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Economics and Law

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - single honours

Award
BA (Hons) Economics and Law
School/s
Bath Business School
Campus or location
Newton Park
Course length
Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.
UCAS codes
Institution Code: B20
Course Code: BE10 or BE11 (with professional placement year)
Campus Code: A,BSU

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed under 'Typical offers' in the main column below. For combined courses, please check both subjects. If your qualification is not listed, please email admissions@bathspa.ac.uk with your specific details.

Explore the economic and legal challenges facing the world today on this combined law and economics course.

  • Learn to apply your legal knowledge to key economic issues such as political instability, financial uncertainty and inequality.
  • Take a creative and collaborative approach to problem solving, through in-depth research into the economic, legal and political landscape.
  • Become a socially-aware critical thinker, and gain the practical skills and knowledge valued by employers.

Our Economics and Law degree has been designed to give you an in-depth understanding of the economic issues facing 21st-century society, alongside a solid grounding in our legal systems.

You’ll gain a unique perspective on policy making, engage in legal debates about economic issues, learn how both economics and law shape the world around us and apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Throughout your study of economics and law, you’ll be encouraged to challenge preconceptions, ask questions, and take a creative and innovative approach to problem-solving.

The course aims to incorporate modern approaches to the field of economics, amplifying the voices of those who have traditionally been excluded from economic decision-making based on race, gender or ethnicity.

It will also give you a flavour of the legal landscape enabling you to see not only the economic issues facing the world, but also how we can counter these issues using the law.

You’ll gain a contemporary perspective through a range of reading materials, videos, case studies and practical tasks.

You’ll have the opportunity to join student-led research groups exploring local, national and global issues, and have the opportunity to gain professional experience on work placements.

"The teachers at Bath Spa are incredibly supportive and enable me to understand my complex chosen subject matter in a simplified way. I also really like how we're encouraged to find ways to solve problems creatively."

Kirsty Soper, BA (Hons) Law

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What you'll learn

Studying Economics and Law at Bath Spa University gives you the opportunity to critically analyse the major challenges facing society today. 

You’ll be encouraged to question and challenge both your own point of view and that of others as you explore the connections between economic concepts and the law, and how these connections relate to issues such as sustainability, diversity and technology.

Through individual and team research, debates and analyses, you’ll develop a range of transferable skills which employers value such as communication, presentation skills, critical analysis, and problem-solving. And, as we’re an Adobe Creative Campus, you’ll have access to the Adobe Creative Suite, giving you access to industry-standard programmes as part of your studies.

You’ll apply what you’ve learned to practical projects, and you’ll have the opportunity to take part in work placements to gain real-world experience and further develop your practical skills.

Course structure

Year one
In your first year you’ll gain a broad understanding of economic concepts, before delving deeper into the theoretical principles that guide consumers, producers, governments and world markets.

You’ll get a solid grounding in legal principles, such as the English legal system and contract law. As a leading Business School we also think it’s essential that you understand the law relating to the corporate world as soon as you begin your studies, in order to enhance your understanding and knowledge of the business and economic world.

Year two
In the second year you’ll examine economic perspectives and policies in more depth.

You’ll look at subjects such as sustainability and diversity through an economic lens, and explore ways to encourage business innovation and protect the environment through lobbying decision makers. You’ll also be given practical training on how to use and analyse data to measure how well markets are performing.

You’ll develop your understanding of modern HR issues within employment law, through practical interview role-plays and problem-solving tasks. You'll also look at how human rights and international law affect our lives as individuals, as well as the position of different countries on the world stage.

Year three
In your final year you’ll take a global perspective on economics as you study advanced economic issues such as international trade, how exchange rates affect migration, corruption, and policies affecting developing nations.

You’ll study entertainment, media and intellectual property law, and look at how the media can be used to influence various agendas. You’ll also build on your knowledge of human rights, and explore an in-depth topic that’s of particular interest to you through a research project.

How will I be assessed?

