economics uni course

anon.academic.

hi, I want to do economics for uni, however, I haven't picked economics as an a level. I'm doing maths, business and chemistry and I need to do super-curriculars for uni though and I don't know what to do. I'm reading a few books etc but I don't know what would actually make me stand out in an application.

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

You don't need A-level Economics. A-level Further Maths would be desirable for a few unis (and if your school offers it, expected for LSE).

In any event applying to economics isn't about reading some "magic bullet" book or doing some special activity to stand out, just write about why you are genuinely (and legitimately) interested in economics. Which is hopefully more than "because I want to work at Goldman Sachs when I graduate".

Reply 2

anon.academic.

of course, I meant to say that when describing why I am interested in economics in an application, I would have to prove that with points to back my interests and I don't know how I would show that.

Reply 3

UEA Rep Fatma

Official Rep

Original post by anon.academic.

Hi! 🙂
As someone has already mentioned, you don't need A Level Economics to study economics.

Universities look for passion of the subject in applications. With that in mind, I'd say pick your favourite topic/area of economics (if you don't have one you can read around and see what interests you) and then try to focus on specifically that through podcasts/books etc.. (even things like TEDtalks!)
Depending on what year you are in, you could even try and get some economics work experience/internship although this is not mandatory and I appreciate it can be difficult to do!

If you genuinely do find economics interesting you will be able to write more about it during you application and therefore express your passion for it.
I hope this helps! 🙂 Feel free to ask any questions!
Fatma.
Natural sciences student.

Reply 4

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

Hello there!

I’m also a uni student, and honestly, you’re not alone. There are students who apply for Economics at universities without having taken it at A-Level. The fact that you’re doing Maths, Business, and Chemistry already gives you a strong academic base, especially with Maths, which most universities really value for Economics courses.

You can try doing things that show genuine curiosity beyond the classroom, for example, you can listen to economics podcasts, explore online courses, or even get involved in discussions. This could be impressive on a personal statement.

If you can, link your Business and Chemistry knowledge to economic themes, for example, supply and demand, or how pricing works in pharmaceuticals. It shows you’re thinking like an economist even if you didn’t take the subject at A-Level.

Universities love applicants who are curious, reflective, and can apply concepts to the real world. Anything that helps you explore economics in action will help you stand out!

I hope this helps!

Good luck!

Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador

Reply 5

SoasRepMK

Official Rep

Original post by anon.academic.

Hi there, I'm a final year Arabic and Economics student who didn't study Economics either, so as I'm sure you can already tell by all the other responses and my own situation you definitely don’t need A-level Economics to apply for an Economics degree.

That said, since you haven’t studied Econ formally, and how you have so rightly mentioned super-curriculars will really help you show your interest. You’re on the right track with reading books — you could also explore:

•

Podcasts like Planet Money or The Economist's Money Talks.

•

Online courses (FutureLearn, edX or LSE's microeconomics crash course).

•

Writing short reflections on articles you read (great for your personal statement).

•

Attending webinars or public lectures/masterclasses – most universities will offer them throughout the year

It’s also worth noting that Economics can look very different depending on the university. For example, SOAS focuses more on global development and heterodox schools of thought, while LSE is very mathematical and theory-heavy — something to keep in mind when deciding where to apply.

Finally, you can chat with current students at many universities through platforms like UniBuddy to get a feel for the courses and what helped them stand out in their applications: 👉 https://www.soas.ac.uk/chat-students-and-staff

Hope this helps!

Marjan Karim
SOAS Student Rep

Reply 6

anon.academic.

Original post by Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Hello there!
I’m also a uni student, and honestly, you’re not alone. There are students who apply for Economics at universities without having taken it at A-Level. The fact that you’re doing Maths, Business, and Chemistry already gives you a strong academic base, especially with Maths, which most universities really value for Economics courses.
You can try doing things that show genuine curiosity beyond the classroom, for example, you can listen to economics podcasts, explore online courses, or even get involved in discussions. This could be impressive on a personal statement.
If you can, link your Business and Chemistry knowledge to economic themes, for example, supply and demand, or how pricing works in pharmaceuticals. It shows you’re thinking like an economist even if you didn’t take the subject at A-Level.
Universities love applicants who are curious, reflective, and can apply concepts to the real world. Anything that helps you explore economics in action will help you stand out!
I hope this helps!
Good luck!
Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador

thank you so much, this really helped!