BA Philosophy and Economics
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Economics, an economics and philosophy degree centred on analytical and theoretical approaches to social and political thought. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Ethics & Professional Practice, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The curriculum draws on facilities including a dedicated financial trading room environment and social sciences laboratories. The first year covers core foundations through Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Ethics, and Reason and Argument. The second year builds on these concepts with compulsory study in Macroeconomic Policy, Microeconomics of Public Policy, and Rationality, Preference, Wellbeing, and Fairness: Concepts in the Philosophy of Politics and Economics, alongside preparation for final-year independent projects. Optional modules across the programme allow students to explore diverse areas such as International Trade, Applied Econometrics, Public Economics, Philosophy Dissertation, and Contemporary Theories of Justice.
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: AAB plus grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics IB: Pass, with 34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level
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What students say
Based on about 12 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 93%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 23 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Finance Professionals: 50%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Teaching Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 70 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 4%
- London: 38%
- South East: 38%
- South West: 10%
- Wales: 3%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 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
- Economics Skills and Employability 1
- Ethics
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Principles of Mathematics for Economics
- Principles of Statistics for Economics
- Reason and Argument
- Truth, Knowledge, and Objectivity
- Applied Ethics
- Faith and Reason
- Freedom and Responsibility
- Global Sustainability Challenges
- Philosophy of Race
- Population and Society
- Prescriptive Analytics I: Fundamentals of Management Sciences
- Primary and Secondary Education: Critical Observations
- Puzzles about Art and Literature
- ECON Dissertation: Prelim Info
- Economics Skills and Employability 2
- Macroeconomic Policy
- Microeconomics of Public Policy
- Rationality, Preference, Wellbeing, and Fairness: Concepts in the Philosophy of Politics and Economics
- AI Utopias and the Climate Crisis
- Animal Ethics, Animal Minds
- Applied Econometrics
- Applied Economics
- Cognitive Psychology in Education
- Data, Culture, and Justice
- Development Economics
- Digital Futures of the Past: Power, Ethics, and Representation
- Epistemology: Knowledge and Evidence
- Ethics of Global Poverty
- Games
- Global Sustainability Challenges
- Humanities and Professional Practice
- Industrial Economics
- Introduction to Econometrics
- Kant’s Copernican Revolution in Philosophy
- Mind and World in the History of Philosophy
- Moral Philosophy
- Philosophy of Race
- Philosophy of Religion
- Political Philosophy
- Self and Agency in the History of Philosophy
- Self, society, nature, and normativity
- The Mind, The Brain, and Consciousness
- Applied Economics
- Economics Skills and Employability 3
- International Macroeconomics
- Business, Morality, and Markets
- Choice and Decision
- Classical Chinese Philosophy
- Classical Indian Philosophy: Self, Knowledge, and Liberation
- Contemporary Theories of Justice
- Crime and Punishment
- Democratic Theory
- Dissertation: Literature Review
- Dissertation: Policy Project
- Empirical Finance
- Exploring the Hidden Assumptions in Education
- Green Political Thought: Humans and other stories
- Happiness and Wellbeing
- International Trade
- Islamic Philosophy
- Labour Economics
- Philosophical Pessimism
- Philosophy Dissertation
- Philosophy and Ethics in Psychology and AI
- Philosophy of Sex, Sexuality, and Gender
- Political Philosophy
- Principles of Finance
- Public Economics
- The Ethics of Belief: Evidence, Truth, and Ideology
- The Ethics of Climate Change
- Theories of Law and Justice
- Topics in Macroeconomics
- Topics in Political Economy
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Philosophy and Economics at University of Southampton earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 15 months, £26,000 after 3 years, £32,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,000 and £42,500. The £32,000 median after five years is £16,500 less than the UK median for Economics.
What do graduates of BA Philosophy and Economics at University of Southampton do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Philosophy and Economics at University of Southampton?
88% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Philosophy and Economics at University of Southampton?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 138 UCAS points.
Does BA Philosophy and Economics at University of Southampton 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 Philosophy and Economics at University of Southampton?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.