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Business vs Economics degree

Hi!
I take both of these subjects at A level and I'm currently debating on whether to take a business or an economics degree, or perhaps a business economics degree. In terms of career prospects which course may be the most beneficial?
Personally, I find looking at the business side of things a lot more interesting than examining the economy as a whole, however an economics degree may be more respected?
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Reply 1

29Bilal96

Not an expert, but I think an economics degree would be more respected like you said, so I'd go for that I guess

Reply 2

NowAndThen

Do you enjoy Economics? Enough to want to study Economics only over the next 3 years? What are your career plans?

Do you prefer understanding the various aspects of business? From operations research/management to accounting & finance, marketing, human resource management, business development, change management? Do you know what kind of careers are available to business degree graduates?

Economics may be more respectable but so is a business or management degree from respectable universities like Manchester, Warwick, Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Lancaster, Durham and many more.

You should take into account the other factors in making the final decision. Excellent universities offer business degrees for a good reason. But, in general, I find many people not understanding that a management degree is not about the kind of management one learns on the job. It is a lot more academic and science than just gut feel which is why many underestimate a business degree.

Reply 3

nathanghann

Hi Rebecca,

I undertook Business Economics which was a really good mix that gave me a grounding on both subjects, I ended up majoring in Economics.

I would suggest you look for a joint degree which can give you the best of both worlds and still gives you the flexibility to specialise in one area over the other.

Reply 4

NowAndThen

Original post by nathanghann

good idea …. there are many joint degrees available if you like both business and economics …. some are called Economics and Management, and many other combinations, Economics and Psychology, Economics and Finance and Management. With the exception of those who want to end up as a specialist in Economics, most other careers do not need someone with a pure Economics degree. In fact, a broad degree may be better. Oxford, for example, does not have a pure Economics degree, and it is their approach or philosophy too for their degrees, unlike Cambridge. One can always have more options in Economics, thereby making it a major. Just remember, you will not learn everything you need in your future career from just the 3 years at university. So, there is no need to be too obsessed with taking the right degree unless one is planning to be a professional - doctor, dentist, lawyer (even then it is believed the best training is for lawyers to have a non-legal first degree followed by conversion). If you want a career as an Economist then by all means, do a BSc Economics. Hope that helps.