This degree allows students to develop their understanding of Economic techniques whilst also learning about the principles of Business Management. Students in Business Economics should have an interest in using economic theory and thinking in applied business settings. This degree has less of an emphasis on using mathematics compared to a traditional economics degree and the programme fosters numerical skills through the use of up-to-date business applications.
90% of Economics students were satisfied in 2018 according to National Student Survey 2018.
“Business Economics allows you to gather a vast array of skills through the various different methods of assessments offered – assignments, group projects, presentations and research projects. As the course allows you to choose three out of six modules in second year, you are able to focus more on the topics you’re interested in and tailor the degree to suit your preference. During the first semester of my second year, I was able to secure a placement with the successful drinks company Diageo.”
Rhianna Donaldson, BSc Business Economics
Information on the implications of Brexit for prospective students.
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Course content
| 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 degree, students should not only develop good numeracy skills, but also specialisation in quantitative aspects of the subject. |
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| Year 1 | The Economy (full year module) Quantitative Methods Accounting Organisational Behaviour Financial Institutions and Markets |
| Year 2 | Macroeconomics Policy and Performance Managerial Economics Data Analysis and Optimisation International Business Students will be able to choose two additional modules from a range which may include: Financial Decision Making Human Resource Management Operations Management The Digital Business Leading for Change |
| Year 3 | Students will study: Economics of Corporate Strategy Quantitative Business Economics Students will be able to choose four additional modules from a range which may include: Labour Economics Economic History Public Economics International Trade Business Start Up Business Ethics Supply Chain Management Innovation Management Consumer Behaviour |
Queen’s Management School
Heather Dickey is a labour economist with interests in regional economics, particularly in the areas of inequality, labour mobility, and policy evaluation.
| Large Group Teaching | 6 (hours maximum) hours of lectures |
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| 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 |
On the BSc Business Economics programme we achieve these goals by providing a range of learning environments which enable our students to engage with subject experts both academic staff and industry guest speakers, develop skills and attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world-class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this degree programme are:
Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:
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/
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Overview
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Entry Requirements
In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.
Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by Queen's University Management School. Once your application has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.
Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form, which is considered by a member of administrative staff from the Admissions and Access Service and, if appropriate, the Selector from the School. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.
Applicants for the BSc Honours in Business Economics must be able to satisfy the University's General Entrance Requirement and in addition all applicants must have GCSE Mathematics at grade B or above. There are no specific subjects required at A-level. Offers are normally made in terms of grades rather than UCAS Tariff points.
Demand for places differs from course to course and for Business Economics past performance at GCSE level is taken into account when deciding to make conditional offers. The GCSE threshold may vary from year to year, but as a general guide, offers are normally made to applicants who have achieved 6Bs at GCSE. The final threshold is not usually determined until late in the admissions cycle, so there may be a delay in processing applicants who do not meet the initial requirements.
Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered.
Applicants offering other qualifications, such as BTEC Extended Diplomas, Edexcel Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, the International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate or an Access course, will also be considered.
The same GCSE profile is usually expected of those applicants taking a BTEC Extended Diploma qualification or a Higher National Certificate (HNC).
The current entrance requirements for applicants offering a BTEC Extended Diploma are successful completion of the BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with 120 credits at Distinction and 60 credits at Merit. For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits.
For those offering a Higher National Diploma, some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile but, to be eligible for an offer, at least half of the units completed in the first year of the HND must be at Merit level and remainder Passes. Applicants must successfully complete the HND with Merits in all units assessed in the final year. Any consideration would be for stage 1 entry only.
Applicants offering Access/Certificate in Foundation Studies courses will be considered individually on their own merits and for last year the standard was an overall average of 70% in Level 3 modules including 70% in all Mathematics modules (which must be equivalent to GCSE standard).
In addition to the academic requirements above, the information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted, but these are not the final deciding factors as to whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.
A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking will not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.
If you are made an offer then you may be invited to an Open Day organised by Queen's University Management School, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University, to find out more about the degree programme of your choice, the facilities on offer together with a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.
INTO - English Language Course(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)
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Course content
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Careers
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.
“For many years Oxford Economics has recruited students from Queen’s Economics degree, both for industrial placement and graduate positions. The course equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to hit the ground running in the workplace."
David Moore, Senior Economist, Oxford Economics, Northern Ireland.
Additional Awards Gained(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)
Foundation Scholarships for best student in Economics Level 1 and Level 2
KPMG Prize is awarded to the best graduate in the BSc Economics degree
McKane Medal is awarded to the best final honours student in Economics
Shaw Memorial Prize for best performing second-year student in BSc Economics
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.
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Entry requirements
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Fees and Funding
| 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
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library.
If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. A programme may have up to 6 modules per year, each with a recommended text.
Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
If a final year includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.
Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.
There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Business Economics costs
Students who undertake optional study tours are expected to make a contribution, of approximately £150.
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/.
Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students. Information on scholarships available.
Information on scholarships for international students, is available at http://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/International-scholarships/.
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/
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.
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Fees and Funding
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