Study Economics and graduate with a university degree

What causes inflation? Can unemployment be reduced? Can tax be equitable and efficient?

These are some of the questions economists try to answer. They also seek to understand issues such as: how do people decide what to buy and what job to do? How do firms decide what to produce and what to charge? What determines the profit they earn?

Due to its structure and the way it’s taught, Economics is recognised as a good source of transferable skills. Our recent graduates have embarked on a wide range of careers, including management, accountancy and banking, as well as economics itself. Surveys have regularly found Economics to be one of the top four subjects for graduate pay.

In the latest review, all aspects of our teaching had the highest rating. Many of our lecturers have an international reputation.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Year 2

A-levels or Advanced Highers grades ABB to include Economics.
General entrance requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

Mathematics Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).

You will take Economics plus two other subjects in Year 1. Economics may be studied as part of a General degree or to Honours level, either on its own or in combination with other subjects (see Combined Honours Degrees list below).

Semesters 1 - 4

You will take the following core modules:

• Introductory Microeconomics: This module gives a broad   introduction to microeconomics, which analyses how individual markets work – how prices are set and resources are allocated in an economy
• Introductory Macroeconomics: Macroeconomics is concerned issues relating to the economy as a whole such as the general standard of living, unemployment and inflation

You will move on to study Intermediate Microeconomics and   Intermediate Macroeconomics, which build on the work done in the introductory modules. You will also take Introduction to Quantitative   Techniques for Economics in Semester 4.

Semesters 5 - 8

All Honours students take core advanced modules designed to develop their knowledge and understanding of the central methods of economic analysis and major policy issues.

These are:

• Using Economic Data
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Advanced Microeconomics
• Economic Policy in Britain and Europe

In the final year, you will write a dissertation on a subject of your   choice. The remainder of the course consists of a number of options, such as: Modern Banking; Financial Economics; Industrial Economics, and Environmental Economics. Combined Honours students take the same core modules as Single Honours students but replace some of the Economics options with modules in their other subject.

There are typically two or three lectures per week on each module. You also attend a weekly meeting in a smaller group, either a tutorial or a seminar, for each module. Your final grade for each module is based on 40 percent for coursework and 60 percent for the examination. Usually the coursework consists of two class tests and some tutorial preparation. In the first two years, a good performance in your coursework gains you exemption from the examination.

(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)

Politics, Philosophy and Economics

You have the opportunity to study abroad through Stirling's well-established connections with several international universities.

Teaching provision in Economics has been assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and achieved the highest possible rating of ‘commendable’ in all aspects.

Economics was ranked 4th in Scotland in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

As well as careers in business and government, there is a wide range of jobs in companies that directly use economics, and for which holders of good degrees in Economics are particularly sought. Many universities, including Stirling, offer postgraduate degrees in Economics.