How to Apply to Economics at the University of York (UK): BSc Economics, Economics and Econometrics, Economics and Finance and Joint Degrees with Maths, Typical Offer AAB for Economics with Maths Preferred but Not Essential, and Entry Routes and Prerequisites for Home, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of York is in the north of England, and economics is taught by the Department of Economics and Related Studies. In the UK you apply to a specific course through UCAS; York’s institution code is Y50. This guide sets out what York’s website says about economics for September 2027 entry, for UK (home) applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. The courses

• The department’s undergraduate page lists Economics (BSc), Economics and Econometrics (BSc), Economics and Finance (BSc) and Economics, Econometrics and Finance (BSc), plus interdisciplinary courses: History/Economics (BA), Economics and Management (BSc), Economics and Mathematics (BSc), Economics and Philosophy (BSc), Economics and Politics (BSc), Mathematics and Finance (BSc) and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (BA and BSc). Business and computing are outside this guide; Economics and Management is mentioned here only in passing.
• Course pages used: Economics BSc L100 (three years, typical offer AAB); Economics and Econometrics L144 (three years, AAB); Economics and Finance L112 (three years, AAB); Economics and Mathematics LG11 (three years, AAA, run by the Departments of Economics and Related Studies and of Mathematics). Check the other joint courses on their own pages.
• Accreditation: the Economics and Finance page says the course is accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), with discounted CISI exams and free membership.
• Facilities and careers: the department page mentions an industry-standard trading room and a Careers and Placements team that alerts students to internships; students can spend time abroad and take a placement year.

2. How admission and the course structure work

• You apply directly to a course by its UCAS code, for example L100, L144, L112 or LG11.
• Economics BSc, Year 1: core modules are Principles of Economics, Foundations of Economic History and Data, Evidence and Policy. Students with A-Level Mathematics also take Mathematics for Economists and Probability and Statistics; students without A-Level Mathematics take Market Failure and Economic Policy and Quantitative Methods instead. There is one option module and an online Academic Integrity module.
• Years 2 and 3: Year 2 core modules are Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy and Econometric Analysis, plus three options; Year 3 is Contemporary Economic Issues and Analysis plus five options (past options include Applied Econometrics, Commodities Markets and Derivative Securities, and Environmental Economics).
• Admissions tests: the economics course pages mention no economics admissions test; this is not given on the pages used for this guide, so check with econ-ug-admissions@york.ac.uk. The pages say accepted applicants are invited to visit between November and April to meet students and staff, which may include a one-to-one conversation with a member of academic staff; the Economics and Mathematics page mentions the visit without the one-to-one conversation.
• Whether you can switch between economics-related courses after you start is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the department.

3. Prerequisites and grades (typical offers on the course pages)

• Economics BSc (L100): A-Level AAB; Mathematics is a preferred subject, but not essential; without A-Level Mathematics, GCSE Mathematics grade 7 (A) is essential. IB 35 points, with 5 in Higher Level Mathematics or 7 in Standard Level Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation) preferred but not essential; without HL or SL Mathematics, MYP Mathematics grade 6 or GCSE Mathematics grade 7 is essential. European Baccalaureate 80% overall including 80% in Mathematics. Scotland: Advanced Highers B in Mathematics plus Highers BBBB, or Highers AABBB including Mathematics.
• Economics and Econometrics (L144) and Economics and Finance (L112): A-Level AAB including Mathematics; IB 35 points with 5 in HL Mathematics or 7 in SL Mathematics; European Baccalaureate 80% overall including Mathematics.
• Economics and Mathematics (LG11): A-Level AAA including Mathematics; IB 36 points including 6 in HL Mathematics; European Baccalaureate 85% overall with 85% in Mathematics.
• BTEC: L100 DDD, with Mathematics preferred but not essential, otherwise GCSE Mathematics grade 7; L144 and L112 DDD including Mathematics (or an acceptable alternative Level 3 Mathematics qualification). T Levels: not currently accepted for L144, L112 and LG11 unless an additional A-Level (or equivalent) in Mathematics has been taken; for L100 a range of T Levels is considered together with A-Level Mathematics.
• Foundation: the Foundation Certificate from York’s International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
• Contextual offer: L100 BBB (Mathematics requirement as above); L144 and L112 BBB including Mathematics; LG11 ABB including A in Mathematics. An EPQ at A or higher may qualify for an offer up to one grade lower. L100 also lists a widening participation route at BBC.
• Score requirements for other systems such as the Gaokao or AP are not given on the course pages used; ask econ-ug-admissions@york.ac.uk.

