How to Apply to Economics at Royal Holloway, University of London: Direct Entry by UCAS Code to BSc (Econ) Economics, A-level AAB–BBB With GCSE Maths at Grade 7 and No A-level Economics Required, Plus Year in Business, Data Science and Mathematics Variants, With Requirements for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The economics undergraduate degrees at Royal Holloway, University of London (Royal Holloway) are taught by the Department of Economics, with Egham as the campus on the course pages; Royal Holloway’s English language page lists Economics under the School of Law and Social Sciences. Most courses are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and carry exemptions. This article follows Royal Holloway’s application, entry requirements, international and China pages, fee and scholarship pages and the economics department and course pages for September 2027 entry, for UK applicants, international applicants, applicants studying in China and students hoping to enter the second year. Business, management and computing have their own degrees and are mentioned only briefly.

1. Economics degrees and variants

• Economics: BSc (Econ) L101, 3 years; Economics with a Year in Business: L102, 4 years (a work placement in year three).
• Financial and Business Economics: BSc (Econ) L111 (3 years) and with a Year in Business L112 (4 years).
• Economics and Data Science: BSc (Econ) L140 (3 years) and with a Year in Business L141 (4 years).
• Economics with Political Studies: BSc (Econ) L1L2 (3 years) and with a Year in Business L12L (4 years).
• Economics and Management: BSc LN12 (3 years) and with a Year in Business LN21 (4 years); Economics, Politics and International Relations: BSc LL12 (3 years) and with a Year in Business LL21 (4 years).
• Economics and Mathematics: BSc LG11 (3 years), with a Year in Business L11G (4 years); Finance and Mathematics: BSc NG31 (3 years), with a Year in Business N3G1 (4 years). These joint degrees are taught by the economics and mathematics departments, and the economics subject page lists them under Economics.
• Politics, Philosophy and Economics: BA L0V0 (3 years), run by the Politics and International Relations department and mentioned here only briefly.

You apply for a specific course code; directions such as Data Science, Management or Political Studies are chosen at application. The “Year in Business” versions have their own UCAS codes: year three is a full year of work placement, supported by the Placements Office and the Careers and Employability Service, but Royal Holloway says it cannot guarantee that every student will secure a placement and that the ultimate responsibility lies with you; the year is an integral part of the degree, includes assessed work that counts towards the final classification, and is charged at 20% of that year’s tuition fee.

2. Prerequisites and entry requirements for 2027

• A-level ranges and subjects: the course pages for Economics (L101/L102), Economics and Management, Economics with Political Studies and Economics, Politics and International Relations say AAB–BBB with GCSE Mathematics at grade 7 (A) and GCSE English Language at 4 (C); Financial and Business Economics says AAB–BBB with GCSE Mathematics at grade 6 (B) and English at 4 (C); Economics and Data Science says AAB–BBB with A-level Mathematics at grade B and GCSE English and Maths at 4 (C); Economics and Mathematics and Finance and Mathematics say AAB–ABC with A-level Mathematics at grade A and GCSE English and Maths at 4 (C). None of these course pages requires A-level Economics.
• Do you need to have studied economics? The introduction to the year 1 core module Principles of Economics says it is suitable for students with or without A-level Economics or equivalent, and it uses the CORE teaching approach.
• Other qualifications: the course pages put the IB, BTEC, Welsh Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, Irish Leaving Certificate, Access to HE and T-Level requirements in drop-down menus that did not appear in the static pages used for this guide; check “Entry requirements” on the course page.
• Admissions tests and interviews: Royal Holloway says none of its undergraduate courses currently require an interview or a portfolio as standard; the economics course pages do not mention an admissions test.
• Economics year 1 core modules: Principles of Economics, Data Skills for Economists, Applied Economics and Policy, Mathematics for Economics and Employability 1, plus Academic Integrity. Year 2 core: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics 1 and 2 and Employability 2. Year 3 core: Employability 3 (with Econ@Work talks and mock interviews), with options such as Labour Economics, Economics of Development, International Trade, Financial Economics 1, Economics of Banking and Political Economy; year 2 options include Financial Markets and Institutions, Game Theory and Behaviour and Introduction to Data Science. Options change each year, so check the website.
• Teaching and assessment: mostly lectures and problem-set seminars, assessed usually by end-of-year examinations plus class tests and assignments; final-year students can choose an extended essay for original research. The course page says students are trained in Python and R, can work towards certifications in each, and use a newly created data lab.
• Accreditation: the pages for Economics, Economics and Data Science, Economics and Management, Economics with Political Studies and their Year in Business versions say the course is accredited by CIMA with 4 exemptions; Financial and Business Economics and Finance and Mathematics say 8 exemptions. The version of the Economics and Mathematics page read does not mention CIMA exemptions.

