Students in a lecture Students in a lecture

Course Summary

Economics is about resource allocation within and between societies, but it is also a study of how our decisions, and the institutional contexts in which we make those decisions, impact our success in achieving our wants and addressing our needs. We ask important questions such as how does the behaviour of individuals and firms affect the modern global economy?  

Whilst studying, you will learn to understand, interpret and develop policies for individuals, firms, governments and global economies, and to participate in current economic and policy debates. With economics, you can pursue a career in big data, finance, business or consulting. Economists work across public and private sectors, as well as in the non-profit sector. 

Sociology is the ‘science of society,’ and so involves studying how processes of social change affect peoples’ everyday lives. 

Studying Sociology at Chester, will give you the skills and support you need in order to develop a ‘sociological imagination’ of your own. You will be introduced to cutting-edge research and theoretical perspectives that will help you to challenge dominant understandings of social problems, issues and debates. 

Our teaching team has a wide range of backgrounds and experience. Modules are written by staff in line with their research interests and include areas such as inequality and the welfare state, race and racism, gender identity and the body, globalisation, sustainability, protest and social change.  

Switch combined course content

What you'llStudy

In Year 1, you will learn the basic concepts of economics, gain the necessary level of maths and start familiarising with some of the existing tools for economic data analysis.

Module content:

This module is designed to equip students with a mix of skills to support learning on their Economics Programme. It provides a framework for problem solving, including how to identify objectives and constraints, and enables students to develop their capacity for applying basic software skills in their study of Economics. It also offers guidance in collecting information from diverse sources and support in developing information literacy and referencing skills. Within this context it will offer an introduction to research methodology, which will enable building the basis for different pieces of research throughout the degree. It will also offer insights into project management, in order to help students organise their time efficiently for the submission of assignments in a timely manner, as well as time management for exams preparation. These very necessary skills and knowledge will constitute the first part of the module. The second part of the module will be devoted to learning basic principles of Statistics for Economics, paired with practical demonstrations of the application of computing in Economics. These will mainly be covered using Microsoft Excel, but also SPSS (and/or other statistical tools considered appropriate at this level, commensurate with progression of technological applications). This module provides the foundations on which SO5005, Introductory Econometrics, will build.

The module content will include:

  • Study skills to include information literacy (numeracy and literacy), referencing, time and project management, and assessment support.
  • Introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods.
  • Describing and summarising data;
  • Probability theory and distributions;
  • Central Limit Theorem (CLT), estimation and confidence intervals;
  • Hypotheses testing;
  • Correlation and linear regression.

 


Module aims:

 The aims of the module are to: 

  • Enable students to acquire appropriate skills in Statistics for moving to level 5. 
  • Introduce students to the basic concepts related to research methodology.
  • Enable students to develop skills essential to undertake and present quantitative research using Microsoft Excel and other relevant software.
  • Enable students to make effective use of University computing and library resources for purposes of communication, research and collection and description of economic data. 

Module content:

This module is designed to provide students with an introductory understanding of the key principles and concepts of micro and macroeconomics and their application. This is set within the contemporary social, cultural, political and policy context, in particular post the financial crisis, enabling students to appreciate the relevance of Economics within a wider context. It will also provide guidance on how to approach the study of Economics and how to start thinking like an economist as well as more generic skills such as economy related presentations.

Microeconomics content includes:

  • Basic economic problems of scarcity and choice
  • How consumers and producers make decisions
  • Implications of different market structures
  • Economic welfare
  • How governments intervene when markets fail

Macroeconomics content includes:

  • Wider economic environment, including the measurement and flows of national income
  • Causes and effects of unemployment and inflation
  • Uses and abuses of government fiscal and monetary policy

 Content relating to the application of the above includes: 

  • Structure of the UK economy
  • Impact of government macro and microeconomic policies on society
  • Impact of fiscal, monetary issues and financial markets on society
  • Public expenditure, employment, labour markets, labour relations and income distribution and implications
  • Austerity and post-crisis welfare

Module aims:

The aims of the module are to:

    • Develop students' ability to apply theory and model building at an introductory level to microeconomic and macroeconomic levels of economic activity
    • Enable student appreciation of the role and relevance of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory in the analysis of private and public sector economic problems
    • Ensure student appreciation of the relevance of economic analysis to the study of a wide range of ‘real world’ phenomena at both the micro and the macro level and in a range of settings
    • Facilitate student understanding of and ability to apply economic reasoning, theory and analysis, to past, present and future policy issues
    • Enable application of theory to practice
    • Ensure an understanding of the interdisciplinarity of the social sciences
    • Facilitate an appreciation of the changing nature of the discipline of Economics

Module content:

This module represents the core undergraduate Mathematics unit, where students will receive an introduction to basic and more advanced mathematical techniques to support learning on their Economics Programme. Part of the module will be devoted to learning basic principles of Mathematics from scratch. The other part will provide more advanced mathematical techniques that students will need throughout the Programme. This module will help students gaining problem-solving skills and knowledge in various areas of Mathematics and will support their learning in most of the core units of the Economics Programme (e.g., SO4003 Introductory Micro and Macroeconomics, SO4002 Skills for Economics, SO5001 Intermediate Micro and Macroeconomics, and SO5005 Introductory Econometrics).

The module content will include:

  • review of basic algebra;
  • indices (powers and fractional powers);
  • functions;
  • logarithms;
  • differential calculus;
  • limit evaluation;
  • optimization;
  • integral calculus.

Module aims:

The aims of the module are to:

  • Enable students to acquire appropriate knowledge in Mathematics to support their learning in levels 4,5 and 6.
  • Enable students to develop problem-solving skills.
  • Enable students to apply fundamental mathematical concepts to solve real world problems in designed scenarios.  

In Year 2, you will further explore different models and applications related to micro and macroeconomics and practise statistical and econometric content with specialised software.

Module content:

Part A:      

Preparation for Experiential Overseas Learning will take place at the university of Chester during level 5 and will include:  

  • The multiple facets of Global citizenship
  • Ethical engagement and practice
  • Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
  • Intercultural communication

Theories, models and strategies of learning

  • Theories and models Intercultural competence
  • Theories and models of Integration and Multiculturalism
  • Critical thinking skills and models of Reflection
  • Experiential learning models
  • Self-directed experiential learning

Personal and placement-related skills

  • Enhanced independence
  • Improved command of multicultural behaviour
  • Increased knowledge and confidence in their individual facets of personal identity
  • Effective time management and organisational skills
  • Project management – working away from University and independent study
  • Self-management and personal development
  • Team building and team work

Part B:            Overseas

Students will engage in experiential learning activities overseas for at least 150 hours 


Module aims:

The purpose of this module is to enhance students’ prospects of completing an overseas placement to the best of their ability consequently it aims to:

  • To equip participants with appropriate knowledge and skills to study or work in a different cultural, linguistic and/or social environment; enhancing ethical, cultural and intercultural awareness.
  • To enhance students understanding of the ethical issues related to living and working abroad.
  • To increase students Global Citizenship skills
  • To provide an opportunity for students to reflect critically on their experience of living and learning within an unfamiliar culture, to their 'home' culture or ethnic group.

To challenge students to learn about themselves as global citizens in terms of life skills, career choices and academic development outside the classroom.

Module content:

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

  • Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
  • Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
  • Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
  • The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
  • Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

  • Critical thinking skills, experiential learning       and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

  • Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
  • Effective time management and organisational skills
  • Project management – working away from University and independent study
  • Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

Students will undertake study at one of UoC’s partner universities; it is expected that students will choose a series of modules at the university abroad, which equal a full-time study load. This must be agreed by the host institution and the International Tutor. Students must supply details of their courses/modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university, note students who fail to supply this within 4 weeks may have the opportunity withdrawn.


Module aims:

  1. To experience academic life in country outside of the EU, enhancing cultural and intercultural awareness and increasing transversal skills.
  2. To reflect on the impact of the experience in their destination on one’s own personal, academic and professional development.
  3. To engage with the experience of study at a partner university to gain extensive first-hand knowledge and understanding of the relevant society from the perspective of the resident.
  4. To further develop independent learning techniques.
  5. To foster critical evaluation.