UK (home) applicants

• York lists UK (home) and international fees separately: for 2027/28 the UK (home) fee is £10,050 a year, which may rise within the government fee cap in later years. The course pages do not give separate fees for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; use York’s fee status page to confirm which category you fall in.
• Qualifications: A-Level, BTEC, European Baccalaureate, IB and Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers requirements are on each course page; T Level acceptance varies by course. Course pages also list alternative offers, such as an EPQ that may lower the offer by one grade.
• Funding for UK students listed on York’s pages includes the York Bursary (based on residual household income), the Care Leavers and Estranged Students Bursary, the Commuter Award (£250) and the Sanctuary Bursary, plus UK government loans, which open in early 2027; see the website for amounts and conditions.
• Contextual offers: each course page gives the reduced requirement; see the course sections below.

International applicants

• International qualifications: the course pages link to country-by-country entry requirements, and York’s entry page says it accepts a wide range of international qualifications depending on the course.
• Tuition: for 2027/28 the international fee is £28,600 a year for Economics, Economics and Econometrics, Economics and Finance and Economics and Mathematics, against £10,050 for UK students.
• Proof of funds and credential evaluation details are not given on the pages used for this guide; check York’s visa and immigration pages or ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).

Students from China

• Gaokao: York’s China page says that students studying the Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate who take the Gaokao are accepted with a minimum 75% overall average for Year 1 entry to courses with no other essential subject requirements, and should also complete the Senior High School Graduation Certificate. For Economics BSc (L100), A-Level Mathematics is preferred but not essential, yet the course page requires GCSE Mathematics grade 7 if you do not have it; whether that counts as an “other essential subject requirement” in the China page’s wording is not stated. Econometrics, finance and Economics and Mathematics require Mathematics. Whether Gaokao applicants can apply directly to economics courses and what Maths score is needed is not given on the pages used for this guide; email econ-ug-admissions@york.ac.uk.
• Foundation: the China page and the course pages say the Foundation Certificate or International Year One at York’s International Pathway College can help you meet entry requirements, and the course pages also accept an appropriate alternative foundation programme.
• CSCSE-SQA Advanced Diploma: York accepts these students through its official partnership with the High Achiever Programme (HAP), which the page calls the only approved application route for that diploma (hapadmission@achieve-international.com).
• Chinese university degrees: degrees from Ecctis-recognised institutions are considered case by case, with 75% to 85% overall required (this concerns applicants who already hold or are studying a degree).
• A-Level or IB: use the typical offers on each course page.
• The China page lists York’s agent partners for China and gives contact details for the Regional Manager (China) and two China representatives (marissa.cao, shawn.gu and janet.chai @york.ac.uk); using an agent is optional.
• Whether interviews, accreditation bodies or Chinese high school transcripts and exam certificates are required beyond this is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the China page or ask the admissions team.

English language

• The course page sets the minimum IELTS (Academic) at 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (Economics, Economics and Econometrics, Economics and Finance, Economics and Mathematics).
• York’s undergraduate English page lists accepted tests including IELTS (Academic and Online), PTE Academic (not the online version), TOEFL iBT (MyBest scores not accepted), Trinity ISE, Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced, Duolingo, LanguageCert and the Kaplan Test of English. Scores cannot be combined across attempts or test types, and results must be dated within two years of the course start. See York’s IELTS equivalencies page for exact scores.
• Some school-leaving certificates are accepted if you reach the required grade in an English language subject and completed them within seven years of the start; the International Baccalaureate Diploma is among them.
• You may not need to show English evidence if you are a UK national, a national of a majority-English-speaking country as specified by UK Visas and Immigration, have completed a degree in the UK, Ireland or a listed country (except Canada) or a degree taught in English (within seven years, with official confirmation), or have completed or are completing A-Levels or another Level 3 qualification in the UK over two years (within seven years).
• If you fall short, York’s pre-sessional English courses are an option; the length depends on how far you need to improve.