3. UK applicants

• Accepted qualifications: A-levels (three subjects), BTEC/CTEC/WJEC, Scottish Advanced Highers (at least three passes), IB, Access to HE, the Welsh Baccalaureate, T-Levels and others; GCSE requirements are at least five passes (A*–C or 9–4) including Maths and English. The course pages do not separate England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and the exact Scottish grades are on the UCAS course page. T-Level equivalences: Distinction (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism) is AAA*, Distinction is AAA, Merit is BBB, Pass (C or above on the core) is CCC and Pass (D or E on the core) is DDD; where a course sets A-level subject requirements, T-Level applicants are likely to be asked to offer that A-level alongside (this passage comes from the foundation-year course page, so check the T-Level conversion on other course pages).
• Fees: the Home fee for 2027/28 is £10,050 a year (see section 8).
• Contextual offers and widening access: see section 7.

4. International applicants (including Chinese applicants): English, qualifications and funding

• Route: also through UCAS, institution code R72. Check the UCAS website for the application fee and personal statement format.
• Qualifications: Royal Holloway accepts a wide range of international qualifications; each course page has an “International & EU requirements” drop-down by country. If in doubt, use the Admissions Office enquiry form (+44 (0)1784 414944). For countries where the course page says the secondary school diploma is not enough for direct entry, it points to the International Foundation Year or an equivalent foundation programme.
• A-level / IB / US qualifications: A-level and IB requirements are on the course page; the IB scores are in a drop-down that did not appear in the static page used for this guide, so check the course page. The course pages also give conversions for US qualifications (combinations of AP, ACT and SAT); follow the course page.
• English language: applicants who are not nationals of the majority English-speaking countries listed by the UK Home Office must show English ability. Royal Holloway lists these nationalities as exempt: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British overseas territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK and the USA. Accepted tests include IELTS (including IELTS Indicator), Pearson, Cambridge, TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition), OnCampus Test of English, Duolingo, LanguageCert, Kaplan and the Oxford tests. Undergraduate scores depend on the subject: for economics: IELTS 6.5 with 6 in Writing and no other sub-score below 5.5; Pearson 67 with 63 in Writing and no other sub-score below 59; Trinity ISE IV; Cambridge English Advanced grade C; TOEFL iBT 88 (Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 19); Duolingo 120 with 115 in Literacy, 115 in Production and no sub-score below 100; check the course page for the joint degrees. Certificates must be issued no more than two years before the course starts. If your results are slightly below the requirement you may be offered a pre-sessional English course instead of retaking the test.
• SELT: Royal Holloway says IELTS must be a SELT if a sub-score is below 5.5 and you apply for a pre-sessional course with a linked CAS; TOEFL iBT cannot be used as a SELT.
• Deposit and visa: international undergraduates who need a Student visa must pay a tuition fee deposit of £3,000 or £10,000* before a CAS can be issued (the asterisk after £10,000 is not explained on the page used for this guide, so check the “Student fees and deposits” page for who pays which). The deposit is usually non-refundable except in certain circumstances (see the refunds policy); a CAS can only be issued in the six months before the course starts. Applicants who applied through an agent and live outside the UK, EU, EEA, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand pay the deposit through Study Group; the link is in the offer letter. The exact proof-of-funds amount is not given on the pages used for this guide; check Royal Holloway’s visa and immigration page and the UK government visa pages.

