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Economics and Sustainable Development (with a professional placement year) BSc

The University of Sussex offers a joint-honours course in Economics and Sustainable Development, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics of environmental change, human wellbeing, and economic growth. This course is designed to equip students with the skills to address sustainability issues and develop innovative strategies for effective resource management.

Key Information

• Duration: 4 years full-time
• Typical A-level offer: ABB
• UCAS code: LL18
• Start date: September 2026
• Rankings:
  • 1st in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
  • Top 20 in the UK for Business and Economics (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
  • 8th in the UK for Sustainability (QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025)

Entry Requirements

UK Requirements

• A-level: Typical offer ABB
• Contextual offer: BCC
• GCSEs: Mathematics with at least grade 6 (or grade B)
• Extended Project Qualification: Considered in the summer when results are released if narrowly missed the conditions of the offer

Other UK Qualifications

• Access to HE Diploma: Pass Diploma with at least 39 level 3 credits at Merit or above including 24 credits at Distinction
• Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects: M1 M2 M2
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall from the full IB Diploma
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma and one A-level: Grade B in A-level and Distinction, Distinction in Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate and two A-levels: Grades BB in A-levels and Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DDM
• Scottish Highers: AABBB
• T Level: Pass T-Level with an overall grade of Distinction including grade B in the Core Component
• Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced: ABB from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate and two A-levels

International Requirements

• Australia: Relevant state (Year 12) High School Certificate, and 88% or better in the ATAR or UAI/TER/ENTER
• Austria: Reifeprüfung or Matura with an overall result of between 2.0 or better for first-year entry
• Belgium: Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur (CESS) or Diplôme van Hoger Secundair Onderwijs with a good overall average of 65% or more
• Bulgaria: Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with excellent final-year scores (normally 5.5 overall with 6 in key subjects)
• Canada: Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) 75% from 6 grade 12 U, U/C or M courses
• China: If you have the Goakao, we will consider applications for direct entry to first year
• Croatia: Maturatna Svjedodžba with an overall score of 4.2
• Cyprus: Apolytirion of Lykeion with an overall average of 18.5/20 will be considered for first-year entry
• Czech Republic: Maturita with a very good overall average
• Denmark: Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF) or Studentereksamen with an overall average of at least 7 on the new grading scale
• Finland: Pass Ylioppilastutkinto with overall final result of EMMM or better
• France: French Baccalauréat with overall final result of 13/20
• Germany: German Abitur with an overall result of 2.0 or better
• Greece: Apolytirion with an overall average of 18.5 will be considered for first-year entry
• Hong Kong: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) with grades of 5, 4, 4 from three subjects including two electives
• Hungary: Erettsegi/Matura with a good average of at least 55544
• India: Standard XII results for entry into 1st year (depending on board and course choice)
• Iran: Where direct entry is unsuitable, we'll automatically consider you for one of our Foundation Years
• Ireland: Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level) at H1,H2,H2,H3,H3
• Israel: For first year entry at least 80% (or 8/10) in at least 6 subjects, including one 5 unit subject, in one sitting of the Bagrut
• Italy: Italian Diploma Di Maturità or Diploma Pass Di Esame Di Stato with a final Diploma mark of 81/100
• Japan: Where direct entry is unsuitable, we'll automatically consider you for one of our Foundation Years
• Kazakhstan: Applicants with Nazarbayev Intellectuals Schools (NIS) Grade 12 Certificate may be considered
• Latvia: Atestats par Visparejo videjo Izglitibu with very good grades in state exams
• Lithuania: Brandos Atestatas including scores of 80% in at least three state examinations (other than English)
• Luxembourg: Pass the Diplome de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires with 46 points overall
• Malaysia: at least Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) with grades of BBB, Matriculation with a least a grade of 3.0 or UEC with an overall average grade B4 (70%) from 6 subjects
• Netherlands: Voorereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO), normally with an average of at least 7
• Nigeria: You are expected to have one of the following: Higher National Diploma, One year at a recognised Nigerian University, Professional Diploma (Part IV) from the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology of Nigeria, Advanced Diploma
• Norway: Norwegian Vitnemal Fra Den Videregaende Opplaering - Pass with an overall average of 4
• Pakistan: You can apply for direct entry to Year 1 if you are completing at least two years of Bachelor degree studies
• Poland: Pass Matura with least 3 Extended level subjects in the 75th percentile
• Portugal: Diploma de Ensino Secundario normally with an overall mark of 17/20
• Romania: Diploma de Bacalaureat with an overall average of 8.5
• Russia: Applicants who have good grades in the Attestat o Srednem Obrazovami (Certificate of Secondary Education) and who have successfully completed the first year of a Russian University degree, with a minimum GPA of 4.0, will be considered for admission to the first year of our bachelor's degree courses
• Singapore: A-levels, as well as certain certificates and diplomas
• Slovakia: Pass Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške (Maturita) with an average above 1.8 from 4 subjects
• Slovenia: Secondary School Leaving Diploma or Matura with at least 23 points overall
• South Africa: National Senior Certificate with very good grades
• Spain: Spanish Título de Bachillerato (LOGSE) with an overall average result of 8.0
• Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan A-levels
• Sweden: Fullstandigt Slutbetyg/Högskoleförberedande Examen with a total of 2,500 credits to include B grades in the majority of subjects
• Switzerland: Federal Maturity Certificate
• Turkey: We'll consider students who have taken the Lise Diplomasi or Lise Bitirme, with a score of at least 4/5 or 80/100 in their final year, on a case by case basis for direct entry to year 1
• USA: We look at your full profile considering everything you are studying, including the High School Graduation Diploma, Grade 12 GPA, SAT tests and subject tests and/or ACT grades and AP tests

