Economics-based degree courses that are more humanities less maths

[Econic]

DD is about to enter Year 11. She is doing Economics GCSE and absolutely loves it, with her economics teacher describing her as a natural economist.

She wanted to do economics at university until she learnt she'd need Maths A Level and that many economics degree courses are very maths heavy.

DD is good at maths and has above average ability but she's certainly not brilliant at it or a natural mathematician. Nor is it a subject she enjoys, in fact it's her least favourite. She therefore really doesn't want to do Maths A Level.

The subjects besides Economics that she does really enjoy and is very good at, and which come more naturally to her, are History and English. She wants to study these, along with Economics, for A Level.

She's now rethinking what degree course to aim for and wanting to find something that includes economics but is more humanities-based.

The obvious answer is PPE. However she's keen to find out about other options. She's interested in perhaps being an economics or business journalist. She's drawn to studying politics but not so much philosophy. As PPE is very competitive and over-subscribed, it's also wise to have some other ideas and it would be wonderful to find out from those with experience of some 'less obvious' degree courses, or any economics degree courses with a decidedly humanities focus.

Any suggestions? TIA.

I should add that she'd love if possible to spend a year studying in East Asia as part of her degree.

Have a look at Manchester - they have Economics and Politics BA which doea not need Maths A level. Also if she is at the top end marks wise she may want to consider the Combined Honours Social Sciences at Durham where she can build her own degree

Thanks Season, those sound great.

DD is the type of child who feels reassured if she has a plan and a particular path to go down, so it's motivating for her to have particular courses in mind. And motivation after having months without in-person school is what is needed right now!

Look at international Relations, it sounds right up her street

For the economics component within the Flexible Combined Honours programme at Exeter, Maths A level is not required, but does involve a specific compulsory unit.
www.exeter.ac.uk/fch/studying/fchexeter/

I loved economics at school but didn't want to continue at university as I'm not brilliant at maths. I studied economic history instead. Would that be of interest to your daughter?

Manchester University offers (or did) two options - a BSc route or a BA route.

But agree with PP, International Relations would be a great choice. Lots of options with it.

I studied economics at University and would agree that Maths A level (and Further Maths if possible) is very helpful.

I would also suggest International Relation instead.

She should have a look at SOAS

www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/ug/undergraduate-programmes-by-subject/#politics

Probably not for economics, if maths is not her thing, but perhaps one of their politics and... or international relations degrees

My dd (currently studying International Relations and Economics) was in this position. She simply looked for Economic degrees where A level maths was not required. FWIW, she didn’t seem to struggle with her Economic options, but given that exams were cancelled it’s difficult to know for certain.

She should have a look at the HSPS course at Cambridge if she is likely to be thinking about Oxbridge.

Only problem.is is whether SOAS will survive financially?

I knew asking here would be helpful. Huge thank you to you all

The suggestion of International Relations is brilliant I can't believe I didn't think of it! DD didn't know such a degree existed, or what it was exactly, but as soon as we looked at course descriptions she said that was exactly what she wanted to do. We found one particular IR-based course that, together with the university it's at, is a perfect match for her aspirations, interests and strengths, and she's really excited.

She now has lots of options for alternatives, including those economics courses listed here that don't require A Level Maths and are joint honours or a BA rather than BSc. Hurrah.

It’s funny, my ds was unsure too, took a year out to travel, as soon as he saw International Relations he knew it was for him. He is absolutely LOVING the it! Good luck to your dd.

A few other thoughts, if Economics is still in the picture:

Your initial post made me think that your DD might quite enjoy the fields of International Political Economy or Development Economics (lots of interesting Development Econ work taking place in East Asia!).

Undergraduate degrees in these fields are a bit harder to find as most places offer generic Economics degrees instead, but there are some excellent programmes around. Birmingham, Kings and Essex have a BA Political Economy. City has a BA International Political Economy. Bath has a BA International Development with Economics, LSE have a BSc Development and Economics. And there will be others I don’t know about! A year abroad should be possible with many of these programmes.

Also worth looking at Manchester’s BAEcon programme. A very broad social science degree which allows students to take modules from economics, politics, sociology, IR, social anthropology etc and become increasingly specialised as they progress through the degree.

