BSc Politics and Economics
About this course
Bachelor of Science in Politics and Economics, an economics and politics and international relations degree centred on the study of governance, policy, and market systems. Core topics include Data Analysis, Statistics, Mathematical Modelling, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Social & Cultural Analysis. Students complete independent dissertation work and can utilise specialist facilities including a behavioural economics laboratory and a Bloomberg trading-room environment. The first year introduces foundational subjects through compulsory modules such as Comparative Politics, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Statistics for Economics, alongside professional skills training. The second year advances core knowledge with Intermediate Macroeconomics and Intermediate Microeconomics, while allowing students to select from optional subjects like Applied Econometrics, Chinese Politics, and Development Economics. The final year involves advanced study and independent dissertations in both economics and politics, supported by professional development modules and options including International Trade and Labour Economics.
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: ABB including Mathematics IB: Pass, with 32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level, including 5 points from Higher Level Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation)
What students say
Based on about 66 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 83%
- Learning opportunities: 71%
- Assessment and feedback: 71%
- Academic support: 81%
- Organisation and management: 71%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 67%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 110 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 98%
- Left higher education: 2%
What graduates do next
Based on about 40 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 11%
- Further study: 8%
- Unemployed: 6%
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: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 140 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 38%
- South East: 38%
- South West: 9%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 80%
- Baccalaureate: 10%
- Access course: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Comparative Politics
- Economics Skills and Employability 1
- Engaging Political Ideas
- Introduction to International Relations
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Simple Liars, Damned Liars and Experts: the use of empirical research in social science
- Statistics for Economics
- Foundations of Microeconomics
- Introduction to Mathematics for Economics
- Mathematics for Economics
- Principles of Microeconomics
- ECON Dissertation: Prelim Info
- Economics Skills and Employability 2
- Intermediate Macroeconomics
- Intermediate Microeconomics
- The Struggle for Democracy
- Animal Ethics, Animal Minds
- Applied Econometrics
- Children and Human Rights
- Chinese Politics
- Collective Action and Social Change
- Comparative Party Politics
- Contemporary Theories of Justice
- Democratic Theory
- Development Economics
- Dynamic Macroeconomics
- Econometrics with Big Data
- Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts
- Ethics of Global Poverty
- Ethics of War
- European Power and the Geopolitics of Europe and Asia
- Games
- Gender and Society
- Gender, Power and Politics
- Global Justice: Poverty, Inequality and the Environment
- Globalisation and World Politics
- Green Political Thought: Humans and other stories
- Industrial Economics
- Introduction to Econometrics
- Introduction to Experiments in Social Science
- Introduction to Social Data Analytics
- Migration, Borders, Refuge: Political Ethics in an Age of Mobility
- Moral Philosophy
- Partisans, Public Opinion and Elections: Understanding the Political Mind
- Political Philosophy
- Political Thinking
- Politics and Protest
- Public Opinion in Action: What we know and how we know it
- Qualitative Research in Politics & International Relations
- Race and Ethnicity in Society
- Reinventing Democracy: Innovation, Participation and Power
- The Government Lab
- Dissertation in Politics & International Relations
- Dissertation: Literature Review
- Economics Skills and Employability 3
- Applied Economics
- Children and Human Rights
- Chinese Politics
- Choice and Decision
- Collective Action and Social Change
- Comparative Party Politics
- Contemporary Theories of Justice
- Democratic Theory
- Dissertation: Research Project
- Dissertation: Research Topics
- Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts
- Ethics of War
- European Power and the Geopolitics of Europe and Asia
- Gender and Society
- Gender, Power and Politics
- Global Justice: Poverty, Inequality and the Environment
- Globalisation and World Politics
- Green Political Thought: Humans and other stories
- International Trade
- Introduction to Experiments in Social Science
- Labour Economics
- Migration, Borders, Refuge: Political Ethics in an Age of Mobility
- Partisans, Public Opinion and Elections: Understanding the Political Mind
- Philosophy and Ethics in Psychology and AI
- Philosophy of Sex, Sexuality, and Gender
- Politics and Protest
- Principles of Finance
- Public Economics
- Public Opinion in Action: What we know and how we know it
- Race and Ethnicity in Society
- Reinventing Democracy: Innovation, Participation and Power
- The Ethics of Climate Change
- The Government Lab
- Topics in Macroeconomics
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Politics and Economics at University of Southampton earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 15 months, £29,000 after 3 years, £37,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £29,000 and £48,000. The £37,000 median after five years is £11,500 less than the UK median for Economics.
What do graduates of BSc Politics and Economics at University of Southampton do next?
84% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Politics and Economics at University of Southampton?
83% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Politics and Economics at University of Southampton?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 128 UCAS points.
Does BSc Politics and Economics at University of Southampton include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year.
How many students continue on BSc Politics and Economics at University of Southampton?
98% of students continued into their second year, and 2% left higher education.