Transfer students

• York’s entry page says it is sometimes possible to transfer from another university directly into 2nd Year, but not into 3rd or 4th Year; discuss options with the academic department.
• The economics course pages give no specific second-year conditions; not given on the pages used for this guide, so contact econ-ug-admissions@york.ac.uk.

International fees and scholarships

• Tuition: for 2027/28 entry the economics course pages show £28,600 a year for international students and £10,050 for UK students. International fees rise in later years in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 10%; the fee in your offer letter is normally for one year. A full year abroad is charged at 15% of the full-time fee and a year in industry or placement year at 20% (15% under the Turing Scheme).
• York International Undergraduate Scholarship: £5,000 for each year of study in 2027/28, open to students from countries including China, the USA, Canada, India, Japan and Singapore; eligible students receive it automatically with no application. Conditions: a conditional or unconditional offer by 1 July 2027, overseas fee status, and a full-time on-campus undergraduate course starting in September 2027. Not eligible: holders of a 100% tuition scholarship or full sponsorship, students on York’s International Pathway College and certain other pathways, students not joining in Year 1, and courses with the same Home and International fee. You must accept the award via the link in your offer email by the deadline given there; deferring forfeits it. The page also says that 2027-entry scholarships are “opening shortly”, so check the page for the current status.
• International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship: up to £10,000 (first year only), considered automatically for eligible international offer holders with no application; a panel of senior staff selects awardees. Eligibility includes predicted or achieved A-Level ABB, IB 34 points or equivalent. The page says awards will begin “shortly”.
• Combining awards: the York International Undergraduate Scholarship page says it may be combined with other University of York scholarships and external funding, and the Achievement Scholarship page says it may be combined with departmental scholarships and external funding, in each case up to 100% of tuition fees. Whether the two can be held together is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).
• Departmental opportunities are listed below.

• Department funding page: it lists the two international undergraduate scholarships above and awards for UK students, with no separate department-specific scholarship for international students.

Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• Applications go through UCAS. York’s application page says you can start your UCAS application from 12 May 2026 and submit it from 1 September 2026. York’s institution code is Y50; you can apply to up to five courses, and you need the course code, grades achieved or predicted, a teacher’s reference and a personal statement.
• 13 January 2027 is the main UCAS deadline for all courses except Medicine (15 October 2026). Applications by that date are treated equally; you can apply until 30 June 2027, but the course may have filled its places.
• For applications by the main deadline York says to expect a decision by 12 May 2027; some courses add extra steps, such as an interview invitation.
• UCAS Extra opens on 25 February 2027; A-Level and BTEC results come out on 12 August 2027; international applicants need a visa in place by September 2027.
• The UCAS website and portal are not used for this guide: check the deadlines and course codes on the UCAS website.

Checklist

UK (home) applicants:

• Economics BSc: A-Level AAB (Mathematics preferred; GCSE Mathematics grade 7 if no A-Level Mathematics); econometrics or finance versions AAB including Mathematics; Economics and Mathematics AAA including Mathematics; contextual offer BBB (Economics BSc)
• Submit via UCAS by 13 January 2027; UK fee £10,050

International applicants:

• IB 35 points (36 with 6 in HL Mathematics for Economics and Mathematics); IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each component); fee £28,600 a year
• Look at the York International Undergraduate Scholarship (£5,000 a year, automatic) and the Achievement Scholarship (up to £10,000)

Applicants from China:

• Gaokao applicants should first confirm by email whether economics courses can be applied for directly and the Maths requirement; the International Pathway College is another route

Transfer students:

• Entry is possible at most into second year; contact the Department of Economics and Related Studies first

Sources: University of York, How to apply; Entry requirements and transfers; English language requirements; Information for students from China; International tuition fees; International undergraduate scholarships; York International Undergraduate Scholarship; International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship; Department of Economics and Related Studies undergraduate page; Economics BSc; Economics and Econometrics BSc; Economics and Finance BSc; Economics and Mathematics BSc; Department of Economics undergraduate funding. Information is for September 2027 entry; check York and the UCAS website for the latest dates and course codes.