University of Bradford
School of Social and International Studies
Division of Economics
Awarding and teaching institution:
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Programme title:
Duration:
UCAS code:
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University of Bradford
BSc (Honours) [English National Qualifications Framework level H]
Economics with Joint Honours
3 years full time; 4 years with study abroad or placement
L1L2 Economics with International Relations
L1N5 Economics with Marketing
L1L9 Economics with Development Studies
Economics
May 2003
May 2005,August 2005,June 2006, January 2007, May 2007, April
2008, June 2008, Nov 2010
The Division of Economics is based within the School of Social and International Studies. Staff teaching on
the Economics Programme have research interests in the fields of trade, economic integration,
macroeconomic policy, individual behaviour and social economics and these are reflected in developments
in the curriculum. Degrees courses within the Economics Programme have an emphasis on transferable
skills in addition to subject knowledge and aim to be relevant to contemporary life, occupations and events.
The Division offers three joint BSc (Honours) degrees combining Economics with closely related subjects
offered by other Divisions across the School, and by the School of Management in the University of Bradford
(others are also available in combination with Psychology , with Social Policy and with Sociology and are
detailed in a separate Programme Specification). The Economics component provides a structured
approach to the discipline that is informed by the Quality Assessment Agency for Higher Education (QAAHE)
Benchmarking statement in economics. In addition, these degrees provide opportunities to apply concepts,
theories and methods used in other areas of social science, international relations and business and
management, with the aim of understanding the relationship between economics and significant aspects of
contemporary human and organisational behaviour. The coverage of subsidiary subjects is informed by
appropriate sections of the QAAHE benchmarking statements in business and management and politics and
international relations. Through your selection of options, you will have considered the interaction of
economic factors with issues related to your subsidiary subject.
Your choice of degree will depend on whether:
 you are interested in contemporary global issues such as development, conflict and security,
politics and International Relations;
 you are aiming for an understanding of market mechanisms, in particular how Economics
relates to the Marketing of resources, goods and services;
 you wish to study Economics with Development Studies to understand how economics
and related disciplines relate to the process of development and the situation of the
developing world.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes indicate what a graduate should know and understand, and be able to do, on successful
completion of a degree, not only in terms of the academic subjects they have studied, but also in more
general discipline skills and personal competences with broader relevance beyond a degree. At the end of
joint Honours course in Economics, you should have acquired:
 Knowledge and Understanding of the theories and concepts of economic principles and policy at
both microeconomic and macroeconomic levels; relevant quantitative methods and analytical
techniques; the applications of economics with respect to government policy and the performance of
economies. In relation to your joint degree, you will have acquired knowledge of the principles,
theories and applications of your chosen second discipline: Economics with International Relations (EIR) this includes knowledge of international
political theory and analysis and its relation to issues such as conflict and security and
poverty and development;
 Economics with Marketing (EM) this includes knowledge of the development and operation
of markets for resources, goods and services and related issues of consumer behaviour;
Effective for the Academic year 2008/9

Economics with Development Studies (EDS) this includes knowledge of theories of
development and understanding of the causes of poverty and the development policies and
interventions adopted to address those causes.

Discipline Skills including abstraction of essential features of complex systems; analysis, deduction
and induction applied to assumption-based models; quantification and design of data and its
effective organisation; framing of parameters in problems: Economics with International Relations specific discipline skills include ability to investigate,
analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems;
 Economics with Marketing specific discipline skills include the ability to synthesise the
contributions of different disciplines in the study of consumer behaviour;
 Economics with Development Studies specific discipline skills include the ability to
synthesise the contributions of different social science disciplines in the analysis of
development policy.

Personal Transferable Skills in critical thinking, independent and group study experience,
numerical and statistical techniques, IT skills, using written and electronic sources of information,
effective communication and fluency in speech and writing, curriculum vitae preparation.
