Business Economics BSc (Hons)

Your second year will give you the opportunity to further develop knowledge gained the previous year. Modules include a number of mandatory modules, together with one optional module, which can be selected from a range of choices, and can be used either to develop a specialisation with an eye on your potential future career, or to broaden your approach into various applied topics. You will need 120 credits to pass the year.

Modules

• Intermediate Microeconomics - 20 credits

  The module aims to:

  • Introduce and evaluate intermediate level theoretical foundations of microeconomics and provide examples of their application.
  • Define and critically apply methods of microeconomics of relevance to complex problem solving in Government, business and individual decision-making.
  • Explore the relevance and limitations of intermediate microeconomic foundations as applied to other related areas, e.g. labour economics, health economics and international trade.

  Compulsory

• Introduction to Econometrics - 20 credits

  This module aims to introduces students to the discipline of Econometrics with a particular emphasis on the theory and applications of the Classical Linear Regression Model and the violation of its underlying assumptions. The module builds on the statistical techniques developed in Statistics for Economists and the mathematical tools developed in Mathematics for Economists. It also provides the necessary basis for those students wishing to take Further Econometrics.

  Compulsory

• The Economist's Toolkit - Employability Skills - 10 credits

  This module is the second stage of a suite of modules which equip students with three sets of transferable skills: job application skills, leadership skills and intermediate academic skills. It prepares students to embark on career pathways to best suit their personal aspirations.

  The development of the first two will encourage students in their own career journey and enable students to generate evidence and build the confidence of their employability which can be used when applying for jobs, internships and/or placements as well as other work-related learning opportunities.

  The further development of the last set of skills will encourage students to begin considering their research project in the final year and enable students to enhance their research skills for the project or for postgraduate studies.

  Compulsory

• Intermediate Macroeconomics - 20 credits

  This module aims to deepen and widen students’ understanding by building upon the macroeconomic foundations acquired from the introductory economics modules at Level 4. It provides a thorough grounding in intermediate principles of macroeconomics. The module provides students with an appreciation of the potential applications of the analytical techniques, their limitations and critiques. In addition it also introduces students to some of the controversies between alternative theoretical approaches. It provides the underpinning for subsequent study in the degree courses in economics and it is also one of the key elements in the professional training of an economist.

  Compulsory

• Topics in Applied Economics

  Compulsory

• Add+vantage - 10 credits

  You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.

  Compulsory

  Assessment: coursework, exam

• Optional modules

  Choose one from the following three modules:

  Economics of Business Organisations - 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to introduce students to the analysis of business organisations from an economic perspective. After having completed the module, students will have a solid foundation of knowledge regarding the structure and operation of businesses in the real world. Students will also be equipped with the core economic concepts, principles and theories needed to appreciate and analyse the role and functioning of incentives in businesses as well as reasons for inefficiencies or failures. In addition, students will have an opportunity to learn how to critically discuss the merits and limitations of policies affecting the organisation of businesses and their scope to mitigate inefficiencies or failure of businesses. 

  Behaviourial Economics - 20 credits 

  This module will introduce students to the field of behavioural economics. It will examine the theoretical and empirical evidence an subsequently critically assess the usefulness of this sub discipline in interpreting consumer choice and behaviour. Students will learn how to apply behavioural principles and employ experimental tests in analyzing both economic and non-economic problems.

  Economics of Globalisation - 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to enable students to understand and be able to provide an analysis of the economics of globalisation. Students will use international trade theory and other relevant economic theory to assess major contemporary economic developments in the world economy.

  Optional

After your second year, you have an opportunity to take a sandwich year, studying abroad or on professional placement. 

Placement years are subject to additional costs, application, meeting applicable visa requirements and availability. Further costs incurred as a result of the professional work placement or study abroad shall be borne by the student.  

Modules

• Study abroad

  Optional

• Professional placement

  Optional

In your final year, your studies should reflect an increased specialisation in your chosen field of business economics. The course now offers two optional modules for you to select, alongside four mandatory modules which are designed to give you the opportunity to become a well-rounded graduate, and include conducting a project in the field of business economics.

