Program Overview

Economics BA

The University of Sheffield offers a BA programme in Economics that provides students with a broad understanding of economics and exposes them to a wide range of specialist economics areas. As students progress through their degree, their focus will be on the application of economics to real-world problems.

Course Description

This course allows students to specialise in their area of interest, building from a broad grounding in economic theory and analysis, and guiding them through the pathway of their choice. The degree comes with the opportunity to do a year-long, paid work placement with a leading employer in the second year. Students will also be able to do internships, voluntary work, and access employability advice and workshops through the Sheffield Economics Employability Development (SEED) scheme.

Modules

The course structure includes:

• First year:
  • Core modules:
    • Microeconomic Analysis and Policy
    • Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy
    • Statistical Methods for Economics
    • Applied Data Analysis in Economics
  • Optional modules:
    • Introductory Finance for Economics
    • Economic History of Britain and the Modern World
    • Classical and Contemporary Thinkers in Economics
• Second year:
  • Core modules:
    • Intermediate Microeconomics
    • Intermediate Macroeconomics
    • Econometrics
    • Applied Econometrics
  • Optional modules:
    • Industrial Organisation
    • International Economics
    • Labour Economics
    • Public Economics
    • Macroeconomic Policy
    • Economics of Financial Institutions
    • Economic Decision-making
• Final year:
  • Core modules:
    • Economic Policy and Practice
    • Economics Research Project
  • Optional modules:
    • International trade
    • Monetary Economics
    • Urban Economics
    • Education Economics
    • Political Economy
    • Environmental Economics
    • Health Economics
    • Economic Analysis of Inequality and Poverty
    • Behavioural Economics
    • Economics of Race and Gender
    • Economics of Innovation
    • Development Economics

Learning and Assessment

The course provides students with a varied and interactive learning experience, including lectures, seminars, interactive workshops, tutorials, and computer labs. Assessment is primarily exam-based, with written coursework, computer-based assignments, research projects, presentations, and reports also used to assess the range of knowledge and skills that an economist needs.

Entry Requirements

The standard offer for this course is AAB at A Level, with alternative offers for students with other qualifications. Students must also have a GCSE Maths grade 6/B and GCSE English Language at grade 4/C.

Graduate Careers

Graduates of the BA Economics course develop the key skills that employers in a variety of fields value. They go on to kick-start careers across computing, banking, actuarial work, and data science for employers such as Amazon, the Bank of England, Goldman Sachs, IBM, PwC, HM Treasury, the NHS, and the Civil Service.

Department

The School of Economics is based in the Elmfield building, close to The Wave, the new home for the Faculty of Social Sciences. The school has an international reputation for practical and real-world economics, with staff advising government departments in the UK and research informing government policies.

University Rankings

The University of Sheffield is a world top-100 university, ranked 92nd in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is also number one in the Russell Group for learning opportunities, academic support, and student voice, according to the National Student Survey 2024.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for 2026 entry have not been confirmed, but the 2025 annual tuition fee is £9,535 for home students and £23,810 for overseas students. The university offers scholarships and bursaries to help fund study, and students can also apply for a placement year or study abroad.

Placements and Study Abroad

The course offers the opportunity to add an optional placement year, converting the three-year course to a four-year Degree with Placement Year. Students can also apply to extend their course with a year abroad, usually between the second and third year, with over 250 university partners worldwide.