The Department of Economics is one of the country's leading departments specialising in political economy and heterodox approaches to economics as well as in the economics of development. Research and teaching is pursued on a variety of topics and is unique in its depth and range of regional and specialised coverage including topics from contemporary banking and finance the economics of the environment, gender economics, global economic theory, as well as the economic development of a variety of regions from Japan to the Middle East. BA Economics at SOAS University of London will provide you with training in microeconomics, macroeconomics and quantitative methods that will enable you to pursue a successful career in an economics-related profession or to go on to postgraduate work. BA Economics offers ample flexibility to the quantitative modules students can select, including a pathway to graduate with a BSc Economics degree. Students will be given guidance on module selections and transfer opportunities between programme structures throughout their degree, including those aiming to graduate with BSc Economics. Moreover, the SOAS Economics Department is distinctive in offering a pluralist and critical approach to economic theory, policy and real applications.
Why study Economics at SOAS?
- we offer the broadest portfolio of modules on economics and political economy
- our unrivalled focus in the study of developing and emerging economies provides you with a more critical approach to economic theory
- our academic staff are specialists within an unparalleled range of emerging and developing economies, and a broad spectrum of theory and policy debates
- theoretical concepts and debates are expertly applied to real issues within the countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as in the global economy and interdependencies therein
- you will be able to flexibly structure your programme using our Open Options modules to take advantage of the expertise of our other departments, including the opportunity to learn a language
- we are specialists in the delivery of languages. Your command of a language from SOAS will set you apart from graduates of other universities
Apply now via UCAS or visit our upcoming Open Day.
Find out more about how to apply.
Visit our Economics department page to find out more.
Programme Code: UGSF0068
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: 2021
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Entry requirements
- A minimum of Grade B (grade 6 in the new structure) at GCSE for those without A-Level Maths (or equivalent)
- A Levels:
- AAA-AAB
- IB:
- 37 (666 at HL)
View alternative entry requirements
BTEC: DDD
Access to HE: Minimum of 30 Level 3 Credits at Distinction
Scottish Highers: AAAAA
Scottish Advanced Highers: AAA
Irish LC: 360 points from 5 Higher level subjects at grade C1 or above
Advanced Placement: 4 5 5 (Two semesters - UCAS Group A) plus US HSGD with GPA 3.0
Euro Bacc: 85%
French Bacc: 15/20
German Abitur: 1.5
Italy DES: 85/100
Austria Mat: 1.5
Polish Mat: Overall 80% including 3 extended level subjects
- duration:
- 3 Years
Fees 2021/22
- UK fees:
- £9,250
- Overseas fees:
- £19,560
Fees for 2021/22 entrants. The fees are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. Further details can be found in the Fees and Funding tab on this page or in the Registry Undergraduate Tuition Fees page
Students take 120 credits composed of Core, Compulsory and Optional modules.
Core modules: These are mandatory and must be passed in the year they are taken before the student can progress to the next year.
Compulsory modules: These are mandatory but in the case of a failure, students may carry this into their next year provided that they retake and pass the failed element or exam.
Optional modules: These are designed to help students design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.