English Language Requirements

• IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English (CAE): 169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): 169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill
• Pearson (PTE Academic): 59 overall, including at least 59 in all four skills
• TOEFL (iBT): 80 overall, including at least 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing
• Country exceptions: If you are a national of one of the countries below, or if you have recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree or higher in one of these countries, you will normally meet our English requirements

List of Exempt Countries

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• USA

Course Content

This course is a joint-honours programme, offering a combination of subjects, each taking up 50% of your time.

Year 1

• Introduction to Economics
• Introduction to Mathematics for Finance and Economics
• Environmental Risks and Hazards
• Global Development: Paradigms, Policy and Politics
• Microeconomics 1
• Macroeconomics 1
• Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
• Global Development Challenges and Innovations

Year 2

• Microeconomics 2
• Introduction to Econometrics
• Economic Perspectives on Development
• Global Climate Change
• Environmental Economics
• Data Coding and Visualization
• Environmental Perspectives on Development
• Geographies of the Living Earth

Year 3

• Climate Change Economics
• The Economics of Development
• Economics and Data Science
• Topics in Growth and Inequality
• Applied Econometrics
• International Trade
• Advanced Sustainable Development: Sustainability in Policy and Practice
• Disasters, Environment and Development
• Political Ecology and Environmental Justice
• Global Environmental Change
• Global Food Security
• Environment and Development in World Politics

Placement (Optional)

To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You'll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice.

Fees

• Home students: £9,535 per year
• Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: £9,535 per year
• International students: £23,500 per year
• Placement: Find out about tuition fees for placements

Additional Costs

• Field trips
• Equipment
• Materials
• Bench fees or studio hire

Scholarships

• Chancellor's International Scholarships: £5,000 in the first year of full-time study
• Climate Leaders Scholarship: £3,000 cash per year of full-time study
• Sussex Pakistan Scholarship (Undergraduate): £4,000 discount on the first year of tuition fees
• Sussex Turkey Scholarship (Undergraduate): £4,000 discount on the first year of tuition fees

Careers

You'll graduate ready to pursue a range of careers, including:

• Economic and sustainability analyst
• Data scientist
• Policy advisor across a variety of sectors
• Renewable energy
• Environmental consultancy
• International development
• Financial services
• Technology
• Public-sector organisations
• NGOs
• Global institutions

Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study and provide tailored programmes of careers support to explore your options, build key skills, and connect with employers.