Course Structure
The degrees consist of 360 credits, made up of core and optional course units. 120 credits are taken at
each Stage. The core course units in economics and transferable skills offered in Stage 1 are common to all
the Honours degrees offered by BCID, with specialisation commencing through core course units in the
relevant joint discipline. Core course units at all stages are indicated by a ‘C’ in the following table. You will
also take a minimum of 20 credits in your subsidiary subject in Stages 2 and 3 and further options to make
up the 120 credits. You may not choose two options that cover essentially the same subject matter. In
Stage 3 you will also prepare an 8,000-word dissertation in Economics. If your pre-University study was not
undertaken in English you will be required to take English language courses in your first year. These are
indicated by a ‘C*’ in the table.
The list of course units illustrates the core and optional course units available in BCID in each academic
period throughout a degree course. In addition to the options marked ‘O’ against each degree, you may
choose 20 electives from other lists, subject to availability.
Study Abroad opportunities
We encourage students to consider an optional year of study abroad, taken between stage 2 and 3 of your
economics degree at Bradford. You will be invited to various University events providing more information
and will be formally introduced to opportunities in stage 2 in your Careers and Personal Development
module.
The Division has links with universities in Europe, North America and Australia. In most of our European
partner institutions, classes are taught in English, and study abroad activities to these universities are part of
the European Union Erasmus scheme. Whatever partner institution you choose, a year of study abroad will
provide you with invaluable experience of living and working in another culture and the modules you select
will complement your main degree studies.
Your diet of study at the partner institution will be agreed with the Division’s Study Abroad co-ordinator and
will be in addition to the credits you will study towards your economics degree. Upon successful completion
of your study abroad year you will be awarded the Diploma in International Studies in recognition of your
achievements.
Placement opportunities
Support is available from the Career Development Services and from the Division to help you identify
relevant placement opportunities. These are voluntary. If you secure a placement between 38 weeks and
one year in duration then, with the Division’s approval, you may switch to a four-year degree course and be
registered for the Diploma in Professional Experience. The Diploma is awarded subject to satisfactory
completion of the placement and a monthly diary, a reflective end of placement report, an oral presentation
and a placement supervisor assessment and is offered in addition to your degree course.
Your placement work is directed by the supervisor appointed by the provider, but you will be appointed an
academic tutor who will remain in contact to check that integration into the workplace is proceeding and that
Effective for the Academic year 2008/9
the work being required of you is appropriate and at a later stage to assist and advise both you and your
employer as to the requirements of the assessment process.
Undertaking a placement of this type provides you with: an opportunity to apply the knowledge,
understanding and skills gained on your course in a professional setting; helps you develop autonomy and
initiative, and to work effectively as a member of a professional team; will help you gain experience of the
working environment and assess the career opportunities available on graduation; and encourages critical
reflection on your personal and skills development.
Learning Teaching & Assessment Strategy:
Placement opportunities are to be identified by the student, with support from the University and agreed by
the Division. The duration must be between 38 weeks and one year.
Your performance during this placement (including) will form the basis for consideration for the award of a
Diploma of Professional Experience.
Notes for the curriculum
1. You will study 120 credits in each stage over the three stages of the course.
2. In Stage 1 you will choose 30 credits of options if a student of Economics with International Relations or
40 credits if an Economics with Marketing or with Development student in addition to the stated core
modules.
3. In Stage 2 you will study 80 credits of core economics and a minimum of 20 credits from optional and
core modules in your other named subject. The remaining credits will be chosen from the list of available
options or from electives.
4. In Stage 3, Semesters 1 and 2, you will take a 40 credit dissertation module and 20 credits of core
economics modules together with at least 20 credits from optional and core modules in your other
named subject. The remaining credits will be chosen from the list of available options or from electives.
5. You may choose up to 30 credits of your optional units across the three stages, at the appropriate level,
as electives from anywhere in the University, subject to timetabling restrictions and pre or co-requisites
being met.
The curricula may change, subject to the University’s course approval, monitoring and review procedures, as
improvements are made each year. The provision of optional course units may change from year to year
depending on scheduling and resources.
