How to apply for economics at the University of Reading: BA and BSc Economics, Economics and Finance, and Business Economics, applying straight to a named course, A-Level ABB with different maths requirements, entry routes and requirements for UK applicants, international students (including China) and transfers

Economics at the University of Reading is taught by the Department of Economics on the Whiteknights campus. This guide summarises 2027/28 entry from Reading's official pages for UK applicants, international students (including those from China) and students who want to join at year two. Business and management and computer science are outside this guide.

1. Which economics courses you can apply to

You apply straight to a named course; the economics pages do not describe a shared first year followed by a choice of subject. Reading's economics page lists:

• BA Economics (UCAS code L101): three years. The page says it applies economic tools to different markets and situations to prepare you to tackle problems facing policy makers and businesses; Reading says BSc Economics covers a narrower range of markets and social policy issues but focuses more on techniques for working with data (a video explains the difference between the two). Compulsory first-year modules are Principles of Economics 1, Principles of Economics 2, Applied Economics and Policy, Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis and Core Competencies in Economics; options include Mathematical Methods for Economists.
• BSc Economics (L100): three years. The page says you will work extensively with data and learn to apply theory and models to real-world issues. Compulsory first-year modules are Introductory Microeconomics, Introductory Macroeconomics, Applied Economics and Policy, Mathematical Methods for Economists and Core Competencies in Economics.
• BSc Economics and Finance (LN13): three years, giving a foundation in economics and financial systems and applying economic theory to financial markets; first-year modules include Introductory Securities and Markets and Introductory Finance/Trading Simulation I.
• BSc Business Economics (L113): three years. The page says that in the first two years you take many of the same core modules as BSc Economics, then specialist business economics in the second and final years, such as industrial economics, corporate decision making, pricing and competition policy.
• Four-year placement-year versions: BA Economics with a Placement Year, BSc Economics with a Placement Year and BSc Business Economics with a Placement Year; the BA page puts the placement between the second and third years. The pages also mention a semester or year at partner universities (the BA page names Australia, Canada, the USA and Europe).
• Versions with an International Foundation Year: BA Economics with International Foundation Year and BSc Economics and Finance with International Foundation Year, each with January and September entry and four years long; see the international section below.
• Combined degrees: the economics page also lists BA History and Economics, BA Politics and Economics, BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BA International Relations and Economics, BA Modern Languages and Economics and BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science). They sit in other departments and their entry requirements are not covered in the pages used for this guide; see each course page.

The pages say teaching is organised around research clusters including behavioural economics, business economics and finance, development economics, labour and household economics, and sport economics, with small-group tutorials alongside lectures, and a student-run Economics Society. Professional accreditation of the economics degrees is not mentioned on the pages used for this guide; check the website.

2. Prerequisites and entry requirements

• A-Level: the typical offer for all four courses is ABB, but the maths requirement differs:
  • BA Economics: ABB; GCSE Maths at grade B (6) minimum.
  • BSc Economics: ABB, with Mathematics a preferred subject but not essential; GCSE Mathematics at grade A (7).
  • BSc Economics and Finance: ABB with a B in A-Level or AS Mathematics, or a grade B in A-Level Physics, Chemistry, Economics or Statistics; GCSE English at B (5), and GCSE Maths at A (7) if you are not taking Maths at AS or A-Level.
  • BSc Business Economics: ABB; GCSE Maths at A (7), with B (6) accepted if you are taking AS or A-Level Maths.
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall for all four, with a maths condition: 4 in Maths at Standard Level for BA Economics; 5 in Maths SL for BSc Economics and BSc Business Economics; and for BSc Economics and Finance, 4 in English SL plus either 5 in Mathematics at SL or HL or 5 in HL Physics, Chemistry or Economics (Reading notes Statistics is not available as a standalone IB HL subject).
• BTEC: BA Economics, BSc Economics and BSc Business Economics list the BTEC Extended Diploma at DDM; BSc Economics and Finance does not accept it unless studied alongside A-Level or AS Mathematics, or A-Level Physics, Chemistry, Economics or Statistics.
• English: IELTS 6.5 with no component below 5.5; other English qualifications are on the international pages. A pre-sessional English course is available before entry.
• EPQ: Reading says EPQ results can be part of a formal offer.
• Admissions tests or interviews: the four course pages do not mention an admissions test or interview. The general application page says some courses require an interview or portfolio and tells you to check the course page; the economics pages do not list this step.
• Contextual offers: the economics page says contextual offers are made for all courses; the conditions are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check with Admissions.
• Scottish Highers and other UK qualifications: the course pages list A-Level, BTEC and IB and say many other qualifications are accepted. Requirements for other UK qualifications are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask Admissions.

