Economics BA (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Cambridge

Program Overview

Program Overview:

The BA (Hons) in Economics at the University of Cambridge equips you with a rigorous understanding of how economies work—including markets, inflation, employment and finance—and a toolkit of analytical, statistical and mathematical methods. It suits curious, numerically inclined students who want to explore economics at depth and prepare for careers or further study in business, policy-making, or research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 (Part I): You’ll start by studying foundational papers: Paper 1 Microeconomics, Paper 2 Macroeconomics and Paper 3 Quantitative Methods in Economics. These modules introduce you to market behaviour, national economic systems and statistical techniques using mathematics and statistics.

Year 2 (Part II A): In the second year your studies broaden: you take advanced modules such as Paper 4 International Trade and Economic Development and Paper 5a Politics. You’ll analyse global markets, development economics and the political and social contexts that shape economic policy.

Year 3 (Part II B): In your final year you pursue specialist options—select from units like Econometrics, Money and Banking, or Labour Economics & Inequality. You’ll conduct original analysis, apply empirical methods and explore advanced topics aligned with your career or research interests.

Focus areas: Economics, Quantitative Methods, Development, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics

Learning outcomes: Develop the ability to model economic behaviours, interpret complex quantitative data, evaluate policy-effects on markets and society and apply economic reasoning to real-world problems.

Professional alignment (accreditation): N/A (Undergraduate Honours degree in the Faculty of Economics)

Reputation (employability rankings): Ranked No. 1 in the UK for Economics (The Complete University Guide 2025)

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Cambridge for the Economics BA (Hons) programme, you’ll go far beyond lectures — you’ll harness real-world tools, collaborate on cutting-edge projects, and tap into research and data resources from day one. You’ll have access to statistical software and extensive databases, join a student-led economics society, and work in small-group sessions that mirror practical work in business, government or research labs. Here are the key hands-on experiences you’ll benefit from:

Statistical Databases & Software: The Faculty provides “access to an extensive range of statistical databases and software”.
Marshall Library of Economics: A specialised resource centre with a comprehensive collection of economics texts, journals and archival material.
Student-Led Marshall Society: A dedicated forum for economics students, organising informal lectures, discussions and networking occasions.
Experimental Lab Facilities via CEBEG: The Cambridge Experimental & Behavioural Economics Group offers a research lab equipped for experiments using software such as z-Tree, enabling you to engage in real behavioural and economic research tasks.
Innovation Ecosystem Visits: Through Cambridge Enterprise you can participate in structured experiential learning visits to accelerator and start-up ecosystems, receiving training from innovation professionals.
Small-Group Supervisions and Projects: You’ll engage in supervisions (small-group tutorials) and undertake project work such as your dissertation in year 3, building practical analytical and research skills.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the BA (Hons) in Economics at the University of Cambridge are highly sought-after, entering roles such as Management Consultant, Investment/Financial Analyst and Policy Economist within top organisations. Leveraging analytical rigor and strategic insight, they go on to shape decisions in finance, business and public policy. This strong track record is underpinned by the university’s dedicated career support and industry connections:

Careers Service support: Cambridge’s Careers Service offers you one-to-one guidance, over 200 career events annually and access to internships and employer engagements through the Handshake platform.
Employment statistics & salary figures: About 86% of recent Economics graduates go on to work and/or further study within 15 months of graduation. Typical salary medians run around £44,000 at 15 months, £49,500 at 3 years after graduation.
University–industry partnerships: Graduates benefit from Cambridge’s connections with consultancy firms, central banks, global finance institutions and policy-research organisations—facilitated by alumni networks and employer events.
Long-term value and accreditation: A Cambridge Economics degree is recognised globally and opens doors across sectors—its prestige provides ongoing professional and international mobility.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates enter high-skill roles; for example, 90% of alumni report being in jobs aligned with their future plans, with many in highly-skilled occupations.