Economics and Social Policy with Foundation Year
Birkbeck, University of London
UCAS Code: LL16 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE grade C or new grade 4, or equivalent, in English and mathematics.
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
The BSc Economics and Social Policy (ESP) with Foundation Year allows you to study a wide range of economic, social, political and geographical theories while learning how to apply them to contemporary policy issues.
The programme will help you to address important issues such as:
- What explains the massive differences in prosperity across the globe, both between countries and between individuals within countries?
- How do different economic systems affect these outcomes?
- What is the role of government and other power structures in affecting economic and social outcomes?
- How do political systems differ across the world?
- What role do gender and race play in economic, political and social systems?
The programme provides rigorous training in economics and a broad understanding of social policy and politics. As the programme proceeds, you can choose greater specialisation in economics or other disciplines as you wish.
Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will automatically progress onto our three-year, full-time evening study BSc Economics and Social Policy or onto one of our other Economics programmes: BSc Economics, BSc Economics and Business, BSc Finance with Accounting or BSc Financial Economics. You need only complete one application and you enrol onto one programme.
We also offer part-time Foundation Year degrees which allow you to spread out your Foundation Year studies over two years. As the 'Foundation Year' is made up of 120 credits, as a part-time student you can take 60 credits in each of your first and second years before starting the main four-year BSc Economics and Social Policy. This means that you can take six years to complete the part-time degree with Foundation Year.
**HIGHLIGHTS**
- Our Foundation Year programmes will fully prepare you for undergraduate study and are ideal if you returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.
- The Department of Economics, Mathematics and Statistics brings together research and teaching in economics, finance, mathematics and statistics in a single department which creates significant interdisciplinary synergies.
- We have an excellent reputation for the quality of our teaching, providing training for employers such as the Treasury and the Bank of England.
- You will be taught by academics who are professional practitioners in the world of economics and international finance, and who provide specialist advice and in-house training for government departments and City firms and banks.
- The research of our academics, many of whom are recognised as world-class experts in their fields, feeds directly into our teaching programmes. As a student you can be certain that your tutors are actively working to extend the boundaries of knowledge.
Modules
For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.
Assessment methods
For most modules, you will do coursework and sit examinations. The relative weights of these components will vary from module to module and you will be given this information on the individual module syllabus/reading list.
Coursework assignments will vary, but may include essays, problem-solving (modules involving quantitative techniques are likely to involve exercises designed to test your ability to apply these techniques to solve problems) and in-class and mid-term tests. Please note that there are penalties for late submission of coursework.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Birkbeck, University of London
Economics, Mathematics and Statistics
What students say
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How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Social policy
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Economics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
We don't have more detailed stats to show you in relation to this subject area at this university but read about typical employment outcomes and prospects for graduates of this subject below.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Sociology, social policy and anthropology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£25k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Economics
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£38k
£47k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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