BA in Economics and Politics

Economics and politics are closely linked throughout society. Our BA Economics and Politics programme reflects this connection, exploring multiple perspectives while also helping you develop your own viewpoint. You’ll have the opportunity to cover diverse topics such as world economy, macro and microeconomics, corporate finance, international relations and development economics. In years two and three you can adjust the balance of subjects to broaden your experience or focus in on your major area of interest. 

Year 1

In the first year, in addition to the three economics compulsory modules, you take a further two compulsory modules entitled Ideas and Ideologies, and Democratic Political Systems and choose one further optional module from a selection covering International Security and Interdependence Organisation, Global Regions in International Relations, and Theory and History in International Relations.

Year 2

In the second year, you study two compulsory modules in Macroeconomics and Microeconomics plus one module chosen from a selection that currently includes:

• Behavioural and Experimental Economics
• Business Competition
• Corporate Finance
• Economic Data Analysis
• Economics of Social Policy
• European Economics
• Intermediate Methods for Economics and Finance.

In addition, three modules must be chosen from the range of second-year Politics modules, which currently includes:

• Democracy and Democratic Theory
• Foundations of Western Political Thought
• The Politics of Pacific Asia
• The Middle East in the International System
• International Theory
• International Organisations
• Global Political Economy
• Islam, State and Government
• Class, Nation and British Politics

Year 3

In the third year, you study a compulsory double Dissertation module that can be in either economics or politics. In addition, you choose four optional modules from a selection that currently includes:

• Advanced Microeconomic Theory
• Advanced Macroeconomic Theory
• Applied Econometrics
• Development of Economics
• Environmental Economics and Policy
• History of Economic Thought
• Industrial Organisation
• International Economics
• Labour Economics
• Monetary Economics 
• Public Economics
• Security Investment Analysis
• Game Theory and Applications
• Post-Keynesian Economics 
• China in the Global Political Economy
• The Politics of the Middle East’s Oil Monarchies 
• British Political Thought since 1850
• The Ethics of Violence in International Relations
• Islam and Politics in the Modern World
• Theories of Liberty
• The Political Economy of the European Union
• Elections and British Politics
• Israel: Politics and Society

Note that in the second and third years it is possible for you to take a minimum of five and a maximum of seven modules in each subject.

Study Abroad

School of Government and International Affairs

Students can apply for a one-year study placement in one of the following institutions: the University of California and Boston College in the USA, British Columbia in Canada, the University of Hong Kong, and the National University of Singapore. In some cases courses are offered in English, while in others teaching is in the local language. We have an ERASMUS/Year Abroad Co-ordinator who will help you prepare for your year abroad, and who will maintain contact with you while you are away.