Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Economics and Finance (with Placement Year) University of Surrey, UK

Why choose this course
The international financial services sector requires economists with specialised knowledge of financial systems and markets. Our CIMA-accredited degree in Economics and Finance will develop your analytic abilities to train you as a skilled economist so that you can succeed in today's global financial economics job market. 

• Together with a grounding in core economics topics, you will study the advanced financial decision making, theory of financial markets, and the practice of risk management, to prepare you for your future career.
• On this bachelor Economics and Finance degree, you will build key communication, leadership and employability skills which will prepare you to enter economic or finance roles and/or undertake further study in the areas of business and finance.
• You will develop your analytic abilities to train you as a skilled economist so that you can succeed in today's global financial economics job market.
• All our Economics degrees are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), fast-tracking your career by giving you exemption from some professional examinations.
• Our teaching is at the forefront of the field and is influenced by finance questions brought to classrooms by research active academics. Many of our academic staff are advisers to governments and world-renowned organisations.
• You’ll have the option to take one of our award-winning Professional Training placements that will prepare you for work in city finance roles. 

What you will study

All our economics students follow the same first year in order to build a solid foundation on which to specialise. This means you can choose to transfer to the BSc in Business Economics and Data Analytics or Economics from your second year or continue with the Economics and Finance BSc.

All our programmes include two compulsory Employability modules where you will obtain advice and feedback on CV and cover letter-writing, and how to prepare for an interview. You will also be encouraged to think about what kind of career you wish to pursue and how to start working towards your future goals.

The first-year modules are designed to provide you with a broad range of basic tools, skills and knowledge that you will develop in the course of your programme. You will study introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics as well as the mathematics essential for an economist to know. First year modules also comprise of introductory statistics and data analysis modules.  

In the second year, you will start to specialise in your interests, Economics and Finance. In addition to studying microeconomic, macroeconomics and econometrics now at an intermediate level, you will complete several finance modules. After laying down the fundamental models and concepts of financial economics, the modules will move onto more specific topics in finance (e.g. financial accounting, quantitative portfolio theory and investment).  

In your final year, you will continue to study finance-related topics but can also choose six optional modules in addition to two compulsory ones. We offer a long list of specialised modules, some of which are more technical than others, all taught by lecturers conducting research in various fields in economics. You will be able to choose to study further finance-related topics (e.g. international finance) or explore other specialised fields in economics (e.g. education, environment) to equip you with invaluable skills for your career.

Economics and finance placements
Our Professional Training placements offer you the opportunity to put your skills and understanding of economics and finance into practice. You’ll be able to gain invaluable experience for your future career.  

Placements are available in a range of organisations, including large corporations, city institutions and government departments.  

Some examples of organisations students on our Economics programmes have worked with include:  

• Consultant, Ernst and Young
• DTZ
• Elan Capital Management
• Julius Baer (Zurich, Switzerland)
• Lloyds Banking Group
• Rosemount Financial Solutions
• RSM Tax Advisory
• Wellington Investment Management.