Curriculum map
Course Unit Title
Level
Sem
Cred.
EIR
EM
EDS
ID-1011L
Principles and Applications of Economics
(Microeconomics)
1
1/2
20
C
C
C
ID-1012L
Principles and Applications of Economics
(Macroeconomics)
Study Skills and Computing Techniques for
Economists
Introduction to International Relations
Mathematics for Economists
Foundations of Marketing
Global Society, Local Experiences
Introduction to Psychology
The World Economy Since 1945
1
1/2
20
C
C
C
1
1
20
C
C
C
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1/2
1/2
1
20
10
10
20
20
10
C
C
O
O
O
O
O
C
C
O
O
O
O
C
O
O
O
O
Code
STAGE 1
ID-1014D
PE-0101D
ID-1005M
MAN0105M
SS-1066L
SS-1072L
ID-????M
Effective for the Academic year 2008/9
PE-0111M
Introduction to Development
1
2
10
O
O
C
ID-1015M
ML-9041M
ML-9042M
ID-????M
The Development of Economic Ideas
English as a Foreign Language 1 E5
English as a Foreign Language 2 E6
Preliminary Mathematics
1
1
1
0
2
1
2
1
10
10
10
10
O
C*
C*
C†
O
C*
C*
C†
C
C*
C*
C†
ID-2105L
ID-2106L
Microeconomic Theory
Macroeconomic Theory
2
2
1,2
1,2
20
20
C
C
C
C
C
C
ID-4119L
Statistics and Econometrics
2
1,2
20
C
C
C
LSS2000M
2
1
10
C
C
C
ID-8000M
ID-2103L
ID-????M
MAN0713M
ID-2104M
ID-4113M
ID-4117M
Career and Personal Development for
Economists
Development Economics
Quantitative Economics
Financial Markets and Institutions
Marketing Management and Strategy
Research Skills for Economists
Industrial Organisation
Economics of the Environment
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1,2
1
1
2
2
2
10
20
10
10
10
10
10
O
O
O
O
C
O
O
O
O
O
C
C
O
O
C
O
O
O
C
O
O
ID-4118M
Political Economy of the Single European Market
2
2
10
O
O
O
Dissertation in Economics
Topics in Microeconomics
Topics in Macroeconomics
Topics in Business Economics
Development Policy Issues
International Trade
Business Finance and Investment Appraisal
Topics in Econometrics
Economics of Leisure
Economics of the Environment
International Monetary Economics
Economics of Labour
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1/2
1
1
1
1
1
1,2
1
1
2
2
2
40
10
10
10
10
10
20
10
10
10
10
10
C
C
C
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
C
C
C
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
C
C
C
O
C
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
ID-4234K
ID-3104M
ID-3105M
ID-4244M
ID-3110M
ID-4207M
ID-4248L
ID-4211M
ID-4220M
ID-4217M
ID-4208M
ID-4219M
C* Students who have not previously studied in the English Language may be required to take English as a
Foreign Language modules at Stage 1
C† Students will be exempt from this if they score 80% or more in the introductory week screening test.
Regulations for Progression
Detailed and definitive university regulations for progression are published on the web and apply to these
courses. Information is available from:
http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/acsec/QA_Hbk/Undergrad_Regs_.html#progression_between_stages
In addition to the standard regulations:
1.
to progress to the Honours Degree course in Stage 2 you must achieve at least 40.0% in the core
course units ID-1011L Principles and Applications of Economics (Microeconomics), and ID-1012L
Principles and Applications of Economics (Macroeconomics)
2.
to progress to the Honours Degree course in Stage 3 you must achieve at least 40.0% in the core
course units ID-2105L Microeconomic Theory and ID-2106L Macroeconomic Theory.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategies
The strategy for learning within the Centre is to enable you to achieve your optimum level of competence
and understanding at each Stage in order to be well prepared, and feel confident, to progress to higher
levels of skill and knowledge. While lectures are the main teaching method, a wide variety of other learning
activities take place including: lectures with notes and supplementary reading, exercises, projects and
workbooks, independent study and group work. Different assessment methods are employed to match the
learning outcomes of each course unit, and to achieve an overall balance between examinations (unseen or
open book), essays and other written work, oral presentations, problem solving exercises and group work.