You'll be assessed in a wide range of ways that test your economics knowledge and legal skills. These could include:

  • debates
  • critical essays
  • reports
  • presentations
  • projects
  • group-work
  • computer based simulations
  • exams 
  • research analyses.
How will I be taught?

We offer variety in the way we teach. Lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials are designed to help establish a foundation of knowledge. You’ll build your own opinions through research, and challenge these in debates and discussions with your teachers and fellow students. Practical legal exercises will help ground your legal knowledge. Ultimately, our aim is that you gain a real view of how law and economics impact the world around us.

You’ll also learn from guest speakers and lecturers who are experts in their fields.

Through our Virtual Learning Environment teachers will introduce you to a variety of resources, from academic papers and texts to movies, videos, news articles and datasets.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Opportunities

Careers

A degree in Economics and Law will provide you with a range of transferable skills and experience that is highly valued by employers.

Possible career opportunities include:

  • consulting 
  • public administration and policy making
  • management and administration 
  • forecasting/data analysis
  • research and science 
  • government
  • legal services.

Our Business School graduates have gone on to work in companies such as: PWC, Deloitte, KPMG, FTI Consulting, Arup, Government Economics Service, Treasury, Home Office, Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority, ONS, Hargreaves Lansdown, Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Global Citizenship

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Professional placement year

Overview

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Preparation

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

How will I be assessed?

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

The PPY Bursary

Aiming to make work experience more accessible, we have introduced the PPY Bursary. Students undertaking a PPY can receive between £500 and £1,500 to be used towards placement costs such as travel, food, workwear or accommodation.

For more information and details of eligibility criteria, please visit the PPY Bursary webpage.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

You'll be taught at our Newton Park campus, which is located on the edge of Bath and offers a blend of modern and eighteenth-century buildings, with good access to the city while being nestled in the countryside. From your lectures, you’ll be able to visit the library, the Students’ Union, and access our student information and support teams, as well as many of our cutting edge facilities.  

Resources
  • Our Library offers a wealth of learning resources including books, journals, DVDs and an extensive range of electronic services. Our Subject Librarians for Law and Business provide subject-specific support, including help with research.
  • The Writing and Learning Centre provides support for your academic work, including feedback on written drafts and other help with academic writing.
  • Our Virtual Learning Environment provides online access to learning materials such as lecture slides, assessment information, discussion boards and other resources. 
  • The Careers team run networking events and advisory workshops that explore your future options and the essentials of the job application process. They help you get experience by assisting with your search for work placements and paid part-time jobs while you're studying. When you're ready to progress into your chosen career, they can help you secure graduate-level employment, freelance opportunities, and funding for your own business ideas. Career support continues for years after you graduate with the dedicated Grad Support Unit.
  • You’ll have free access to thousands of business, design and tech courses online via LinkedIn Learning.
  • If English isn't your first language, our English Language Unit can help you improve your English, reach your full potential and boost your confidence.
  • Our Student Wellbeing Services are available to support you through your learning.

Fees

2024 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,250
UK part time £4,625
International full time £15,750

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.

  • UK: £1,850
  • International: £3,150

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in prospective students

We’re looking for students who are enthusiastic about exploring how economics and law shape the world in which we live. You’ll be articulate, curious, open minded and have the drive and motivation to learn and discover new perspectives. 

You don’t need to have any law or economics qualifications, but you’ll need to be comfortable working with numbers, and have a personal desire to engage with society and the issues we all face.

Typical offers

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below. 

All applicants will need to demonstrate in their personal statement an interest in Economics and hold GCSE: English (grade C/4 or above), Mathematics (grade C/4 or above), or recognised equivalents. 

  • A Level – grades BBB-BCC preferred.
  • BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) accepted in any subject.
  • T Levels – grade Merit preferred.
  • International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required.
  • Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Course enquiries

For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.

Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply webpages.

Course leader (Economics): Anca Baker
Email: a.baker@bathspa.ac.uk 

Course leader (Law): Steve Goulton
Email: s.goulton@bathspa.ac.uk 

Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk