Economics degree without maths

[Bufftailed]

Hi all,

My DS is finalising A level options, subject to results. If he doesn’t do maths I can see most of top Unis would be ruled out for Economics, although there are some BA options and joint honours. In terms of job hunting post uni (finance, banking, economics) would be a BA or joint honours hold him back? I don’t know much about these fields so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

That is very good advice. It is a Marmite subject.

For a year 11 though, I would recommend browsing The Economics Book from the Dorling Kindersley series "Big Ideas Simply Explained". "How Money Works" is another good one.

How Money Works: The Facts Visually Explained (How Things Work): Amazon.co.uk: DK: 9780241225998: Books https://share.google/tCNfIEF1P49Dlv2XF

The Economics Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (DK Big Ideas): Amazon.co.uk: DK: 9780241656839: Books https://share.google/CdMQkAaJTqbc1bIzo

Nonsense re first come first served. The date for equal consideration of applications is January and indeed for 2026 it has been moved forward to mid January.

Early applications of mid October is for Oxbridge, medicine, vet med and dentistry.

The unis that make early offers do so on the basis of prior year's statistics for offers made to people holding those grades. So if they know from prior years that 10% of places go to applicants who all have all A star predictions they can safely offer to anyone who applies with all A star knowing they still have spaces available for students applying later with all A*.

Edited because of the star enabling bold type

I've found this information quite helpful (the system has changed a lot) but the OP is advising a year 11 so possibly overkill at this stage -- more important as pp advised that he picks A levels he will get on with

If he’s in year 11 now, you could see if there is a uni open day locally that you could go along to.

Not sure if they are all over for the summer now, but worth a look.

He could attend a taster economics lecture and ask teaching staff about maths and other modules, and see what they would advise about A level choices.
Might help to put things into context a bit.

Thanks all - v helpful

I think we have missed uni visits for this year but will take him round some next year. He is still recovering from GCSEs / doing the rounds of sixth forms 🤣 I will def suggest some of those books to him next year

My dd is in yr 12 and thinking of an economics degree with no maths a level. She got a 7 at GCSE and did better at more essay based subjects so has gone for them at a level. She's looked at Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield so far, all happy for no maths. They need a 7 at gcse though as you need to be 'numerate' and will teach the maths necessary for the course. Offers are AAB/AAA for these universities, but she hasn't applied yet so who knows if she'll get offers...

@postitnot one of the YP I know who struggled to get an econ offer applied to Leeds with maths and FM at A level (grades in hand too) and did not get an offer. Maybe their application was poor for some reason (obvs I didn't see it) but just be aware – even if they don't ask for maths A level it may be that a lot of students have it. I think you can enquire about A levels gained by successful applicants. Sheffield needs maths IIRC but I think that's for the BSc course – the Ba does not, it's true. BA is perhaps the way to go if a student has not taken maths A level.

@clary Apparently 30% of the students don't have maths on the Leeds course, but it's very popular and only offers to 23% of applicants. It looks good so that's probably why!

@Bufftailed There are often open days in September.

It would be far more valuable and important to do maths a-level than economics a-level, even for an economics degree. Also true for a career in finance, where a maths or physics degree would be just as welcome.