Classroom and mid-semester tests are intended to provide feedback on student attendance and progress.
Effective for the Academic year 2008/9
The Stage 3 dissertation is a substantial piece of work that gives you the opportunity not only to increase
your specialist subject knowledge, but also to demonstrate your ability to undertake independent study.
Throughout the three-year course, you will acquire skills that will be useful not only in Economics, but in
whatever profession you choose to follow. These will be taught, practised and assessed.
Admission Requirements
There are several routes to entry. If you are offering any combination of GCE A/AS Levels, Vocational A/AS
levels and Scottish Framework qualifications, our standard offer is in the range 240-260 points. This points
total must include a minimum of 160 points from 2 GCE A levels (6-unit awards). There are no specific
subject requirements and General Studies may be included within the overall points score. GCSE
mathematics grade C or equivalent is also required. We welcome applications from mature students,
particularly those with Access course qualifications. The main requirement is that mature students should be
able to demonstrate a commitment to the subject and the course and appropriate learning and
communication skills. We also welcome candidates with the appropriate Irish Highers or the
European/International Baccalaureate, together with a range of equivalent international qualifications (and
which include evidence of ability in maths equivalent to GCSE grade C or above).
Applicants with other previous certificated learning (for instance an overseas or vocational qualification) are
also welcome to apply for entry to stage 1 or higher, as appropriate to their level of qualification and subject
experience.
International students need to show competence in English to a high level, for example, IELTS with overall
band score of 6.0 or equivalent.
Learning resources
The Learning Support Services of the University of Bradford, comprising the Library, IT Services and the
Career Development Service, have been rated excellent in quality reviews. BCID supplements the IT
resources available on campus with its own computer cluster for teaching and individual study. The
University Library is a designated European Documentation Centre with a comprehensive coverage of EU
information.
Student support and guidance
We aim to help you become a confident and independent learner who is able to source information from the
wide range of resources referenced in the student handbook, University website and virtual learning
environment, course study guides, libraries and lecture materials. However, personal contact is also vitally
important to successful learning and we seek to maintain a high level of interaction between students and
staff. The Centre has a reputation for friendliness and openness in staff-student relations. It is also a truly
international community, with nationals from many different countries represented in the student population.
Lecturers have regular office hours in which they are available for discussion and we seek to maintain
relatively small class sizes in the economics modules. In addition, each student is allocated a personal
academic tutor who acts as a mentor and adviser. Personal tutors are able to arrange for appropriate
specialist help from the wide range of experts across the University, as well as advise on any matter to do
with their tutee’s work or welfare. Student representation in BCID is organised through the Staff Student
Liaison Committees, chaired by an appointed academic staff member who reports to Academic Committee.
The University infrastructure for student support and guidance is very strong, and includes the Learner
Development Unit, Student Support Centre (‘the Hub’), Disabilities Office, Career Development Service, and
the Health Centre. Welfare and social support are also provided through the Student Union.
Employability of Graduates
Graduates with a training in economics are increasingly in demand for their analytical and problem solving
skills as much for their knowledge of economic principles and applications. Our graduates pursue a range of
careers in the fields on finance, insurance, general management, government and education. Many will also
go on to further postgraduate study at Masters level to study economics in greater depth or to complement
their first degree with a specialist business degree. See www.whystudyeconomics.ac.uk for more information
about the skills acquired by economics graduates and the types of careers pursued.
In choosing one of our joint economics degrees you will also be able to evaluate critically their application
from a broader social perspective. This will allow you to present a wide range of skills to potential
Effective for the Academic year 2008/9
employers, or indeed provide a solid basis for further postgraduate study in the fields of economics, social
sciences or business.
Effective for the Academic year 2008/9