Course information
Entry requirements
UCAS code
L100
Entry requirements
A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
IB: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655
Length
3 years full-time
Department
Course overview
Study economics for a constantly changing world. This degree allows you to specialise in economic statistics, while also exploring key areas of modern economy and society.
At Goldsmiths we encourage you to face the new and evolving challenges of economics today by thinking outside the box and marrying innovation with tradition. This degree allows you to investigate economics from different theoretical and empirical perspectives, developing an understanding of the social and business context of economics today.
Our BSc Economics with Econometrics provides you with an excellent grounding in economic theory with a further specialisation in economic statistics. This means you will not only study advanced modules in econometrics and economic mathematics, but you will also investigate broader empirical questions that explore the different uses of data within economics and the social sciences.
In the third year module 'From National Statistics to Big Data' we explore the latest research findings in the uses of new data sets, not only as utilized by economists, but also by other social scientists. This will help you gain cutting edge knowledge about how emerging technologies influence the statistical work that economists do.
London is the financial hub of the UK, and you will have access to today’s business leaders, economists and policy practitioners, through both events taking place at the Institute of Management Studies and the Political Economy Research Centre.
Placements
Because we want to provide you with all the support for your future career you will be given the opportunity to apply for a limited number of placements that the College will source. These will occur at the end of your second year and would constitute a 15 credit option towards your degree. This will enhance your CV, bring theory and practical experience together, and help you develop industry contacts.
Study Abroad
Through the Erasmus programme, you can spend half of your second year in a university abroad. You can choose modules there and immerse yourself in a different culture and academic environment, with the option of learning or improving a foreign language.
Why study economics at Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths is the ideal environment to explore economics in new and imaginative ways informed by our current research. The Institute of Management Studies has academics doing research not only in Economics and Political Economy, but also in Consumer Theory, Management, Business Psychology, Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. But the research community with which you will come in contact with is much larger, as it includes leading experts from Sociology, Psychology, Computing, Media Studies, History, Politics, and other departments teaching optional modules in your second and third years.
Furthermore, Goldsmiths has a centre for interdisciplinary research in Economics and Political Economy (PERC) that organises lectures, seminars and a host of other events bringing celebrated speakers into Goldsmiths from around the world. Through lectures in the IMS and PERC you’ll have access to today’s business leaders, economists and policy practitioners. Recent guest speakers have included renowned development economist and best-selling author Ha-Joon Chang, businesswoman Nicola Horlick, fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, and Nik Kinley, Director and Head of Talent Strategy at YSC.
Finally, Economics at Goldsmiths stands on the crossroad of two amazing gifts given by the Goldsmiths Company to the University of London. One is the College itself, which became a part of the University of London in 1904. The second is the Goldsmiths Library of Economics, bought by the Company from H.S. Foxwell in 1903, and housed, to this day, at Senate House Library. With more than 70,000 printed books, pamphlets, periodicals, manuscripts, broadsides and proclamations from the fifteenth to the twentieth centuries it is, through together with the Kress Library at Harvard University, one of the two best known collections in the world on the history of Economics and Business. We are proudly celebrating being part of this tradition by introducing a 3rd year module in our Economics programmes titled 'Manias, Bubbles, Crises and Market Failure'. In this module we will discuss past economic crises by utilising the substantial resources of the Goldsmiths library and contrasting them with the current crisis. This will let you use this world-renowned collection, as the past can give us lessons on what led to the current crisis, how to overcome it, and how to avoid future ones.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Ragupathy Venkatachalam.
What you'll study
For 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the Programme Changes page
The BSc in Economics with Econometrics allows you to specialise in mathematical economics and economic statistics while exploring the broader social framework of economic theory and application. The modules you will study at each level are:
Year 1 (credit level 4)
Module title | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Introductory Economics | 30 credits | |
Economic Reasoning | 15 credits | |
Perspectives from the Social Sciences | 15 credits | |
Mathematics for Economics and Business | 30 credits |
Plus a choice of 30 credits from modules offered in the Institute of Management Studies and other departments. Choices include: Accounting and Finance, Business Enterprise in the Digital Era, Introduction to Economic Policy, Perspectives on Capital: Financial, Physical and Human and Social, The Psychology of the Person, and more.
