.
  • Apply to study abroad or complete a professional placement as part of a four-year optional course.
  • Study at UK Top 10 and Global Top 40 university for Economics and Econometrics (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025).
  • Join a department that has been home to four Nobel Laureates, including Simon Johnson who received his award in 2024 for his groundbreaking research into wealth disparities between different nations.

Open days

There’s no better way to get a feel for your future home than an open day.

You can join subject-level information sessions alongside talks about the student experience. You can explore our campus, facilities, and student accommodation. And you’ll get to meet current students, academics, and admissions staff for a chat and to ask them your questions.

It’s an invaluable opportunity to explore, discover, and enjoy some of the vibes that attract so many students to Manchester.

Find out more about our upcoming open days .

Not in the UK or can’t make it? Not a problem. Check out our virtual open day content .

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Social Sciences
School/Faculty overview

See: School Subjects

Courses in related subject areas

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

Entry requirements

A-level

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.

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below

A-level contextual offer

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.

UK refugee/care-experienced offer

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.

International Baccalaureate

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.

GCSE/IGCSE

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.

Other entry requirements

Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.

English language requirements

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.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Fees and funding

Policy on additional costs

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).

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply through UCAS .

Home-schooled applicants

If you have followed a non-standard educational route and have been, for example, educated at home, your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course to which you applied. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the academic entry requirements as specified for the course. We will also require a reference which should be written by somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. Please refer to UCAS for further information: UCAS reference guidelines

Course details

Course description

Data drives decision-making across almost every sector, from economics and finance to government and policy making. On our BA (Econ) Data Science and Economics you will gain cutting-edge, technical data science expertise while developing strong foundations in core economic principles. This interdisciplinary combination prepares you with the technical skills required to interpret real-economic questions going beyond numbers to discover patterns, make predictions and solve complex challenges.

You will learn how to apply the principles of data science to economic and social questions, from discovering and using different types of data (including ‘Big Data’), to evaluating the effectiveness of economic policy, understanding economic behaviour, predicting and classifying economic trends, and analysing networks of relationships between firms, institutions and society.

By completing the core and optional units, you will develop highly sought after quantitative and analytical skills, including how to:

  • collect, describe, and visualise empirical evidence;
  • build models from data to explain real-world phenomena;
  • quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of policies;
  • map and analyse complex social networks;
  • apply sophisticated machine learning algorithms;
  • implement social data science approaches using AI tools, programming languages, and other commonly used statistical software.

This course places equal emphasis on economics and data science, giving you both the theoretical grounding and the practical experience to address real-world economic challenges. You will be taught by experts from both the Economics, Social Statistics and Social Science departments.

You will also study the underlying theory, enabling you to progress into competitive careers in policy and industry, or to advanced postgraduate courses in either Data Science or Economics, amongst other fields.

Aims

This unique programme combines the traditional study of economics with advanced data analytics and data science methods. It will equip students with the knowledge, analytical skills, and technical expertise to understand economic behaviour, interpret complex data, and make evidence-based decisions in a data-driven world.

Sitting at the intersection of social science and data science, this course promotes data-driven learning and a critical understanding of how evidence shapes economic and policy debates.

You will learn how to:

  • Apply core economic concepts and models to analyse and interpret real-world issues.
  • Use statistical and computational tools (including Python, R, and AI technologies) to manage, visualise, and analyse large datasets.
  • Integrate economic reasoning with data science techniques such as econometrics, machine learning, and algorithmic modelling.
  • Formulate and test research questions, selecting appropriate analytical approaches and interpreting results accurately.
  • Communicate insights effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences through written, oral, and visual formats.
  • Collaborate across disciplines, manage projects independently, and use digital tools for research and analysis.
  • Demonstrate ethical awareness and social responsibility in data use and decision-making, recognising the broader social impact of data-driven research.

Special features

Interdisciplinary Focus

This pathway is distinctive in combining economics training with advanced social statistics, giving you both the technical skills and analytic abilities to ask, and answer, pressing questions across diverse domains.

