Economics studies scarcity and its effects on resource use, the creation of commodities and services, the expansion of production and welfare over time, and a wide range of complicated issues of paramount importance to society. Students will gain knowledge and skills in problem-solving, data analysis, computers, and written and oral presentations, all of which are highly valued and in demand in the current job market.
Undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and research degrees are offered in economics programs in the UK. As an overseas student, you have the choice of enrolling in one of the best schools or universities in the UK that offer economics-focused degree programs.
Bachelor's and master's degrees can cost you up to £44,000 annually. The program's core components are
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Econometrics
- Research Methodology
- Economic Analysis
- Dissertation
After graduation, the degree can open doors for you in career fields like banking, hedge fund management, professional accountants, auditors, entrepreneurship, development, government consultancy, etc. The job title could be economist, professor, policy analyst, budget analyst, researcher, data scientist, or statistician.
Global ranking of some of the top universities in the UK for Economics courses
The following is a list of the top UK universities in the subjects, as determined by the USnews Rankings by Subject "Business and Economics."
Ranking |
Universities/Colleges |
Location |
7 |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
London |
11 |
University of Oxford |
Oxford |
19 |
University of Cambridge |
Cambridge |
22 |
University of Warwick |
Coventry |
31 |
Imperial College London |
London |
32 |
London Business School |
London |
35 |
University of Manchester |
Manchester |
43 |
University College London |
London |
54 |
Lancaster University |
Lancaster |
67 |
University of Leeds |
Leeds |
75 |
University of Sussex |
Brighton |
81 |
City University London |
London |
85 |
University of Nottingham |
Nottingham |
116 |
University of Reading |
Reading |
Programs for Bachelors in Economics with tuition fees in the UK
A bachelor's degree in economics is a 4-year course offered by many universities in the UK. Here is a list of undergraduate degrees in economics offered by the UK’s top universities, along with the annual tuition fees for home and international students.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum (Home) |
Tuition fees per annum (International) |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
B.Sc. Economics |
£9,250 |
£26,280 |
University of Oxford |
B.A. (HONS) in History & Economics |
£9,250 |
Between £28,950 and £44,240 |
University of Cambridge |
B.A. in Economics |
£9,250 |
£23,340 |
University of Warwick |
Economics B.Sc. |
£9,250 |
£22,280 |
Imperial College London |
B.Sc. Economics, Finance and Data Science |
£9,250 |
N/A |
University of Manchester |
B.Sc. Economics |
£9,250 |
£24,500 |
University College London |
Economics B.Sc. (Econ) |
£9,250 |
£26,600 |
Lancaster University |
B.Sc. (HONS) in Economics |
£9,250 |
£22,650 |
University of Leeds |
Economics B.Sc. |
£9,250 |
£24,000 |
University of Sussex |
B.Sc. (HONS) in Economics |
N/A |
N/A |
Academic Requirements
- An undergraduate degree requires a minimum of 60% at the intermediate level/ +2.
English Test Scores
- IELTS: A minimum score of 6.5 and 6.0 in all elements.
- TOEFL iBT: A minimum overall score of 87.
- PTE: An overall score of 58.
|
Programs for Masters in Economics with tuition fees in the UK
The table below lists the top universities in the UK that offer a postgraduate taught program in Economics or a closely related field.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum (Home) |
Tuition fees per annum (Home) |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
M.Sc. Economics |
£31,584 |
£32,208 |
University of Oxford |
M.Sc. in Economics for Development |
£25,760 |
£32,760 |
University of Cambridge |
M.Phil. in Economics |
£ 23,613 |
£ 35,517 |
University of Warwick |
M.Sc. Advanced Economics |
£ 25,326 |
£ 27,930 |
Imperial College London |
M.Sc. Economics and Strategy for Business |
N/A |
N/A |
University of Manchester |
M.A. Economics |
£13,500 |
£25,500 |
University College London |
M.Sc. Economics |
£24,000 |
£32,100 |
Lancaster University |
M.Sc. Economics |
£14,500 |
£24,150 |
University of Leeds |
Economics and Finance M.Sc. |
£12,000 |
£27,250 |
University of Sussex |
Development Economics M.Sc. |
N/A |
N/A |
Academic Requirements
- A 4-year undergraduate degree in subjects like Business, Finance, or Economics from an accredited institution.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- A GMAT or a GRE score if asked.