Optional modules (30 credits) include
Module title | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Finance and Accounting | 15 credits | |
Introduction to Economic Policy | 15 credits | |
Business Enterprise in the Digital Era | 15 credits | |
Information Processing and Cognition | 15 credits | |
Mathematical Modelling for Problem Solving | 30 credits |
Year 2 (credit level 5)
Module title | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Intermediate Microeconomics | 15 credits | |
Intermediate Macroeconomics | 15 credits | |
Quantitative Economics | 15 credits | |
Applied Quantitative Economics | 15 credits | |
History of Economic Ideas | 15 credits | |
Economic History | 15 credits | |
Further Mathematics for Economics | 15 credits |
Plus a choice of 15 credits from a module offered in the Institute of Management Studies and other departments. Choices include: Political Economy, Consumer Behaviour, Organisational Behaviour, Social Psychology, Creative and Social Enterprises: Business Models, Value and Planning, and more.
Year 3 (credit level 6)
Students take the following compulsory modules:
Module title | Credits | |
---|---|---|
International Economics | 15 credits | |
Public Economics | 15 credits | |
Econometrics | 15 credits | |
Advanced Econometrics | 15 credits | |
Communications and Presentation Skills | 15 credits | |
From National Statistics to Big Data | 15 credits |
And one of the following modules:
Module title | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Individual and Institutional Economic Behaviour | 15 credits | |
or | ||
Manias, Bubbles, Crises and Market Failure | 15 credits |
Both the BA Economics and the BSc Economics with Econometrics give you the ability to study the modules that interest you and will develop your abilities and competencies that will make you stand out in today's market.
To find out more about your choice of modules throughout this degree, please see this presentation about your options.
Students will also take an optional module of 15 credits:
Module title | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Topics in Economic Policy | 15 credits | |
Development Economics | 15 credits | |
Money, Banking and the Financial System | 15 credits | |
Topics in Mathematical Economics | 15 credits | |
Ethics and Economics of Environmental Protection | 15 credits | |
Finance and the Global Political Economy | 15 credits | |
International Business | 15 credits | |
Marketing Analytics | 15 credits |
Teaching style
This programme is taught through scheduled learning - a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. This includes carrying out required and additional reading, preparing topics for discussion, and producing essays or project work.
The following information gives an indication of the typical proportions of learning and teaching for each year of this programme*:
- Year 1 - 16% scheduled learning, 84% independent learning
- Year 2 - 15% scheduled learning, 85% independent learning
- Year 3 - 16% scheduled learning, 84% independent learning
How you’ll be assessed
You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, group work and projects.
The following information gives an indication of how you can typically expect to be assessed on each year of this programme*:
- Year 1 - 55% coursework, 45% written exam
- Year 2 - 51% coursework, 49% written exam
- Year 3 - 66% coursework, 28% written exam, 6% practical
*Please note that these are averages are based on enrolments for 2019/20. Each student’s time in teaching, learning and assessment activities will differ based on individual module choices. Find out more about how this information is calculated.
Credits and levels of learning
An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 modules in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 modules in your final year. A standard module is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half modules or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project.
Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
What our students say
Entry requirements
We accept the following qualifications:
A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655
Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2
Additional requirements
You should have at least Grade B in A-level Mathematics.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.
Fees & funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2021/2022 academic year.
From August 2021 EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for 'Home' fee status. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will be classified as 'International' for fee purposes, more information can be found on our fees page.
- Home - full-time: £9250
- International - full-time: £17050
If your fees are not listed here, please check our undergraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Tier 4 student visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Funding opportunities
We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our careers service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.
Careers
Skills
This programme was created to give you a diverse set of skills that will help you to successfully overcome the challenges of a constantly evolving economy. We help you develop not only the technical skills necessary in becoming a successful economist today, but also the ability to understand economic change and adapt as the world changes.
Technical skills
As an economist you will gain competence in the following fields:
- Macroeconomic and Microeconomic Analysis
- Maths and Statistics
- Finance and Accountancy
- Quantitative Methods from a theoretical and practical perspective
- Data analysis using computer programs
- Presentation skills and report writing
Broader skills
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.
Careers
The traditional employers of economists are:
- Government departments
- National and regional development agencies
- Economic Consultancies
- International and supranational organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union
- Commercial and Investment Banks
- Insurance Companies
You can read more about careers options after you graduate on our Management Studies careers page.