Economics - Arts (BA (Hons)) at University College Cork

Economics is the study of people’s motives, expectations, decisions, hopes, disappointments and uncertainties. It can be used to examine a variety of issues, from social media to poverty. 

The language of work, business, government and the media is increasingly drawn from economics.

Graduates with an economics qualification are needed to address the problems and challenges that are facing business, government and society today.

Choosing economics will give you an excellent foundation for a career in business, finance, government, teaching and the media, and for doing further study in business courses such as marketing, management and computing. The teaching approach that we use will prepare you for working in the knowledge economy.

You do not need to have Economics in the Leaving Certificate to study Economics at UCC.

It might sound obvious but “economics” is the unique aspect of this course.  Students who successfully complete this course will know how economists think.  Students undertaking the B.A. have an opportunity to sample a wonderful array of subjects of which economics is one.

Economics will develop your knowledge of economics, your professional skills and yourself, for life after university.

The curriculum for the course is informed by lecturers’ research. Up-to-date teaching methods are used as most staff have a qualification in teaching and learning in higher education.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Study abroad: If you are studying through the BA International, you will spend Year 3 studying at one of our partner universities abroad. We currently have links with universities in: Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden Mexico, and the USA.

Work placement: If you study through the BA or the BA International, you will have the opportunity to avail of a work placement in Year 2. You can find out more here.

Skills and Careers Information

Economics provides a whole range of skills (analytical, problem-solving, computers, data handling, presentation and communication) and knowledge required by employers. Our teaching approach at UCC, with its emphasis on transformative education, will prepare you for the knowledge economy, the need for continual change and for life-long learning.

Graduates with Economics have traditionally gone into a wide variety of different types of jobs, including:

• teaching
• banking and finance
• business consultancy
• journalism

Many of our students have continued into postgraduate education and professional training in areas such as economics, finance, and business-related courses such as marketing, management and computing.