University of Bradford
Division of Economics
Awarding and teaching institution:
Final award:
Programme title:
Duration:
UCAS code:
Subject benchmark statement:
Date produced:
University of Bradford
BA (Honours) [English National Qualifications Framework level H]
Economic Studies (exit route from BSc (Honours) courses in
Economics)
3 years full time; 4 years with study abroad or placement
n/a (exit route)
Economics
May 2007, July 2010, July 2011
The Division of Economics operates within the School of Social and International Studies, where teaching staff
have research interests in the fields of trade, economic integration, macroeconomic policy, finance, 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’s programmes range across economics and related disciplines. Current programmes focus on
economics in general; economics and its application to particular fields in the areas of business, finance or
international trade; and a range of degrees that combine economics with other social sciences or marketing.
All courses comprising the Undergraduate Economics Programme in the Division of Economics provide a
structured approach to the discipline of economics that is informed by the Quality Assessment Agency for Higher
Education (QAAHE) Benchmarking Statement in Economics with respect to the aims of the degree programme,
subject knowledge and understanding, together with subject-specific skills including numeracy and quantitative
skills. Each course offers a choice of complementary options taught in the Division of Economics, in other
divisions within the School of Social and International Studies, and appropriate subjects taught in other Schools.
This specification details the single honours BA Economic Studies degree. This degree aims to provide a
familiarity with the core areas of economic analysis together with an appreciation of their application to a range
of more specialised areas and policy issues.
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes indicate what a graduate should know and understand, and be able to do, on successful
completion of a degree. On successful completion of BA Economics Studies, you will be able to:
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
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Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the theories and concepts of economics and show an appreciation of
relevant methods and techniques of economic analysis.
Apply knowledge of economic principles to a range of more specialised areas of study, with either a national
or international focus.
Demonstrate discipline skills including abstraction of essential features of complex systems; analysis,
deduction and induction applied to assumption-based models; basic quantification and design of data and
their effective organisation; framing of parameters in problems.
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, and developing a career.
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 at Stages 1 and 2 provide a logical progression in knowledge and understanding of
micro- and macroeconomics and an introduction to analytical techniques, learning strategies, and personal
development skills at appropriate levels. Core course units are indicated in bold type in the following table.
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.
Effective for the academic year 2011/12
© 2001 University of Bradford
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 of Economics Study Abroad coordinator 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 Divisional 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 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
This degree is transfer route from an existing economics degree. For entry, students will have completed 120
credits in stage 1. To complete their course on this route, students select from options available in the Division of
Economics, or modules offered by other departments in the School of Social and International Studies, or
elsewhere in the University. A current list of the Division of Economics core (C) and option (O) course units
relevant to the degree is included in the table below. Students must take a minimum of 80 credits from the
prescribed list in each of Stages 2 and 3. You may not choose two options that cover essentially the same
subject matter.
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.
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© 2001 University of Bradford
Code
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ID-1012L
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Course Unit Title
STAGE 1
Principles and Applications of Economics
(Microeconomics)
Principles and Applications of Economics
(Macroeconomics)
Study Skills and Data Analysis for Economists
Mathematics for Economists
The World Economy Since 1945
Introduction to Accounting and Finance
Academic Skills
Preliminary Mathematics for Economists
Introduction to Financial Markets
STAGE 2
Microeconomic Theory
Macroeconomic Theory
Statistics for Economists
Career and Personal Development for Economists
Development Economics
Financial Markets and Institutions
Industrial Organisation
Research Skills for Economists
Environmental Economics
STAGE 3
Dissertation in Economics
The Economics and Finance of Business
Topics in Microeconomics
Topics in Macroeconomics
Development Policy Issues
Financial Economics
Economics of Leisure
International Trade
International Monetary Economics
Economics of Labour
Integrated Strategic Human Resource Management
European Political Economy
Public Policy
Stage
Sem
Credit
Economic
studies
1
1/2
20
C
1
1/2
20
C
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
2
1
1/2
1
1
2
20
10
10
20
10
10
10
C
C
O
O
C†
C†
O
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1,2
1,2
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
20
20
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
C
C
C
C
O
O
O
O
O
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1/2
1/2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
2
40
20
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
C† Students may be exempt from this module subject to performance in the introductory week screening test
.
Admission and Progression
There is no direct entry onto this course. It provides an alternative route with different learning outcomes for
students initially registered for a BSc (Honours) degree in the department.
This course is provided as an exit route only for students who have either failed to meet the progression
requirements to Stage 2 or Stage 3 of a BSc (Honours) course, or at some point decide or are advised to
withdraw from a BSc (Honours) degree. Students transferring into Stage 2 of this course will have completed
the shaded Stage 1 units listed above, and will have met the progression requirements for admission to Stage 2
of the BA (Honours) in Economic Studies. Students transferring into Stage 3 of this course will have completed
the Stage 1 and Stage 2 units listed above in bold type, and will have met the standard university regulations
for progression to Stage 3 of an Honours degree.
Detailed and definitive university regulations for progression are published on the web at
http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/acsec/QA_Hbk/Undergrad_Regs_.html#progression_between_stages and apply to
this course. In addition to the standard regulations:
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© 2001 University of Bradford

to progress to stage 2 of the BA (Honours) Economic Studies degree course students 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).
Sustainability
The University of Bradford, and the School of Social and International Studies (SSIS), are committed to the
principles of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) set out in UNESCO (2005) definition which include:
interdisciplinarity; value-driven; critical thinking and problem solving; participatory decision-making; and applied
learning which is relevant and culturally appropriate to local and other contexts.
In your programme you will find these principles underlie the teaching learning and assessment strategies. ESD
is integrated within the programme’s aim of allowing you the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem
solving skills, an appreciation of competing perspectives within economics and of the interplay between
economic analysis, business and the policy environment.
In addition there are modules in which the themes and issues of ESD are particularly exemplified, such as:
 Research Skills for Economists which will develop your critical and analytical abilities and provide
you with the tools to undertake independent, scholarly research in order to improve understanding of
the world around us.
 Macroeconomic Theory, in which you will gain understanding of the major strands of
macroeconomic thought, how they inform understanding of inflation, unemployment, depression and
economic growth and the competing policy agendas that these perspectives give rise to.
We are also committed in SSIS to giving you opportunities to engage in debates about the meaning and future of
Sustainable Development, as well as in the practice of ESD, for example, through volunteering on and off
campus, by taking action in a series of activities as a School.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies
The strategy for learning within the Division 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, essays and other written work, oral
presentations, problem solving exercises and group work. Classroom and mid-semester tests are intended to
provide feedback on your progress.
Admission requirements
This degree is a transfer route within the existing programme. Students need to have passed stage 1 of any
economics degree at the University of Bradford. They can be considered for transfer if they meet the normal
University progression requirements in any of our economics degrees at stage 2. It may also be possible for
students who have taken and passed a first or second stage of study at another university (within or without the
UK) to transfer. Applicants should contact the Division for individual consideration.
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. The Division of Economics 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 Division
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
Effective for the academic year 2011/12
© 2001 University of Bradford
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
the Division of Economics 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.
Further Information
For further information about the Division please contact:
Division of Economics
School of Social and International Studies
University of Bradford
Bradford
BD7 1DP
Tel: +44 (0)1274 233 981 Fax: +44 (0)1274 235 280
E-mail: ssisugadmissions@bradford.ac.uk
Web: www.bradford.ac.uk/economics
Effective for the academic year 2011/12
© 2001 University of Bradford