| Qualification | Start dates | Entry requirements | Full- or Part-time | UCAS Code | Assessment | |
| Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons) | January July September | A-level: BCC | Level of English required | Full-time | LL21 | Exam and written assessment |
Course outline
The Department of International Studies recognises the connection between the academic discipline of Politics and the cognate discipline of Economics. This new programme allows students to understand contemporary political systems in Europe, the Americas and East Asia, whilst also appreciating the economic implications of these systems.
Politics, involving the study of Political Science and Political Theory, has been at the heart of Buckingham since the University was founded in 1973. The interdisciplinary subject allows students to evaluate political concepts and theories, as well as understanding ‘otherness’ of people and societies around the world.
The Economics modules examine decision-making in the context of a market economy, and the institutional supports for such an economy to operate effectively. They deal with cutting-edge issues, such as the problems of achieving macroeconomic and exchange-rate stability, and also issues from the wider economic field: the allocation of resources to health, and raising environmental quality, for example.
Students will gain a comprehensive knowledge that can be adapted to a wide range of careers. This programme gives students an ideal preparation for careers in diplomacy, international business, journalism, politics and education, as well as the academic grounding to pursue further studies in Global Affairs, History, Politics or International Relations.
Teaching methods
The Department employs a variety of teaching methods in different modules. Lectures and small group tutorials form the backbone of the teaching. Personal contact with members of the academic staff is considered to be essential if each student’s personal enthusiasm for their studies is to be stimulated. A range of activities is pursued within the tutorial groups depending upon the module. Some modules emphasise problem solving as a means of reinforcing and cementing the important ideas – for example the module in Microeconomic Theory. Occasionally we use game playing to encourage discussion and understanding – for example when competing groups of students try to control a computer model of the economy in Principles of Macroeconomics. Other modules place greater emphasis on writing short and accurate technical pieces (Welfare Economics) or longer more discursive papers.
What our students and alumni say
“Having previously studied at a state university, Buckingham was a welcome change. From the moment I arrived, the Economics and International Studies Department made me feel at home. Buckingham’s small class sizes and the tutorial based system are invaluable educational advantages, which truly personalize education the way it ought to
be. The only thing that I would want more from Buckingham, would be to go back and do it again!”
Richard Vriesinga (Politics, Economics and Law 2008)
