BA (Hons) Economics and Politics Bachelor's degree at the University of Sheffield
BA (Hons) Economics and Politics at University of Sheffield. Economics and Politics at Sheffield brings the two disciplines together so you're not studying markets in isolation from the systems that shape them, or politics without the economic forces that drive policy decisions.
About this course
Explore the relationship between economic and political aspects of the modern world in this dual honours degree. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Economics and Politics is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Sheffield, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Economics graduates from this provider, 89% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 81% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Economics, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 89% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
First year 12 modules
- Microeconomic Analysis and PolicyCore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces you to the fundamental principles of microeconomic theory, focusing on the behaviour and decision-making processes of individuals, households, and firms. You will gain a solid understanding of key microeconomic concepts, such as choice theory, market structures, consumer behavior, and firm decision-making. The module explores the practical application of microeconomic analysis to contemporary policy issues. This module provides you with the foundations in microeconomics re
- Macroeconomic Analysis and PolicyCore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces you to the foundations of macroeconomic theory and analysis. You will explore how economies operate at the aggregate level and develop the analytical tools needed to understand key economic indicators such as interest rates, national output, inflation, unemployment, and exchange rates. A central focus will be on understanding how these variables interact and influence one another over the short and long run. Through real-world examples and policy applications, you will lea
- Mathematical Methods for Economics 1Core20 credits
Module details
This core module is designed for students who do not have an A Level in Mathematics (or an equivalent qualification) and provides supportive, step-by-step training in key mathematical concepts. The main focus is on practical application, helping you use maths as a tool to solve real economic problems. You will build confidence while learning essential topics such as basic algebra, functions and graphs, sequences and series, introductory calculus (including differentiation), elasticity, integrati
- Mathematical Methods for Economics 2Core20 credits
Module details
This module is designed for students with A Level Mathematics (or an equivalent qualification). You will revisit key mathematical tools covered in A Level Mathematics (such as differential calculus) and learn to use them to formulate and solve problems in economics and finance. You will also be introduced to other techniques that are essential for problem solving in economics. These tools will be used throughout the rest of your degree. The topics covered include: sequences/series and the econom
- Political Analysis 1: An Introduction to Research and ScholarshipCore20 credits
Module details
As the first part of three key modules taken throughout your degree, Political Analysis 1 will introduce you to the study of politics as an academic discipline. You will discover different ways to research the dynamics of different political worlds and acquire the foundational knowledge and skills needed to build, test and evaluate rigorous accounts of political problems. Throughout the module, you will learn through a combination of lectures and seminars. You will also undertake independent stu
- Thinking Politically: Key ConceptsCore20 credits
Module details
A concept is a general idea about something. We use concepts all the time to make sense of the world. For example, we use the concept of a 'table' to describe a piece of furniture with a flat top and some legs to keep it stable. We also use concepts to make sense of our experiences and not just to describe 'things'. For example, we talk about a painting being 'beautiful' or a tyrant being 'cruel'. In this course, you will be introduced to a range of core concepts that inform the study of politic
- British PoliticsOptional20 credits
Module details
You will be introduced to the key concepts and debates that have shaped British politics with an emphasis on history, institutions and culture. Each lecture will focus on a specific element of British politics, with subsequent and linked seminars providing an opportunity to deepen this knowledge by looking at critical case studies or official reviews. This module provides key employability skills and practice based knowledge through a focus on the theory and practice of political decision-making
- Gender PoliticsOptional20 credits
Module details
This module aims to interrogate the role of gender and sex in shaping world politics. To do this, it asks how notions of masculinity and femininity shape our institutions, how gender might influence the political problems we prioritise and whose voices are taken seriously in developing responses to these problems. Students will answer these questions through the study of the politicisation of sex, the relationship between gender and violence, how current practices of gender are shaped by colonia
- Global Political EconomyOptional20 credits
Module details
Global political economy (GPE) is a field of study that investigates the interaction between political and economic forces in contemporary and historical capitalism. You will consider key mainstream and critical theories. You will be introduced to major processes of trade, production and exploitation, sketching the power relations of the global economy by using examples of contemporary production in different industries. You will also consider how the political economy of race, class and gender
- World PoliticsOptional20 credits
Module details
This module serves as an introduction to International Relations as a discipline. Throughout this module you will engage in key international relations concepts and discussions, including migration, climate change, poverty and global inequalities, sexual violence and armed conflict. As an introductory module, you have the opportunity to develop the tools needed to understand, analyse and reflect on in-depth theoretical and empirical international relations which shall continue to support you thr
- Western Political ThoughtOptional20 credits
Module details
During this module, you will be introduced to political theory as a distinctive way of thinking about politics. You will engage with some of the most influential and renowned thinkers from the history of Western political thought, critically analysing questions of power, justice and legitimacy. Through the study of seminal texts, you will be challenged to evaluate historical responses to political questions and thereby start doing political theory for yourself. You will also develop a deeper und
- Race and Racism in World PoliticsOptional20 credits
Module details
Through historical and contemporary case studies, students will study how our world today has been shaped by historical events, many of which continue to inform current relations. We will discover how discourses around race, ethnicity, gender and class construct realities today, determining who rules and who is ruled, who lives and who dies. The module will give students a theoretical toolkit, including approaches from the majority world, enabling them to appreciate power and the political signi
Second year 3 modules
- Statistics and EconometricsCore20 credits
Module details
