Undergraduate Course 

BSc (Hons)

Economics and Finance

 Accredited by the Chartered Institution for Securities and Investment (CISI) 

The highlights

3rdfor teaching - Economics subject areaNational Student Survey 2024
Top10for assessment and feedback - Economics subject areaNational Student Survey 2024
Top5for student satisfaction - Economics subject areaComplete University Guide 2025

With professional accreditation and strong input from employers, this degree equips you to undertake economic research and analysis, handle complex financial data sources, diagnose problems and take the strategic decisions expected of an applied economist.

Your studies will cover a broad range of microeconomic and macroeconomic issues, quantitative methods, computing techniques and business performance concepts. We also give you a solid understanding of how various economic systems work, the impact of government policies and the performance of different economies worldwide.

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New Derby Business School in the city centre

We're building a new Derby Business School, serving as an international centre of excellence. The superb new teaching facilities will build on our established reputation for inspirational teaching and research excellence, as we shape the next generation of qualified business leaders.

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Accreditation

Because the course is accredited by the Chartered Institution for Securities and Investment (CISI), it will stand you in good stead for achieving a globally recognised professional qualification alongside your degree. It is closely mapped against the Institution’s Introduction to Investment foundation qualification and all the practical knowledge you need to prepare for the CISI exam is embedded in our curriculum. This is your first step on the CISI qualification pathway and is also recognised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It is particularly valuable if you are interested in a career in wealth management, operational investments, financial planning, compliance and risk, or stock broking. The additional qualification will strengthen your CV and you’ll also benefit from access to a wide range of CISI resources, networking events and professional development opportunities.

On successful completion of the degree you will also gain exemptions towards the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualifications, meaning you can achieve membership of this professional body quicker, accelerating your career progression.

Economics and Finance – your questions answered

Senior Lecturer Dr Weiwei Yang answers your frequently asked questions about Economics and Finance. 

Dr Weiwei Yang, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Finance

View Economics and Finance - your questions answered video transcript

Hands-on learning

The BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance is a highly practical applied degree. Every day brings a fresh challenge to broaden your professional outlook. You may find yourself analysing news reports, creating strategy documents, interpreting financial reports, undertaking research tasks, harnessing latest software, delivering presentations, videos and broadcast interviews, tracking your own portfolio of investments, or analysing information from Bloomberg on international markets and organisations.

Employers are closely involved in shaping our degree. They provide real-world case studies, practical scenarios and consultancy projects which will enhance the currency of your studies.

Facilities and resources 

At Derby you’ll discover cutting-edge learning resources to help you get to grips with the up-to-the-minute technology and information used by finance professionals across the globe. Our Financial Markets Lab has been established in partnership with Bloomberg, the international business and financial information leader, to enrich your learning.

Projects in the lab give you exciting insights into what it is like to work on a trading floor in the financial district. You’ll have access to analysis of current affairs from a wealth of financial data, including company and director profiles from around the world. As part of your degree, you can even work towards the Bloomberg Market Concepts Certificate to add substance to your CV.

bloomberg student

Financial Markets Lab

University of Derby students have access to real live financial data and can experience what it’s like to work on a trading floor in our Financial Markets Lab.

Explore our Financial Markets LabExplore our Financial Markets Lab

Expert teaching

Our teaching team conducts significant research which is influencing current debates about key economic and financial issues. Our lecturers publish widely, including one of the main economics textbooks used in universities. 

You’ll also engage with business experts, industry leaders and finance professionals. Our students hear about latest developments in the City from high-profile figures such as our Visiting Professor of Banking and Financial Economics, Professor Trevor Williams, ex-Chief Economist at Lloyds Bank PLC.

You can also immerse yourself in the wider business community – and open up new networks of contacts – by joining one of the University’s societies such as the Economics, Trading and Investment Society, the Business and Entrepreneurial Society and the Derby University Network of Entrepreneurs (DUNE). 

