Economics, BA (Hons)

This course focuses on applied economics, training you to be an economist right from day one. It will enable you to make sense of society and the relationship between people and world resources. You’ll also develop your decision making skills in ways that are distinctive to the discipline of economics, making you highly employable across a variety of sectors.

93% of our graduates are employed or engaged in further study six months after leaving (Latest DLHE Survey Undergraduate results 2011/12).

83% of Economics students at Nottingham Trent University are satisfied with their course (National Student Survey 2013).

This popular course provides a solid grounding in the main elements of economic analysis, while emphasising their application to public and private organisations, as well as to questions of policy.

It will enable you to make sense of society and improve your decision-making skills in ways that are distinctive to the discipline of economics. It will also enable you to engage confidently and expertly in discussion with professionals in many sectors of the real economy.

Why choose this course?

The course offers a number of opportunities to boost your employability, including a year-long placement in industry. Those choosing not to take a placement year can benefit from the opportunities available exclusively to full-time students, which include studying abroad, a short internship, and running an enterprise or community project.

Students on BA (Hons) Economics are increasingly happy with the results they get from the course with student satisfaction rates at 94% (Guardian University Guide 2011).

Graduates from this course have gone on to successful careers in both the private and public sectors, securing positions such as Accounts Executive, Imports Coordinator, Trainee Assistant Merchandiser and Recruitment Executive.

Want to find out more?

To find out more about BA (Hons) Economics, you can request a course brochure. We also recommend you attend an open day to find out more about our courses and experience NTU for yourself. Can't make the open day? Take a virtual tour instead.

Email us
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 4460
Visit the Nottingham Business School website.

UCAS codes

• L100 BA/Econ full-time
• L10C BA/E placement

Start date: September

This is a three or four-year course depending on whether you take a work placement year.

Whichever you choose, through your study you will receive a thorough grounding in the main elements of economic analysis and, through options, will also have the opportunity to study perspectives that take a more interdisciplinary approach, allowing you to develop greater critical awareness of the subject.

The first year of your degree is designed to equip you with the skills and insights needed to ‘think like an economist’. These core economics modules are shared with students on BA (Hons) Business Economics and BA (Hons) Economics, Finance and Banking. After successfully completing your first year you may, if you wish, choose to switch to either of these courses and so apply your economic knowledge to study the world of business or to focus on finance and banking.

Term time will follow the standard academic calendar throughout the three years, except for those taking a placement year, who during their third year will work for a minimum of 48 weeks of the year.

All students will attend lectures and seminars at NTU's City site, in the impressive Newton building, home to Nottingham Business School.

What will I study?

Year One

Core modules include:

• Economics in Graduate Occupations
• Microeconomics I
• Macroeconomics I
• Introductory Finance for Economists
• Quantitative Methods for Economists
• Economics in Context.

Year Two

First half of year

Core modules include:

• Microeconomics II
• Macroeconomics theories, issues and policies (II)
• Economic Decision-Making with Econometrics.

Second half of year

Full-time students (three years) will choose one from the following opportunities:

• study abroad
• undertake an enterprise project
• work on a community project
• take an internship
• undertake taught modules (see below).

Sandwich students (four years) and those selecting option five above will study:

• Labour Economics
• Economic Evaluation.

Plus one optional module from:

• China and the Global Economy
• Economic Issues.

Year Three

This is the placement year for those on the four-year course.

Final Year

Core modules include:

• Leadership and Employability (Economics)
• Research Project
• Choice and Welfare
• Contemporary Issues in Macroeconomics
• Jean Monnet Europe and the World Economy.

Plus one optional module from:

• International Development Economics
• Political Economy
• Econometric Methods.

Making your education current and relevant

The entire University has recently undergone a curriculum review to ensure that all modules are relevant and up to date. This means that every module you study has been incorporated in your course to provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to boost your employability.

How will I learn?

The teaching team offers a range of stimulating activities designed to develop your existing knowledge, skills and qualities. We use a mixture of teaching methods including:

• traditional lectures and seminars
• workshop practice sessions
• guest lectures (these have previously included the Economics Network and Bank of England)
• problem-based learning
• group discussions.

In addition to this you will also be involved in a variety of practical work such as individual and group presentations, student-led seminars, debates, role play, industry-sponsored competitions and project work.

Although these practical elements will not be assessed, they are included to help you develop a range of skills such as:

• time management
• effective presentation
• communication
• customer focus
• entrepreneurial skills
• team working.

Final year students are also encouraged to act as mentors to incoming students, providing an important, additional source of assistance, advice and support, whilst also giving finalists valuable experience.

Contact time

On average you will receive 12 - 15 hours of teaching per week from a combination of lectures and seminars. You'll then be expected to increase your understanding of the subject area through independent study for each module.

Throughout the three years of your course the scheduled contact hours you receive will gradually decrease as you develop the skills required to undertake independent study and the research project in your final year. This will still remain at approximately 12 hours a week though and during this time you will still have regular contact with your tutors.

Additional to this, you will also have further time-tabled contact time for your induction, at the beginning of the year and sessions on employability and opportunities that you can get involved with whilst at university.

Teaching support and personal tutor sessions

Our teaching and personal support staff have been commended and recognised in as excellent in successive independent reviews.

You will have a number of one on one tutor sessions during each year, which will allow you to:

• Discuss and gain feedback about your work.
• Ask questions about the projects you're working on.
• Raise any difficulties you are experiencing relating to your work, personal circumstances or your University experience.

During your first year, these sessions will be scheduled approximately once a fortnight. During your second and final year, this will be approximately once a month.

What our students say

"I loved the staff - they were always so helpful and were always there to support me. I went away on a scholarship to America for a year and they fully encouraged me to go."

Arti Patel, BA (Hons) Economics

82% of our students said they were satisfied with the BA (Hons) Economics, full time course (National Student Survey, 2013).

Virtual learning environment

You'll also use our virtual learning environment, NOW, which is a flexible web-based system that allows you to have 24-hour access to module learning materials and reading lists. It allows you to discuss work with tutors and other students, and submit coursework electronically from anywhere in the world.

How will I be assessed?

Modules are assessed in a variety of ways. Examples of assessment include:

• written examinations
• reports
• essays
• individual and group coursework
• presentations
• research projects.

The degree classification is based on 25% of second year work and 75% of final year work.

In response to student feedback the University has introduced a policy that ensures you are given feedback on assessment within three weeks of submission.

Welcoming students from across the world

Nottingham Trent University has a diverse student community, with a significant number of international students choosing to study here from across the world. We provide specialist staff, services and facilities to help you through all stages of being a student. Find out more about our International Student Support Services.

View the full course specification
Please note that course specifications may be subject to change

We are continually investing in our facilities, and transforming our learning and teaching environment to create an inspiring and innovative atmosphere.

The School is based in the impressive Newton Building on NTU's City site. In 2009 the building was involved in a £90 million regeneration project on the site. Whilst maintaining its historic beauty, the Grade II listed building was transformed into an ultra-modern complex.

Fantastic facilities

• You can take advantage of the NBS Link Lounge, a new space dedicated to Business School students, located on floor seven of the Newton building.
• Explore your career prospects with the help of the University's Career and Placements Centre (new for September 2012).
• You will benefit from spacious teaching rooms and lecture theatres.
• We provide students with a variety of social spaces.
• Your studies will benefit from the £13 million pound Boots Library.
• Students take advantage of our 24-hour IT facilities.
• Our Student Services Centre will also be on-hand should you need support.

The location of the City site also means that you have easy access to:

• sports facilities
• shops
• student accommodation
• music venues
• cafés.