5. Applicants from China

• Royal Holloway’s China page: it says the first Chinese student was admitted in 1887 and gives its official WeChat account (伦敦大学皇家霍洛威学院), Weibo (@皇家霍洛威Royal_Holloway) and Red Note (伦敦大学皇家霍洛威). The international team offers 30-minute one-to-one counselling sessions on Teams (they do not affect admission) and guided campus tours. The page lists the agents Royal Holloway works with in China; check it before you apply.
• Gaokao for direct entry to Year 1: the China page says the gaokao is accepted for direct entry, with these equivalences: AAA needs at least 75%; AAB 75%; ABB 73%; BBB 70%; BBC 67%; BCC 65%; CCC 63%, and “additional requirements may apply depending on the programme”.
• On the course pages for this subject: the course pages for Economics, Economics with a Year in Business, Financial and Business Economics, Economics and Data Science, Economics and Management, Economics with Political Studies, Economics, Politics and International Relations, Economics and Mathematics and Finance and Mathematics all give a gaokao total of 70% together with 70% in the A-level subject listed on the page (Mathematics for the courses that need A-level Mathematics; for courses that list only a GCSE Maths requirement the page does not say which subject the second 70% refers to). For applicants who do not meet the requirement, the course pages say the partner foundation provider may help. Which gaokao subject counts for which requirement is not stated; ask the Admissions Office.
• After one year at a Chinese university: the China page says successful completion of one year at a recognised university in China with an overall average of 60% or above.
• International Foundation Year and International Year One: the Royal Holloway International Study Centre (run by Study Group) offers an International Foundation Year (Arts and Social Sciences, Management and Economics, or Sciences) and an International Year One (Business and Management, Computer Science, Economics or Electronic Engineering) that leads directly to the second year of the chosen degree. Economics has dedicated pathways: the International Foundation Year in Management and Economics and the International Year One in Economics, which leads directly to the second year of the chosen degree. The progression grades and which economics degrees they feed are on the International Study Centre website, which was not read for this guide. The China page also lists a 3+1 progression with Lixin University of Accounting and Finance in the School of Business and Management and the Department of Economics; its other partnerships (media, English) do not involve economics. Royal Holloway also recognises foundation programmes from the University of London (IFP), INTO, On Campus, NCUK, CATS Colleges and David Game College; for the University of London IFP, Distinction (70%) is shown against AAA, Merit (65%) against AAB or ABB and Merit (60%) against BBB or BBC, and there are subject-specific rows for Biology, Economics and Psychology (for example Merit 60% in Maths) on the entry requirements page. The Study Centre also has a Chinese-language website that was not read for this guide.
• AP, Huikao, transcripts and certificates: how to submit Chinese transcripts, Huikao results and the graduation certificate is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the Admissions Office (enquiry form with your UCAS number and full name; +44 (0)1784 414944). These gaokao percentages come from the country drop-down on each course page; whether they are calculated against each province’s full mark is not stated.
• China team: the China page names Elle Zhang, International Student Recruitment Manager (East Asia & UKI), and offers appointment booking.

6. Route and timeline for September 2027 entry

• Route: full-time undergraduate applications go through UCAS, institution code R72, with up to five choices; use the UCAS course code on each course page.
• 1 September 2026: UCAS opens for applications.
• 13 January 2027: UCAS Equal Consideration deadline. The “When to apply” text on Royal Holloway’s page says “2026 entry” but gives dates from September 2026 to January 2027, so it appears to describe the 2027 entry cycle; check UCAS.
• International applicants: Royal Holloway advises applying by 13 January because of demand for popular courses, and says applications will still be considered until 30 June 2027 if places remain.
• 25 February 2027: UCAS Extra opens; 12 May: deadline for universities to tell UCAS their decision; the deadline to reply to offers is 5 May, 2 June or 21 July 2027 depending on when you receive the final decision; 30 June: deadline for applications submitted after the Equal Consideration deadline; 1 July: UCAS Extra deadline; 2 July: Clearing starts; 12 August: A-level results; 23 September: deadline for any new UCAS application. Accommodation applications open in early 2027.
• Age: most students are 18 or over; applicants who will be under 18 at the start of the course should read the admissions policy.
• The “What happens next” page, the personal statement guide and deferred entry arrangements were not read in detail; for deferred entry the tuition fee is the fee for the year of entry (tuition fees page).

7. How Royal Holloway assesses applications

• What is considered: completed qualifications and grades, predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, the personal statement and motivation, and the reference. Royal Holloway says it also makes offers to applicants predicted below the advertised grade range if, on the whole application, it believes they can be successful.
• How requirements are written: A-level applicants must pass three subjects; the grades on course pages are minimum ranges and your own offer may be higher. BTECs, CTECs and WJECs (Extended Certificates, National Diplomas, Extended Diplomas) are accepted at the equivalent of the A-level requirement; both the IB Diploma and IBCP are accepted; Scottish Advanced Highers applicants are expected to achieve at least three passes, with grades varying by department (see the UCAS course listing); UK applicants are expected to have at least five GCSEs at A*–C or 9–4 including Maths and English. Other accepted qualifications include Access to HE, the European Baccalaureate, the Welsh Baccalaureate, Edexcel National Diploma, T-Levels, CACHE and International A-levels.
• Interviews and portfolios: Royal Holloway says none of its undergraduate courses currently require an interview as part of a standard application, and none requires a portfolio as standard.
• Offers: most applicants receive a conditional offer, usually conditional on final grades, and meeting the conditions guarantees the place; some receive unconditional offers. If English is not your first language and you have no recognised test, an English condition is likely.
• If unsuccessful: Royal Holloway cannot make every applicant an offer because of specific entry requirements or oversubscription; for feedback email applicants@royalholloway.ac.uk; you can consider another course through UCAS Extra.
• Contextual offers: the Widening Access page mentions contextual offers and financial support for students from under-represented groups, but the pages used for this guide do not give the eligibility criteria or size of any grade reduction, or say whether international applicants qualify; ask wa@royalholloway.ac.uk or the Admissions Office.