Module content:

This module builds on the introductory material covered in the double microeconomics and macroeconomics module of Level 4 and addresses the microeconomic foundations of macroeconomics.  The module includes the following, which will be delivered with an emphasis on the integration between the two areas.

For intermediate microeconomics:

  • utility theory
  • consumer optimisation
  • production functions and cost, and profit maximisation
  • market structure 
  • strategic behaviour (including game theory)
  • labour markets
  • social choice and welfare

For intermediate macroeconomics:

  • aggregate supply and demand
  • unemployment
  • the labour market
  • inflation
  • the unemployment-inflation trade-off
  • ‘international issues’ such as trade, balance of payments and exchange rates

Module aims:

The aims of this module are to:

  • Understand the relationship between micro and macro economics 
  • Describe optimising and maximising behaviour at the level of the individual and the firm
  • Ensure understanding of the nature of competition in the business environment
  • Explain the demand for factors of production, especially labour
  • Outline welfare and the particular character of ‘externalities’ and social costs
  • Communicate the essential differences amongst the ‘Keynesian’, ‘Neoclassical’, ‘Monetarist’, ‘Heterodox’ and ‘Post Crisis’ approaches to microeconomics and the macroeconomics of unemployment, economic growth, and inflation
  • Explain the role of interest rates
  • Describe international trade and payments

Module content:

This module represents the core undergraduate econometric unit. The module provides an introduction to basic and more advanced econometric techniques, building on the statistical skills acquired in Level 4 - S04002 Skills for Economics. Part of the module will be devoted to cross-sectional data analysis and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation, with standard extensions such as functional form misspecification. The other part will be focused on time series data analysis, concentrating on serial correlation and heteroskedasticity in time series regressions. The module will also offer an introduction to panel data analysis, which combines elements of cross sectional data and time series data as well as a brief treatment of instrumental variables (IV). 

The module will provide students with the opportunity to practice several econometric software tools and will endeavour to introduce relevant technological updates relevant for data analysis. 

The module content will include:

  • Introduction to (simple linear and multiple) regression analysis
  • Introduction to time series analysis
  • Introduction to panel data analysis
  • Introduction to instrumental variables

Module aims:

The aims of the module are to:

  • Build on the foundations of Level 4 skills.
  • Offer students a variety of techniques appropriate to the analysis of different types of data.
  • Offer students an understanding of how to relate statistical analysis to economic theory.
  • Enable students to produce and interpret empirical economic analysis.

Module content:

This module represents the core undergraduate finance unit. In this module, students will be equipped with concepts
and skills to understand financial markets and financial institutions. In this module, students will be
equipped to understand the connection between theoretical concepts and working of the real-world
workings of financial markets. The module will build on some of the mathematical techniques explored in SO4004 Mathematical Methods for Economists. The first part of this module will explore an introduction to finance and financial markets.  The second part of the module will explore some introductory principles of corporate finance.

The module content will include: 

  • Overview of the financial system. 
  • Fundamentals of financial markets and financial institutions.
  • Central Banking and the conduct of monetary policy. 
  • Introduction to corporate finance.

Module aims:

The aims of the module are to: 

  • Build on the foundations of level 4 skills 
  • Offer students a variety of tools for understanding various aspects of financial markets, financial institutions, and corporate finance.
  • Equip students with methods for analysing financial markets and institutions. 
  • Enable students to relate concepts discussed in the module to real-world situations

Module content:

The module is designed to introduce the students to the area of industrial economics. This module also serves as an introductory course to enable the students to have the basic understanding of the key principles and concepts of industrial economics. The course focuses on the behaviour of the firms in imperfectly competitive markets such as organisations, market structures, conduct, market efficiency and performance of industries. The module also focuses mainly on specific areas of firms’ strategic behaviour such as product differentiation, advertising, vertical and horizontal integration, competition policy and regulation.