Proficiency in statistics and econometrics is an important skill for economists working with real-world data. This core module is designed for dual honours students studying economics. In the first part of the course, you will learn how to calculate descriptive statistics and apply probability theory to make robust inferences from sample data. In the second part of the course, you will learn the tools of econometrics to make inferences about causal relationships between economic variables. You w
- Intermediate MacroeconomicsCore20 credits
Module details
The aims of this course are to provide firm grounding in the analytical tools of modern macroeconomics; to use these tools to understand critically the conduct of economic policy nationally and internationally. The course builds on level 1 modules in macroeconomics. The main subject areas covered are: Basic macroeconomic models: consumption/leisure choice, closed economy one period-macro models, models of search and unemployment; Savings, investment and government deficits: consumption/savings c
- Intermediate MicroeconomicsCore20 credits
Module details
This module builds on Level 1 modules in microeconomics and mathematical economics, using the mathematical trai
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The degree is structured to build from foundations towards independent, specialist work. You'll start with core theory in both economics and politics, giving you the conceptual tools, models, frameworks, ways of analysing institutions and behaviour, that underpin everything else on the course. Alongside this, research and methods teaching equips you to handle data, evaluate evidence and understand how knowledge in these fields is actually produced, which matters whether you're reading a policy report or constructing your own analysis. As you progress, applied practice work asks you to take that theory and methodology and use it on real-world questions, economic policy, political institutions, international affairs, rather than leaving ideas abstract. Specialist options let you follow the strands of economics and politics that interest you most as your degree develops, and an independent project in the final year gives you the chance to research a question of your own choosing in depth, applying everything you've built up over the previous two years. Professional skills teaching runs through the course too, helping you translate academic training into the kind of communication, analysis and problem-solving abilities that matter beyond university.
Who it's for
This course suits people who find themselves asking "why" when they read the news, why a policy was chosen, why an economy responds the way it does, why political decisions and market outcomes seem so tangled up together. If you're the sort of person who wants to understand systems rather than just facts, and who's comfortable holding two different analytical lenses at once, the dual structure will feel natural rather than like a compromise between subjects. You don't need to have decided whether you're "an economist" or "a politics person", the course is built for people who see value in both and want to keep both doors open. Strong reading and writing skills will help, since you'll be engaging with theory, data and argument across two disciplines simultaneously. Curiosity about current affairs, a willingness to work with numbers and models as well as ideas and institutions, and the patience to build up knowledge gradually across three years all matter more than having every answer at the start. Most students accepted onto this course arrive with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, typically in the 144-159 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what past entrants held rather than a fixed requirement.
Careers & job market
Graduates of Economics courses nationally tend to move into a genuine range of work, given how the subject combines analytical, quantitative and policy-relevant skills. Across Graduate Outcomes data for Economics graduates, 87% are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 75% of those working are in highly skilled roles or further study, figures that reflect the national picture for the subject rather than outcomes specific to any one university or guaranteed for any individual student. On earnings, national LEO data for Economics graduates shows starting salaries (15 months after graduating) typically ranging from £26,500 to £35,000, rising to £26,775–£37,800 after three years and £36,125–£51,000 after five years. Again, these are national figures across the subject, not projections tied to this particular course, and individual outcomes will vary. Continuation data also shows that 92% of students on these courses continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed, an indicator of how manageable students generally find the transition into this kind of study.
University & format
The University of Sheffield is a public, Russell Group university founded in 1905, meaning it sits among the UK's research-intensive institutions. This BA (Hons) in Economics and Politics is delivered full-time over three years at the university's main campus, taught in English, and leads to a Bachelor's degree with honours (UCAS code LL12). The university received a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships, which are worth checking on its funding pages to see what you might be eligible for before you apply.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Optional placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 95% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code LL12). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Sheffield →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Economics graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £30,000 | £27,500 – £34,000 | 50 |
| 3 years after | £32,500 | £26,000 – £39,000 | 200 |
| 5 years after | £45,000 | £36,000 – £55,500 | 220 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in economics · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Economics nationally
National figures for Economics graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Economics courses at the same study level.
Compared with 594 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 39% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 14% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 12% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 130; response rate: 62%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Economics graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Economics graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Banks & consultancies
- Bank of England
- Government Economic Service
- Think tanks
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Economics graduates.
Economics Associate / Director - ManchesterPegasus GroupEconomics Graduate AssistantSt Edward's School, OxfordEconomics ExaminersEduqasEconomics SpecialistVella RecruitmentEconomics AnalystOFWATEconomics PhD Scholarship (ESRC-Funded)Royal Holloway, University of LondonIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
89% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 91.7% · in work or study 89% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Sheffield
Social sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Main Campus
2,964 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Economics right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Sheffield from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Sheffield; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Sheffield’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Sheffield and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Sheffield
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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