BSc Economics and Finance with International Foundation Year - January Entry

Compulsory modules 

Academic Skills 

Enhance your academic study and communication skills while gradually building confidence and mastering transferable abilities. Engage in various in-class group activities and individual study tasks to develop these skills effectively.

Foundation Economics - Microeconomics 

Discover how individuals and companies allocate and utilise resources. You’ll learn the neoclassical model of demand and supply, markets failures and the behaviour of firms.

Foundation Economics - Macroeconomics 

Learn models and theories used by economists to understand the performance of the economy. You’ll develop basic mathematical and statistical skills and apply these to economic decision making.

Core Mathematics 

Learn the techniques required to analyse and solve a variety of mathematical problems. You'll gain general mathematical skills as well as skills that are more related to your degree programme.

Quantative Methods

Discover the techniques required to analyse and solve a variety of statistical problems. You'll gain general theoretical skills as well as numerical skills that are more related to your degree programme.

Optional modules

Academic English 1

Develop the necessary basis in English for study at undergraduate level. You’ll develop key skills and a perspective on a range of contemporary topics that will equip you for study throughout your degree.

Academic English 2

Develop your competence in the use of English for academic purposes. You’ll be provided with the necessary linguistic foundation for your degree as you learn to use academic sources in a written and spoken context.

Concepts in Politics 

Learn the nature of key political concepts and use them to develop your ability to interpret and analyse political information and arguments. You’ll also be encouraged to develop your grammar and IT skills to ensure you are well equipped to research sources and execute written presentation throughout your degree.

Government and Politics

Study the nature of political institutions, concepts, and ideologies and develop the ability to interpret political information and execute into it a developed argument. In particular, you’ll focus on UK and US government and politics and identify their parallels, connections, similarities and differences.

Psychology and Research Methods

Explore the key research methods applicable to psychology as you develop your skills of analysis, evaluation, and critical thinking to data collection and reporting. You’ll focus on theories of conformity and obedience and learn to critically evaluate research by highlighting the limitations found in classic experiments.

An Introduction to Business Management 

Develop your ability to think critically and argue persuasively in business and management contexts. You'll learn basic business and management theory such as entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, human resource management, finance and accounting.

Psychology and the Body

Gain understanding of the biological basis of thought, behaviour, and emotions and develop transferable skills in analysis, evaluation, and critical thinking. You’ll focus on core areas in psychology including stress, cognitive psychology, and sleep. 

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

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.  

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.

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.  

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. 

Globalisation and the History of Western Capitalism

Learn about the evolution of international economic activity from 1200 to the present. You’ll examine how the world economy got to where it is today, from the development of great port cities to the modern ‘networked global village’.

Placement Support

Gain introductory employment, peer support and readiness for placement application with advice on CV writing, application forms and careers advice.  

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 module 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 module 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.  

Corporate Finance

Focus on corporate value: its measurement, and its maximisation through corporate financial decisions, growth strategies, and governance practices. Get a good grounding in corporate finance theory and an appreciation of the related empirical evidence.

Data Science for Finance

Develop a data driven mindset and learn how data analytics and data driven storytelling can shape and improve financial decision-making. You’ll explore how data science is used in  financial applications and business decision making, using Tableau as an enabling technology.  You’ll also gain a solid understanding of the econometric techniques used to test financial theories

Optional modules

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

Contextualise current issues and debates in finance by placing them in the historical evolution of finance. Understand how finance has evolved over time and where it may develop in the future.

Programming for Finance

Learn about Object Oriented Programming using Python as the main programming language, and use the learning outcomes for data processing and applications in Finance. Discover the basics of programming, including class, objects, datatypes, conditional statements and loops, processing data from files, receiving inputs and displaying relevant outputs.

Sustainable Finance

Learn about the basics of Sustainable Finance, covering applications in financing and investment activities. You'll explore the Environmental, Social and Governance factors, and will discuss the relevant policies and international regulations.

FX and International Debt Markets

Study the international debt markets, equip yourself with the tools to analyse and compare products, and determine trading and hedging strategies. Develop an understanding of the products and practices of international money and bond market cash instruments and bond futures.

Placement Support

Develop application and CV writing skills, knowledge of psychometric and video testing, interview and assessment centre techniques. You’ll gain additional insight through personality tests for your career direction.  

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 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. 

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.

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.

Optional modules

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 appreciation of the practical aspects of investing by private equity and venture capital firms, understand the dynamics between the venture capital investor and the entrepreneur, and the practicalities of raising private equity and venture capital funds from institutional investors. 

Finance and Occupational Pensions

Gain a detailed knowledge of the biggest group of global institutional investors (pension schemes), and the real-world problems they face. This is an applied course with little mathematical content.

Fintech and Cryptocurrencies

Learn about fintech, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain. Gain an understanding of how and why firms are implementing blockchain technology in their day-to-day business as well as the challenges they face.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 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.