*Students who wish to graduate with a BSc Economics degree have to make sure to include and successfully complete Mathematics for Economists and Econometrics as part of their degree
Year 1
Core Modules
Compulsory Modules
- PLUS choose modules from List A to the value of 45 credits
- OR choose modules from List A to the value of 30 credits and Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 15 credits
- OR choose modules from List A to the value of 15 credits and Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits
Year 2
Core Modules
Compulsory Modules
- PLUS choose modules from List B to the value of 30 credits
Year 3
Core Modules
Compulsory Modules
- Plus choose modules to the value of 105 credits from List C below
- OR choose modules to the value of 75 credits from List C below AND chose Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits
LIST A
LIST B
LIST C
NOTE: A maximum of 60 credits applies for regional economic development modules
Prerequisistes
In order to take.... |
Students should also have taken or provide evidence of equivalence to course convenors for: |
Macroeconomic Analysis |
Introduction to Economic Analysis |
Microeconomic Analysis |
Introduction to Economic Analysis AND EITHER Introductory Mathematics for Economists OR A-level Maths |
Intermediate Mathematics for Economists |
Students who are on stream A (with A-level Maths) or Introductory Mathematics for Economists |
Issues in Economic Development |
Introduction to Economic Analysis and/or Comparative Growth: Theoretical Approaches |
International Economics |
Introduction to Economic Analysis |
Banking and Finance |
Introduction to Economic Analysis |
The Economics of the Environment |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Global Economic Policy |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Gender Economics |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
The Economics of the Environment |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Econometrics |
Statistics (module previously called Quantitative Methods in Economics) |
Applied Econometrics for Time-Series Data Analysis |
Econometrics |
Applied Econometrics for Cross-section Data Analyses |
Econometrics |
Economic development of Africa: microeconomic approaches |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Economic development of Africa: macroeconomic approaches |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
China's Economic Transformation |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
China and World Development |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Political Economy of Development and Change in the Middle East |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Topics in the Political Economy of Contemporary Middle East |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Economic Development of Japan |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Economic Development of Southeast Asia |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Political Economy of Development and Change in South Asia |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Topics in the Political Economy of Contemporary South Asia |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
History of Economic Thought and Methods |
EITHER Macroeconomic Analysis OR Microeconomic Analysis OR Issues in Development Economics |
Economic Development in the Asia- Pacific Region |
EITHER Macroeconomic Analysis OR Microeconomic Analysis OR Issues in Development Economics |
Independent Study Project in Economics |
Macroeconomic Analysis and/or Microeconomic Analysis. An average mark of 65% or more in Year 2 is required |
Economic Development in Africa |
Either Macroeconomic Analysis or Microeconomic Analysis or Issues in Development Economics |
Programme Specification
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
Teaching & Learning
Our teaching and learning approach is designed to support and encourage students in their own process of self-learning, and to develop their own critical grounds of the economics discipline.
Contact Hours
All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 30 or 15 credits. They are taught over 10 or 20 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.
As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study (see Approaches to teaching and learning at SOAS). It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. In the Department of Economics, most undergraduate modules have a two-hour lecture every week. Some, but not all, also have a one-hour seminar or tutorial every week.
More information is on the page for each module.
Modules
Teaching combines innovative use of audio-visual materials, practical exercises, group discussions and conventional lecturing. Modules are taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials, usually a two-hour lecture and an one-hour tutorial weekly. Tutorials are sessions in which students are expected to take lead in discussions and/or present reports or presentations or solve problem sets and applied exercises in quantitative modules. Assessment of most modules is through a combination of written examination and course works.
Learning Resources
SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.
Tuition Fees
Full details of undergraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Undergraduate Tuition Fees page.
Fees for 2021/22 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year.
Programme |
Full-Time |
UK Students |
Overseas Students |
BA, BSc, LLB |
£9,250 |
£19,560 |
BA/BSc Language Year Abroad |
£1,385 |
£9,780 |
Scholarships
For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section
An undergraduate degree in Economics from SOAS will give you a solid grounding in analytical and critical thinking, statistical and computing skills and knowledge of economic principles and their application to concrete situations.
Skills gained include:
- expertise in key economics and political economy theories from a pluralist stance, appreciating both orthodox and heterodox views
- expertise in the emerging economies of Africa, Asia and the Middle East
- the ability to think laterally, to take a global perspective, and employ critical reasoning
- statistical and computing skills
- analytical skills
- communication and presentation skills
Graduates from the Department have pursued a variety of successful careers, often with Asian or African links, in international organisations, business and industry, banking, accountancy, journalism, consultancy, teaching and higher education. Many have gone on to read for postgraduate degrees either in the Department’s own thriving masters’ and research degree programmes or elsewhere.
Find out more about Economics Graduate Destinations.
Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:
- BBC World Service
- Bloomberg LP
- Capital Economics
- Deloitte
- Goldman Sachs
- Grant Thornton
- OECD
- PWC
- United Nations Organisations
- World Bank
- ODI
Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
- Assistant Economist
- Equity Derivative Worker
- Financial Analyst
- Freelance Broadcast Journalist
- Economist/Researcher
- Policy Data Manager
- Monitoring Analyst
- Risk Consultant
- Sustainability Consultant
- Chief Economist
A Student's Perspective
SOAS is like no other university in the world in terms of the specialisation in the emerging economies. There is no better place to come and study for someone interested in making a difference in the world!
Aparna Rao