Skills
This degree equips you with an array of skills that will help you stand out in the marketplace and launch your career. Through our modules you will learn economic theory and application, and practice your skills in writing, presenting and data analysis.
The structure of this programme of studies also equips you with the following skills:
- An ability to explain economic ideas to non-economists in government and the business world
- A knowledge of the limits of economic models for analysing real-world data
- An understanding of the economy that can meet new challenges and unforeseen crises
- A personal philosophy of how the economy works that distinguishes you from the crowd
You'll also gain skills in teamwork, time management, organisation, critical thinking, reflection and independent research. All of these skills are greatly sought after by graduate employers.
How we help you achieve your career goals
We believe employability and becoming career-ready should be an absolutely integral part of your time with us. We will work with you to help you discover the kind of role that might be right for you, how to access those opportunities and then how to market yourself effectively into the role and be successful.
Core elements of our offering are about helping you get career-ready early on in your second year so you are well placed to secure a placement or internship in the summer, an all-important step to securing that dream graduate role. We have two second-year optional modules you can select:
Developing an Employability Strategy Module (credit-bearing): Get yourself career-ready. This module will take you through the employability journey. What kind of skills and motivators do you have, what kind of role and industry might be right for you and how to successfully market yourself into those roles?
Work Placement Module (credit-bearing): Get real-life experience in industry. A work placement will help you expand your network and provide valuable insights into the world of work. Some students have gone on to receive a graduate offer just after their placement!
Other ways we support you on your career journey
Tools: We have a range of tools to help you understand yourself, your skills, values and motivators and what kind of role might be right for you. Then make a detailed career plan to achieve success.
Careers resources: We have a wealth of online resources to help you research what employers are looking for and where you might fit, then access those job opportunities.
Workshops – Discover Opportunities, Network and Market Yourself Effectively: A number of workshops both within the IMS and wider College covering topics such as what our students go on to do, how to find and apply for intern and graduate roles and personal branding. As well as how to market yourself effectively, successful CVs and application forms and how to succeed at interview and assessment centres.
Events on campus: Benefit from a range of careers fairs, speaker series, panel discussions, career clubs and networking events to get as much industry exposure and connections as you can.
1:1 Support: Meet with the careers consultant to explore your career strategy. The consultants can give you advice on your job search strategy, help with CVs and cover letters, help with psychometrics. As well as helping you hone your interview skills.
Mentoring: A wide range of mentoring opportunities are available with industry experts and alumni. Get advice and insights from industry professionals, many of who have been where you are now. Helping students understand where they can fit into the world of work and how to successfully access opportunities.
Gold Award: Is a personal and professional development programme designed to help identify your current skills, develop new skills and gain experiences through co-curricular activities. A well-rounded portfolio of skills and experiences is essential in the competitive working world.
GoldReach: We recognise that students from underrepresented groups* may face additional barriers accessing graduate-level employment. GoldReach aims to help you reflect on your aspirations and reach your potential. GoldReach will provide you with the opportunity to broaden your career horizons, develop your employability skills and access a range of opportunities.
Destination Data for our Economics Programmes
Our well-rounded students go into a wide range of roles across different industries. We have students going into more traditional economist roles such as finance, investment banking, the civil service, development agencies and economic consulting. However, we also have some that go on to teach as well as alumni going to work in organisations as diverse as Warner Music Group, The Ministry for Justice, marketing agencies and even starting their own business.
The careers of our graduates from the past two years are mainly in government (19%), finance (17%), technology (10%) and professional services (9%) among other sectors (26%). Around 19% of our graduates have gone on to pursue postgraduate degrees.
Jobs include M&A analyst at Ackroyd Legal, equity risk analyst intern at Kings Investment Fund, foreign exchange trader at TY Assets, junior investment writer at FE Investment, Head of Strategy at Dual International, consulting analyst at Deloitte, audit assistant at KPMG, rewards analyst at Wills Tower Watson, graduate analyst at CapGemini, trainee teacher of economics at Harris Federation, assessment team lead at BPP, business and finance analyst in the Civil Service Fast Stream, funding and incentive officer at the Department for International Trade, public health intelligence analyst at Public Health England, and assistant economist at Department for Transport.
Institutions where our graduates have gone for postgraduate degrees include Cambridge, LSE, New York University, King’s College London, Imperial College, Durham, and Queen Mary.