Overview
This bachelor's degree in business economics has a strong emphasis on developing the skills and knowledge sought after by employers. Topics include applied economics, management decision-making, an in-depth knowledge of contemporary international business issues, teamwork, and leadership.
The course aims to provide you with a good grounding in the core concepts, knowledge and skills of economics and business management. This takes place through the thorough examination of specialist knowledge in economics and business-related literature as well as the practical aspects of economics, business and financial data collection and analysis.
This business economics degree is ideal for those thinking about a career in economics, finance, or management, or in a role that includes financial resource allocation such as department head or practice manager.
The modules will consist of a variety of learning approaches including scheduled lectures and seminars, in-class workshops, working in the business advice centre, accounting, computer and finance software skills, using the trading floor, Bloomberg trading sessions, marketing lab, case studies and guest lectures from leading business practitioners.
This course is in Clearing
Our LLM course is a top choice
UEL’s LLM programme has been recognised as a top choice in the latest PTES survey, achieving 1st place rankings for satisfaction, teaching and more.
What makes this course different

High Employability Rate
100% of our students go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course. (Source: discoveruni.gov.uk)
See Discover Uni survey data
Full marks for overall satisfaction
According to the NSS 2019, 100% of our students were satisfied overall. We invest in our facilities, deliver up-to-date and professionally accredited courses and offer superb teaching.

Industry 4.0
The syllabus prioritises skills and competencies relevant to the needs of the 4.0 economy. You will be taught relevant and topical business subjects that have been co-developed with industry experts.
Accreditation

Accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)
The CISI Education Partner accreditation aims to help you obtain a professional qualification that is recognised worldwide while pursuing your degree. This accreditation ensures that business economics graduates have a competitive advantage upon completing their studies.
Course modules
Our extended foundation course is perfect if you want a business economics degree but don't have the standard entry requirements. We prepare you for your degree during the foundation year, bringing you up to speed with academic skills and a firm grounding in the subject. You can then go on to study for a full undergraduate degree, studying the economic factors that affect business.
In Year 1 of the Business Economics programme, core modules provide foundational knowledge in key business areas. You will study business law, accounting, economics, marketing, and organisational behaviour. You'll develop skills in business statistics and data analysis. These modules aim to prepare you for further studies or professional careers in business, accounting, and economics.
In Year 2 of the Business Economics programme, our core modules deepen your knowledge in financial reporting, management accounting, taxation, and financial management. You will study intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics, digital marketing, project management, and talent management. The modules also aim to develop employability skills, sustainable operations, and strategic decision-making to prepare you for careers in business and economics.
In Year 3 of the Business Economics programme, core modules focus on advanced financial reporting, strategic management accounting, and the intersection of finance and technology. You will study behavioural economics, international political economy, and corporate social responsibility. You'll develop practical skills in data analytics and business intelligence. The modules cover global enterprise, consultancy, and leadership, preparing you for dynamic roles in business, finance, and economics.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Your future career
Economics is a dynamic subject, and we will help you learn in a variety of ways that will stimulate your interest and motivate you. You'll look at the economic factors that affect businesses. You'll learn through practical tasks - for instance, playing an investment game using our industry-standard trading platform. You might learn how to trade stocks and shares in capital and financial markets and develop sought-after investment management skills. You will be expected to undertake independent study, supported by our specialist business library and a selection of digital materials, databases, handbooks, notes and other resources. With a business economics degree you will learn analytical skills and understand economic principles. These skills will make you a valuable asset in many industries.
Industry links
We are a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner and our courses are validated by leading industry bodies.
Some business economics students have worked as volunteer community support officers, while others have volunteered in local community groups. If you choose this approach, you'll be able to count your community experience towards your degree, and it will look great on your CV.
Graduate employers
Our business economics graduates have gone on to jobs at such companies and organisations as, Accenture, Ernst & Young, Marriott, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC. Our proximity to Canary Wharf helps you connect with the best companies.
Job roles
Roles you could go into include banker/asset manager, reinsurance broker, data or financial analyst. You could work in finance, consulting, market research, or even start your own business like many of our previous graduates.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this business economics degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
Further study
You could go on to further study by doing our MSc Finance and Risk or MSc Professional Accounting degrees. These higher degrees could enhance your career enabling you to move into leadership roles.

Commencing a 3-year BSc was quite daunting. However, within my first semester, most of my worries dissipated as I saw the immense opportunities UEL had to offer. I got selected for a two-year AWS programme, completed a summer role at PwC, and secured a full-time role at an investment firm months before graduation."Ebenezer Joseph
BSc (Hons) Business Management graduate
How you'll learn
We pride ourselves on giving our business economics students a fantastic experience and great support from day one. We're an inclusive university with a close-knit community of students and our teaching reflects that.
Teaching is delivered through a diverse range of methods, not only to develop your different skills but also to enrich the learning experience.
Knowledge is developed through lectures, workshops, guided reading, seminars and knowledge-based activities with feedback, online discussions and activities. Thinking skills are developed through reflective activities and case studies with feedback, online discussions and activities.
Practical skills are developed through IT activities with feedback, Bloomberg and research skills-based activities with feedback, and skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through presentations, research and coursework.
Guided independent study
When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.
Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as edit suites, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.
Academic support
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses.
Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater to your every need. UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Dedicated personal tutor
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.
Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
- Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
- Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
- Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Class sizes
The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work. You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year depending on your course.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 40 - 50 students a year. Lecture sizes are normally 40 plus students.
In workshops, you will be taught in groups of 12 - 15 students. However, this can vary by academic year.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment tasks are mainly spread across the year to make the workload manageable. Assessment methods include group work, exams and individual work including essays, presentations, case studies, professional development and practical activities depending on the nature of the course. All grades count towards your module mark. More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides.
You will always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.
Campus and facilities
Our campus and the surrounding area
University Square Stratford is one of London's most modern and well-equipped campuses. It serves 3,400 students and is the base for our courses in law and criminology, dance and performing arts, and the Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Modern facilities include: performing arts spaces; three performance studios; the Harvard lecture theatre, with live lecture capture technology; the multimedia Weston Learning Centre; a dedicated MBA suite and teaching space; a 300-seat specialised tiered lecture; and a simulated courtroom for mooting experience.
The campus is close to Stratford developments such as Westfield Stratford City and the Theatre Royal. You can be in Canary Wharf in 20 minutes, the English National Ballet in 15 minutes and Sadler's Wells East in 8 minutes.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by Royal Docks School of Business and Law
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What our students and staff say

During my studies, I actively engaged with the UEL Career Zone, completing two internships, working with an entrepreneurial team, starting my own freelance business, serving as a student ambassador, winning the BACK:ED Prize, and participating in a mentoring programme. All of that enabled me to be the way I am today."
Crystel Gagan
BSc (Hons) Economics

Taking the course at UEL was one of the best decisions I ever made. It was a world-class educational environment, which helped me to grasp integrated skills and advanced knowledge of banking and finance. This gave me great confidence in fulfilling all of the requirements of my job."
Tuan Anh
MSc Finance and Risk, now working at Central Bank of Vietnam