BSc Economics and Finance with International Foundation Year - January Entry

Compulsory modules

Academic Skills 

Enhance your academic study and communication skills while gradually building confidence and mastering transferable abilities. Engage in various in-class group activities and individual study tasks to develop these skills effectively.

Foundation Economics - Microeconomics 

Discover how individuals and companies allocate and utilise resources. You’ll learn the neoclassical model of demand and supply, markets failures and the behaviour of firms.

Foundation Economics - Macroeconomics 

Learn models and theories used by economists to understand the performance of the economy. You’ll develop basic mathematical and statistical skills and apply these to economic decision making.

Core Mathematics 

Learn the techniques required to analyse and solve a variety of mathematical problems. You'll gain general mathematical skills as well as skills that are more related to your degree programme.

Quantative Methods

Discover the techniques required to analyse and solve a variety of statistical problems. You'll gain general theoretical skills as well as numerical skills that are more related to your degree programme.

Optional modules

Academic English 1

Develop the necessary basis in English for study at undergraduate level. You’ll develop key skills and a perspective on a range of contemporary topics that will equip you for study throughout your degree.

Academic English 2

Develop your competence in the use of English for academic purposes. You’ll be provided with the necessary linguistic foundation for your degree as you learn to use academic sources in a written and spoken context.

Concepts in Politics 

Learn the nature of key political concepts and use them to develop your ability to interpret and analyse political information and arguments. You’ll also be encouraged to develop your grammar and IT skills to ensure you are well equipped to research sources and execute written presentation throughout your degree.

Government and Politics

Study the nature of political institutions, concepts, and ideologies and develop the ability to interpret political information and execute into it a developed argument. In particular, you’ll focus on UK and US government and politics and identify their parallels, connections, similarities and differences.

Psychology and Research Methods

Explore the key research methods applicable to psychology as you develop your skills of analysis, evaluation, and critical thinking to data collection and reporting. You’ll focus on theories of conformity and obedience and learn to critically evaluate research by highlighting the limitations found in classic experiments.

An Introduction to Business Management 

Develop your ability to think critically and argue persuasively in business and management contexts. You'll learn basic business and management theory such as entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, human resource management, finance and accounting.

Psychology and the Body

Gain understanding of the biological basis of thought, behaviour, and emotions and develop transferable skills in analysis, evaluation, and critical thinking. You’ll focus on core areas in psychology including stress, cognitive psychology, and sleep. 

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2025/26 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Introductory Microeconomics

Gain an analytical introduction to the modern concepts of economics. You'll learn how the real world works by developing your understanding of key economics concepts, mathematical tools and microeconomics.

Introductory Macroeconomics

Gain an analytical introduction to the modern concepts of economics and develop your understanding of key economics concepts and mathematical tools. You’ll learn concepts of macroeconomics and how they overlap with microeconomics. You’ll also consider key topics such as what markets can and cannot do, and when government can improve economic performance.

Introductory Securities and Markets

Gain an understanding of commercial and investment banks, international credit, bonds, and other markets. You’ll learn about developments in financial technology, sustainable finance, and their use in developing ratings for companies depending on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. 

Introductory Quantitative Techniques for Business and Finance

Develop an understanding of a range of quantitative techniques that are commonly applied in business, finance and management. You’ll explore both introductory statistics and mathematical techniques that are necessary for a good understanding of financial theories.  

Core Competencies in Economics

Develop key academic skills and strategies such as time management and independent learning, academic writing and referencing, and making effective use of feedback. Explore a range of challenges frequently encountered by students along with coping strategies and advice on accessing the network of support available.   

Introductory Finance/Trading Simulation I

Learn the core concepts of finance, starting with capital budgeting, time value of money, and asset pricing. You’ll construct portfolios of stocks and calculate risk and returns based on the capital asset pricing model. You’ll also learn derivatives pricing, and hedging strategies, and familiarise yourself with trading simulation and risk management techniques.

Mathematical Methods for Economists

Learn advanced mathematical techniques and their economic applications. You’ll understand how mathematics can be used to describe and extend economics in a rigorous fashion. 

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2025/26 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods..

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them..

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Microeconomics

This module brings together economic theories and mathematical methods taught in your first year. The aim of the module is to provide you with the fundamental tools of a microeconomist. You'll learn formal mathematical solution methods. The advantage of this approach is its rigor and clarity. By removing extraneous details from a problem or issue, models help to isolate and uncover underlying trade-offs and illuminate connections between ideas.

Macroeconomics

This module brings together economic theories and mathematical methods taught in your first year. You'll gain a systematic understanding of the main concepts and models of macroeconomics, both graphically and algebraically, related to output, economic growth, inflation and unemployment. You will also develop a deeper appreciation of the interrelationship between macroeconomic variables and government stabilisation (fiscal/monetary) or structural policies. This will help you understand major economic events around the globe, and critically analyse relevant issues discussed in the news or by politicians.

