Economics and Finance courses combine economic theory with the practical skills necessary to apply your knowledge to a business, industrial, financial or government environment. Providing students with this combination of theory and practice, as well as a solid background in finance, is what distinguishes Brunel University London's courses from other Economics degrees. An optional work placement arranged through the University's strong industry links will further enhance your employment prospects.

In all Brunel University London economic and finance degrees, students develop a range of skills valued by employers such as quantitative and computing, business and financial analysis skills. Each programme has a strong contemporary feel and relates economics and financial management theory and concepts to the practical issues facing managers in the 21st Century. Successful completion of the degree can lead to career opportunities in business, financial accounting, as an economist and the financial sector.

Self-directed study

Each student is expected to undertake a minimum number of hours in individual study per week in order to support and build the skills, knowledge and understanding presented in each lecture and small group tutorial session per week. It is expected that students will increase the number of individual study hours as they approach formal assessment events. The ability for students to expand their learning by creating effective self-directed study patterns is a transferable skill deemed fundamental to further academic success as well as a key time-management tool. Formative assessment is a key aspect of the programme and is varied to ensure that a student has a variety of learning opportunities. This will include: individual and group formative assessment methods: presentations, individual and group work; and peer review. All students are provided with access to a range of on line resources through the student portal. Electronic journals and electronic books are available through the Brunel University e-resources gateway. There will be a focus of using freely available tools and benefiting from the resources available on the internet to support learning. Guest speakers from relevant industries will provide additional perspectives for students.

Careers and your future

Graduates of our Economics or Finance degrees have an excellent employment record and go on to work in a wide variety of careers. Some have gone onto further study and some have become economists. Our Finance and Accounting graduates have gone onto become professional accountants at employers such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG, while others have gone onto work at financial institutions in the City like Nat West (Financing Futures), the Treasury and Bank of England.