BSc Politics and Economics

At Southampton, learning politics and economics isn’t just about books and lectures — it’s about living the subject. From your very first year, you’ll get hands-on experience with the same tools, environments, and challenges that professionals face. Whether it’s analysing live financial data, running behavioural experiments, or collaborating on real policy projects, you’ll constantly be putting theory into practice.

And it doesn’t stop there: placements, study abroad, and research opportunities give you the chance to test your skills in the real world, making you career-ready by the time you graduate. Here’s how you’ll gain that practical edge:

• Professional tools at your fingertips
  Step into the Bloomberg Suite, a trading-room style lab where you’ll track real-time global markets, just like City of London analysts. In the Behavioural Economics Laboratory, you’ll design and run experiments to see how people actually make decisions — beyond the textbook theories.

• Learn by doing, not just listening.
  Modules are designed with group projects, debates, and policy reports built in, so you’ll work with classmates to tackle genuine political and economic issues. You’ll also have the chance to take on a major independent research project or dissertation in your final year.

• Boost your CV with placements.
  Through UoS Internships and the Excel Southampton placement scheme, you can apply for short-term paid internships with big employers, charities, or government bodies. These roles mirror the real recruitment process, giving you confidence and experience before you even graduate.

• See the world while you study.
  Southampton offers you the chance to spend a semester abroad in your third year, or join a summer school at Xiamen University in China — a fantastic way to build international experience and cultural insight.

• Be part of a research-driven community.
  You’ll learn from academics whose work directly influences government policy and global debates. With research centres focusing on democracy, behavioural economics, and international relations, you’ll always feel close to the action.

• Support every step of the way.
  From employability workshops and networking events run by the Careers & Employability team, to financial help for unpaid internships through the Social Sciences Employability Award, Southampton makes sure you have every opportunity to succeed. Student societies like the Economics and Politics groups also bring guest speakers and employers right to campus.

Graduating from Southampton with a Politics & Economics degree opens doors to a wide range of exciting careers. You’ll be well prepared for roles in government, finance, consultancy, NGOs, and beyond, thanks to the analytical, research, and problem-solving skills you’ll build throughout the course. Many of our graduates move into careers as Economists, Policy Officers, Investment Analysts, or Public Affairs Consultants.

Here’s what makes your future progression especially strong:

• Dedicated careers support: You’ll have access to Southampton’s Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise service, which offers tailored workshops, employer networking events, work experience schemes, and even support if you want to launch your own business through Futureworlds.

• Strong employment outcomes: 95% of graduates are working or in further study within 15 months, with an average graduate salary of around £29,000. In Economics specifically, the employment rate is over 96%, with an average full-time salary of £33,100.

• Hands-on learning with industry links: You’ll gain practical experience in our Bloomberg trading suite and experimental economics lab, giving you the same tools used by professionals in finance and policy.

• Recognised reputation: Southampton’s Economics department is ranked 15th in the UK by QS and 10th in the UK by Times Higher Education, which adds long-term value to your degree in the eyes of employers.

• Graduate destinations: Alumni have gone on to careers in accountancy firms, banks, consultancies, government departments, charities, think-tanks, and international organisations such as NGOs and development bodies.

Further Academic Progression

If you’d like to continue your studies, you’ll have excellent options:

• Progress to a Master’s degree in areas like Economics, Public Policy, International Relations, Political Economy, or Finance.

• Take up professional qualifications in accountancy, actuarial science, or policy analysis.

• Pursue a research pathway through an MRes, MPhil, or PhD if you’re interested in academic, think-tank, or advanced policy careers.