The module content will include:

  • Introduction to Industrial economics
  • Managerial and behavioural theories of the firm
  • Transaction costs, agency and resource-based theories of the firm
  • Product differentiation
  • Advertising
  • Research and development
  • Horizontal mergers and strategic alliances
  • Vertical integration
  • Competition policy
  • Regulation

 


Module aims:

The aims of the module are to:

  • Introduce students to the basic concepts of industrial economics
  • Enable students to apply principles and concepts of microeconomics theory to the study of firms’ behaviour
  • Facilitate students’ understanding of the ways in which economic theory operates within the industry
  • Facilitate students' awareness of industrial economics policy issues

Module content:

This module will introduce students to a range of theories, ideas and processes related to international trade from several perspectives: economic, historical, political and international. Students are shown how international trade and commercial relationships impact, alter and create political and social connections. Student learn how political, social and cultural institutions play a large role in facilitating these arrangements, and how relationships develop and change over time. The exercise of power in international relationships, ad its impact on trade and through the form of economic diplomacy is explored through the module.

The content will include topics such as:

  • The origins of international trade
  • The creation and role of the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations
  • Barriers to trade (tariffs and quotas, political)
  • International Trade Agreements and disagreements
  • Regional integration areas
  • The role of currencies and exchange rates
  • Globalisation and finance
  • Global crisis and their effects on trade
  • Economic diplomacy and trade
  • Economic destabilisation and trade
  • Changing power in international trade: The rise of China, India, Brazil
  • Effects of and constraints of international trade on development and environment

Module aims:

The aims of the module are to:

  • Enable student appreciation of the role and relevance of international trade and international politics and their relationship to one another.
  • Facilitate student understanding of the economic rationale behind the existence of international trade.
  • Ensure student appreciation of the complexity of commercial relationships and their inter-relationship with political systems and with power in the international arena.
  • Facilitate an appreciation of the changing nature of international trade over time and in terms of institutions, instruments, agreements and countries' roles.
  • Enable application of theory to practice.

Module content:

Pre-placement:

  • Structured approaches to researching, selecting and securing a suitable work placement relevant to the student’s interests and career aspirations*.
  • Writing an effective CV. Constructing a letter of application.*
  • Interview skills.*

 *Note: Students are required to undertake these pre-placement tasks during term 1 level 5, as part of the placement acquisition process and will be supported by the Work Based Learning team and the Careers and Employability department.

 Induction Programme and Placement:

  • The organisational context: research-informed analysis of the placement organisation’s aims, structure, culture.
  • Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess. (Employability Skills: e.g. verbal and written communication, analytical / problem solving capabilities; self-management; team working behaviours; negotiation skills; influencing people; positive attitude, resilience, building rapport).
  • Devising a strategy for integrating into the workplace and work based teams
  • Completion of online assignment tasks covering sourcing and obtaining placement; health and safety procedures in general; general workplace integrity; placement requirements. 

During and post-placement: Learning effectively in and from the workplace:- 

  • Devising and implementing strategies to improve own approach and performance
  • Critical analysis/evaluation of approach to skill development and performance in the workplace;
  • Influencing the Placement Provider’s appraisal;
  • Devising an action plan to develop gaps in transferable skills based on the placement experiences;

Module aims:

This module aims to enhance students’ prospects of gaining graduate level employment through engagement with a University approved work placement**, which will enable them to:

  • Develop their understanding of workplace practice and lifelong learning;
  • Enhance their work readiness and employability prospects through development of transferable skills;
  • Take responsibility for their own learning and acquisition of workplace employability skills;
  • Articulate, in writing, their employability skills.

In Year 3, you will look into more specific aspects of micro and macroeconomics, and areas such as development, environment, inequalities and growth.

Module content:

This module builds upon earlier modules in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory with a view to introducing students to topics that both advance their understanding of the foundations of economic analysis and have applications across a range of social science and management disciplines, and developing their criticality.  The module will be looking at contemporary applications and will try to include employer participation.

