BSc Economics and Finance

Compulsory modules

Introductory Economics

This module provides an analytical introduction to modern concepts of economics. You’ll gain an understanding of how real world works through key economics and concepts, and microeconomics and  macroeconomics and how these overlap. You’ll learn what markets can and cannot do, and the role of people and government in the economic performance.  

Introductory Securities and Markets

Gain an understanding of commercial and investment banks, international credit, bonds, and other markets. You’ll learn about developments in financial technology, sustainable finance, and their use in developing ratings for companies depending on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. 

Introductory Quantitative Techniques for Business and Finance

Develop an understanding of a range of quantitative techniques that are commonly applied in business, finance and management. You’ll explore both introductory statistics and mathematical techniques that are necessary for a good understanding of financial theories.  

Core Competencies in Economics

Develop key academic skills and strategies such as time management and independent learning, academic writing and referencing, and making effective use of feedback. Explore a range of challenges frequently encountered by students along with coping strategies and advice on accessing the network of support available.   

Introductory Finance/Trading Simulation I

Learn the core concepts of finance, starting with capital budgeting, time value of money, and asset pricing. You’ll construct portfolios of stocks and calculate risk and returns based on the capital asset pricing model. You’ll also learn derivatives pricing, and hedging strategies, and familiarise yourself with trading simulation and risk management techniques.

Mathematical Methods for Economists

Learn advanced mathematical techniques and their economic applications. You’ll understand how mathematics can be used to describe and extend economics in a rigorous fashion. 

Optional modules

Economics of Climate Change

Acquire an economic perspective on the causes and consequences of climate change. You’ll learn key theoretical concepts, such as externalities and public goods, and policy tools such as command and control measures, taxation and subsidies to devise adequate responses to climate change. You’ll gain a perspective on national and international climate change policy approaches and their implications for economic development. 

History of Economic Thought

Become acquainted with the main schools of thought in economics and understand the origins of economic ideas. You’ll learn about scholars and their ideas from a historical perspective, and consider their relevance in the context of contemporary debates. 

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Microeconomics

This microeconomics module brings together economic theories and mathematical methods taught in your first-year modules.

The primary aim of the course is to introduce you to the bread-and-butter toolbox of a microeconomist. You will learn formal, mathematical, solution methods. The main advantage of a mathematical approach is its rigor and clarity. By removing extraneous details from a problem or issue, models help to isolate and uncover underlying trade-offs and illuminate connections between ideas.

Macroeconomics

This macroeconomics module brings together economic theories and mathematical methods taught in your first-year modules.

This second-year course is designed to provide a systematic understanding of the main concepts and models of macroeconomics, both graphically and algebraically, related to output, economic growth, inflation, and unemployment. In addition, you should have a deeper appreciation of the interrelationship between these macroeconomic variables and government stabilisation (fiscal/monetary) or structural policies. This will help you to get an understanding of major economic events around the globe and critically analyse relevant issues discussed in the news, or by politicians.  

Optional modules

Introductory Econometrics for Finance

Gain a solid understanding of the econometric approaches employed to test financial theories by building upon the knowledge gained from the Introductory Quantitative Techniques for Finance module. You’ll apply techniques using an econometric software package and analyse real-world data to answer questions in finance.  

Business Economics

Develop your understanding of a number of areas of business economics, with a focus on theory. Topics include Economics of entrepreneurship, small business, international business and theories of the firm.

Games and Economic Behaviour

In this module, you’ll actively participate in one or more models of economic phenomena through an online gaming platform. You’ll gain greater insight into the assumptions and mechanisms underlying models of economic behaviour with the game-based versions of each model. 

Economics of Social Policy

Develop your understanding of how economic analysis can be applied to the real-world problems faced by policy makers. You’ll study socioeconomic problems and the role of Government policy. You’ll learn techniques from both microeconomics and macroeconomics to analyse topics such as poverty and inequality, housing, crime, health and education,. economics. 

Economic History

Understand how the world economy got to be where it is today, focusing on significant periods of economic change from the commercial revolution of the medieval period through to the modern digital revolution. 

