Program Overview

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BAEcon Economics and Philosophy

Overview

Develop specialist knowledge and your own response to current economic issues.

• Duration: 3 or 4 years
• Year of entry: 2026
• 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
• UK refugee/care-experienced offer: BBB including specific subjects
• Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36 points overall with 6,6,6 at HL, including specific subjects

Full entry requirements

How to apply

Apply through UCAS.

Advice to applicants

• Applicants submitting mitigating circumstances: If you are submitting information about mitigating circumstances that have affected, or are likely to affect, your academic performance, you should include this in the referee's report.
• Home-schooled applicants: 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.

How your application is considered

Applications are considered on the basis of an assessment of past and predicted academic achievements, the academic reference and personal statement.

Interview requirements

We do not interview.

Returning to education

We welcome applications from anyone who is returning to education.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

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.

Deferrals

Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation. Deferred entry is granted on the discretion of admissions staff, and is normally granted for one year only.

Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications

We consider applicants who are resitting.

Re-applications

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.

Course details

Course description

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

• Leading research: 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.
• 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.
• Professional Experience Year: You apply in Year 1 to boost your employability through a paid Professional Experience Year.

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

• Microeconomics 2
• Macroeconomics 1
• Macroeconomics 2
• Microeconomics 1
• Power and Value: Perspectives from Social Sciences
• Fundamentals of Finance
• Fundamentals of Financial Reporting B
• An Introduction to Development Studies
• Introductory Mathematics
• Advanced Mathematics
• Advanced Statistics
• Computing for Social Scientists
• Introduction to Mathematical Economics
• Economic History
• Introduction to Ethics
• Critical Thinking
• Introduction to Metaphysics and Epistemology
• Introduction to Philosophy of Mind
• Introduction to Comparative Politics
• Making Sense of Politics
• British Politics: Power and the State
• Politics of the Global Economy
• Introduction to International Politics
• Introduction to Political Theory
• Power and Culture: Inequality in Everyday Life
• Cultural Diversity in Global Perspective
• Introduction to Business Anthropology: Consumers, Companies and Culture
• Digital Sociology
• Environment and Society
• Inequalities in Contemporary British Society
• Contested Foundations of Social Thought
• Contemporary Social Thought
• Global Social Challenges
• Getting Personal: Intimacy and Connectedness in Everyday Life
• Work, Organisations and Society
• Understanding Social Media
• Measuring Inequalities (Unequal Societies)
• Introductory Statistics for Economists
• Applied Statistics for Social Scientists
• Introduction to Population Development & Social Change

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.

Course units for year 2

• Fundamentals of Finance
• Fundamentals of Financial Reporting B
• Fundamentals of Management Accounting
• Investment Analysis
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Financial Markets and Institutions
• Financial Reporting and Accountability
• Intermediate Management Accounting
• Foundations of Finance A
• Business Law 1: Common Law and Common Business Liabilities
• An Introduction to Development Studies
• Managerial Economics I
• Microeconomics 3
• Microeconomics 4
• Macroeconomics 3
• Macroeconomics 4
• Advanced Mathematics
• Advanced Statistics
• Environmental Economics
• Econometrics
• Mathematical Economics I
• Introduction to Mathematical Economics
• Quantitative Methods
• Development Economics: Growth, Capital Accumulation and Structural Change
• Development Economics: Understanding Poverty
• Economics for Public Policy
• History of Economic Thought
• Energy Economics and Policy
• Philosophy of Religion
• Applied Philosophy
• Philosophy of Race
• Formal Logic
• Ethics
• 20th Century Analytical Philosophy
• Philosophy of Science
• Introduction to Political Theory
• Politics by Numbers
• Security Studies
• Questions About International Politics
• Politics & Society in Britain Since 1940: From Blitz to Brexit
• Arguing About Politics: Political Theory in the World
• The Politics of Globalisation
• The Politics of Development
• Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective
• The Politics of Policy Making
• Ideals of Social Justice
• Injustice and Resistance
• Environmental Politics
• Comparative West European Politics
• Asia-Pacific Security
• Anthropology of Kinship, Gender and Sex
• Anthropology of Religion
• Political and Economic Anthropology
• Materiality and Representation
• The Human and the Digital
• Contested Foundations of Social Thought
• Contemporary Social Thought
• Capitalism and Work
• Social Network Analysis
• Qualitative Research Design & Methods
• Sustainability, Consumption & Global Responsibilities
• Global Migration
• Social Change in China
• Social Class and Inequality in Britain
• Families, Relationships and Everyday Life
• Gender, Sexuality and Culture
• Racism and Ethnicity in the UK
• Essentials of survey design and analysis
• Answering Social Research Questions with Statistical Models
• Applied Statistics for Social Scientists
• Introduction to Population Development & Social Change

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.

