Economics (Industry)

BSc Hons

  • UCAS code L105
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements AAB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 9

    9th for graduate prospects: Economics

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 10

    10th for Economics

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 10

    10th for satisfaction with teaching: Economics

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

Introduction

BSc Economics (Industry) begins by introducing the foundational principles of economic theory. The BSc then focuses on the mathematical and statistical methods employed in economics. Whether your goal is to use economics in finance or policy, this course is flexible enough to allow you to pursue either.

Course overview

As a student who is comfortable and fluent in mathematics, BSc Economics (Industry) provides you with the analytic skills and intellectual toolbox to help answer some of the most pressing economics questions.

You will learn how to interpret data, understand (and quantify) the decisions made by individuals, organisations, and governments and evaluate economic policies.

You will cover the fundamentals of economic theory and practice, and as your degree progresses and you discover more about both the subject and yourself, you have the opportunity to flex this degree in ways that speak to your changing interests and strengths. This might lead you to choose modules in:

  • International trade
  • Environmental economics
  • Health economics
  • Behavioural economics

Amongst many other specialisations. This leads to a degree unique to you, where you have played a major part in building the degree you want.

In the second year, you will deepen your understanding of topics such as micro and macroeconomics, as well as taking modules in econometrics and research methods.

Your third year is spent in industry. You’ll be supported in securing a placement, with past students joining companies such as IBM, Lloyds Bank, Microsoft, PwC and the Bank of England. Roles on offer range from project management and logistics to investment, business development and risk. Most placements are in the UK, but there are some options overseas.

In your final year, we offer a wide range of economics modules, from Public Economics to International Trade, from Health Economics to Game Theory, so you can tailor your studies to suit your aspirations.

Key facts

What separates Lancaster from the crowd is the flexible nature of our Economics degree. Not only can you choose more and more of your modules as you progress through your degree, but economics can also be combined with:

  • Politics
  • International Relations
  • Geography
  • Politics and Philosophy (the E in PPE)

Many of these subjects are great complements to economics.

Throughout your degree, we’ll supply training in CV writing, interview assessment centres and telephone interviews. We are proud of our aspiring economists and aim to nurture the potential in every one of them.

You do not need an A level in Economics to enrol in any of our degrees, although the BSc Economics does require A level Maths.

This course is also available as a three-year programme without a year in industry, or a four-year programme with study abroad.

Course outcomes

BSc Economics (Industry) offers a grounding in the fundamentals of economics. The most powerful aspect of economics is that it teaches a way of thinking which can then be applied to a specific field. You need specific knowledge and skills if you want to be a government economist advising on tax or social/welfare costs. The same is true for a career in finance. You need specific finance models – how much to invest here or advise clients to invest there. But the mode of thinking is the same for both: it is the critical, disciplined way of thinking that you will get from an Economics degree at Lancaster University. Economics opens up the world because the critical and analytical thinking skills that it inculcates apply to whatever your passion, whether it is politics, finance, the trading floor, or working for a Non-governmental organisation; all use the same skills.

Careers

Our degrees are designed to prepare you for a career in industry, business, finance, consultancy or government. Recent Economics graduates have joined banks and financial consultancies such as HSBC and Deloitte, while others have been employed on graduate schemes with major companies, including BAE and the Swire Group.

Many of our Economics students have gained places on postgraduate courses at top institutions and then pursued specialised careers as economists – for example, at the Bank of England, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and in academia.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with relevant life and work-based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability awareness, career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

The Management School has an award-winning careers team to provide a dedicated careers and placement service offering a range of innovative services for management school students. Our high reputation means we attract a wide range of leading global employers to campus offering you the opportunity to interact with graduate recruiters from day one of your degree.

Entry requirements

Grade requirements

A Level AAB

Required Subjects A level Mathematics grade B

GCSE English Language grade C or 4

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements web pages.

Other qualifications

International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including 6 in HL Mathematics (either analysis and approaches or applications and interpretations)

BTEC May be considered alongside A level Mathematics or Further Mathematics with at least grade B

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions web pages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,250 £25,450

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Alumni profiles

Link: click to see Amy Ditchfield
portrait photograph of Amy Ditchfield

Amy Ditchfield

BSc Economics (Industry), 2019

The degree provided me with core mathematical and statistical skills, as well as key Economic concepts, theories and leading research in many Economics fields.
Link: click to see Pankhuri Gadi
portrait photograph of Pankhuri Gadi

Pankhuri Gadi

BSc Economics (Industry), 2020

The teaching quality of the Economics Department is very strong. All the staff are willing to help with any problems and have a real interest in ensuring students achieve their full academic potential.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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