Economics BSc (Honours) 2025 entry

Entry requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.

• SQA Highers

  Standard entry grades:

  AAAAB

  Minimum entry grades:

  AABB

  Gateway entry grades:

  Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

• GCE A-Levels

  Standard entry grades:

  AAA

  Minimum entry grades:

  ABB

• IB points

  Standard entry grades:

  38 (HL 6,6,6)

  Minimum entry grades:

  36 (HL 6,5,5)

General entry requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

• SQA qualifications

  SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

• GCSE qualifications

  GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No previous experience in this subject is required, but advanced school mathematics is an advantage, and an ability to learn mathematical skills is essential.

Alternative study options

Students interested in this course may also be interested in the following:

Master of Arts 

Economics is available as both a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Arts (MA) degree. The content of the subjects is the same irrespective of Faculty. Students who have a background in the sciences or who wish to study Economics alongside Science subjects at St Andrews should apply for the BSc. For those interested in studying Economics alongside Arts subjects, the MA in Economics may be of interest instead. The entry requirements are the same for all single Honours Economics degrees, and the chance of receiving an offer is the same for each of these degrees.

Study abroad

Economics students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The BSc in Economics is a four-year course run by the University of St Andrews Business School.

In the first two years, you will build a solid foundation in the general knowledge of economics. This includes an introduction to the principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics; an insight into quantitative techniques; and developing an understanding of economic relationships and the techniques necessary for their analysis. 

At Honours level, students may select modules from a range of options on specific topics. These provide an analytical understanding of key aspects of finance, economics and government policy formation. 

Specialist subject areas may include: 

• behavioural economics 
• corporate finance 
• econometrics 
• economic growth 
• economic history 
• economics of labour 
• economics of migration 
• experimental economics 
• health and education 
• macroeconomic policy 
• policy impact evaluation 
• portfolio management 

Alongside economics, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised. 

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.

Modules

In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours) you will take the required modules in economics alongside modules in at least one other subject. 

Typically, you will take a total of three modules per semester each year.

Fees

Scotland
£1,820

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man

Following the decision of the UK Government to raise undergraduate tuition fees and maintenance loans in line with inflation from April 2025, we are reviewing the consequences of that decision for fees payable by students from the rest of the UK who have chosen to study in Scotland. We will update the information on this page as soon as possible.

EU and overseas
£31,670

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take Economics as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

Additional joint degree options are available for students who take the MA in Economics.

"With" degrees

You can take Economics as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in Economics:

• Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with German (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code L1RF
• Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with German - UCAS code L1R2
• Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code L1RR
• Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Russian - UCAS code L1RT
• Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Social Anthropology - UCAS code L1L6
• Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code L1RL
• Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Spanish - UCAS code L1RK

"With" degrees taken with German, Russian, Spanish are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.

Careers

Graduates with a degree in economics have some highly sought-after skills and pursue careers in a wide variety of fields. A degree in economics will greatly enhance your analytic and decision-making abilities. You will significantly improve your quantitative abilities and greatly enhance other transferable skills highly valued by employers. 

Popular career destinations among recent graduates include: 

• economic consulting 
• management consulting 
• accountancy 
• business intelligence analysis 
• broadcasting and journalism 
• risk management 
• research analysis 
• financial services analysis 

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

Contact us

Phone

+44 (0)1334 46 2439

Email

bschool@st-andrews.ac.uk

Address

Department of Economics (Business School)
Castlecliffe
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AR

Department of Economics (Business School) website