BSc (Honours) Economics and Finance with Foundation Year

Year of Entry 2025/26
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BSc (Honours)

Economics and Finance with Foundation Year

Develop technical and analytical economics skills while applying your knowledge to the financial services industry, preparing you to navigate through global economic challenges.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £9,535 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
    International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    4/5 Years

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Bookmark

    What are the entry requirements?

    64 UCAS Points

  • Checkmark

    What is the UCAS code?

    A056

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025

  • Avatar

    Placement year available?

    Yes


Course summary

  • Gain a solid foundation in economic theory.
  • Apply this vital knowledge to diverse challenges in financial services.
  • Learn skills in financial risk management, investment analysis and financial regulation.
  • Develop analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in financial decision-making.
  • Gain work-ready experience with real-life projects and placements every year.

You’ll explore microeconomics, macroeconomics and behavioural economics in state-of-the-art facilities. The turbulent economic landscape has introduced new challenges worldwide. We’ll equip you with the vital knowledge, skills and mindset to navigate diverse scenarios – preparing you for a career in the financial services sector, including, banking, insurance, investment analysis and financial management.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation course – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.


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How you learn

You’ll study BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance in our Sheffield Business School, rated in the top 5% globally for excellence in teaching and research. Here, you’ll join a global community where business leaders, researchers and 7,000 students all come together to solve problems and make things better. 

You’ll be taught by experts with extensive industry and research backgrounds. Our academics are highly skilled professionals, bringing their cutting-edge knowledge and diverse experience into the classroom. Not only are they academically qualified – they’ve also worked in various industries, with some actively engaged in current research. 

You learn through:

  • Lectures 
  • Tutorials 
  • IT sessions 
  • Regular formative feedback 
  • Teamwork and group-based learning 
  • Practice-based applied learning 
  • Authentic learning experiences 
  • Engagement with guest lectures 
  • Discussions 
  • Self-managed study

Key Themes

The course starts by helpingyou develop a strong understanding of economics and finance – plus the practical skills for evaluating the impact of economic policies on financial markets and businesses. 

As you progress, you’ll refine these fundamentals through real-world projects, collaborating in teams to create reports, presentations, and recommendations inspired by real industry challenges. This hands-on approach prepares you for careers in professional accountancy, business and finance within a supportive learning environment.

Towards the end of the course, you'll undertake a consultancy project for a real organisation, guided by a dedicated project supervisor. In this capstone project, you'll conduct research and apply the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired throughout your studies.

The combination of teaching methods throughout the course means you’ll gain in-depth knowledge and a diverse skill set through practical implementation, problem-solving, teamwork and self-development activities.

Course Support

You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly-skilled, graduate-level employment. This includes: 

  • Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development.
  • Access to our Skills Centre for support with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments and assessment preparation.
  • Industry-specific employability activities, including work placements, live projects, simulated learning environments, and networking opportunities.

Course leaders and tutors

Tilahun Mekonnen
Tilahun Mekonnen
Senior Lecturer

Currently working as a Senior Lecturer in Business Economics and the International Business Development Manager for Sub Saharan African Countries

Applied learning

Live Projects

This course enhances the communication and teamwork skills you’ll need in the finance profession – providing a strong foundation for careers in finance, consulting and public policy. You’ll develop these skills through live projects and placements.

In the first and second years of your course, you’ll have opportunities to work for real client-based projects. You’ll carry out research and analysis to generate findings and recommendations that address clients’ business problems – which in the past has included product development for Marks and Spencer. You’ll be required to present to the clients, gaining valuable experience of professional practice.

Students often findplacements with their host company as a result of the excellent work they do for these live projects.

Throughout all the modules you study, we incorporate work-relevant content – including simulations, case studies, guest speakers and experiential activities. These not only help you seek potential career opportunities but also feel confident in pursuing them.

Work Placements

Between your third and fourth years of the course, you'll have the opportunity to embark on a sandwich placement, a vital step in preparing for your future career within the industry you've been studying.

During this placement, you'll gain practical skills, including proficiency in new software, managing marketing campaigns, developing pricing strategies, optimising business processes, achieving sales targets and crafting financial reports. This hands-on experience will equip you with valuable workplace insights to enhance your readiness for your future career – as well as an Applied Professional Diploma for your CV.

Our dedicated placement team will provide guidance and support at every stage, from your initial application to the successful completion of your placement.

Previous students have secured positions at organisations such as Investec, Lloyds Bank, PwC, HSBC and Santander.

Networking Opportunities 

Throughout the course there are numerous opportunities for you to engage with career planning and development, career fairs and workshops, employer presentations, field visits, and professional career advisers. 

These are great chances to enhance your confidence, skills development and future employability.


Future careers

Given the enduring aftermath of the financial crisis, there has never been a more exciting time to engage with this subject. This contemporary and highly relevant degree offers a comprehensive understanding of economics and finance, providing you with a profound grasp of economic and financial theories. It fosters strong analytical, empirical and interpretive skills – highly valued by employers – positioning you competitively in terms of employability.

This course prepares you for a career in:

  • Economic research and planning
  • Financial planning
  • Financial risk analysis
  • Financial consultancy
  • Economics research
  • Insurance
  • Financial analysis
  • Data analysis

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for: 

  • Oxford Economics
  • Morrisons Plc
  • Lloyds Banking Group
  • Anheuser-Busch InBev
  • The Department for Transport

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Equipment and facilities

Construction of the new Sheffield Business School is underway – providing state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities and social space to students. 

On this course, you’ll have access to: 

  • Our virtual learning environment – Blackboard sites 
  • Updated office software 
  • Accounting software 
  • Bloomberg terminals 
  • Our financial trading floor  
  • A physical and online library with databases and digital books, journals, newspapers, and magazines 

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Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 64

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications exluding general studies For example:

  • CC at A Level
  • MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • Pass overall from a T level qualification with D or E from core 
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

  • English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
  • Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent
  • Science at grade C or 4

• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in a science based subject. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3

You need to demonstrate an ability to
• study academic subjects at degree level
• debate topics and issues
• draw on conclusions from written material
• study independently as well as a member of a group
• use computers and technology associated with contemporary teaching, learning and assessment methods
• successfully complete a range of assignments including researched essays and practical examinations

These are normally achieved by completing academic study at level three or above in the last four years.

If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions or disabilities you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the course requirements and take part without disadvantage. You can contact our University student support staff and explore any issues you may have.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Accounting In Context
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(70%) , Practical(30%)
Economics, Finance And Investments
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Going Global
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Preparing For Success
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 2

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Data Analytics For Finance And Business
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Investment Risk And Taxation
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(60%) , Practical(40%)
Maths For Economics
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Principles Of Micro And Macro Economics
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 3

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Economic Analysis And Policy
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(40%) , Exam(60%)
Economics Of Risk And Return
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(40%) , Exam(60%)
Introduction To Econometrics
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Alternative Perspectives In Economics
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Banking And Fintech
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Cash Management And Treasury
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Study Abroad - Sheffield Business School
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 4

Optional modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Placement Year
Credits -
Assessment
Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Behavioural Economics
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Consultancy Project
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Contemporary Issues In Finance
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Investment Management And Derivatives
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(40%) , Exam(60%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

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Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

Learn more

Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Sheffield Business School (PDF, 142KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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Excellence

Graduate from Sheffield Business School – rated in the top 6% globally for excellence in teaching and research

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