Why study Economics at Aberystwyth?

• Become a student  in an established department for research and practice and be taught by expert lecturers who will help you develop your knowledge on economic principles, and become confident with the technical and quantitative aspects of Economics as a study. 

• Enhance your career opportunities through our partnerships with business, industry and commerce.

• Be enriched by our visiting speakers who bring their professional experience to the classroom.

• We have arrangements with many partner universities overseas to deliver short academic programmes (2 weeks) to small groups of management and business students (on a self-funding basis), to enable you to experience the impact of the cultural environment when conducting business abroad. We currently have partner universities in India, China, Russia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil and our portfolio of countries is rapidly expanding.

Our Staff

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.

Career prospects

A degree in Economics is highly rated by employers and on average attracts particularly high levels of graduate salaries. 

Our graduates have progressed into these specialist pathways:

• Chartered Accountant;

• Chartered Certified Accountant;

• Chartered Management Accountant;

• Chartered Public Finance Accountant;

• Economist;

• Investment analysis;

• Financial risk analyst;

• Actuary;

• Civil Service;

• Diplomatic Service;

• Local Government.

Transferable Skills

Studying a degree in Economics will equip you with the following skills:

• Understanding of organisational behaviour and structure;

• Improved numeracy skills and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data;

• Deep understanding of the causes and effects of economic and other external changes;

• The ability to communicate clearly written and spoken;

• Effective problem solving;

• Analytical and creative thinking skills;

• Decision- making;

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team;

• Time-management and organisational skills;

• Self-motivation and self- reliance.

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

Discover more out about the various opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers team offer.

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and YES (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department. 

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

In the first year you may discover:

• Economic principles;
• Economic mathematics and statistics;
• And a selection of elective modules (including statistics for economists, managing finance and an introduction to management). 

In the second year you may explore:

• Policy implications of economic theory;
• Economic interpretation;
• An introduction to econmetrics; 
• Macroeconomic Behaviour and Systems; 
• Development Economics. 

In the third year you may study:

• The core understanding of microeconomics and macroeconomics;
• Investment and Financial Instruments;
• Taxation;
• Development of Economics;
• Economics of Labour and Industrial Relations;
• International Trade and Trade Policy.

How will I be taught? 

You will be taught through lectures, seminars and tutorials of which are in small groups. You will be required on some modules to deliver presentations, work effectively as part of a group and undertake any essays that are required from you.

At Aberystwyth University, all our modules are placed online for you to study further in the comfort of your room. We also have a wealth of printed texts which are available in our library and the National Library of Wales.

 The course is assessed by:

• Examinations;
• Assessed essays;
• Projects;
• Presentations;
• Dissertation (certain modules).

You will be allocated a personal tutor for the duration of degree at Aberystwyth University. 

What I love about my course is its scope, broadness and the fact that there is probably no area which is not intertwined with it. Patryk Szostak

I enjoy learning about how the economy works. How money isn't just printed out at any time, but is controlled by the government. Economics allows me to understand the fundamental problems that all societies face. Moreover, it focuses on the interaction of the market and people, how economic agents behave or interact, and how the economy works. Fon Yih Young