At the micro-level, the module will include:

  • Market power and pricing strategies
  • Investment, time and insurance
  • risk and uncertainty analysis
  • asymmetric information
  • behavioural and experimental economics

At the macro-level, the module will include:

  • Trade-off between inflation and unemployment
  • Dynamic Aggregate Supply and demand
  • Understanding consumer behaviour
  • The theory of investment
  • Stabilization policies
  • Government debt and budget deficits
  • Macroeconomics and the global financial crisis

Module aims:

The aims of the module are to:

  • Develop in students the critical analytical foundations of economic analysis
  • Establish the relevance of economics to a variety of social science disciplines
  • Investigate the implications of risk and uncertainty for insurance-related decisions
  • Embed the core elements of financial decision making
  • Understand contemporary models of macroeconomic behaviour
  • Facilitate student awareness of issues of employability

Module content:

The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to the problems of economic development and the related issues of economic growth, and to relate this to theories of macroeconomics. Topics to be covered include:

  • Definitions and theories of development
  • Human capital and development: education and health
  • Income distribution and nutrition; measurement issues
  • Models of economic growth; inequality, poverty and growth
  • Rural-urban migration and rural development
  • Trade as a driver of development,
  • Migration and growth
  • Debt, Financial crisis, foreign finance and aid
  • Markets, states and civil society
  • Governance
  • Conflict

Module aims:

The aims of the module are to:

  • Ensure students understand the concept of ‘development’ and the nature of economic growth
  • Enable students to apply measures of development and inequality,
  • Ensure students understand the role of human and physical capital in development
  • Allow the critique of the causes and effects of migration and their impacts in labour markets
  • Facilitate the consideration of wider social issues in economic development

 

Module content:

The module will cover the big aspects that intervene in the relationship between human beings and the environment. The content will be divided in blocks according to specific topics:

  • The theory of environmental policy (property rights, market instruments, pollution control...)
  • Contemporary environmental issues (acid rain, deforestation, waste management, recycling)
  • Natural resource economics (differences between renewable and non renewable resources, fisheries, forests, energy resources)
  • Environmental valuation techniques
  • The consequences of trade over environment through their theoretical underpinnings (Pollution havens, Porter Hypothesis) and case studies
  • Global environmental issues (climate change, the role of ethics)

This module specifically addresses areas of the Economics subject benchmark to make students aware of how economics can be applied to design, guide and interpret economic, social and environmental policy. It builds on content specified in the subject benchmark, such as externalities and market failures, which students have been introduced to in Levels 4 and 5, and develops further analytical skills.


Module aims:

The aims of the module are to:

  • Introduce the students to the concept of circular economy as the explanation of the relationship between humans and the environment.
  • Provide a general understanding of environmental policy and the economic instruments used as part of said policy.
  • Ensure an appreciation of the role of different types of natural resources for economic development and growth and the consequences of over-exploitation.
  • Develop basic knowledge of environmental valuation techniques and their application to real case scenarios.
  • Reflect on contemporary environmental issues with an international component and the different international approaches to sustainable development.

Module content:

This module on International Political Economy is concerned with the (re)production of power and wealth within the contemporary world order. The module explores complex questions and global challenges that are rooted in an understanding of power, international relations and economy. Students are asked to think critically about how the politics of the international economy is governed and through an evaluation of power and inequality. Such questions include: Why and how does the politics and economics of the world take its current form? In what ways do the structural features of the world economy shape power and visa versa, and with what consequences? In what ways does the international political economy create uneven consequences and shape interactions in the international community?  Case studies will be drawn from across the world and, in particular, from Latin America. Indicative content includes:

  • Theoretical Approaches of IPE: Orthodox, Critical and Radical theories.
  • The Subject of International Political Economy and its Methods
  • The Evolution of the IPE: Empires and mercantilism; economic liberalism; the liberal economic order; Pax Britannica, industrial capitalism and imperialism; Power, Contemporary capitalism and global governance – who does the governing?; contemporary imperialism.
  • Bretton Woods Institutions; the Washington Consensus, Post-Washington Consensus and Critique; Dismantling Embedded Liberalism; States, Markets and Institutions.
  • Key issues, global challenges and responses in the IPE: Globalization and its discontents; North-South Relationships; International Trade, Finance and Development; Transnational Production; Global Division of Labour; Sustainable Development; International Security, Conflict and Migration; Culture, Indigeneity and IPE; Resistance to the Global norms; Climate change and energy security; the IPE of ideas and knowledge production.

