Just how competitive is it to get offers for an economics degree??

With those grades he's likely to get a place (although a second A* would be ideal). Economics is a very competitive course and there is a reason an A in maths is essential for most good universities. Lots offer open lectures- or even a MOOC on it to a) decide if he actually really likes it and b) to add to a personal statement as evidence of pursued interest. PS needs to go beyond just having read 'freakonomics' or 'the undercover economist' although these are good starting points.

@Teddleshon A lot of economics places unofficially want 4 A levels where possible including further maths and maths, so maybe that is why it was hard to get an offer.

I think he probably needs more of a range of universities. It sounds like Leeds, Exeter, Cardiff and Southampton will have similar offers. Sorry, I don't know about Lancaster.

Two of my DDs have done Economics - one at Royal Holloway University of London, and the other at Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh one dropped her entry requirements twice before firming. AAB - ABB - BBB. They wanted English students paying the full whack. It worked for her and there is really not a better place to go to uni.

Agree - Uber competitive. I would have x2 insurance choices on the list. One a lower grade for Economics and one a different but related course e.g, Business Economics. It's not just about getting the grades, getting the offers in the first place seems much harder than with other subjects.

It’s tough. My dd had 12 9’s at GCSE and predicted (and got) 3 A* (including maths). Rejected by Oxford (obviously not straight Econ.), Edinburgh, Durham and UCL.

One thing in your DS's favour, however, is the joint degree. These are a bit less competitive than straight economics.

From the experience we had last year, Economics is not just competitive, it's globally competitive. The proportion of places allocated to international student intake on the Economics courses seems to be quite high too. Warwick specified 50% international offers out of 150 places overall, if I remember correctly. Looking at the Durham stats too (available on their page) - you've a much better chance of securing a place if you are paying the higher international fees. Loughborough did have Economics places in Clearing this year though.

DC predicted (and achieved) three A* (with Economics) and also Further Maths and A in EPQ. Rejected from four of his five choices last year, but did get an offer from Southampton.

Increasingly competitive. It seems to be the "must have" degree of the day.

Not doing economics is fine because not all schools have it but as someone else said, lots of wider reading referenced in his personal statement, passion for the subject backed up by that reading. If he has the option of an EPQ then doing that on an economics related subject will be extremely useful - will make up for lack of essay subjects in his a-levels, give him something to talk about in the PS and potential interview, if the uni does interviews.

Does the school offer FM? It's sometimes preferred for the very mathsy courses but if it wasn't on offer they'll understand it couldn't be taken!

I know work experience won't be plentiful locally but maybe look into summer work experience schemes - some will provide accommodation if you live far away and even if not, worth taking him and getting an AirBnB! The Big 4 and some of the large banks are a good place to start looking. PwC do Insight events, HSBC offer a Work Experience Programme and I'm pretty sure Morgan Stanley and JP do as well.

Sorry that should have said Exeter, not Nottingham twice!

I agree that economics is increasingly competitive. Is there any reason your DS didn't choose an essay subject? It will depend on the course but ability to write essays would be a useful skill to have.

Also avoid the very 'mathsy' courses. Some of these will prefer maths plus FM.

DS2 received offers from Edinburgh, Nottingham and Nottingham with 3 x A* plus A predictions (Maths, Chemistry, Economics and Latin).

It doesn't matter that he doesn't do economics A Level, mind. But his personal statement will have to reflect enthusiasm, knowledge, insight into economics and all its meanings and applications.He needs to do wider reading. Lots of great books out there.

It's very competitive. My DS's friend (with all 9s at GCSE and predicted straight A stars) applied to 5 unis and got two offers. 2 of them were the 'usual suspects' for competition and rejected him (Cambridge after interview and one of the other big hitters), Warwick and York accepted him. His other , perhaps more surprising, rejection was Leeds.