Trends in Finance

Gain insight into financial history by understanding the relationships between innovations, bubbles and crises through case studies. You’ll also explore topics of current interest, placing them within a broader historical context and considering their wider contemporary relevance.

Programming for Finance

Learn Object Oriented Programming using Python as the main programming language and its applications in finance and econometrics. You'll learn about the fundamentals of programming and write simple programming functions in Python, and work on data processing, data management and visualisation.  

Sustainable Finance

Familiarise yourself with sustainability-related aspects of finance and investment. You’ll learn the theory, application, and relevant regulation relating to sustainable development, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), investing, and financing sustainable projects. 

FX and International Debt Markets

Gain a solid understanding of foreign exchange and international debt markets. You’ll learn to identify and appreciate the different structures found in the international debt markets and value vanilla debt securities and their interest rate risk. 

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Financial Economics

Learn about the economic reasoning that underpins much of modern finance, including portfolio theory and asset pricing. You’ll apply neoclassical financial analysis  to financial decision making in the world of uncertainty and market imperfections. You’ll also learn about the role of financial intermediation in facilitating investment. 

Financial Modelling

Apply your theoretical knowledge using Microsoft Excel functions to solve real-life financial problems. You’ll be able to implement the concept of capital budgeting, analyse the time value of money, construct portfolios, run regressions to estimate the Capital Asset Pricing Models, and calculate the prices of bonds, stocks and options. 

Derivative Securities

Explore derivatives markets and their products through theories and trading strategies. You’ll learn to compare and contrast the features of futures, options, swaps, and other derivative products. You’ll also interpret and apply derivatives pricing models, and critically discuss the application of financial derivatives to practical issues in risk management.

Optional modules

Environmental Economics

Get an overview of the theories, methodological tools, and evidence to understand contemporary environmental problems such as climate change, pollution, and sustainable development. You’ll learn the framework to evaluate various important policy questions.  

International Economics

This module is concerned with economic interactions among sovereign nations in terms of trade in goods and services as well as investment in financial and real assets. You’ll explore answers to questions such as fair distribution of benefits, regulation of trade, and financial relations. You’ll also learn to apply the theoretical concepts and models introduced to the policy context of Brexit and EU integration. 

Development Economics

Gain a deeper understanding of relevant economic theory, evidence, and implications for policy with a focus on a selection of topics relevant for development. 

Money and Banking

Build on your knowledge of intermediate macroeconomics as you study the economics of money, banking, and financial markets. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge about financial markets and institutions, central banking and monetary policy, with a focus on analysing the role of money and understanding the financial structure of financial institutions, businesses and the process of banking. 

Economics of Labour

This module aims to equip you with the tools to examine labour market issues and published empirical findings from a critical perspective. You’ll learn theoretical models and their application to these issues. 

Theory of Macroeconomic Policy

This module is about macroeconomic policy and those responsible for it in modern capitalist societies. You’ll learn to use theory to evaluate economic policies, understand the choices and the constraints policy-makers face, and appreciate the way interactions among policymakers affect policy outcomes. 

Dissertation

Work on an independent dissertation project of 8,000 words, under the guidance of a supervisor. You’ll identify the research question, critically evaluate the relevant literature, apply theoretical frameworks and research methods to your research questions, and learn to analyse and synthesise the research findings.  

Private Equity and Venture Capital

Develop your understanding of the dynamics between the venture capital investor and the entrepreneur, and the practicalities of raising PE&VC funds from institutional investors. You’ll gain hands-on experience through extensive use of case studies, group projects, and guest seminars from industry experts.

Finance and Occupational Pensions

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the financial aspects of occupational pensions – including investing the money, and the effects of a pension scheme on the corporate sponsor. You’ll also learn about the biggest group of global institutional investors such as pension schemes, and their real-world problems.  

Fintech and Cryptocurrencies

Learn about FinTech and blockchain technology and understand the reasons for their popularity. You’ll gain a broad appreciation of recent developments in FinTech, including money and payment, digital finance, alternative finance, and FinTech regulation, cryptocurrencies and governance.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.