Undergraduate Economics - why study Economics?

The study of Economics develops a wide range of useful skills that can help you to get a worthwhile and well-paid job.

The study of Economics develops skills that are specific to economists. These include the skill of constructing models that describe how some market, or larger economic system, operates; and the ability to analyse the effects of changes in government policy and other economic circumstances that flows from an understanding of the principles of Economics. These skills are widely in demand in industry, finance, central and local government as well as in universities and other research agencies.

Economics, because of its structure and the way it is taught, is also recognised as a particularly good discipline in which to acquire transferable skills, i.e. skills that can be applied in many careers. In recent years our students have begun careers in a wide range of areas including management, accountancy, and banking as well as in Economics itself.

Economics graduates are among the best-paid graduates. They are on average more highly paid than graduates in more vocationally-orientated management subjects such as accounting and business studies. Surveys have regularly found Economics to be one of the top four subjects in any area for graduate pay, with medicine, dentistry and engineering.

Interesting courses

The subject matter of Economics now covers a very wide range of human activity. It is not just about money and trade. The techniques of Economics can be applied to any issue that involves choice about the allocation of scarce resources or affects the well-being of individuals or nations. This means that there is an extensive Economics literature on topics such as sport, sexual discrimination, the environment, and the structure of government as well as more obvious topics such as unemployment and competition policy .

To understand work in any of these areas one must first understand the fundamental principles of Economics. Accordingly we offer a series of core modules that cover all the knowledge, understanding and skills that someone graduating in Economics is expected to have, as set out in the Economics Benchmark Statement published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. These modules cover the essential elements of both microeconomics - which is concerned with the actions of single economic agents such as consumers, firms, and workers - and macroeconomics - which is about aggregates such as national income, inflation and unemployment. When you have done some of these modules, you can then branch out and take options in particular specialisms.

	Division of Economics Stirling Management School

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Why Economics? Admission Modules Programmes Programme objectives Careers Staff Further information University undergraduate information Division of Economics University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK economics@stir.ac.uk +44 (0)1786 467470 +44 (0)1786 467469	Why study Economics? A wide range of useful skills The study of Economics develops a wide range of useful skills that can help you to get a worthwhile and well-paid job. The study of Economics develops skills that are specific to economists. These include the skill of constructing models that describe how some market, or larger economic system, operates; and the ability to analyse the effects of changes in government policy and other economic circumstances that flows from an understanding of the principles of Economics. These skills are widely in demand in industry, finance, central and local government as well as in universities and other research agencies. Economics, because of its structure and the way it is taught, is also recognised as a particularly good discipline in which to acquire transferable skills, i.e. skills that can be applied in many careers. In recent years our students have begun careers in a wide range of areas including management, accountancy, and banking as well as in Economics itself. A well-paid job Economics graduates are among the best-paid graduates. They are on average more highly paid than graduates in more vocationally-orientated management subjects such as accounting and business studies. Surveys have regularly found Economics to be one of the top four subjects in any area for graduate pay, with medicine, dentistry and engineering. Interesting courses The subject matter of Economics now covers a very wide range of human activity. It is not just about money and trade. The techniques of Economics can be applied to any issue that involves choice about the allocation of scarce resources or affects the well-being of individuals or nations. This means that there is an extensive Economics literature on topics such as sport, sexual discrimination, the environment, and the structure of government as well as more obvious topics such as unemployment and competition policy . To understand work in any of these areas one must first understand the fundamental principles of Economics. Accordingly we offer a series of core modules that cover all the knowledge, understanding and skills that someone graduating in Economics is expected to have, as set out in the Economics Benchmark Statement published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. These modules cover the essential elements of both microeconomics - which is concerned with the actions of single economic agents such as consumers, firms, and workers - and macroeconomics - which is about aggregates such as national income, inflation and unemployment. When you have done some of these modules, you can then branch out and take options in particular specialisms.
Updated on 04.06.2009

Why study Economics?