BSc Economics and Finance

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Exeter

Program Overview

Exeter's BSc Economics and Finance takes students into the heart of modern economics and financial systems, mastering advanced techniques like derivatives pricing, risk, and portfolio management alongside a critical understanding of how economic environments shape financial markets. It suits students aiming for careers in banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment trusts, or financial advisory work, with a flexible structure that lets them specialise further or broaden their horizons as they progress.

Curriculum structure

In Year 1, students build core economic and financial foundations through modules like Introduction to Finance, Economics I and Economics II, and Mathematics for Economists, setting up the technical toolkit for everything that follows.

Year 2 sharpens that expertise with modules such as Financial Markets and Decisions I, Money and Banking, and Microeconomics II, deepening both the theoretical and applied sides of finance and economics together.

Students on the four-year route can choose an Industrial Experience placement or a Year Abroad in their third year, spending it working with a real employer or studying at one of Exeter's international partner universities before returning for their final year.

By the Final Year, students take their expertise further through Financial Markets and Decisions 2 alongside a wide range of modules from across the UEBS modularity group, with the added opportunity to get involved in Exeter's own FEELE, the Finance and Economics Experimental Lab at Exeter research centre.

Focus areas: Modern economics, financial systems and markets, derivatives pricing, risk and portfolio management, econometrics, and the analysis of economic environments and their impact on finance.

Learning outcomes: Graduates leave able to evaluate government policy and economic performance, apply mathematical and statistical analysis to real data, present complex findings clearly to different audiences, and make well-reasoned recommendations that account for wider social and political influences, alongside strong ICT and research skills.

Professional alignment: The degree is delivered within a triple-accredited Business School, holding AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS accreditation, a mark of quality recognised by employers and institutions worldwide, and students can get hands-on experience through Exeter's FEELE experimental economics research lab.

Reputation (employability rankings): Exeter is ranked Top 15 in the UK for Economics, 11th in the Complete University Guide 2026 and 12th in The Guardian University Guide 2026, and Top 150 in the world for Economics in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025, with graduate prospects ranked joint 11th in the UK.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Exeter's BSc Economics and Finance gets students applying advanced financial theory to real markets, working through a mix of weekly lectures, in-depth seminars and tutorials, and assessment that goes well beyond exams. Students are based at the purpose-built University of Exeter Business School on the Streatham Campus, and get the chance to engage directly with cutting-edge research through Exeter's own FEELE, the Finance and Economics Experimental Lab at Exeter. Group work, coursework, and project work all form part of assessment, meaning students build genuine analytical and communication skills that carry straight into careers in banking, investment, and financial advisory. Here's what that looks like in practice:

Purpose-built Business School: teaching happens in the dedicated University of Exeter Business School building on the Streatham Campus.
Research lab access: students can get involved with FEELE, Exeter's own experimental economics research lab, gaining direct exposure to live economic and financial research.
Group project work: assessment includes genuine group work and project work alongside individual coursework, reflecting how financial analysis happens in real teams.
ICT and digital skills: the degree explicitly builds practical Information and Communications Technology skills, including word processing, databases, internet communications, information retrieval, and online searches.
Optional industrial placement: the four-year "with Industrial Experience" route gives students a full paid year in a professional placement, previously with employers including Goldman Sachs, Accenture, and the Royal Bank of Canada.
Optional year abroad: students can spend a year studying at one of 60 partner universities across 26 countries, with the option to combine study and work placement abroad.
Placement support team: students on the Industrial Experience route are supported by the Business School Careers Team and assigned an academic tutor for the full duration of their placement.
Study abroad support: the Business School Study Abroad Team helps students choose a destination, build a strong application, and stay supported while abroad.
Careers support: the Business School Career Zone provides dedicated careers and employability guidance throughout the degree.
Society events and guest talks: the Economics Society regularly invites distinguished guests to the Business School to discuss real-world issues, giving students a direct platform to apply what they learn in their modules.
Independent and group study: students combine roughly 11 to 14 hours of timetabled teaching per week with 20 to 25 hours of independent or group study, building strong self-management and research habits.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Exeter's BSc Economics and Finance graduates leave equipped for careers across banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment trusts, and financial advisory work, backed by real expertise in derivatives pricing, risk, and portfolio management. It's a degree that leads into roles like Business Analyst, Technology Risk Analyst, Commercial Project Manager, and Actuarial Analyst, giving graduates real versatility across the financial sector:

Career support services: the Business School Career Zone provides dedicated careers and employability support throughout the degree, helping students build strong applications and prepare for the job market.
Employment stats and salary figures: students on the Industrial Experience route typically earn between 19,000 and 23,000 pounds during their placement year, with salaries ranging up to 52,000 pounds depending on the role and employer.
University-industry partnerships: students on the Industrial Experience pathway have completed placements with major organisations including Goldman Sachs, Accenture, and the Royal Bank of Canada, with over half of placement students later offered a graduate job by their placement employer.
Long-term accreditation value: the degree is delivered within a triple-accredited Business School, holding AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS status, a mark of quality recognised by employers and institutions worldwide, alongside Exeter's Top 15 UK ranking for Economics.
Graduation outcomes: With Industrial Experience graduates see even stronger results, with 97 percent in graduate employment or postgraduate study within six months of graduating, compared to 93.5 percent of non-placement graduates, and past graduates have gone on to work at organisations including Goldman Sachs, Facebook, Diageo, HM Treasury, and Bloomberg LP.

Further Academic Progression: Students who want to keep building their expertise in economics and finance have a natural next step through postgraduate study at Exeter, deepening the technical and analytical skills built during the degree, including hands-on research experience through the FEELE experimental economics lab. The Business School's global partnerships across 60 institutions in 26 countries also give students a strong platform to pursue further study internationally if they want to specialise abroad.