English Test Scores
- IELTS: A minimum score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing.
- TOEFL iBT: A minimum overall score of 94.
- PTE: An overall score of 70.
Programs for Ph.D. in Economics with tuition fees in the UK
A doctorate research degree in economics is a 3–5 year course offered by many universities in the UK. Here is a list of Ph.D. degrees in economics offered by the UK’s top universities, along with the annual tuition fees for home and international students.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum (Home) |
Tuition fees per annum (Home) |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
Ph.D. Economics |
£4,704 |
£21,768 |
University of Oxford |
D.Phil. in Economics |
£9,710 |
£24,800 |
University of Cambridge |
Ph.D. in Economics |
£ 9,387 |
£ 28,401 |
University of Warwick |
M.Res./Ph.D. Economics |
£4,596 |
£20,720 |
Imperial College London |
Doctoral program: Economics & Public Policy |
£4,500 |
£4,500 |
University of Manchester |
Ph.D. Economics |
£4,596 |
£20,500 |
Lancaster University |
Ph.D. Economics |
£4,596 |
£19,520 |
University of Leeds |
Ph.D. in the macroeconomy and macroeconomic policy |
£4,596 |
£20,250 |
University of Sussex |
Ph.D. in Economic Theory, Behavior and Experiments |
£4,596 |
£18,975 |
Academic Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree with a GPA over 3.0.
- A relevant Master's degree with a minimum of 65% overall.
- As part of the application, some universities also ask for a viable research proposal of up to 5000 words which has the potential to make a significant contribution to prior literature.
- GRE/GMAT score may be required.
English Test Scores
- IELTS: Overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum 6.5 in each element.
- TOEFL iBT: A minimum overall score of 94 with a minimum of 19 in reading, 19 in listening, 19 in speaking, and 22 in writing.
- PTE: An overall score of 65 and a minimum of 50 in each test component.
Top Economics Universities in the UK: Scholarships
Some of the scholarships offered to international students at different universities in the UK are listed below.
Universities/Colleges |
Scholarship |
Amount |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Programme |
£5,000 |
Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship |
£10,000 |
|
University of Oxford |
Reach Oxford Scholarship |
Course fees, annual grant towards living costs and one return air fare per year |
Simon and June Li Undergraduate Scholarship |
Course fees and a grant towards living costs |
|
University of Warwick |
CIM Master's Bursaries |
£8,000 |
Fulbright Commission Awards |
Full tuition waiver and £14,000 living stipend |
|
Imperial College London |
Dean’s Impact Scholarship |
£20,000 |
Imperial Excellence Scholarship |
£10,000 |
|
University of Manchester |
British Chevening Scholarship |
Full Tuition fees |
University College London |
The James Lanner Memorial Scholarship |
£10,000 |
Top Economics Universities in the UK: Scope
As Economics is a varied discipline that is intertwined with many other professional spheres, the average salary in the UK after a degree in Economics varies depending on the sort of work that you take up.
Another factor that influences wages after graduating in Economics in the UK is the academic institution's level of prominence and academic excellence.
In the UK, an economics degree is typically followed by a salary of £39,000.
Top Recruiters
Some top recruiters for economics professionals’ are:
- Barclays
- Citi
- Morgan Stanley
- UBS
- Deloitte
- McKinsey
- KPMG
- Accenture
- Amazon
- Bank of America
- Unilever
- Goldman Sachs
- JP Morgan
- Bank of America
- Credit Suisse
- IMF
- World Bank
Salary & Job Profile
Job Title |
Range |
Average |
Economist |
£22k - £54k |
£34,207 |
Investment Analyst |
£23k - £47k |
£33,330 |
Economic Analyst |
£27k - £56k |
£37,955 |
Credit Risk Manager |
£55k - £105k |
£76,022 |
Management Consultant |
£34k - £70k |
£48,348 |
Economic Consultant |
£26k - £46k |
£35,148 |
Financial Controller |
£37k - £88k |
£59,552 |
Demand Planner |
£21k - £39k |
£28,607 |
Quantitative Analyst |
£44k - £93k |
£63,966 |
Research Analyst |
£24k - £41k |
£31,051 |