Entry Requirements
UCAS Tariff - 320 points, from:
- GCE A and AS-level Tariff points typically from 3 A-levels together with either 1 AS-level or Extended Project Qualification (typical offer BBC, plus a C in either an AS or EPQ, including Grade C in Maths/Statistics at at least AS-level). General Studies/Critical Thinking accepted at AS-level only.
- Irish Tariff points from 5 subjects, including Grade C in Maths.
- Scottish Tariff points from 3 Advanced Highers, including Grade C in Maths, plus 1 Higher.
- Advanced Diploma Tariff points in Business, Administration and Finance, including A-level Maths or Grade B at AS-level in both Maths and Economics for Additional and Specialist Learning
- BTEC ND DDM in a related subject, plus at least Grade C in AS-level Maths or Statistics.
- IB Diploma 32 points, including 6 in Standard Maths and 4 in Higher or 5 in Subsidiary English.
For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Grade B in Maths.
Access: Pass plus AS-level Maths.
Please note that the above are the requirements for 2010 entry. Please click here for the 2009 entry requirements.
Course Aims
This course aims to produce high quality graduates with the theoretical and practical grounding necessary to understand and analyse economic, financial and management issues that arise in the business world. The distinctive feature of this degree is its focus on managerial and international investment economics and accountancy-related topics, while offering a good framework in Economics as a whole. There is less mathematical content to this degree course than a standard Economics degree.
Course Content
Emphasis is on both theory and practical applications. At Levels 1 and 2, you will take modules in economics, as well as modules in finance and computing and quantitative methods. The latter presupposes only GCSE in Maths and is made accessible to all students (Students who have A-level Maths have the opportunity of pursuing more advanced mathematical and statistical studies). You may also take modules from other disciplines in the Brunel Business School.
Typical modules
Level 1 Core
- Economic Principles
- Financial Markets and Accounting
- Mathematics for Economics
- Statistical Research Methods
Level 2 Core
- Introduction to Economic Modelling
- Microeconomic Principles
- Macroeconomic Principles
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Financial Accounting
Level 2 Options
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Investment
- Mathematical Economics
- Development Economics
- Economics of the European Union
- Economic Analysis of Competition Law and Regulation
Plus options from a range of Business Finance topics and others available in the Brunel Business School
Level 3
- Major Project
- Managerial Economics
- International Economics
Level 3 Options
- Advanced Microeconomics
- Advanced Macroeconomics
- Financial Theory and Corporate Policy
- Financial Engineering
- Econometric Methods and Applications
- Labour Economics
Teaching and Learning
Staff Expertise
Many of our staff are internationally and nationally recognised for their work in this field. They work as consultants for government bodies, and many are widely published.
Hours
You will have about 12-14 hours of directed study a week in Level 1. This number decreases in Levels 2 and 3. Students are expected to undertake substantial independent study.
How will I be taught?
Lectures - These provide a broad overview of key concepts and ideas relating to your course and provide you a framework from which to carry out more in depth study.
Workshops - These are generally used for modules in finance or quantitative subjects. They often take the form of working through answers to a previously distributed assignment sheet of exercise questions.
Seminars - These relatively small groups are used for subjects where the lecture material is examined in more detail, and theoretical concepts are analysed and applied in specific contexts.
One-to-one - You will get one-to-one supervision on your final year dissertation and you will have a personal tutor who is available to discuss personal and academic problemsand throughout all levels . If you go on placement, you will also be allocated a work placement tutor who will monitor your progress and provide further support if you need it.
Other - Guest speakers from prominent organisations, research seminars and external site visits.
Assessment
Each subject is assessed in the term it is taken. The proportion of exam to coursework is approximately 75% to 25%, but some courses have a higher proportion of continuous assessment. Level 1 does not count towards your final degree mark. Level 2 is worth a third - Level 3 the rest. The final year dissertation is worth a third of Level 3 marks.
Final year dissertation
All degree programmes include a final year dissertation of approximately 10,000 words. This is an important element of the degree and provides you with an opportunity for independent study, original thought and, especially for those on sandwich courses, an opportunity to apply economic and financial theories, concepts and models to practical problems. You are assigned a Dissertation Supervisor who offers guidance on content, level and presentation.
Careers
Economics graduates from Brunel have an excellent employment record and go into a wide variety of occupations. Some go on to further study and become professional economists or accountants. Others are employed in industry, the financial sector or government. In some cases a job offer comes from a former work placement employer.
Past graduates have gone on to work in:
- City: Merrill Lynch (Brokers), NatWest (Financing Futures)
- Chartered Accountants: Pricewaterhouse Coopers Lybrand, KPMG
- Central Government: Bank of England, Treasury, Cabinet Office, Department of Transport, etc
- Local Government: Finance Departments, Corporate Planning, National Audit Office, Audit Commission, Health Trusts/Authorities
- Industry: BP, Rank Zerox, Burroughs Wellcome, Marks & Spencer, ICL
- Other: CBI, Civil Aviation Authority, British Airways
Facts and Figures
Economics plays a crucial role in the operation, management and regulation of financial institutions, industry and government agencies. As a senior manager in public and private enterprise, a knowledge of economics significantly enhances strategic decision making. Further, such knowledge is crucial in a world of integrating global markets and the information superhighway.
The courses at Brunel combine an understanding of theory with the practical skills necessary to apply your knowledge to a business, industrial, financial or government environment. It is this combination together with a strong background in finance that distinguishes the Brunel courses from other degrees in economics.
The use of computers is an integral part of all our courses. You will make extensive use of computers attached to a powerful network. You will then be linked to other UK and international information sources. You will also become familiar with the analytical packages widely used by business and financial institutions.
In your final year you will undertake a dissertation which is linked to your degree. This is a piece of personal research which is often seen by prospective employers and which may stem directly from a work placement. Otherwise the subject will be stimulated by topical issues such as directors' pay, regulation of utilities or European monetary union. Our staff have extensive research expertise in these and other areas.
Our degrees are available in either the traditional three-year format or as a four-year degree with integrated professional placements.
Special Features
- The School hosts three world-renowned research centres in the areas of Emotion Work, Enterprise, Sustainability and Ethics, and Organisation and System Design.
- Emphasis is on gaining "employable knowledge" which is highly up-to-date. We aim to provide you with an education which will prepare you for the future needs of the working world, not simply to cope with its present preoccupations.
- Fast-track route to professional qualifications - The Accountancy and Marketing pathways are professionally accredited and offer exemption from professional entry exams.
- The School's specialist areas include: marketing, small business management; human resource management; organisational change; technology and business; copy right and property rights; business computing; accounting; entrepreneurialism; gender; the culture and leisure industries; business ethics and management thinking and learning. Students also benefit from University-wide expertise in eCommerce and multimedia.
- High quality teaching from lecturers with 'hands-on' experience in business and commerce.
- You will have the opportunity to gain paid professional experience working in prominent companies or organisations. These are high-quality placements with graduate-like responsibilities. Many students get offered full-time graduate posts at the companies where they carried out their work placements.
- Good links with business. This means:
- Better work placements
- Up-to-date course content
- Facilitates you finding a good job after you graduate.
Our students have excellent employment prospects – recent graduates have gone on to work for prestigious companies such as Merrill Lynch, Abbey, Lloyds, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte & Touche, Coca cola, Ernst & Young, Virgin Trains, Accenture, HSBC, BT, Deutsche Bank and the BBC.