BA Economics
SOAS University of London
Key Information
Campus location
London, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* full-time fees per academic year: UK £9,250; Overseas £20,350
Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
The Department of Economics is one of the country's leading departments specialising in political economy and heterodox approaches to economics as well as in the economics of development. Research and teaching is pursued on a variety of topics and is unique in its depth and range of regional and specialised coverage including topics from contemporary banking and finance the economics of the environment, gender economics, global economic theory, as well as the economic development of a variety of regions from Japan to the Middle East.
BA Economics at SOAS University of London will provide you with training in microeconomics, macroeconomics and quantitative methods that will enable you to pursue a successful career in an economics-related profession or to go on to postgraduate work. BA Economics offers ample flexibility to the quantitative modules students can select, including a pathway to graduate with a BSc Economics degree. Students will be given guidance on module selections and transfer opportunities between programme structures throughout their degree, including those aiming to graduate with BSc Economics. Moreover, the SOAS Economics Department is distinctive in offering a pluralist and critical approach to economic theory, policy and real applications.
Why study Economics at SOAS?
- We offer the broadest portfolio of modules on economics and political economy.
- Our unrivalled focus on the study of developing and emerging economies provides you with a more critical approach to economic theory.
- Our academic staff are specialists within an unparalleled range of emerging and developing economies, and a broad spectrum of theory and policy debates.
- Theoretical concepts and debates are expertly applied to real issues within the countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as in the global economy and interdependencies therein.
- You will be able to flexibly structure your programme using our Open Options modules to take advantage of the expertise of our other departments, including the opportunity to learn a language.
- We are specialists in the delivery of languages. Your command of a language from SOAS will set you apart from graduates of other universities.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
Students take 120 credits composed of Core, Compulsory and Optional modules.
- Core modules: These are mandatory and must be passed in the year they are taken before the student can progress to the next year.
- Compulsory modules: These are mandatory but in the case of a failure, students may carry this into their next year provided that they retake and pass the failed element or exam.
- Optional modules: These are designed to help students design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.
*Students who wish to graduate with a BSc Economics degree have to make sure to include and successfully complete "Intermediate Mathematics for Economists" and "Econometrics" as part of their degree.
Year 1
Core Modules
- Introduction to economic analysis
Compulsory Modules
- Introductory Mathematics for Economists
- Comparative Growth: Theoretical Approaches
- Essay Writing Workshop - Undergraduate Economics
plus
Choose modules from List A to the value of 45 credits.
or
Choose modules from List A to the value of 30 credits and Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 15 credits.
or
Choose modules from List A to the value of 15 credits and Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits.
Year 2
Core Modules
- Microeconomic Analysis
- Macroeconomic Analysis
Compulsory Modules
- Statistics
- Employability and Career Planning Workshop
plus
Choose modules from List B to the value of 30 credits.
or
Choose Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits.
Year 3
Core Modules
- Global Economic Policy
Compulsory Modules
- Survey and Data Literacy Workshop
Plus
Choose modules to the value of 105 credits from List C below.
or
Choose modules to the value of 75 credits from List C below AND choose Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits.
List A
- Statistics
- Comparative Growth: Contemporary Debates
List B
- Issues in Development Economics
- Banking and Finance
- International Economics
- Econometrics
- Intermediate Mathematics for Economists
List C
- The Economics of the Environment
- Gender Economics (UG)
- Economic development of Africa: macroeconomic approaches
- Economic development of Africa (UG)
- China's Economic Transformation
- China and World Development
- Political Economy of Development and Change in the Middle East
- Economic Development in the Asia Pacific region
- Political Economy of Development and Change in South Asia
- Independent study project in Economics
- Issues in Development Economics
- Banking and Finance
- International Economics
- Econometrics
- Intermediate Mathematics for Economists
Note: A maximum of 60 credits applies for regional economic development modules
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Career Opportunities
Employment
An undergraduate degree in Economics from SOAS will give you a solid grounding in economic principles and their application to concrete situations.
Skills gained include:
- expertise in key economics and political economy theories from a pluralist stance, appreciating both orthodox and heterodox views,
- expertise in the emerging economies of Africa, Asia and the Middle East,
- the ability to think laterally, to take a global perspective, and employ critical reasoning,
- statistical and computing skills,
- analytical skills,
- communication and presentation skills,
Graduates from the Department have pursued a variety of successful careers, often with Asian or African links, in international organisations, business and industry, banking, accountancy, journalism, consultancy, teaching and higher education. Many have gone on to read for postgraduate degrees either in the Department’s own thriving masters’ and research degree programmes or elsewhere.
Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:
- BBC World Service
- Bloomberg LP
- Capital Economics
- Deloitte
- Goldman Sachs
- Grant Thornton
- OECD
- PWC
- United Nations Organisations
- World Bank
- ODI
Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
- Assistant Economist
- Equity Derivative Worker
- Financial Analyst
- Freelance Broadcast Journalist
- Economist/Researcher
- Policy Data Manager
- Monitoring Analyst
- Risk Consultant
- Sustainability Consultant
- Chief Economist
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with the Duolingo English Test! The DET is a convenient, fast, and affordable online English test accepted by over 4,000 universities (like this one) around the world.