What will I learn?

Our Economics IFP is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to be able to progress on to a range of Economics-related degree courses at university.

You will be presented with a range of economic models and theories designed to understand key economic issues and problems, including the choices made by economic agents faced with scarce resources under conditions of uncertainty. You will develop an understanding of producer and consumer theory and how this can inform the study of the wider economy. In addition you will develop your skills in presenting and applying economic models and develop your ability to reflect on the importance of model assumptions and the nature of their applications.

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, which is the same type of teaching you can expect at undergraduate level in the UK.

Lectures are where all students on a module are together (this can be up to 100 students on the IFP), and the academic tutor introduces the topic of study. Seminars are much smaller groups (typically no more than 15 students), where you have the opportunity to explore a subject in more detail with your academic tutor and classmates. In your seminars, you will be expected to engage in discussions and debates around the subject matter.

How will I be assessed?

Across your modules you will be assessed through a range of methods including presentations, tests, essays and examinations.

The modules on this programme have been developed to give you a thorough preparation for a range of related undergraduate degrees.

Pure Mathematics
In the Pure Maths module you will develop skills in building, applying and reviewing mathematical models and techniques to analyse mathematical problems. You will learn which models to use in a variety of relevant topics and the limitations of models in the context of the real world. Throughout the duration of the module, you will develop your ability to reason logically and recognise incorrect reasoning, to generalise and to construct mathematical proofs, as well as being able to communicate effectively in a mathematical context.

Statistics and Further Mathematics
This module focuses on developing your skills in building, applying and reviewing statistical and further maths models and techniques to analyse practical problems. You will develop your understanding of statistical and further maths concepts and processes so that you become confident in their use and application. By the end of the module you will be able to use statistical and further mathematics principles in the analysis and solution of real world problems in the sciences and engineering.

Economics
The module focuses on developing your skills in understanding complex economic problems and building, applying and reviewing models which analyse these problems and issues. You’ll be made aware of alternative viewpoints that prevail in the economics literature and how different assumptions or applications can affect the conclusions drawn. The module will develop your understanding of the intuition behind more mathematical models and the uses of these in more advanced study of micro and macroeconomics. This module will prepare students for a wide range of courses, specifically those relating to economics and mathematics.

Our Inquiry and Research Skills for Mathematics is a core module on this course, and is delivered in two parts to complement your other modules. The first part of this module looks at developing core research and inquiry skills including academic searching, using sources, teamwork, reflection and problem based learning inquiries. The second part of the module allows you to put everything you have learnt into practice through a research based project.

All students will also study an English for Academic Purposes module. This module is not about developing your conversational or everyday English skills; instead, it will develop your Academic English skills. You will consider how academic essays should be written, including looking at appropriate referencing and paraphrasing, as well as thinking about how presentations should be delivered in an academic context.

Please note that given the interval between the publication of these modules and enrolment, some of the information may change. You can find out more by reading our terms and conditions.

A list of our entry requirements, according to country, is available on our Application Information pages.

If you apply to this course, your Mathematics (or related) grades will be required to be at a high level and achieving a specific grade in Mathematics may be a condition of your offer.

If you have any questions about your qualifications and whether they are suitable for this course, please contact the team.

Students on this course would typically be looking to progress to a range of undergraduate degrees such as Economics, Economics and Industrial Organisation, and MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics).