BA History and Economics
About this course
BA in Economics and History, combining the study of past societies with economic analysis. Core topics include Data Analysis, Research Methods, Financial Analysis, and Historical Research. The first year covers core economics alongside history modules on political culture and revolution. Students can undertake short placements in museums and heritage organisations, take a paid placement year in economics, or study abroad for a semester.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBB, including History or a humanities-based essay subject. Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies. IB: 30 points overall including 5 in History or a humanities-based essay subject at higher level.
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See the highest paying History, Philosophy & Religion degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 72 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 95%
- Learning opportunities: 91%
- Assessment and feedback: 90%
- Academic support: 97%
- Organisation and management: 91%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 18 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 20%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Finance Professionals: 25%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 10%
- Sales occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 135 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 4%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 21%
- South East: 33%
- South West: 12%
- Wales: 6%
- Scotland: 2%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Perspectives in History
- Making History and You: Practices and Possibilities
- Principles of Economics 1
- Principles of Economics 2
- Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis
- After Malthus: Sex, Society, Sustainability and the Politics of Population in the Long Nineteenth Century
- US Environmental Diplomacy from Nixon to Obama
- Intermediate Microeconomics
- Intermediate Macroeconomics
- Going Public: Presenting the Past, Planning the Future
- Preparing for your Dissertation
- People, Power and Revolution: Political Culture in Seventeenth-century England
- Kingship and Crisis in England, c.1154–1330
- ‘The brightest jewel in the British crown’: The Making of Modern South Asia, 1757-1947
- Europe in the Twentieth Century
- Revolutionary Cities
- American Century: United States History since 1898
- Black Britain: Race and Migration in Post-war Britain
- Women and Medieval History
- The Colonial Experience: Africa Since 1879
- Hollywood Histories: Film and Past
- Rebel Girls: The Influence of Radical Women 1792-1919
- Reform and Revolt in the Modern Middle East: Egypt from Ataturk to the ‘Arab Spring’
- Encountering the Atlantic World, 1450-1850
- Noise Annoys: British Youth Culture, Popular Music and Social Change, 1950s-90s
- 'Apocalittici e integrati': Intellectuals and Society in Twentieth Century Italy
- Medieval Medicine
- Being British, Representations of the People: Democracy and Society in Britain 1838-1928
- Business Economics
- Games and Economic Behaviour
- Economics of Social Policy
- Economic History
- Optional Language or University Wide Modules
- Dissertation in History
- Dissertation in Economics
- Utopia: The Quest for a Perfect World
- Poor Law to Hostile Environment: Repatriation, Deportation and Exclusion from Britain, 1800-2016
- The American Civil War
- Public Economics
- Environmental Economics
- Behavioural Economics
- Industrial Organisation
- Financial Economics
- International Economics
- Development Economics
- Money and Banking
- Reasoning and Choice: Game Theory for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- Religion and Politics in the Medieval West, 1050-1492
- Gender in Africa: From Eighteenth Century ‘Amazons’ to Twentieth Century Child Soldiers
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Empire, Slavery, and Society, 1550-1750
- Optional Language or University Wide Modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA History and Economics at University of Reading earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £29,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £36,000. The £29,500 median after five years is £19,000 less than the UK median for Economics.
What do graduates of BA History and Economics at University of Reading do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA History and Economics at University of Reading?
95% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA History and Economics at University of Reading?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 121 UCAS points.
Does BA History and Economics at University of Reading include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA History and Economics at University of Reading?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.