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about economics degree

Hi, I hope whoever is reading this is well and would help me as much as they can.

I wanted to ask the following questions, please answer all the questions that you can answer:

1. To study economics degree, what are the entry requirements? which A level/btec are compulsory to study to do this degree?
2. By taking maths A level, is it possible to study economics degree?
3. what do you study in economics degree? - whoever have studied this degree, can you please let me know if you enjoyed it and what is it like?
4. what is it like to study economics degree? - is it similar to maths, A level maths?
5. will a person who have never studied economics before, would like to do this degree?
6. if you study this degree, which careers can you go to?
7. if you study this degree, can you easily find jobs?
8. by studying this degree, what is the salary like to be for the job options this degree provides.

I hope anyone will answer my questions, if you only know few questions please still answer it, it would be really helpful.
thanks

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Harman Kaur

Hi, I hope whoever is reading this is well and would help me as much as they can.
I wanted to ask the following questions, please answer all the questions that you can answer:
1. To study economics degree, what are the entry requirements? which A level/btec are compulsory to study to do this degree?
2. By taking maths A level, is it possible to study economics degree?
3. what do you study in economics degree? - whoever have studied this degree, can you please let me know if you enjoyed it and what is it like?
4. what is it like to study economics degree? - is it similar to maths, A level maths?
5. will a person who have never studied economics before, would like to do this degree?
6. if you study this degree, which careers can you go to?
7. if you study this degree, can you easily find jobs?
8. by studying this degree, what is the salary like to be for the job options this degree provides.
I hope anyone will answer my questions, if you only know few questions please still answer it, it would be really helpful.
thanks

Unlike your questions for the maths degree, I have done a degree in economics

1. To study economics degree, what are the entry requirements? which A level/btec are compulsory to study to do this degree?
If it's a quantitative degree in economics (recommended over the nonquantitative one), then you would be looking for A Level Maths with Further Maths being a preference for top end unis. BTECs are typically not accepted unless it's a nonquantitive degree, which typically accept A Levels in any subjects. It's a similar principle with IBs, etc.

2. By taking maths A level, is it possible to study economics degree?
See above

3. what do you study in economics degree? - whoever have studied this degree, can you please let me know if you enjoyed it and what is it like?
A lot of it is about theoretical and mathematical models of economic concepts i.e. a lot of abstract theory and maths.
You typically cover 3 main areas as a minimum: macroeconomics, microeconomics, and econometrics.
I particularly enjoy it because I enjoy debates, theories, maths, problem solving, and models. If you don't like this or you're more of a practical person, then it's probably not for you.

4. what is it like to study economics degree? - is it similar to maths, A level maths?
A lot of essays. There are more essays discussing theory than there is maths. You would have to be really biased and pick only the most mathematical modules in order to get into anything mathematical.
Is it similar to A Level Maths? It's not because it doesn't involve a lot of tricky problems solving that requires you to have a substantially high IQ and solve problems under timed conditions. It does however uses about half of the material that you have learned in A Level Maths (and possibly a few bits and bobs from Further Maths) i.e. calculus, sequences and series, logarithms, algebra, a lot of stats. You can also get material from linear algebra, complex numbers, and difference and differential equations.

5. will a person who have never studied economics before, would like to do this degree?
Yes. It does help if you did A Level Economics, but it's not necessary. Maths on the other hand is more or less expected. See previous answer.

6. if you study this degree, which careers can you go to?
Typically the best suited roles are those in economics. However, you can sometimes enter these roles with a quantitative degree or go through a degree apprenticeship via the Bank of England, so the degree isn't strictly necessary. Should you wish to study the degree to pursue these roles, it's typically recommended that you do a postgrad in economics prior to applying (at least a master's, but preferably a PhD).
Like most other degrees, you can then go into teaching your subject, go into academic research, or apply for any of the 600+ jobs that require no degree or require a degree in any subject. However, as economics is sometimes considered a quantitative subject (it's not really that quantitative), you can sometimes apply for similar roles to that that are suited for maths graduates (e.g. actuary), but not always.
Again, for the brochure like information on what you can do with an economics degree, see:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/economics
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/careers/careers-with-an-economics-degree
https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/what-can-you-do-economics-degree
https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/careers/information-and-resources/employment-sectors/economics
https://www.milkround.com/advice/what-jobs-can-you-get-with-an-economics-degree-in-the-uk
https://www.uniadmissions.co.uk/application-guides/economics-degree-career-options/
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/economics-degree-jobs
https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/blogs/study-and-student-life/what-jobs-can-you-get-with-an-economics-degree
https://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/career-planning/what-can-i-do-with-a-degree-in/economics
https://www.essex.ac.uk/departments/economics/career-prospects
https://www.wlv.ac.uk/news-and-events/wlv-blog/2023/march-2023/what-can-you-do-with-an-economics-degree.php
There are plenty more articles on Google for the above.

7. if you study this degree, can you easily find jobs?
Like the question you have posed in your applied maths degree thread, this is an entirely redundant question for the very same reasons. See: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7510666

8. by studying this degree, what is the salary like to be for the job options this degree provides.
Like the previous question, and Questions 7 and 8 in your applied maths degree thread, this is an equally if not more redundant question than your Questions 7s: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7510666

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 2

Harman Kaur

thanks for helping me a lot.