Business Economics

Course Structure

Course Content	The emphasis of this degree is on those aspects of economics that are of most importance in a business setting. Students study both Introduction to Business Economics and Applied Economics in the first year, along with Accounting, Finance and Business Management modules. This is followed in Years 2 and 3 by modules in economics and modules related to business economics. With the flexibility in this ndegree, students should not only develop good numeracy skills, but also specialisation in quantitative aspects of the subject.
Year 1	• Introduction to Business Economics • Applied Economics • Quantitative Methods • Accounting • Organisational Behaviour Students will be able to choose an additional module from one of the following two options: • Financial Institutions and Markets • Marketing
Year 2	• Macroeconomic Policy and Performance • Managerial Economics • Data Analysis and Optimisation Students will be able to choose three additional modules from a range which may include: • Financial Decision Making • Financial Market Theory • Human Resource Management • International Business • Operations Management • The Digital Business
Year 3	Students should take at least three electives from: Economics modules: • Labour Economics • Economic History • Economics of Corporate Strategy • Public Economics • International Trade And up to three electives from Management modules: • Business Start-Up • Business Ethics • Supply Chain Management • Public Sector Management • Innovation Management

Contact Teaching Times

Large Group Teaching	6 (hours maximum) hours of lectures
Medium Group Teaching	6 (hours maximum) hours of practical classes, workshops or seminars each week
Personal Study	24 (hours maximum) 22–24 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study using handouts, online activities, etc.
Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial	2 (hours maximum) hours of tutorials (or later, project supervision) each week

• Adviser of Studies
  To assist with the choice of modules at the beginning of each academic year
• Computer-Based and Other Practical Sessions
  These provide students with the opportunity to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts.
• E-Learning technologies
  Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree programme through the use of, for example, interactive support materials, podcasts and web-based learning activities.
• Induction
  Formalised induction for all undergraduate students. For Stage 1 students, this includes several half-day sessions the week before the programme begins to allow students to familiarise themselves with the campus and the degree programme. During Stage 1 there are a number of follow-up sessions throughout the year. Topics such as academic writing, referencing, plagiarism, communication skills, examination preparation and managing time effectively are all covered in these practical sessions.
• Lectures
  These introduce foundation information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. As the module progresses this information becomes more complex. Lectures, which are normally delivered in large groups to all year-group peers, also provide opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification on key issues as well as gain feedback and advice on assessments. Additional lectures are also delivered by employer representatives and staff from a range of organisations are involved in the delivery of workshops and more practical sessions. In addition to the academic content of the lectures and workshops, this enables employers to impart their valuable experience to QMS Business Economics students, introduces important local employers to our students and allows our students to meet and engage with potential future employers.
• Peer Mentoring Scheme
  Whereby students in second and third year of their degree programme volunteer to mentor Stage 1 students. Developing the programme themselves, with support from academic staff in QMS, the mentors organise informal meetings, regular contact and a series of events ranging from ice-breaker type events to employer-led sessions with the Stage 1 students.
• Personal Development Planning
  To encourage students to engage in independent learning.
• Self-directed study
  This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
• Seminars/tutorials
  A significant amount of teaching is carried out in small groups (typically 15-20 students). These sessions are designed to explore, in more depth, the information that has been presented in the lectures. This provides students with the opportunity to engage closely with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of their peers. During these classes, students will be expected to present their work to academic staff and their peers.
• Student Support Systems
  QMS has an active and co-ordinated student support system to assist students in making the transition from school to university.
• Work placements
  The BSc Business Economics programme does not have a compulsory placement year. However, the School actively supports any student who wishes to avail of an optional placement year, between the second and final year of the degree programme.

• The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction. Modules are typically assessed by a combination of continuous assessment and a final written unseen examination. Continuous assessment consists of: class tests, computer generated practical experiments where students have to manipulate economic-related data, case study research and analysis of a particular organisation and its business issue, academic essays exploring a specific economic issue such as the impact of inflation on a specific region, or the importance of environmental economics etc. and small group project and presentations whereby groups of three/four students work on a particular business economics related task.

• Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
• Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references.
• Online or emailed comment.
• General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.
• Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Facilities

Students have access to Bloomberg software, a market leader in financial news, data and analytics, which is used by many financial institutions. The Trading Room allows for an interactive and exciting learning environment which brings textbook theory to life.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/QueensManagementSchool/Discover/TradingRoom/

Entrance requirements

A level requirements ABB + GCSE Mathematics grade B

Irish leaving certificate requirements H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O3 in Mathematics

Access/Foundation Course Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70%. GCSE Mathematics grade B or equivalent in Access Course.

Career Prospects

Introduction
This degree prepares students for a variety of careers in the public and private sectors. Graduates have been employed as professional economists or as managers or administrators. Depending on the choice of modules, this degree also prepares students for postgraduate studies in Economics and related disciplines.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk

Employment after the Course
Typical career destinations of graduates include:
Professional Economists
Accountancy
Managers and Administrators in areas such as market research, advertising, sales and personel
Education, health or government departments

Employment Links
Graduate employers include: PwC; EY; KPMG; Deloitte; BDO; Ulster Bank; Bank of Ireland, First Trust, Northern Ireland Civil Service, Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, BBC, National Trust.

Alumni Success
"I work directly for the Mayor of London, and have overall responsibility for all of Transport for London services – London Underground, London buses, Docklands Light Railway, Crossrail operations, London Overground, London Trams and the Emirates Air Line cable car! I am also heavily involved in the Congestion Charging scheme, road safety and schemes to boost cycling and walking.”
Mike Brown, BSc Economics, MVO Commissioner, Transport for London

Professional Opportunities
Those pursuing a career in Business Economics should be effective communicators and work well with people,
as they will have to analyse and interpret a range of information to meet the needs of different users, including managers and investors. Business Economists must be prepared to take on challenges and be able to adapt to a constantly changing and dynamic business environment.

Many of the skills that students will acquire during their studies at Queen‘s will be of great value in a range of different career and life situations. Core transferable skills include the ability to learn independently, problem solve, understand and interpret economic, financial and business-specific information and work productively as part of a team.

Students graduating with a degree in Business Economics from Queen‘s are well placed to secure a range of
employment opportunities in economics and management in the public and private sectors. In recent years, students have secured positions in economic analysis and appraisal with a range of government and other public sector organisations, careers in banking, as well as more generalist positions in business and management.

What employers say

Additional Awards Gained(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI)	£4,275
England, Scotland or Wales (GB)	£9,250
Other (non-UK) EU *	£4,275
International	£16,400

Tuition fees for 2020-21 have not been set. Those quoted above are for students commencing study in 2019-20. These will be subject to an increase for students commencing study in 2020-21.

Tuition fee rates are calculated based on a student’s tuition fee status and generally increase annually by inflation. How tuition fees are determined is set out in the Student Finance Framework.

* The tuition fees that EU students starting courses at UK universities following the agreed transition period are required to pay will depend on what is agreed as part of the UK's exit negotiations. Please refer to www.qub.ac.uk/brexit

Additional course costs

Business Economics costs

Students who undertake optional study tours are expected to make a contribution, of approximately £150.

How do I fund my study?

There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.

Information on funding options and financial assistance for undergraduate students is available at http://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/Fees-and-scholarships/.

Scholarships

Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students. Information on scholarships available.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at http://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/International-scholarships/.

How and when to Apply

How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).  Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/apply.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2020 from 1 September 2019.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2020 (18:00).

Late applications are, in practice, accepted by UCAS throughout the remainder of the application cycle, but you should understand that they are considered by institutions at their discretion, and there can be no guarantee that they will be given the same full level of consideration as applications received by the advisory closing date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Further information on applying to study at Queen's is available at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/How-to-apply/

Apply via UCAS

After an offer is made this will be notified to applicants through UCAS. Confirmation will be emailed by the Admissions and Access Service and this communication will also include Terms and Conditions (www.qub.ac.uk/Study/TermsandConditions) which applicants should read carefully in advance of replying to their offer(s) on UCAS Track.

Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students

1. Applying through UCAS
   Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2019.
2. Applying direct
   The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application. Find out more.
3. Applying through agents and partners
   The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application. Please consult the Agent List to find an agent in your country who will help you with your application to Queen’s University.

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