Modules

• Labour Economics - 20 credits

  Labour economics is very broad and covers many of the economic topics that are of concern in modern economies such as labour supply shortage, pay and incentive mechanisms and discrimination in the workplace. This module builds on the principles and techniques of microeconomics and macroeconomics that students have learnt. and applies them to the labour market.

  Compulsory

• Industrial Organisation - 20 credits

  The aim of the course is to provide students with a detailed knowledge of the theory of industrial organisation and a critical understanding of its application to competition policy and business strategy. In addition this module draws on business cases studies from the UK and internationally.

  Compulsory

• The Economist's Toolkit - Research Methods - 10 credits

  This module is the final stage of a suite of modules which equip students with transferrable academic and professional skills, with a particular emphasis on implementations of employability and research skills learned in the previous years. The first part of this module will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of employability skills and how to communicate their skills through a job or postgraduate course application process.The second part of this module will provide students with an understanding of academic research and an ability to identify and utilise appropriate strategies and techniques for the purpose of individual investigation and research into professional development and practice within a subject-specific area of their degree route. This module will give students the awareness, skills and tools to write a well-thought and achievable research or project proposal, helping students to lay a solid foundation for their final project in 6005EFA.

  Compulsory

• Project - 20 credits

  This module aims to provide students with an opportunity to apply and develop their research skills and to extend their knowledge, understanding and ability to critically analyse in a specialist area of interest. The student will chose an academic area related to their programme of study and apply their independent learning skills to research this area in depth. Students will receive academic support through a series of group supervisions and will be allocated a project supervisor.

  Compulsory

• Add+vantage - 10 credits

  You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.

  Compulsory

  Assessment: coursework, exam

• Optional modules (2 from the following):

  Choose two from the following six modules:

  International Economics - 20 credits

  This module enables students to investigate in-depth the principle concepts and theories of international economics concerning issues arising from economic interactions between sovereign states. 

  Development Economics - 20 credits

  This module investigates in-depth the main economic concepts and principles used in understanding economic problems and policy issues as countries transition from low income status to middle and high income status. The module also provides students with an understanding and evaluation of the comparative development experience and performance of major regions of the world, particularly less developed and emerging economies. The module also leads students into assessments of the impact of a range of development strategies.

  Public Sector Economics - 20 credits

  This module critically investigates the development of the market-based model of the public sector, using case studies drawn, for instance, from education, healthcare, social services, social housing and defence. The module takes an international perspective, highlighting the experiences of the UK, other EU countries, and the US. To achieve its aims, the module introduces, applies and evaluates essential welfare economic concepts and principles. Topics covered include the critical assessment of the optimal scale and scope of the state, the impact of the new public management upon performance assessment in schools, public-private partnerships in funding of major projects, e.g. State hospital building programmes, the crisis in UK Local Government funding and the hypothecation of taxation.

  Health Economics - 20 credits

  This module provides an introduction to the economics of health and health care drawing upon health markets in the UK, EU, North America as case studies. It will give students a thorough grounding and working knowledge of the full spectrum of economic concepts and models used within the analysis of health and health care markets. Moreover, it includes the analysis of not only those behaviours which are considered good for us, e.g. regular exercise but also considers a range of economic ‘bads’, including smoking and binge drinking. The module demonstrates how health economics and health care influences behaviours, for instance, the way government determines who will live and who will die, e.g. through the allocation of health funding towards some cancer drugs but not others. Moreover, the module will evaluate a range of health management related issues including cost-management, the remuneration and reward of clinical staff and product innovation. 

  Environmental Economics - 20 credits

  This module explores the uses of economic analysis in investigating the causes, consequences and possible solutions to problems of environmental degradation. Some of the major themes in the module include: the determination of the optimum levels of environmental resource usage; the analyses of alternative ways of attaining those targets; and valuation of environmental resources. The crucial notion of 'sustainability' is a key focus as are the proximate and underlying causes of environmental problems. 

  Further Econometrics - 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to strengthen students' understanding of econometric models and techniques relevant to empirical analysis and policy evaluation aoplied to a wide range of Macroeconomic and Microeconomic problems. The module will equip students with the advanced knowledge and skills to design, undertake, and evaluate empirical work within economics, finance and business.

  Optional