University of Reading
Politics and Economics BA (Hons)
University of Reading

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 120 graduates of Politics and Economics BA (Hons) and other courses in Economics at University of Reading for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Economics.

Overall student satisfaction
78 /100
120 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Economics

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Economics at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £27500 £32500 £42000
25-75 percentile range £25000 - £30000 £26500 - £40000 £31500 - £55500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Economics

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £28199 £28441 £36688
25-75 percentile range £23736 - £33147 £22117 - £36811 £26723 - £49160

Course Description

Combine the specialist study of politics with a grounding in economics, and explore the key forces driving contemporary democratic society, with our BA Politics and Economics degree.

At the University of Reading, our three-year joint course is offered by the School of Politics and International Relations and the Department of Economics.

In politics, our wide range of core and optional modules will give you a strong foundation in topics such as:

  • comparative government and politics
  • political theory
  • international relations
  • contemporary democracy.

In economics, you will examine practical economic issues and, more widely, the relationship between economics and society, focusing on topics such as:

  • macroeconomics
  • microeconomics
  • economic institutions
  • economics of social policy.

You will focus on how economic tools can be applied to different markets and situations, acquiring the skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable you to solve the problems that are challenging policy makers and businesses all over the world.

You will also analyse economic issues using a range of economic theories and methods, including the theory of games and strategic interactions, and natural and behavioural experiments.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Politics and Economics BA (Hons) at University of Reading

25% Skilled trades occupations
15% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
15% Natural and social science professionals
10% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Teaching Professionals
10% Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
10% Administrative occupations
10% Business and public service associate professionals

Grading & Study Time

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Qualification requirements

Contextual offers for this programme are typically two grades beneath our standard entry requirement, e.g. BCC.

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6.5

We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

TOEFL (iBT) 88

We require a minimum score of 88 overall with no less than 17 in Listening and Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking.

Cambridge English Advanced

We require a grade B or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162.

Cambridge English Proficiency

We require a grade C or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162.

PTE Academic 69

We require a minimum score of 69 overall with at least 59 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

Institution's Own Test

Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP). We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

Trinity ISE

We require a Merit in each element from ISE II. If you take ISE III or ISE IV, we require a Pass in each element.

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Politics and Economics, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Politics and Economics BA (Hons)

England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £22350 year 1
International £22350 year 1

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of University of Reading in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Reading in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #29 
    • #176 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]
    • #30 
    • #286 
    Social Sciences
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of University of Reading

About University of Reading

The University of Reading is a publicly funded university in Reading, Berkshire, England. Reading has four major campuses; London Road and Whiteknights campus which are located in Reading itself, with Greenlands campus being found on the banks of the River Thames. The fourth campus is known as Iskandar Puteri, in Malaysia.

List of 375 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Reading - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Reading

undergraduates:
11905
postgraduates:
3995
Total:
15900
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Where is this programme taught

Main Site
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