Global thinking

International perspectives are important for the aspiring financial experts of the future. Our Economics and Finance team boasts strong links with academic partners in countries such as China and Spain which bring a global dimension to their teaching.

We offer you the chance to study abroad – based with one of our international partner institutions – for a semester or a year, usually in stage two of the course.

Alternatively, you can join one of our optional short study visits abroad. A visit to Copenhagen, for example, saw our students exploring different aspects of fraud investigations.

An extra qualification: the Futures Award

Through our Futures Award scheme, you can showcase your versatility and potential to prospective employers. Reflecting transferable skills, a Futures Award recognises any extra-curricular activities which contribute to your personal and professional development. These could include attending workshops on CV design and improvement; developing techniques for interviews, assessment centres or psychometric tests; taking part in networking events; or leading a small project within a student society or voluntary role.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Big spaces for big ideas

Kedleston Road offers it all: study in our largest library, relax at Basecamp, train in real-world healthcare settings, and stay active in our state-of-the-art Sports Centre.

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What you will study

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

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How you will learn

You will learn through a combination of:

Ours is a friendly and supportive learning community, with small classes where you will receive plenty of one-to-one guidance. At the start of the course you will benefit from substantial direction from our teaching team. As your studies progress, you are expected to work more independently, taking greater responsibility for your own learning.

Additional support is provided through our specially designed personal tutor system. You’ll meet your personal tutor during Induction Week and have at least three scheduled meetings with them each year. They will help you plan your personal and career development as well as supporting your work towards the Futures Award.

We also have a diverse range of guest speakers to inspire our students and share their stories. Recently we had Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, who delivered a session on ‘The concept of microcredit’ as part of our 2021 Student Lecture Series.

Showcasing your skills

There may be opportunities to take part in national competitions such as the University Trading Challenge, where students pit their wits against each other in trading various financial instruments such as shares, bonds, commodities and foreign exchange. They also present risk strategy case studies before a panel of judges. The University has an excellent track record in this prestigious event, with students winning a series of awards and raising their professional profile.  Other well-known competitions that we’ve previously entered include the IBM University Business Challenge and CIMA Global Business Challenge.

How you are assessed

The majority of modules do not involve exams. Assessments are designed to ensure you can identify issues, decide how to collect and analyse evidence, come to reasoned conclusions based on that evidence, and present your findings via various communication methods. 

Person offering support to a student Person offering support to a student with a laptop Student smiling with tutor Tutor smiling with student and laptop

Helping you reach your full potential

Our Personal Academic Tutoring programme supports your academic journey, helping you achieve your goals and unlock your potential.

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Entry requirements

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points120
A LevelBBB
T LevelMerit
BTECDDM
GCSEGCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and funding

2025/26

 Full-timePart-time
UK

£9,535 per year

£1,190 per 20 credit module

International

£16,900 per year

N/A

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


UK students

If you are in Year 13 and applying for a full-time undergraduate course (including our joint honours courses), we recommend that you apply through UCAS.

Apply through UCAS

If you are applying to study part-time, or already have your qualifications, or wish to join at Year 2 or 3, you should apply directly to the University.

Apply directly to the University

Careers

As a BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance graduate, you will have a powerful combination of applied skills which are valued across the public, private and voluntary sectors worldwide. This course could be your stepping stone to a lucrative graduate training scheme or a well-rewarded financial consultancy role.

You will discover fulfilling career opportunities not only in international business, consultancy and finance, but also in government departments, development agencies, charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Further qualifications such as the Bloomberg Certificate and the Futures Award will also help you stand out from the crowd in the job market.

Further study

If you want to take your studies to the next level, you can consider advancing to our exciting masters programmes such as the MSc International Business and Finance, the MBA Global Finance or the MSc Accounting and Finance. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

 

Getting you career ready

Your degree is only part of your story.

We're here to help prepare you for life after university.

Career Support Image

96%
of UK graduates are in employment or further study.

Top 5
for employability.
Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025.

87%
of UK graduates say their current activity is meaningful.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

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Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

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Full-time

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