BSc (Honours) Economics with Foundation Year

Year of Entry 2025/26
Student making notes

BSc (Honours)

Economics with Foundation Year

Full-time Economics

Explore economic policy, theory and practice in state-of-the-art facilities, developing critical thinking and analytical skills to prepare you for the world of professional economic analysis.

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?

    A063

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025

  • Avatar

    Placement year available?

    Yes


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Course summary

  • Gain a solid foundation in economics and evaluate the impact of economic policies.
  • Learn to analyse social issues such as inequality and environmental sustainability.
  • Develop analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills you can apply to the economy.
  • Enhance your professional communication and teamwork skills.
  • Gain work-ready experience with real-life projects and placements.

Studying marketing and economic theories, you’ll build your decision-making skills by using real-time analysis of global market data. You’ll apply the most current economic theories to real-world challenges – using quantitative data, statistical tools and advanced econometric software. You’ll graduate with a comprehensive understanding of economics, finance, financial markets, and the far-reaching impacts of public policy. 

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.


Sheffield Business School accreditation

Sheffield Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and has been awarded the Business School Impact System label by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).

How you learn

You’ll study BSc (Hons) in Economics 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 business students all come together to solve problems and make things better. 

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’ll be taught by people who shape national debates, appear on educational TV and radio programmes and are published in top research journals. 

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

This course starts by helpingyou develop a strong understanding of economics and the practical skills you’ll use to evaluate the impact of economic policies on financial markets and businesses. You’ll develop your understanding of how and when to use appropriate theories, analytical techniques and software to analyse economic data and financial information. You’ll then be able to evaluate market trends, make informed economic decisions and develop strategies that maximise returns while minimising risk. 

As you progress, you’ll further build on and refine your knowledge and analytical skills through real-world projects, collaborating in teams to create reports, presentations and recommendations inspired by real industry challenges. This hands-on approach and our award-winning supportive learning environment will prepare you for careers in professional economic analysis, business, finance, and consultancy – as well as many other sectors of the economy where analytical reasoning and economic knowledge are needed. 

Towards the course's conclusion, 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

In your final year of the course, you'll engage in real client-based projects, performing research and analysis to generate findings and recommendations that address client business problems. You’ll present these findings to the client, gaining valuable experience of professional practice.

Previous students have undertaken projects for HSBC, the Bank of England, Costa, Coca-Cola Enterprises, General Motors, Hay, IBM UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Marks & Spencer, the Metropolitan Police, Microsoft, the NHS, Royal Bank of Scotland, TNT Express and Vauxhall Motors.

Additionally, many smaller organisations have also benefited from our students' contributions. It's worth noting that students have often secured placements as a direct result of the outstanding work they've performed on these live projects with host companies.

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 an Applied Professional Diploma to add to 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, visits to places of current and historical economic interest, and professional career advisers. 

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


Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in:  

  • Economics 
  • Business Consultancy 
  • Business Management  
  • Financial Consultancy  
  • Public services

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

  • PwC
  • GE
  • Lloyds Bank
  • The Civil Service (e.g. Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Investec
  • HSBC
  • Santander
  • Marks & Spencer 
  • The Metropolitan Police
  • Microsoft 
  • The NHS 
  • Royal Bank of Scotland 
  • TNT Express 
  • Vauxhall Motor

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 

Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 64

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications excluding 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

ACCESS

  • Access to HE Diploma, with at least 45 level 3 credits.

If English is not your first language, you will need 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.

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 Analysis For Economics And Business
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Finance For Economics
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
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%)
Fraud Analytics
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
Advanced Issues In Economics
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(40%) , Exam(60%)
Applied Econometrics
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Behavioural Economics
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Consultancy Project
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)

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?

Apply now via UCAS

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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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