Program Overview

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Business Economics - BSc (Hons)

Overview

This programme combines a thorough understanding of economic theory and applications with business knowledge.

Summary

This course goes beyond the limits of traditional economics and business-related courses by combining a thorough understanding of economic theory, relevant applications and business knowledge.

Award

Bachelor of Science with Honours

Faculty

Ulster University Business School

School

Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics

Campus

Belfast campus

UCAS code

L101

Start date

September 2025

Duration

3 years full-time, 4 years full-time including a placement year

Attendance

Classes are timetabled per semester for full-time students

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The teaching and learning methods used on the Business Economics programme include; lectures (including guest speakers), seminars, workshops, computer lab classes, independent study and self-directed reading, supported by IT based resources.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods.

Modules

Year one

• Economics in Practice
• Microeconomic Principles
• Macroeconomic Principles
• Mathematics and Statistics for Economics and Business
• Skills for Economists
• Introduction to Accounting for Business (optional)
• Fundamentals of Management (optional)
• Principles of Marketing (optional)

Year two

• Analytical Methods for Economics
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• Entrepreneurship and Professional Practice
• Accounting for Business Decisions (optional)
• Risk Management, Analysis and Assurance (optional)
• Operations and Supply Chain Management (optional)
• Digital Business Management (optional)
• History of Economic Thought (optional)
• International Economics (optional)
• Regional Economics: Understanding the Northern Ireland Economy (optional)
• Industrial Economics - Understanding and Regulating Markets (optional)
• Marketing Management in Practice (optional)
• Creativity in Communications (optional)

Year three

• Diploma in International Academic Studies (optional)
• Diploma in Professional Practice (optional)

Year four

• Economics of Business Strategy
• Economics of Institutions
• Strategic Business Planning (optional)
• Governance, Risk and Ethics (optional)
• Management of Business Finance (optional)
• Taxation (optional)
• Psychology at Work (optional)
• Regional Economics: UK Regions and Cities, Theory Policy and Forecasting (optional)
• Economics of Globalisation (optional)
• Economic History: Lessons for Policy (optional)
• Economic Policy (optional)
• Economics of Conflict and Peace (optional)
• The Digital and Marketing Nexus (optional)

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

A level

BBC; or BCC including one of Mathematics, Economics, Physics or Accounting

Applied General Qualifications

RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma

Award profile of DMM.

Irish Leaving Certificate

112 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at Higher Level). The overall profile must include English at minimum grade H6 at Higher Level or grade O4 at Ordinary Level plus Mathematics at H5 at Higher Level or O3 at Ordinary Level.

OR

104 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at Higher Level). The overall profile must include English at minimum grade H6 at Higher Level or grade O4 at Ordinary Level. This course also requires you to achieve H3 in one of Mathematics, Economics, Physics or Accounting. If Mathematics is not passed at H3, you will be required to achieve a minimum H5 at Higher Level or O3 if studied at Ordinary Level in addition to one of the subjects above.

Scottish Highers

Grades BBCCC or grades BCCCC if undertaking one Scottish Higher from Mathematics, Economics, Physics or Accounting.

Scottish Advanced Highers

Grades CCD or grades CDD if undertaking one Scottish Advanced Higher from Mathematics, Economics, Physics or Accounting.

International Baccalaureate

Overall profile is minimum 25 points (12 points at higher level).

Access to Higher Education (HE)

Overall profile of 63% (120 credit Access course) (NI Access course). To include a 20 credit Level 2 Mathematics module, passed at 60% or successful completion of NICATS Mathematics at 60% as part of the pre-2021 Access Diploma or GCSE Maths grade C*/5.

Overall profile of 15 credits at distinction and 30 credits at merit in taught modules (60 credit Access course) (GB Access course).

GCSE

For full-time study, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass at grade C/4 or above in English Language, plus Mathematics with a minimum grade C*/5.

English Language Requirements

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Additional Entry Requirements

Acceptable alternative qualifications include:

Pass HND with overall Merit to include 45 distinctions at level 5. Plus GCSE Mathematics grade C*/5.

Pass HNC with overall Distinction to include 75 distinctions at level 4. Plus GCSE Mathematics grade C*/5.

Exemptions and transferability

Most students enter Year 1 of the course. Applicants who can provide evidence of previous relevant study, awarded in accordance with the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme, (CATS), may be considered for entry to Year 2. In appropriate cases, opportunities exist at the end of Year 1 for reciprocal transfer between this course and other first-degree courses in the School.

Careers & opportunities

Graduates from this course are now working for:

• All State
• CitiBank
• CME Group
• Fintru
• PWC
• HMRC CIVIL SERVICE

Job roles

With this degree you could become:

• Accountant
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Consultant
• Business Development Assistant
• Junior Consultant
• Marketer

Career options

This course has been designed to meet the needs of the Northern Ireland business sector. The skill set developed in this course is in high demand by employers. As a successful graduate, you will be prepared for a variety of career opportunities in general business, accounting and finance-related areas or within the public sector. The course also prepares you for postgraduate study in related disciplines.

Work placement / study abroad

The programme has the option for either a work placement or study abroad between the second and final years.

Fees and funding

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlement Status Fees

£4,855.00

England, Scotland, Wales and the Islands Fees

£9,535.00

International Fees

£17,010.00

Scholarships, awards and prizes

In 1st year, there is a prize for the best mark in the Accounting for Business module across the Economics/Business Economics family of programmes.

In final year, there is a prize for the best overall (average) mark across the Economics/Business Economics family of programmes.

Additional mandatory costs

It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.

Terms and Conditions

Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses, campuses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.

Sustainability at Ulster

Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.

At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.

We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships : Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.

Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ulster University Business School - Sustainability in Focus

Learning and Teaching

We support and develop ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ within the Faculty’s Learning & teaching portfolio. We do so by providing bespoke staff training on ESD and curating an ESD Resources Hub.

All UUBS undergraduate and post-graduate course are mapped against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and students are actively involved in learning for sustainable development.

We seek to enhance the student experience by encouraging our students to become actively involved in sustainability initiatives, such as Carbon Literacy Training, the Big Spring Clean and collaborating with the Northern Ireland Resource Network.

Research and Knowledge Exchange

We develop, support and disseminate sustainability-themed research within the Faculty and beyond. Our annual sustainability research networking event creates new research strands within the Faculty’s research portfolio.

We actively support out PhD community to embed sustainability in their research and provide training on methods and critical thinking on sustainability.

We partner with other institutions, such as Queen’s University Belfast and Atlantic Technological University to broaden our sustainability research and create interdisciplinary research links.

Communications and Engagement

UUBS has a dedicated Sustainability Committee, tasked with developing dedicated internal and external communications and engagement activities promoting the sustainability work of the Faculty.

We host an annual Sustainability Business Breakfast, attend and speak at notable sustainability events, such as the SustainExchange Summit, the Belfast Re[Act] Festival and the NI Science Festival.

Our sustainability work is monitored on our bespoke UUBS SDG Dashboard on our dedicated UUBS sustainability webpages. Our sustainability performance team oversees the Faculty’s Academy Restaurant’s Green Academy programme and associated eco-certifications Green Key and Green Tourism Gold Award.