Module aims:

The aims of this module are four-fold:

  • To provide an in-depth understanding of the historical development of the IPE.
  • To provide a critical analysis of the main institutional and structural contours of the global political economy and the effects of these.
  • To offer perspectives and insights that engage with, stand in contrast to and challenge dominant paradigms about power dynamics within the global political economy.
  • To provide a sophisticated understanding of global issues and challenges through mainstream, critical and radical theories of IPE.

Module content:

Content will vary according to individual dissertation proposals


Module aims:

The Dissertation is designed to provide an opportunity for sustained and independent study in the final year of social science programmes. It intends to develop knowledge of, and critical insight into, a topic of the student's choice within the subject area under study. Students are enabled to undertake first-hand enquiry and encouraged to develop an analytical and reflective approach to the subject identified for study. The module aims to encourage the articulation of a critically informed perspective on the subject being studied. It also intends to enable the production of a coherent document of rigorous academic standards.

Who you’ll Learn from

Dr Emike Nasamu

Programme Leader, BSc Economics; Senior Lecturer
Dr Emike Nasamu

Dr Nancy Evans

Programme Leader, BSc Sociology
Dr Nancy Evans

How you’ll Learn

Our Economics course has a mix of theoretical and practical content, so it will be delivered as lectures and tutorials in classrooms, or as computer-based sessions for data-analysis-related modules in a computer lab. 

You will undertake independent study, completing exercises, readings and other assignments. There is also the opportunity to ask for individual meetings with the lecturers, if required. 

The course uses a continuous evaluation approach; students will complete oral and written coursework (essays, presentations, posters, reports) individually and in groups, as well as more traditional tests and exams (approximately 40% exams, 60% coursework). 

Within Sociology our accessible and friendly lecturers are committed to teaching in a variety of ways, in large lectures or smaller seminar groups, where debates are encouraged. 

We use a range of assessment methods throughout the course, including essays, reviews, poster presentations, research proposals, and seen and unseen examinations. 

Beyond the Classroom

On this course, you have the opportunity to spend five weeks working for a host organisation via our innovative Work Based Learning module. You’ll have the chance to test-drive a future career, boost your CV and gain real work experience. 

On this course, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake an Experiential Learning module, where you’ll apply what you’ve learnt on the course to real life scenarios and projects. 

Our Experiential Overseas Learning module offers a unique opportunity to participate in a short-term placement around the world. 

This course offers the exciting opportunity to study abroad for a full academic year at one of our bilateral exchange partners or through ISEP (International Student Exchange Programs), a network of over 300 additional higher education institutions worldwide. 

Entry Requirements

112 UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff

112 points

GCE A Level

Typical offer – BCC-BBC

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM

International Baccalaureate

26 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4

Scottish Highers - BBBB

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above

T Level

T Level - Merit

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma: DMM

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. A GCSE grade C/4 (or above) in Mathematics is required.

 

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
  • Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For those who do not have IELTS or an acceptable in-country English language qualification, the University of Chester has developed its own online English language test which applicants can take for just £50.

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

Where you'll Study Exton Park, Chester

Fees and Funding

£9,250 per year (2024/25)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2024/25 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Following the UK’s exit from the EU, students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU starting in or after the 2021/22 academic year will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

£13,950 per year (2024/25)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2024/25 are £13,950. 

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.  

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes. 

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills. 

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.

Your future Career

Job prospects

Graduates in Economics gain a wide set of transferable skills, making them employable in a wide variety of sectors, public or private, national or international, within roles such as data analyst, consultant, economist, economic development officer, and statistician.  

Sociology graduates pursue diverse career paths, including in the public sector and civil service, politics and government, social work, charity and advocacy work, public relations, advertising, market research, journalism, academia and teaching.  

Progression options

Social Work - Sociology option

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.