8. Fees and scholarships

• International tuition (2027/28): the course pages for Economics, Economics with a Year in Business, Financial and Business Economics, Economics and Data Science, Economics and Management, Economics with Political Studies and Economics, Politics and International Relations show an international fee of £24,600 a year; Economics and Mathematics and Finance and Mathematics show £27,900 a year. The Year in Business is charged at 20% of that year’s tuition fee. Royal Holloway reserves the right to raise fees every year; for international students starting in 2026/27 and 2027/28, annual increases are decided in its annual review, based on the UK Retail Price Index (RPI) and capped at 7.5%.
• Home fee: £10,050 for students starting in 2027/28; for UK students starting in 2026/27 and 2027/28 later increases follow UK Government policy, capped at 7.5% (some Foundation Year courses are excluded). A UK passport alone does not qualify you for the Home fee; you must also meet residency requirements. A provisional fee status is decided when you apply and can be checked on the Applicant Portal after an offer.
• Other essential costs: course pages say there are no single required costs above £50 per item (excluding accommodation, commuting, food, books and printing); the biological sciences pages also recommend buying a laptop.
• Instalments: Royal Holloway says international students starting in September 2026 can pay in two equal instalments; whether the same applies for 2027 is not stated on the pages used for this guide, so check the “Student fees and deposits” page.
• Royal Holloway International Undergraduate Scholarship 2027: a tuition fee reduction of £3,000 a year for each year of study, awarded automatically with no separate application. Eligibility: international fee status; BBB at A-level, or IB 30 overall or 5,5,5 at Higher Level, or other equivalent grades; and an offer for an undergraduate degree starting in September 2027. It cannot be held with any other Royal Holloway scholarship that gives a fee reduction or discount, any internal cash award, or any recognised partnership discount (including the progression discount for International Study Centre students). Contact rhps@rhul.ac.uk.
• Other scholarships: the scholarships page has a search by level of study, fee status and subject area, and departments have their own awards; some 2027 scholarships had not yet opened for applications. Some scholarships need an application and others are automatic; see each scholarship page for criteria and deadlines. The scholarships page has an “Economics” subject filter, so filter by undergraduate, international and Economics.

9. Transfer and second-year entry

• Royal Holloway says certain departments consider transfers into the second year of an undergraduate programme case by case, and that it is unable to accept transfers into the third year for any course.
• Conditions: meet the first-year entry requirements of the target programme and achieve grades equivalent to an upper second class honours in your first year at university. Second-year applications are also made through UCAS.
• Which specific courses take transfers, and which first-year modules you need, is not stated course by course on the pages used for this guide; ask the Admissions Office or the department. International applicants can also consider the International Year One (see above), which leads directly to the second year.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• A-level AAB–BBB (Economics and Mathematics and Finance and Mathematics AAB–ABC with A-level Maths at A); GCSE Maths 7 (6 or 4 on some courses); no A-level Economics needed; for Scottish and other qualifications check the course page and UCAS
• Apply through UCAS (R72) by 13 January 2027; Home fee £10,050 a year

International applicants (including China):

• A-level AAB–BBB; gaokao 70% per the course pages; or the International Foundation Year (Management and Economics) or International Year One (Economics)
• English: IELTS 6.5 (6 in Writing, 5.5 elsewhere) and equivalents; tuition £24,600 a year (£27,900 for the joint degrees with Mathematics); International Undergraduate Scholarship £3,000 a year, automatic

Transfer applicants:

• Meet first-year entry requirements and an upper second equivalent; no third-year entry for any course; apply through UCAS

Sources: Royal Holloway, University of London, Economics subject page; BSc (Econ) Economics; Economics with a Year in Business; Financial and Business Economics; Economics and Data Science; Economics and Management; Economics and Mathematics; Finance and Mathematics; Economics, Politics and International Relations; Economics with Political Studies; How to apply; Entry requirements; Your offer; International students; China page; English language requirements; Undergraduate tuition fees; Student fees and deposits; Scholarships; International Undergraduate Scholarship; Integrated Foundation Year; Optional Placement Year. Information is for September 2027 entry (where a page prints no year, the current version of the page); check Royal Holloway for the latest details.