Data Science for Finance

Develop a data-driven mindset and learn how data analytics and data-driven storytelling can shape and improve financial decision making. You’ll explore how data science is used in financial applications and business decision making, using Tableau as an enabling technology.  You’ll also gain a solid understanding of the econometric techniques used to test financial theories.

Corporate Finance

Focus on corporate value: its measurement, and its maximisation through corporate financial decisions, growth strategies, and governance practices. Get a good grounding in corporate finance theory and an appreciation of the related empirical evidence.

Optional modules

Business Economics

Develop your understanding of a number of areas of business economics, with a focus on theory. Topics include the economics of entrepreneurship, small business, international business and theories of the firm.

Games and Economic Behaviour

In this module, you’ll actively participate in one or more models of economic phenomena through an online gaming platform. You’ll gain greater insight into the assumptions and mechanisms underlying models of economic behaviour with the game-based simulations of each model. 

Economics of Social Policy

Develop your understanding of how economic analysis can be applied to the real-world problems faced by policy makers. You’ll study socioeconomic problems and the role of government policy. You’ll learn techniques from both microeconomics and macroeconomics to analyse topics such as poverty and inequality, housing, crime, health and education. 

Economic History

Understand how the world economy got to be where it is today, focusing on significant periods of economic change from the commercial revolution of the medieval period through to the modern digital revolution. 

Trends in Finance

Gain insight into financial history by understanding the relationships between innovations, bubbles and crises through case studies. You’ll also explore topics of current interest, placing them within a broader historical context and considering their wider contemporary relevance.

Programming for Finance

Learn Object Oriented Programming using Python as the main programming language and its applications in finance and econometrics. You'll learn about the fundamentals of programming and write simple programming functions in Python, and work on data processing, data management and visualisation.  

Sustainable Finance

Familiarise yourself with sustainability-related aspects of finance and investment. You’ll learn the theory, application, and relevant regulation relating to sustainable development, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), investing, and financing sustainable projects. 

FX and International Debt Markets

Gain a solid understanding of foreign exchange and international debt markets. You’ll learn to identify and appreciate the different structures found in the international debt markets and value vanilla debt securities and their interest rate risk. 

Placement Support

Develop application and CV writing skills, knowledge of psychometric and video testing, interview and assessment centre techniques. You’ll gain additional insight through personality tests for your career direction.   

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2025/26 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Financial Economics

Learn about the economic reasoning that underpins much of modern finance, including portfolio theory and asset pricing. You’ll apply neoclassical financial analysis to financial decision making in the world of uncertainty and market imperfections. You’ll also learn about the role of financial intermediation in facilitating investment. 

Financial Modelling

Apply your theoretical knowledge using Microsoft Excel functions to solve real-life financial problems. You’ll be able to implement the concept of capital budgeting, analyse the time value of money, construct portfolios, run regressions to estimate Capital Asset Pricing Models, and calculate the prices of bonds, stocks and options. 

Derivative Securities

Explore derivatives markets and their products through theories and trading strategies. You’ll learn to compare and contrast the features of futures, options, swaps, and other derivative products. You’ll also interpret and apply derivatives pricing models, and critically discuss the application of financial derivatives to practical issues in risk management.

Optional modules

International Economics

This module is concerned with economic interactions among sovereign nations in terms of trade in goods and services as well as investment in financial and real assets. You’ll explore answers to questions such as fair distribution of benefits, regulation of trade, and financial relations. You’ll also learn to apply the theoretical concepts and models introduced to the policy context of Brexit and EU integration. 

Development Economics

Apply economic tools to the study of issues that are of particular importance to low-income countries, such as microeconomic theory to understand the causes and consequences of underdevelopment. You’ll be equipped with an understanding of relevant economic theory, evidence, and implications for policy. 

Money and Banking

Build on your knowledge of year two macroeconomics, as you study the economics of money, banking, and financial markets. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge about financial markets and institutions, central banking and monetary policy, with a focus on analysing the role of money and understanding the financial structure of financial institutions, businesses and the process of banking.

Economics of Labour

This module aims to equip you with the tools to examine labour market issues and published empirical findings from a critical perspective. You’ll learn theoretical models and their application to these issues. 

Dissertation

Work on an independent dissertation project of 8,000 words, under the guidance of a supervisor. You’ll identify the research question, critically evaluate the relevant literature, apply theoretical frameworks and research methods to your research questions, and learn to analyse and synthesise the research findings.  

Private Equity and Venture Capital

Develop your understanding of the dynamics between the venture capital investor and the entrepreneur, and the practicalities of raising PE&VC funds from institutional investors. You’ll gain hands-on experience through extensive use of case studies, group projects, and guest seminars from industry experts.

Fintech and Cryptocurrencies

Learn about FinTech and blockchain technology and understand the reasons for their popularity. You’ll gain a broad appreciation of recent developments in FinTech, including money and payment, digital finance, alternative finance, and FinTech regulation, cryptocurrencies and governance.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2025/26 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.