Business Economics - BA (Hons)

This course has recently been updated. Please download the course specification for the up to date information.

The applied nature of our BA (Hons) Business Economics degree prepares you to work across all areas of the economy, especially the private sector.

Specifically, your degree combines the study of economics, with a wide variety of applicable business-related theories/models such as E-business, sustainability and innovation among others.

In this course the focus lies on three key pillars: it is applied enabling you to make sense of the impact of policies; it centres on enhancing your employability; finally, it provides you with a global outlook critical to sustainable growth within an organisation. The international focus of the course is derived through a variety of means including the student body, the teaching team and the use of international teaching materials. In addition to this you’ll also have the opportunity to gain industry experience by going on a professional placement, or to travel overseas to study abroad at one of our partner universities.

Economics is a major social science which studies the economy and its impact on society and the natural environment. Economics draws on and influences other social sciences and it is also a core business discipline, which is integral to understanding organisational behaviour, strategy and corporate performance. This course will equip you with a firm foundation of economics through a unique pluralist approach, which will bring to life diverse economic ideas and empower you to understand the relevance of competing economic theories and their application to business decision-making.

In order to do this effectively, this course equips you with a vast analytical toolkit, which includes mathematical and statistical analysis, critical thinking and the use of business tools and techniques to provide a richer understanding of the challenges contemporary businesses face within both the UK and International economies. During your study here you will have the chance to access to our Trading room and to work on a live client project with our Business Advice Centre. Finally, you will also gain critical communication and IT skills with our expert teaching team that has industry experience.

As Business Economists work in a number of settings: you will be prepared for a wide-ranging data-driven career in both the public and private sector, therefore, providing you with a range of options dependent on the graduate role you subsequently seek. The technical skills within this course, alongside your engagement with our Graduate+ employability programme and extra-curricular awards, will further enhance your development as a work-ready graduate.

Why Choose Us?

• You will pursue a distinct pluralistic program, which aims to provide you with an in-depth understanding of real life economic challenges from the point of view of a variety of approaches to economic theory and practice. 
• On all of our courses you will gain a professional focus and real world experience of economics, ensuring you are equipped to make an immediate impact in the business world. You have the opportunity to embark on a year-long professional placement as part of your degree course. Many of our previous placement students have worked at big name companies such as BMW, Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Intel, IBM and Disney.
• Recognising the global scope of business, all our courses have an international focus. This is embedded throughout the curriculum, giving you the opportunity to transform your experience with us into a global one. There are a variety of exciting possibilities open to you, ranging from our successful international travel scholarships scheme, through which you can spend a summer working for a charitable organisation overseas, to one of our many overseas study exchange programmes.
• As a student on one of our undergraduate degrees, you will be able to benefit from our Graduate+ initiative. This three-year award course enables you to gain award levels for all the extra-curricular activities you undertake so that you can stand out from the crowd on graduation.
• You’ll have the opportunity to work in our ‘CITY Trading Room’ using the same investment analysis software as traders, financial analysts and decision makers in the investment industry.
• Don't meet the entry criteria? Our Foundation Year courses offer a route to a full undergraduate degree at a lower entry tariff.
• Birmingham City University has just launched the UK's first Centre for Brexit Studies, researching all aspects of the UK's vote to leave the EU, including the impact it has on British and European economies.
• The Economics team at Birmingham City University have a wide range of experiences in industry and these will be enhanced by the unique contributions which colleagues in strategy, finance and enterprise can offer.
• You will develop the relevant subject-specific and key transferable skills you need to excel in a wide variety of sectors and roles.
• Your course will foster your intellectual development and encourage your personal commitment with the purpose of preparing you for work as an economist, both locally and abroad thanks to our international focus.
• We will provide you with the fundamental knowledge and skills base from which you can proceed to further studies in economics or in multidisciplinary areas that involve economics.
• You will study in our state-of-the-art City Centre Campus, ideally located for you to take advantage of our links to industry in the UK’s second city. 

Find out more

• Our Facilities
• Our Graduates
• Our Placements
• Our Students
• Our Trips

We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.

Essential Requirements

Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

Applying through UCAS

International students

There are three ways to apply:

1) Direct to the University

You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.

2) Through a country representative

Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.

3) Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.

Course Structure

A variety of delivery approaches will be utilised throughout the course to managing the learning process, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, peer teaching and learning, project-based learning, experiments, games and technology-enabled learning.

For example, blended learning is adopted, using a mix of face-to-face with online and independent study approach. While face-to-face sessions will vary in format, you will be expected to arrive to sessions fully prepared throughout. The application of key concepts during lectures and workshops are explored further during seminars and self-directed study.

A wide variety of assessment methods are used, and throughout the course you will be expected to deliver both individually and in groups, reports, presentations, essays, project plans, exams (case-based, open-book and closed-book; computer-based and essay-based) and proposals.

Trips and visits

You will have the opportunity to visit a number of leading businesses during your studies, both locally and across the country. Recently, students visited leading brewery company Sadler’s Ales, gaining an innovative insight into how a successful business runs.

Enhancing employability skills

Our Business Economics programmes undertake co-curriculum activities such as study trips, internships and placements. These provide you with the opportunity to work with a wide variety of organisations, enhancing your employability, confidence and learning.

Throughout the programme, you will receive assistance for your own development through co-curriculum activities, including our dedicated Employability Challenge Weeks and extended induction programmes.

OpportUNIty

OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.

It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.

Welcome to the Birmingham City Business School, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!

Birmingham City Business School is one of the UK’s largest, most established and most respected business schools. Our programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.

We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

• Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here
• Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies
• Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country
• Learn where to find financial support for your studies

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities.

The Curzon Building

This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law, Business and English students.

The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.

The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.

The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.

The Curzon Building also features:

• An impressive new library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
• Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
• A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
• Brand new, accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
• Shared facilities with the wider campus including the recently opened Parkside Building and Millennium Point