And finally, just to say that a lack of maths love shouldn’t hold your DD back from studying Economics. A lot of (very good!) universities don’t require maths A level, even on BSc’s. Lecturers will know the relevant entry requirements and pitch the material appropriately. Learning maths when applied to a subject you enjoy can be quite a different experience from the sometimes uninspiring GCSE syllabus. Students without A level maths can and do thrive in the subject.

All the best to your DD!

Hi OP. In a similar scenario a few years in from you. In that DS is predicted A* in Economics and very much enjoys it at A-level, but doesn’t have maths, so isn’t doing it as a degree.

He had a fab teacher who is an ex- lecturer from LSE and, at parents evening, he told us that lots of students enjoy economics at A-level, but then get a shock at degree level as it gets highly mathematical and can be quite “dry” if you don’t enjoy maths and stats. There is a reason most economics courses require maths, in other words!

I would recommend you look at -

LSE - so many courses apart from economics! It’s a social sciences uni obviously, world-renowned, and there is a high degree of overlap between many of the courses. Even take a look at the Geography degree there - it’s 100% human geography with modules in IR, Law, Economics, Anthropology, etc. There are loads of courses there, some of which your DD might have not even thought of yet.

UCL also has IR degrees and loads of options to combine economics / IR / sociology / anthropology / human geography etc. Loads of opportunities for placement years abroad at UCL and very diverse, flexible courses.

Have you looked into HSPS at Cambridge? It’s Human, Social and Political Sciences. So basically, you can study anything through anthropology to economics to law and loads more in this degree.

University Of Bath is very highly regarded these days (top ten Uni) and has a course called International Development with Economics (I think that’s the name). You can have a year abroad with this course too.

DS is going for geography at Cambridge, LSE, UCL, and two more - maybe Durham and KCL. He’s very much a human geographer, so will take options relating to politics, anthropology and international development and economics - just without the heavy maths quotient!

Can I just say, as someone with joint honours in Politics and Economic History, that I believe a student should get a solid foundation in politics before doing international relations. I don't understand it being an option as a degree before getting a solid grounding in political science and theory. Perhaps I'm being uptight.

On a different tack, behavioural economics is big at the moment, and is less mathsy.

@MissEliza

Can I just say, as someone with joint honours in Politics and Economic History, that I believe a student should get a solid foundation in politics before doing international relations. I don't understand it being an option as a degree before getting a solid grounding in political science and theory. Perhaps I'm being uptight.

I think if you’re interested then you’ll do well. Let’s face it, you wouldn’t be doing it if you didnt have an interest in politics. Ds has just come out of his first year with a 2:1, so I think you are being a little uptight.

Some more fantastic, detailed posts and excellent suggestions: Manchester's BA Econ, Development Economics, University of Bath, behavioural economics etc. Thank you! I'm going to make a list of them all (may even attempt a spreadsheet ).

Anything in London is probably out despite there being great courses there. DD is central London born and bred and one of her goals for university is to move away from her home location and experience a new place.

We've had a look at the HSPS course at Cambridge and it does look fantastic. DD is unsure at the moment whether she wants the extra stress and pressure of Oxbridge so we'll see how she feels and what her sixth form say a bit nearer the time.

Royal Holloway University of London has maths and non-math streams in their economics programme.

I'm not sure what your son's grades have got to do with the point you're making. Have you studied either politics or international relations?

@MissEliza

I'm not sure what your son's grades have got to do with the point you're making. Have you studied either politics or international relations?

My point is he doesn’t have a foundation in Politics but has still had a cracking first year! I thought that might have been obvious? I haven't, no, but you seem to have a bee in your bonnet about it so I’ll leave you to your stewing.

Whereas I suspect many, if not the majority of IR applicants will have done Politics A level (or its equivalent on other systems), as far as I am aware, no university has it as a requirement. It may be popular where it is offered, but not everywhere offers it.

But you know, politics, by its very nature, is all around us, isn't it? - taking up page after page of even the dumbed-down-est newspaper. You don't have to be doing the A level to be interested in it, or even patt of it.