BSc (Hons) Economics with Banking

Liam

Hi! I’m Liam and I have just finished my first year in BSc Economics with Banking.

When I speak to people about my course, they often say it ‘Sounds very Maths-y,’ or ‘Must be difficult,’ but as someone who did Maths at A-level (even though I didn’t do brilliantly), the Maths side of things has been easy to pick up. Out of 5 modules, only one of them is purely focused on Maths: Quantitative Methods for Economists 1. There is no coursework in this module; instead it is assessed by a few short tests throughout both terms, and then one exam at the end.

The other four modules were: Macroeconomics I, Microeconomics I, Personal and Professional Development 1, and Banking and Finance in a Global Context 1.

For me, the most interesting module was Macroeconomics 1. I like looking at the big picture, and thus have always had a preference for macro over micro since I first studied economics in A-levels. Gabriela, the programme leader, is really passionate about Macroeconomics and regularly covers international news at the beginning of lectures, identifying and analysing the economic theories. This helps to give the course perspective, which in my opinion is really important.

Before I started the degree, I wasn’t particularly interested in Microeconomics, but I learnt during my first year that it is just as interesting and relevant in today’s world as Macroeconomics. Much of the new economic theory being developed today is about behavioural economics, which is studied in Micro, and not Macro.

Personal and Professional Development 1 (or PPD, for short) is more to do with how to study and get employed rather than Economics. It is taught across all programmes in the Business School, so there are always other people with the same questions, and answers to them. Your PPD group is your main tutor group, and your PPD tutor also teaches at least one module of Economics, so they are a great resource to ask any questions about anything in general.

As I am on the ‘with Banking’ course, I did not have a choice in the first year (nor will I in the second) and I was on the Banking and Finance in a Global Context 1 module. This was taught by Adotey, who really knows his stuff. He teaches students at all levels, including Masters, and he is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Finance. The essays in this module were the most challenging out of all of the essays in my first year because they require you to completely break down recent economic events and analyse them in detail with complex terminology. This, however, also made them some of the most rewarding, and the feedback was very useful.

The tutors and lecturers are helpful and always willing to answer any questions. Even so, it is really useful to make better connections with them. This way they can put a face to your name which means they give you more in-depth feedback, and being recognised on the course tends to work in your favour.

I have been told by all of the tutors that second year is a big step up from first year, so instead of writing this blog, I had better get up to scratch on everything from last year!