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The BSc Economics and Politics degree at Aberystwyth University offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges from two departments that have strong reputation for teaching and research. The combination of Economics and Politics will allow you to develop a solid understanding of global markets and how they are affected by pandemics, natural disasters and how political systems respond and shape that response to them.
95% of our Business and Administrative subject students were satisfied that the staff were good at explaining things, 88 for the sector. (NSS 2019)
97% of our graduates were in work or further study within 6 months, 3% more than Business and Administrative Studies graduates nationally (HESA 2018*)
Overview
Why study Economics and Politics at Aberystwyth University?
Economics is the study of how individuals firms, markets, governments and other institutions combine to produce and distribute goods and services in order to achieve desired outcomes for society, and how effective they are in doing so. The application of economic theory has also evolved to explore contemporary issues such as the causes and impact that pandemics such as COVID-19 has on society at domestic and international levels, the subsequent financial crisis and the proposed solutions to ameliorate the impacts upon trade, globalisation, corruption and ultimately climate change.
Politics explores how society tackles challenges. Politics stands at a fascinating but difficult historical juncture, one that as political beings, we all need to understand, explain and, in part shape. The politics element of this degree offers you the opportunity to study the concepts, practices, policies, histories and regions that make up politics as a discipline and to explore the ways in which, all these factors influence their economics.
Our Staff
Lecturers in the Department of International Politics are all research active and qualified to PhD level, and most also have a PGCHE.
Students at the Aberystwyth Business School are taught by lecturers and other teaching staff who are active researchers and expert practitioners in their chosen subject area.
Over 75% of full time members of teaching staff are qualified to PhD level. Most are currently research active, meaning that students benefit from being taught ‘new’ knowledge in their chosen field of study as well as recognized literature. The School also employs part-time and full time staff devoted purely to teaching. Many part-time staff combine teaching duties with consultancy and business activities, ensuring that students have access not only to up to date research but the latest applied knowledge.
Modules
Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.
* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh
Employability
Your Economics and politics degree will provide an excellent foundation for a professional career within business, financial or political settings. Aberystwyth Business School offers a dedicated consultancy employability module where students apply as consultants within industry. During the semester where students consult for industry giving them practical exposure to the iterative nature of opportunity development, economists in training are actively sought by industry because of their inherent ability with data.
The Department of International Politics also offers its students the opportunity to shadow a Member of Parliament or an elected representative of Senedd Cymru (Wales' Parliament).
Studying Economics and Politics will enable you to develop the following key skills:
The ability to apply analytical and creative thinking skills for high level decision-making and problem solving
Improved numeracy skills and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data
The ability to communicate clearly in a written and spoken form to facilitate successful team collaboration and independent work.
Learning & Teaching
What will I learn?
The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.
The holistic approach of economics in your first year explores the foundational elements that allow you to discover and understand the fundamental principles of business, these include the mechanisms by which management is discharged in various industry, the impact of the business environment and macro-environmental elements (such as Brexit, COVID-19) have on management. Finally, the contemporary economic concepts, models and frameworks are introduced allowing you to explain impacts to customers and markets. Within Politics, you will be immersed in political theory, key political ideas and how they are applied to international and domestic politics. You will also explore key political issues facing the world and economics will compliment and expand your understanding of the wider social and financial consequences of such issues.
In your second and third years you will undertake core economics concepts that include organisational behaviour and theory, impacts of market structures and pricing strategies, the effective development and utilisation of industry specific techniques for operation management, such as econometrics in addition to macroeconomic behaviour and systems. To solidify your understanding, you will have the opportunity to apply the theories identified above into an independent research project allowing you to explore the analytical skills associated with economics and politics excellence. Within politics, you will be given the opportunity to delve deeper into political themes such as nationalism, devolution, global inequality and multiculturalism.
How will I be taught?
Our enthusiastic staff will teach you through the medium of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and individual/ group based project work.
You will be assessed through a combination of coursework, practicals, projects, workshops and examinations.
To ensure that you are performing consistently and to make the most of your university experience, you will be assigned a personal tutor. The role of the personal tutor will be critical to your overall student experience while studying at Aberystwyth University and your chosen personal tutor will assist you with all matters relating to academic and non-academic.