3. Applying and deadlines

• All undergraduate courses, including those with an integrated foundation year, are applied for through UCAS. Reading's institution code is R12, and you can choose up to five courses, including more than one at Reading; use the UCAS codes on the course pages. You write a personal statement and need a reference and predicted or achieved grades. UCAS charges most students a small application fee; check UCAS for the amount.
• Reading says most undergraduate courses have a UCAS deadline in January; check UCAS for the exact 2027-entry date, as the pages used for this guide do not print a date or year.
• If you miss the January deadline you can still apply through UCAS, and Reading will consider late applications until June; after June they go into Clearing. Reading also warns that some courses may be full after January, so apply early where possible.
• After you apply, UCAS passes your application to Admissions, which looks at your personal statement, predicted or achieved grades and reference. Offers are conditional or unconditional. Offer Holder Days normally run between February and April of your year of entry. To defer or change course, submit the Change My Offer Request form.

4. International students and applicants from China

• International students: the course pages point you to the country pages for country-specific entry requirements. If you do not meet direct-entry requirements, BA Economics and BSc Economics and Finance are offered as four-year courses with an integrated International Foundation Year (IFY), with January or September entry: completing it, together with any other entry requirements, guarantees progression into year one of the degree. IFY versions of BSc Economics and BSc Business Economics are not listed on the pages used for this guide.
• Applicants from China: Reading's China page says it accepts a wide range of equivalent qualifications depending on course and level. For undergraduate study it lists:
  • International Foundation Programme: Chinese High School Year 2 (Year 11) with a leaving certificate averaging 75%; High School Year 3 (Year 12) with a graduation certificate averaging 70%.
  • A recognised International Foundation Programme, or first-year study at a recognised Chinese university with at least 80%.
  • Gaokao: a minimum overall average of 80% for courses that require AAA at A-Level, 77% for AAB/ABB, and 74% for BBB. The economics courses all ask for ABB, which falls in the AAB/ABB band; how each course's maths condition is treated against Gaokao scores is not published, so ask Admissions.
  • Ambright (AST Maths 165, AST English 200; AST Physics case by case for science and life science courses); or the IB Diploma with 30-34 points depending on the programme.
  The China page also links a Chinese-language website and a list of approved representatives in China that you can check.

5. Fees and scholarships

• International fees for 2027/28: £26,850 a year for BA Economics, BSc Economics and BSc Business Economics, and £31,800 a year for BSc Economics and Finance, with annual increases in later years as set out in your student contract.
• UK applicants: the home fee for 2027 entry is £10,050 a year for new UK and Republic of Ireland students, subject to annual increases in later years. The course pages do not distinguish England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; check the website.
• The course pages say some courses need extra payments for field trips and resources, and you should budget for accommodation and living costs.
• The international scholarships page lists, among undergraduate options, the Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship: £6,000 a year for up to four years towards living costs, with 2027 deadlines not yet confirmed; the course pages say up to 400 are awarded each year to students from the UK and overseas. There is also the International Foundation Excellence Scholarship: £5,000 off tuition for eligible international students starting an International Foundation Programme or Year, with a deadline of 16 November 2026 for January 2027 entry. The page lists no automatic academic scholarship for international undergraduates on degree courses; ask Admissions.

6. Transfers and advanced entry

• Neither the economics pages nor the application page explains how to transfer into year two from another university or how credits are recognised; this is not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask the Department of Economics or Admissions.
• The rules for moving between the economics courses after you start (for example between BSc and BA Economics) are also not given on those pages; ask the department.

7. Checklists

UK applicants:

• A-Level ABB for all four courses; BSc Economics and Finance needs a B in Maths, or in one of Physics, Chemistry, Economics or Statistics
• GCSE Maths: B (6) for BA Economics, A (7) for BSc Economics; check the specific conditions for Economics and Finance and Business Economics above
• Apply through UCAS (R12) by the January deadline and check UCAS for the 2027-entry date

International students (including China):

• IB 32 points with a maths score that depends on the course; IELTS 6.5 (5.5 per component)
• ABB falls in Reading's 77% Gaokao band; ask Admissions how the maths conditions are read
• BA Economics and BSc Economics and Finance have four-year versions with an International Foundation Year
• Economics and Finance has a higher international fee than the other three courses

Transfer students:

• Year-two entry rules are not published; contact the department or Admissions first

Sources: University of Reading, Economics undergraduate courses; BA Economics; BSc Economics; BSc Economics and Finance; BSc Business Economics; How to apply; Information for students from China; International scholarships. Information is for 2027/28 entry; module lists are those the pages give for 2026/27; fees, scholarships and deadlines may change, so check the University of Reading website for the latest.