Unique Departmental Mix

Jointly delivered by two UK top 10 departments, Economics and Social Sciences. You will benefit from academics with diverse disciplinary backgrounds, spanning Politics, Sociology and Criminology as well as Economics and Data Science, exposing you to a range of concepts, questions, and data. This interdisciplinary approach deepens your understanding of how these fields intersect to enhance your analytic abilities.

Research-Led Teaching

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.

Global Opportunities

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

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

You will learn through 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. Programming workshops in Python and R will give you hands-on experience in data collection, analysis, and visualisation.

You will also be 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

A variety of assessment methods are used to reflect the practical and analytical nature of the course, depending 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 is designed to give you a solid foundation in the study of Economics and the principles of Data Science. In Year 1 you will take 120 credits overall (i.e., 10 individual course units) made up of:

  • 40 credits of Economics (20 credits of Microeconomics and 20 credits of Macroeconomics);
  • 40 credits of Data Science (covering its foundational principles and different forms of data);
  • 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;
  • 10 credits other pathway optional courses.

At the end of Year 1, you will have the option to switch to a different BA Economics course if you choose to.

Course content for year 2

In Year 2, you begin to study data science and economics in greater depth with 120 credits over the year. In the Data Science and Economics pathway, you will take four compulsory units:

  • 20 credits in Economics (a further 10 credits in microeconomics and 10 credits in macroeconomics);
  • 40 credits in Data Science (using statistics to answer research questions and model more complex data structures);
  • 20 credits in pathway optional units (in Economics or Social Statistics)’
  • 40 credits of other optional courses from relevant disciplines (e.g., Business Management, Sociology, Politics, and Social Anthropology), including 20 credits from across the University.

For example:

  • Go beyond the boundaries of your degree with the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning.
  • Stand out from the crowd and give something back through the Manchester Leadership Programme
  • Study a language and improve your career prospects.

Course content for year 3

In Year 3, you will move on to more advanced topics in Data Science, taking 120 credits overall and consisting of:

  • 40 credits of Data Science (network analysis and quantitative text analysis);
  • 40 credits (or more) of pathway optional units in Economics or Social Statistics;
  • The remaining credits may consist of a year-long project in data science, pathway optional or optional course units, as well as up to 20 credits of free choice.

You will have an opportunity to complete a year-long data science project (2 20-credit units, worth a total of 40 credits). This will develop a deeper knowledge of how to apply data science techniques to address key topics and challenges in economics (or a relevant social science area). This project will produce project deliverables, for example, a statistical report with visualisations and data analysis, computer code, and repository and interactive dashboards (but this will depend upon the specifics of each project).

You will also have the option to study abroad with a partner institution or gain professional experience for a full year (provided they meet the required marks). You will also be eligible to apply to Data Fellowships (8-week summer internships) offered by the Q-Step initiative.

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and bursaries, including the Manchester Bursary , are available to eligible home/EU students.

Some undergraduate UK students will receive bursaries of up to £2,000 per year, in addition to the government package of maintenance grants.

You can get information and advice on student finance to help you manage your money.

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

Careers

Career opportunities

You will graduate from the BAEcon Data Science and Economics course with a unique combination of technical and analytical skills that are in high demand across the public and private sectors. You will be well placed for a career in a range of economics-related areas graduating from a UK Top Two most targeted university by the UK's top 100 employers (High Fliers Graduate Market Report, 2020-2024), or further postgraduate study.

Recent graduates have gone on to roles in broad areas including accountancy and professional services, finance and banking and government at:

  • Morgan Stanley;
  • KPMG;
  • Royal Bank of Canada;
  • the House of Lords;
  • the Government Economics Service;
  • BBC;
  • IBM, New Economy;
  • Thomson Reuters.

Postgraduate study is also a popular option for progression, with this course keeping you open to both Economics and Data Science. We offer a wide variety of specialist taught master's courses to support your next step. For more information, visit our careers and employability page.

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.