Program Overview

This course starts with a foundation year, giving you a year of study at Essex before beginning your undergraduate course.

Do you want to combine the study of economics with a modern foreign language? Economics is not only about stocks, shares, and financial markets; it relates to every aspect of our lives where there is a demand to produce and supply goods and services.

Economics at Essex is a home for the tenacious and bold. We encourage you to ask difficult questions so you can work with us to break intellectual boundaries and pioneer new solutions to issues of global concern. Learning a modern language on top of this offers you a distinct advantage over colleagues in the public or private sector Speaking more than one language not only develops your confidence to travel and work internationally but also allows you to communicate with co-workers from all over the world.

Our course gives you a thorough introduction to all aspects of economics, including micro and macroeconomics, and qualitative and mathematical research methods. Examine the decisions of individuals, the strategies of firms and the policies of individuals to understand and challenge the standard rules of economics.

Alongside this, you also study a language, choosing from French, German, Italian or Portuguese, which allows you to graduate at either Proficiency or Mastery Level. Throughout your course, a growing understanding of economic concepts is matched by your increasing competence with your chosen language.

Our Department of Economics is ranked 12th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2020) and is top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% of their research rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” (REF 2014).