BA (Hons) Economics with Law
- UCAS code: L1MF
- Mode of study: Full time or sandwich with work placement
- Duration: 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry requirements 2013: 260-300 points from 3 A levels or equivalent.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: bus.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: Portsmouth Business School
Course overview
Economics and law have always been similar in terms of the logical approach they bring to problem solving. In addition, legal professionals are now increasingly turning to economists to inform them in areas such as contract analysis, intellectual property rights and the assessment of damages.
Although this is not a qualifying law degree, by studying at least four of the foundations of legal knowledge, you can apply for exemptions from the relevant Common Professional Examinations or Postgraduate Diploma in Law. Examples of some of the subjects you will study on this course include the Economics of Crime and Social Issues, Economics for Business, Contract Law and Company Law.
Bloomberg Suite
Students can access the same data, analytics and software used by city traders by using one of the terminals located in the University of Portsmouth’s Business School Bloomberg Suite. Bloomberg terminals, used by financial professionals daily to make fast-paced investment, trading and financial decisions will allow students to monitor and analyse real-time financial market data movements and trade virtually.
Created by the Mayor of New York, Mike Bloomberg, the system is used by over a quarter of million finance professionals globally. Our investment in this resource provides students with an essential business research tool and real-life financial experience helping them to enhance their employability skills in order to “hit the ground running” once they join the workforce.
There are five undergraduate Economic programmes. The three BSc courses – BSc (Econ)(Hons) Business Economics, BSc (Econ)(Hons) Economics and BSc (Econ)(Hons) Economics, Finance and Banking – contain a distinctive core of quantitative analysis and economic theory. In contrast, our BA (Hons) Economics with Business and BA (Hons) Economics with Law programmes enable students to study the fundamentals of economics alongside relevant aspects of business and management and law respectively. You will have the option of undertaking a work placement after your second year.
Your academic potential and willingness to make a positive contribution are very important to us, alongside the subjects that you have previously studied. However, you will need to have an interest in economics and a reasonable aptitude for working with numbers. You will also be dealing with current topics and issues, so an awareness of business and financial developments would be an advantage.
Applications are also welcomed from appropriately qualified candidates who are seeking direct entry onto a programme.
Course content
Year one
This degree is similar to our three BSc economics programmes in the first year, although there is a slightly reduced emphasis on core theory and an increased focus on law.
Year one involves studying:
- Economics for Business
- The English Legal System
- Contract Law
- Quantitative Economics
- Economic Issues
Furthermore, an essential feature of year one is a unit designed to equip students with general study skills and formal career guidance.
Year two
Year two features compulsory units in:
- Business Economics
- Employment Law
- Substantive Law of Tort
There is an option to study units in Money, Banking and Financial Markets; Elements of Commercial and Consumer Law; or Econometric Analysis. Additionally, a research methods unit will acquaint you with practices and procedures for undertaking research in the area of economics.
Work placement
You will have the option of undertaking a work placement after your second year. We encourage students to take a placement year as an integral part of this degree course. Work experience will help significantly with getting a job after you graduate, as many of our students go on to work full time for their placement employer. Experience is also the best way of finding out if a particular career path is for you. Our Placements Office will support you in maintaining and developing business contacts, advise you of vacancies and help you prepare for interviews and other selection methods.
Final year
In your final year, you will study the compulsory units Company Law and Labour Economics. You can also choose from a wide range of options in law and economics, such as European Law or Intellectual Property Law. Additionally, you will take an independent study project, which will give you the scope to extensively research a selected topic.
Career prospects
A good class of economics degree should enable you to obtain a fulfilling and financially rewarding job. It is possible to use this qualification as a basis for a career as an economist in either central government or the private sector. With an economics degree you will also be well placed to enter into the financial and business sector.
Moreover, some of our graduates have been appointed to respected positions within the local government sector, while others have elected to pursue a career in teaching.
Many of our graduates choose to continue with their academic studies. Some go on to register on taught postgraduate courses, while others seek to achieve a higher qualification by means of research.
Portsmouth Business School has a nationally recognised Centre of Excellence in Quality Management, and also hosts the Centre for the Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources and the Centre for Economic Analysis and Policy.
Facilities and features
The University has substantially invested in modern facilities. You will attend lectures primarily in the purpose-built Richmond Building, where the Business School is located. Our lecture theatres are equipped with the latest multimedia audiovisual equipment and we have a computer drop-in centre equipped with state-of-the-art computers and software.
The University Library is at the centre of academic life and is only a short walk away from Richmond Building. Open from 8am until midnight every day during term-time, it provides a variety of information to help with study and research.
The Library has also invested heavily in the purchase of electronic resources. There are thousands of electronic journals and ebooks which can be accessed across campus, from home or wherever there is an internet connection.