Course overview

On this programme you will discover how economics and finance can answer some of the central questions that need to be made by organisations and households. Our curriculum has been designed to enhance your knowledge of two fascinating complementary subjects and to give you the right package of key skills to follow your career goals.

Developing your economic and financial expertise

Your studies will cover the core principles of economics and you will develop in-depth understanding of the different economic decisions that need to be made by families, companies, and the government. Finance modules concentrate on business behaviour, strategy and performance, particularly of financial organisations, and draw from other areas of business including accounting and business law.

During your first year you will build essential quantitative tools and techniques for developing models, analysing data and become confident presenting data. You will also study the fundamental theories and techniques of accounting, looking at balance sheets, income statements and budgeting.

Microeconomics and macroeconomics are thoroughly explored throughout this Economics and Finance BSc, giving you an insight into how consumers and organisations make decisions, and how prices and quantities of goods are established, complemented by looking at living standards and growth, unemployment, inflation, public policies and public finance.

At the early stages of the course you can adapt your studies by choosing from a range of optional modules which include business law, financial accounting, the UK and global economy and the opportunity to learn more about managing in organisations by working with other students to find a solution to a business problem set by a multinational corporation.

During years two and three our advanced level modules give you the opportunity to study the theory behind investing in the stock market, the factors that affect the prices of financial assets, and to enhance your understanding of financial decision making and study risk management techniques. You will become familiar with working with statistics and using our Bloomberg terminals to gather economic and financial information. You will also study econometrics and the use of different statistical techniques to investigate specific economic issues like household labour supply.

Higher level optional modules will continue to give you the opportunity to broaden your studies in areas such as banking, your own professional development, corporate governance and social responsibility, contemporary economic issues, international finance, labour economics and independent study projects on the themes of data analysis and analysing company performance.

Gain experience using industry software

You will have access to a range of I.T. platforms during your studies on the Economics and Finance BSc. At Keele Business School we have a dedicated Bloomberg Lab that is set up like a trading room. Bloomberg Professional Service, also known as the Terminal is software widely used in the financial industry and gives you access to economic, financial and business information. We use Bloomberg in some of our teaching, and you can also use it in your own time to acquire information to use in your studies.

There is also the opportunity to complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts, a free e-learning course available to Keele Business School students that will show future employers that you’ve enhanced your learning about the financial markets.

Strengthening your employability

Work Placement Year*

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. Choosing a work placement year between your second and third year is a fantastic way to gain industry experience. It can provide a valuable insight into what working in a specific area of business is like, gives you the chance to familiarise yourself with the professional working environment and develop professional contacts, and provides the opportunity to apply the theory you’ve learnt on your degree course.

*Students who require a visa to study in the UK may be able to add in a work placement depending upon the programme. The ability to add a work placement is dependent upon the UK Immigration rules at the time of the request. It may be that for some programmes students will not have the option to request a placement period to be added to their programme before they arrive in the UK and would need to apply for a new visa. There is no guarantee that a placement will be provided and that students who have a visa are subject to a number of restrictions on the type of work, including placements they can undertake. For more information about visas please click here.

International Year

In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year or a semester studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enables you to understand your field from different cultural perspectives and to establish international networks.

It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Entrepreneurship Year

Showcase your innovative abilities and ideas to develop your business aspirations. If you’ve ever wanted to establish your own start-up or have been inspired by your studies this entrepreneurship year is an amazing opportunity to develop your own business idea. You will undertake your entrepreneurship year working within Keele’s Smart Innovation Hub.

The Entrepreneurship pathway is available to UK and international students. Yet for international students, the availability of the Entrepreneurship pathway is subject due to the latest visa regulations.

Student Support

We have a robust support system in place for our students. You will be allocated an academic mentor at the start of the course who will review your progress, meet regularly with you, and is contactable by phone and email. Academics can also provide guidance about specific course modules.

A Student Experience and Support team is based within our Faculty with a member of the team dedicated to Keele Business School. They are part of the University's student services department and work closely with teams across Keele to you can easily access the help you need.

Extra assistance is provided by our School’s Disability Liaison Officer. They provide an additional layer of support for students with disabilities and can advise on matters relating to disability including dyslexia and specific learning difficulties.

You will also have access to a mixture of advice and support services at Keele including;

• Learning Support and Academic Guidance
• Disability Services
• English Language Unit
• Student Advice at Keele (ASK)
• Student Support Services
• Occupational Health Department

Keele Students' Union also offers support through their sabbatical officers.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies here at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to business is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the area and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Related courses

• Business Management and Finance
• Economics and Finance
• Economics and Mathematics