Program Overview

Introduction to the BSc Economics and Data Science Programme

The BSc Economics and Data Science programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of economic principles, advanced data science methodologies, and the synergy between these two disciplines to address real-world problems. This unique programme equips students with the conceptual frameworks and skills to analyse economic relationships, make data-driven decisions, and tackle real-world problems.

Programme Details

Overview

The programme is designed for students who want to combine economic and econometrics theory with cutting-edge data analysis methods to gain insights. It has a strong mathematical focus, and students will learn about economics, econometrics, classical and modern data analysis tools, machine learning methods, and AI, and become proficient in computer programming for data science.

Entry Requirements

• Home Students:
  • GCSEs: A strong pre-16 academic profile such as several GCSE grades of A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9), with a minimum of grade B (or 6) in GCSE English and Mathematics.
  • A-levels: AAA, with an A in Mathematics. AS- or A-level Further Mathematics is expected to be taken and a grade A achieved.
  • Contextual admissions A-level grades: AAB with an A in Mathematics.
• Overseas Students:
  • Select a country to find the equivalency to A-levels of your qualification.
• Additional Tests:
  • Applicants are encouraged to take the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA). The test is not mandatory, however a good performance on the test may make an application more competitive.

Programme Structure

Year 1

• Students take six compulsory foundation courses, including four half-unit courses, plus LSE100.
• Courses include Microeconomics I, Macroeconomics I, Mathematical Methods, Elementary Statistical Theory, Managing Visualising Data, and The LSE Course.
• Students choose one half-unit course from Programming for Data Science or Programming with Data Science.

Year 2

• Students take four compulsory courses and choose two units from a range of economics, mathematics, and statistics courses.
• Compulsory courses include Microeconomics II, Macroeconomics II, Econometrics I, and Probability and Distribution Theory.
• Optional courses include Econometrics II, Applied Regression, Sample Surveys and Experiments, Databases, Mathematical Proof and Analysis, Further Mathematical Methods (Calculus), Information Systems, and Principles of Finance I.

Year 3

• Students take courses to the value of one and a half units from the following economics options: Political Economy, Development Economics, Behavioural Economics, Quantitative Thesis, Industrial Economics, Labour Economics, Games and Economic Behaviour, Monetary Economics and Aggregate Fluctuations, Public Economics, Economics of Diversity and Discrimination, Environmental Economics, Problems of Applied Econometrics, Advanced Macroeconomics, Economic Policy in the Global Economy, Econometric Theory A, Econometric Theory B, International Trade, and International Macroeconomics.
• Students also take courses to the value of one unit from the following options: Algorithms and Data Structures, Real Analysis, Mathematical Game Theory, Databases, Regression and Generalised Linear Models, Stochastic Processes, Time Series and Forecasting, Bayesian Inference, Applied Statistics Project, Ethics for Data Science, Multilevel and Longitudinal Models, Financial Statistics, and Machine Learning.

Fees and Funding

• Home Students: £9,535 per year (provisional 2026/27 tuition fee).
• Overseas Students: £35,700 per year (2026/27 fee).
• LSE provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships, to UK, EU, and overseas students.

Learning and Assessment

• Teaching: A mix of lectures and related classes, seminars, or workshops totalling 10 to 15 hours per week.
• Independent Study: Students need to complete independent study outside classes, which may include reading, note-taking, and research.
• Assessment: Most courses are assessed by a three-hour exam in June. A small number of courses are assessed by project work.

Graduate Destinations

• Graduates of the BSc in Economics and Data Science can pursue a variety of exciting roles, including Data Analyst, Economic Consultant, Financial Analyst, and Policy Analyst.
• Top sectors for graduates include Financial and Professional Services, Insurance, Information, Digital Technology and Data, and Accounting and Auditing.

Why Study with Us

• The Department of Statistics at LSE is one of the oldest and most distinguished in the UK, with an international reputation for the development of statistical methodology.
• The department has close links with the Data Science Institute at LSE, an interdisciplinary institute that fosters the study of data science.
• All aspects of the department's research were ranked world-leading or internationally excellent in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021).

Related Programmes

• BSc Data Science
• BSc Mathematics with Data Science
• BSc Mathematics, Statistics and Business
• BSc Mathematics and Economics
• BSc Mathematics with Economics
• BSc Finance
• BSc Accounting and Finance
• BSc Actuarial Science
• BSc Economics
• BSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics

Conclusion

The BSc Economics and Data Science programme at LSE offers a unique combination of economic theory and data science methodologies, providing students with the skills to analyse economic relationships, make data-driven decisions, and tackle real-world problems. With its strong mathematical focus and comprehensive curriculum, this programme is ideal for students who want to pursue a career in data analysis, economic consulting, or policy analysis.