Economics at uni without maths A level?

[catelina]

DS is in year 12 has said that he's thinking of applying for economics at uni. He chose it for A level and is enjoying it more than he thought he would, which is great. But he also chose computer science over maths, a decision he's regretting a bit.

A quick browse of undergrad courses revealed that most unis have maths A level as a requirement for economics.

Would he stand a chance of getting in to a decent uni without maths? And if he did get in, how hard would his lack of maths make the course?

There are a few which will allow you to do economics without maths A Level. Look for the BA economics courses. Most economics courses will have a degree of maths though and he will potentially be at a comparative disadvantage.

Lancaster do a BA in economics. Exeter does a business economics option which doesn't require maths A Level although therir normal economics degree does.

I'd recommend he does the core maths exam too to show that he hasn't just stopped doing maths entirely for two years.

My year 12 is in the same position although he is thinking of doing a combined economics degree. The other option under consideration is taking a year out and doing A level maths in one year.

What other A levels is he doing?

Birmingham doesn't need maths either

BA probably not an issue, but the BSc has a lot of complex mathematics which they will struggle with if they don’t have A-Level

DS is doing Economics at Loughborough without Maths A level. It's not been a problem and there is a lot of support available if they do find it difficult. He had a 8 in GCSE maths and didn't find it hard, just didn't like it as much as his other A level choices, which included a science.
Birmingham also doesn't mind no maths a level.
DS's other apps were to Scottish unis where it is rarely required.

I know someone who did a BA in economics without maths. There was a maths element to it though and they had to have some tutoring on the side though to get through those bits as the statistics was very difficult. Came out with a first though so it is definitely possible.

I think it's also that Economics is DIFFICULT without the grounding in maths. The people I know who have done Econ went to Oxbridge and said it was properly hard, and that the more maths you have under your belt first, the better. I don't think it is just an empty requirement.

Also I suspect that the degrees that DON'T require it might be perceived in the industry as being less rigorous, which will have a knock-on effect when it comes to recruitment. Oxbridge is by no means necessary - my economist friends say that Oxbridge is definitely in the minority at their different workplaces, but they still want the absolute best.

Could he start the A-level cycle again? Do a-level maths externally with a private tutor? The time would fly by.

St Andrews is probably the most prestigious Uni that doesn't require maths for Economics (4 year MA)

History, Computer Science, French

I am concerned about the rigour aspect - having to choose a less rigorous degree as a result. He's clever (lazy, but clever), he got an 8 in maths with practically no revision and thought about A level but decided he didn't love it enough.

Good to know about Loughborough and St Andrews/Scotland in general though

Also have never heard of core maths - is that a standard thing? Will his school offer it?

If he's year 12, can he pick up as maths in year 13? I would personally not recommend economics or business degree's without maths, i tried and found the maths incredibly challenging affecting my overall degree classification

AS maths next year is an idea. Would that be enough for unis who ask for maths?

Most universities higher up in economics ranking table will need A level maths. Among the top 20 (in complete university guide), I could find only St Andrews (BSc econ) and Surrey (BSc econ) not having A level mathematics in their entry criteria. Further down the table, more options open up though.

So that's the first disadvantage, a narrower range of choice of universities.

The second disadvantage I feel is the course content.

Places where maths is essential have a high share of quantitative modules in their syllabus. For example, UCL (requires A* in A level mathematics) has a full year of econometrics in 2nd year, then more in the 3rd year (here : www.ucl.ac.uk/economics/study/undergraduate/module-list). While those who don't need A level mathematics, typically have less emphasis on such modules. In the job market for economics graduates, econometrics and related areas are in high demand.

Few years ago I did an economics conversion program (called graduate diploma) and then a MSc. The conversion program was similar to what an undergraduate econ student would do in UK, and it was very maths heavy. Quite some of that maths is covered in A level mathematics.

Those who didn't have A level maths (or equivalent) struggled in the course. For sure it's doable, and several students who completed the course had done maths only till GCSE before, but level of effort required was much higher.

I did a BSc and those without maths required higher grades and did extra modules in maths in the first year

They struggled

If maths isn't his forte def find a BA course

Hybrid economics courses like PPE often don't need maths.

I work in an Economics department at a RG university and I'm afraid that we wouldn't consider taking a student without A level maths. Our Economics degree require a high level of maths. Even with all students having A grade A level maths we still have to run a maths module in the first year. Students without A level maths would definitely struggle. But our degrees are all BSc (Econ) degree programmes, so looking for BA degree programmes (or possibly PPE) may be the way forward.

Not for us I'm afraid. It has to be the full A-level.

How far along is he? Could he take an extra year and start maths now? Any OU maths courses he could do?

DD went to Leeds Uni and met a number of students who became friends doing Economics. It’s AAA for a BSc at Leeds, no subject requirements that I could see other than GCSE at A equivalent at (7?).

Her friends now work at Microsoft, Amazon and one of the big four accountancy firms.

No but would still be helpful even for BA Economics. Ba Economics often have maths modules as part of the degree to fill gaps so if he doesn't really like maths it may not be the degree for him. Have a look at Manchester too. They have a variety of Economics courses.

He may like Combined Honours Social Sciences at Durham with his Alevels or indeed HSPS at Cambridge if Oxbridge is a possibility.

If he didn’t want to do A level Maths, he probably won’t enjoy an Economics degree with too much of a Maths element.
If he chose History and French instead, he might actually prefer PPE anyway. Warwick has a good PPE course, for example. Or maybe he could continue with French and Economics. Yes to the social sciences degrees too.

That's all really helpful, thanks.

The thing is, he does like maths and he's good at it (he got an 8 at GCSE with zero effort). Before now he was all set to pursue history at uni - it didn't cross his mind he'd like economics as much as he does - so the maths question didn't enter our heads.

He's not keen now on switching A levels after over a term so he might just have to put up with the reduced choice of courses :-(

PPE is a thought. Or international relations or something like that. He won't pursue French, he's only doing it because he's grown up speaking it.