Economics, Politics and International Relations with a Year in Business BSc

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Royal Holloway University of London

Program Overview

If you’re someone who loves understanding how economies work, why governments make certain decisions, and how global events affect businesses and people — this course is designed exactly for you. The BSc Economics, Politics and International Relations with a Year in Business at Royal Holloway combines economic theory, political insight and real-world business experience, giving you academic knowledge plus a year of hands-on work in a professional organisation.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Foundations in Economics, Politics & International Relations
Your first year introduces you to the core building blocks of the course. Through modules like Principles of Economics and Introduction to Politics and Government, you’ll explore how markets function, how political systems operate and how nations interact globally. You’ll also begin developing data and analytical skills through modules such as Data Skills for Economists.

Year 2 – Applying Theory to Real-World Issues
This is where things get more analytical and practical. You’ll study areas such as International Political Economy, Comparative Politics, and Intermediate Microeconomics or Macroeconomics. You’ll also develop skills in statistics and econometrics, preparing you for decision-making in real economic and political contexts. At the same time, you’ll begin preparing for your Business Placement Year with support from academic and career advisors.

Year 3 – Year in Business
This is the standout feature of the degree. You’ll spend a full year working for a business or organisation in the UK or abroad — this could be in finance, government, consulting, NGOs or multinational companies. It’s your chance to apply classroom knowledge to real projects, build your CV, and gain professional skills like teamwork, communication and problem-solving.

Year 4 – Specialisation and Independent Research
You return to campus with industry experience and a clearer sense of direction. In your final year, you’ll choose advanced modules such as Financial Crises and Risk, Global Governance, or Political Economy of Development. You’ll also complete a dissertation or independent research project where you apply economics, politics and your business insights to a topic you care about.

Focus areas (in a string):

“economic theory, business and commercial practice, international relations, political systems, global governance, data analysis, policy-making”

Learning outcomes (in a string):

“graduates will be able to apply economic and political analysis to global issues, use data and quantitative tools effectively, gain professional workplace experience, conduct independent research and communicate complex ideas with clarity”

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What makes this degree stand out is that it’s not just about learning economic models or political theories — you actually get to use them in the real world. From the first year, you’ll start learning data analysis, research techniques, and how governments and economies function. But the highlight of this course is your paid or unpaid Year in Business, where you step out of the classroom and spend up to 12 months working for a real company or organisation in the UK or overseas.

This means by the time you graduate, you’ll already have work experience, professional references and real business insight — something most graduates don’t get until after university.

Here’s how Royal Holloway helps you gain practical skills throughout the degree:

Real Experience You’ll Gain:

Year in Business (9–12 months of real work experience)
You’ll spend your third year working full-time in a business or organisation — this could be in finance, policy, consultancy, marketing, economics, government or international business. You’ll apply what you’ve studied in lectures to real decisions, meetings, projects and data.
Professional career support from Day 1
The School of Business & Management and the Department of Economics run CV workshops, mock interviews, employer networking events and one-to-one coaching to help you secure a placement. You’ll get support through the Year in Business Team, who guide you through applications, interviews and assessments.
Data and economic analysis using real software
Through modules like Data Skills for Economists, you’ll work with real economic datasets and learn data-handling using specialist software such as R, Excel-based econometrics tools and industry-focused analytical platforms.
Group projects and policy/business simulations
In second year, you’ll work on team-based assignments where you may analyse government budgets, tackle political risk case studies or propose solutions to economic and business problems — building collaboration and presentation skills.
Business meets politics and economics
Modules such as International Political Economy and Global Governance explore how economic decisions shape political systems, trade wars, financial crises and international organisations like the UN and IMF — preparing you to apply this knowledge during your business placement.
Final-year dissertation or applied project
After your placement, you’ll return in Year 4 with practical insights. You’ll then complete an independent research project or dissertation, often linked to your business experience — e.g., corporate ethics, financial crises, political risk, policy failures or international trade.

Progression & Future Opportunities

This degree gives you something employers really value — not just academic knowledge, but real work experience, strong data skills, political awareness and the ability to understand how economies and governments interact. Graduates from this programme have gone on to careers in government, finance, consulting, international organisations and global companies. Typical roles include Policy Analyst, Business/Strategy Consultant, Diplomatic Services Officer, and Economic or Political Risk Analyst.

To help you get there, Royal Holloway actively supports your career journey through personalised guidance and work-based learning experiences:

Career Support Tailored to This Degree
You’ll be supported by the university’s Careers & Employability Service, plus the Economics department’s Economics@Work programme, which offers career coaching, employer talks, CV and LinkedIn workshops, and exclusive networking with alumni working in banking, policy, civil service and consultancy.
Strong Graduate Outcomes & Salary Potential
According to DiscoverUni data, graduates from this pathway earn an average salary of around £30,000 just 15 months after graduation, rising to around £44,500 within five years — reflecting the value of combining economics, politics and business experience.
Industry Links & Year in Business Advantage
What makes this course unique is the full Year in Business. You’ll spend 9–12 months working with a real company or organisation — which could be in finance, multinational corporations, public policy, NGOs or government departments. This not only gives you professional experience but also helps you stand out to employers when you graduate.
Why Employers Value This Degree Long-Term
While it’s not a profession-specific accreditation like accounting or law, it gives you a highly transferable skillset:
✔ Data and economic modelling
✔ Understanding of politics and public policy
✔ Business awareness from your placement year
✔ Communication, teamwork and analytical thinking
Where Graduates Commonly Work
RHUL graduates from Economics and Politics have gone on to work at organisations such as:
- UK Civil Service & Bank of England
- Deloitte, KPMG, EY, PwC (Consulting & Finance)
- UN, NGOs, international policy institutes
- Barclays, HSBC, Bloomberg (Finance & Data Analysis)

Further Academic Progression:

If you decide to continue studying after graduation, this degree prepares you well for:

MSc International Relations, Public Policy, Global Strategy or Economics
MSc Finance, Business Analytics or Management
MA Diplomacy or Global Governance
Law Conversion Course (PGDL) for careers in law, policy or international justice
MPhil/PhD in Economics, Political Science or International Relations