Welcome to Economics at Stirling

We explain below why we think the University of Stirling is a good choice if you want to study Economics. You can find out a lot more about us by using the links on the left.

Why Stirling?

A high standard of teaching

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education conducted a review of our teaching in 2002. All aspects of the teaching were judged to be Commendable, the highest possible rating.

Many of our lecturers have an international reputation in their specialisms and are at the forefront of research. These strengths are reflected in the modules we offer and underline our commitment to quality in teaching. Strong research improves teaching quality.

In the latest (2008) Research Assessment Exercise, 15% of our research was rated as world-leading and a further 45% as internationally excellent, placing us in the top four Economics units of assessment in Scotland and the top 25 in the UK.

Flexible degree programmes

Useful skills

The structure of our degrees helps to develop useful skills. Assessment is based on coursework as well as examinations. This helps to build up independent learning skills. Communication skills are developed in tutorials where students present arguments orally. Our quantitative modules develop skills in using computers and presenting statistically based arguments.

Most Honours students write a dissertation in their final year on which they work independently with a staff supervisor. A good performance can enhance career prospects as many employers and postgraduate admission selectors are particularly looking for the ability to work independently on a project.

Good information about your progress

The Stirling system of basing grades partly on coursework marked during the semester and on awarding grades for each module taken at the end of each semester means that you are kept well-informed about your progress throughout your university career.

A degree result that fairly reflects all your work at Honours level

In determining the class of an Honours degree, examiners take into account the grades achieved in all the modules taken in the third and fourth years. There are no final examinations covering work in earlier semesters - many students only do a dissertation in their final semester and have no exams at all at the end of their fourth year. Thus your degree result depends on a range of work done over two years, rather than solely on your performance in examinations concentrated in a few days right at the end of your university career. The rules that the Examiners use to determine the class of degree are published, so you can work out semester by semester what class of degree you are likely to get, and make adjustments to your work effort to achieve the result you want.