Course units for year 3

• Financial Markets and Institutions
• Business Law 2: Law and the Modern Corporation in an International Context
• Business Law 1: Common Law and Common Business Liabilities
• Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting and Regulation
• International Finance
• Share Prices and Accounting Information
• Financial Derivatives
• Advanced Corporate Finance
• Accountability and Auditing
• Corporate Governance in Context
• Financial Engineering
• Corporate Contracting and Managerial Behaviour
• Advanced Management Accounting
• Econometrics
• Mathematical Economics I
• Quantitative Methods
• Advanced Microeconomics
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Topics in Inequality & Poverty
• Lessons from Behavioural Science
• The Chinese Economy
• Natural Resource Economics
• Mathematical Economics II
• Mathematical Economics I
• Micro Econometrics
• Econometrics
• Mathematical Finance
• Financial Economics
• Topics in Development Economics
• Topics in Economic History
• Money, Banking & Financial Markets
• Managerial Economics II
• Advanced Econometrics
• Climate Change Economics and Policy
• Public Economics
• International Trade and Policy
• Health Economics
• Topics in Labour Economics
• Econometrics and Data Science
• Macroeconomics of Development
• Topics in Applied Macroeconometrics
• Matching Markets
• Dissertation Semester 1
• Dissertation Semester 2
• Metaphysics
• Philosophy of Action
• Phenomenology
• Advanced Topics in Aesthetics
• Language & Oppression
• The Politics of the European Union
• The Politics and Philosophy of Nationalism
• Gender, Sex and Politics
• Elections and Voters in Britain
• Dimensions of Peace and Conflict: Disciplinary and Regional Approaches
• Political Morality and Dirty Hands
• Chinese Politics
• Public Policy Problems
• Introduction to International Political Economy
• Gender, War & Militarism
• Africa & Global Politics
• Children, Family and Social Justice
• American Politics: Why Do They Do That?
• Global Capitalism, Crisis and Revolt
• Contemporary Parliamentary Studies and the British Political Tradition
• Postcolonial Politics
• Between War and Peace
• The International Political Economy of Trade
• United States Foreign Policy: Dominance and Decline in a Complex World
• Race, Ethnicity, Migration
• Ukraine Rises: Democracy, Protest, Identity and War in Comparative Perspective
• Capitalism and Sexuality
• Indian Politics in Comparative Perspective
• Decolonising Human Rights
• Feminist Policymaking in Global Politics
• Anthropology of Development and Humanitarianism
• The Anthropology of Health and Wellbeing
• Urban Anthropology in Britain
• Migrants, Borders and Im/mobilities
• Screening Culture
• Anthropology of Vision, Senses and Memory
• Food and Eating: The Cultural Body
• Extra-Terrestrial Anthropology
• Sociology of Life and Death
• Sociology of Human Animal Relations
• Forced Migration
• Racism and Resistance in Education
• Material Culture: The Social Life of Things
• A Sense of Inequality
• Connections matter: Sociological Applications of Social Networks
• Power and Protest
• Social Thought from the Global South
• Art and Society
• Theory & Method in Demography
• Network Analysis
• Data Science Modelling
• Quantitative Text Analysis in the Social Sciences
• Causal Inference for Policies, Interventions and Experiments

Careers

Career opportunities

We offer a high-quality, research-led student experience that will prepare you for a career as a professional economist, employment in a range of economics-related areas or for further study in economics, business and finance.

The University of Manchester has an excellent reputation for employability. For the past 5 years, we have been in the UK's Top Two most targeted universities by the UK's top 100 employers (High Fliers Graduate Market Report, ).

Economics and Philosophy graduates have gone on to successful careers in areas including accountancy and professional services, finance and banking, and government. Recent graduates are now working at:

• Morgan Stanley;
• KPMG;
• the House of Lords;
• the Government Economics Service;
• the BBC.

Other popular avenues include journalism and the media, charities, consultancy, civil service, finance, marketing and PR, social work, teaching, law and postgraduate study.

Postgraduate study is also a popular option for progression, and we offer a wide variety of specialist taught master's courses.

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 .