Study information

Programme Specification for the 2024/5 academic year

BSc (Hons) Economics and Politics with Industrial Experience

1. Programme Details

Programme nameBSc (Hons) Economics and Politics with Industrial Experience Programme codeUFS4SBEHPS02
Study mode(s)Full Time
 Academic year2024/5
Campus(es)Streatham (Exeter)
 NQF Level of the Final Award6 (Honours)

2. Description of the Programme

This programme is taught jointly by members of staff from the University of Exeter Business School and the Department of Politics within the College of Social Sciences and International Studies. It aims to provide a thorough grounding in both disciplines, particularly in their more practical aspects, and bring out their connection and inter-relationship. At each level there is a special inter-disciplinary module. Each of these modules, in its different way, explores the interaction between economic ideas and economic behaviour on the one hand and the working of the political process and government policy on the other.

In the first year, you take introductory modules in economics and politics and in statistical analysis. During the second and final years a variety of modules are taken, some of which are especially concerned with policymaking processes in economic and social affairs. As one of your final examination papers, you select from a range of options offered by the two Schools, and can thus specialise to some extent in either politics or economics; additionally, you have the opportunity to present a dissertation on a suitable topic, provided that satisfactory arrangements can be made for its supervision.

3. Educational Aims of the Programme

  • To provide an excellent education across the range of political and economic studies, from core to specialist, in a supportive and responsive learning environment that is enriched by research.
  • To enable students to understand and use the main concepts, approaches and theories of the disciplines of Economics and Politics.
  • To enable students to analyse, interpret and evaluate political events, ideas and institutions and to relate their academic study to questions of public concern.
  • To give students a solid grounding in economic concepts and reasoning, while also providing opportunities to explore how these core principles can be applied to various areas.
  • To develop students’ competence in subject-specific, core academic and personal and key skills.
  • To offer students a wide range of choice, insofar as this choice is consistent with the coherence and intellectual rigour of the degree.
  • To equip graduates to be questioning and productive members of society.

4. Programme Structure

Your Economics and Politics with Industrial Experience programme is a four year programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 6 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into four ‘Stages’. Each Stage is normally equivalent to an academic year.  The programme is also divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

5. Programme Modules

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme. Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the College web site:
 
 
http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/economics/ba_ep/
  
You may take Option Modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module. Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the College web site (http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/modules).
 
 
You may take Elective Modules up to 30 credits outside of the programme in the first, second and final stage of the programme as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.   The fourth character of any module code signifies its NQF level, according to the following scheme:
 
 

Fourth Character

NQF level

1

4

2

5

3

6

M

7
 
At the point of application or shortly after enrolling students may select a four-year version of this programme. We offer “with Year Abroad”, or “with Industrial Experience” variants. In these cases Stage 3 becomes Stage 4, and Stage 3 is replaced with 120 credits of alternative work and assessment.

 

Students take modules BSD1002 in their first year and BSD2002 in their second year as preparation for their year in industry.  Students will then be enrolled on the module BUS3002 during their placement year. To progress from Stage 1 on this programme, students must achieve a weighted average of 50% in their first year. This programme has compulsory preparation sessions in the first two years.

 

Stage 1

Stage 1 consists of 105 credits of compulsory modules, plus a further 15/30 credits of elective modules. If students have taken A-Level Maths they can take BEE1036 and BEE1037 instead of BEE1029.

Compulsory Modules

A) Students have achieved a Grade B or above at A-Level Mathematics (or equivalent) may apply to take BEE1024 Mathematics for Economists, BEE1036 Economics I AND BEE1037 Economics II instead of BEE1029 Economics Principles with the permission of the Programme Director. BEE1036 and BEE1037 will be non-condonable

B) This module is only compulsory for students who do not have a Grade B or above at A-Level Mathematics (or equivalent).

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
BEE1029 Economic Principles 30Yes
BEE1025 Statistics for Business and Management 15No
BEE1032 History of Economic Thought 15No
BEE1035 Basic Quantitative Methods 15No
POL1047 Global Sustainability Governance and Policy 15No
POL1029 Introduction to Comparative Politics 15No
BSD1002 Introduction to 'With Industrial Experience' 0No

Optional Modules

30/15 Elective credits (depending on note B above)

Link to Politics modules here - https://politics.exeter.ac.uk/students/ugmodules_exeter/

Stage 2

Compulsory Modules

C) This is a compulsory second year module. However students who have passed BEE1036 Economics I, BEE1027 Economics II and BEE1024 Mathematics for Economists may do BEE2025 Microeconomics II and BEE2025 Macroeconomics II with the permission of the Programme Director. 

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
BEE2038 Intermediate Microeconomics See note C15Yes
BEE2039 Intermediate Macroeconomics See note C15Yes
POL2046 The Economics of Politics 15No
POL2027 The Politics of the World Economy 15No
BSD2002 Career Management Skills for 'with Industrial Experience' Students 0No

Optional Modules

30/60 elective credits (depending on Note C above - at least 15 credits Economics and 15 credits Politics)

Link to Politics modules here - https://politics.exeter.ac.uk/students/ugmodules_exeter/

Stage 3

Compulsory Modules

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
BUS3002 Business School Industrial Experience 120Yes

Stage 4

Compulsory Modules

(Students who have taken BEE2033 at  stage two do not need to select BEE3042 or BEE2033 in their third year)

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
BEE3042 International Political Economy OR15No
BEE2033 Public Finance 15No

Optional Modules

120 elective credits –

45 credits from Economics (to include either BEE3042 or BEE2033 if not taken at level 2)

30 credits from stage 3 Politics modules

A further 15 credits of either Politics or Economics modules

A further 30 credits of optional modules

Link to Politics modules here - https://politics.exeter.ac.uk/students/ugmodules_exeter/

6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

1. Understand the nature and significance of politics as a human activity.
2. Apply concepts and theories used in the study of politics to the analysis of political ideas, institutions and practices.
3. Evaluate different interpretations of political issues and events.
4. Demonstrate a knowledge of the principles of economics, at both the microeconomic and macroeconomic level.
5. Demonstrate an appreciation of how these concepts can be used to understand the economic dimension of issues that arise at the level of the individual, the organisation, or society as a whole.
6. Demonstrate a knowledge of basic statistical and econometric techniques, and ability to use them to investigate particular economic hypotheses.

  • A1 and A4 are developed across all programme stages, moving from broad areas of politics in stage 1 to progressively more specialised aspects at stages 2 to 3.
  • A2 and A3 are present in some form in all Politics modules. A3 is also ensured through
  • directed module choice embedded in programme pathways at stages 1 and 2
  • A4 is served by the core Economics modules BEE1029 and BEE1025 which enable students to progress from a basic to intermediate level of understanding.
  • A5 is reflected in BEE2033 and BEE1025.
  • The core statistics module BEE1025 ensures a basic competence of statistics (A6).
  1. Exams (all 6 ILOs)
  2. Essays (all 6 ILOs)
  3. Class exercises (all 6 ILOs)
  4. Individual and group presentations (all 6 ILOs)

Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

7. Gather, organise and deploy evidence and information from a variety of sources.
8. Construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information, and critically analyse subject material.
9. Manage own learning self-critically.

These skills are developed throughout the degree programme, with progression in B7 and B8 as students move from stage to stage. B9 is developed through peer and self assessment of assignments, staff feedback on formative assignments, and student self-appraisal.

  • B7 and B8 are assessed through term-time essays, oral presentations, and examinations.
  • B9 is not assessed (there is no requirement to do so in the subject benchmark statement).

Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

10. CONFIDENT COMMUNICATOR: Able to adapt and adjust both written and verbal communication styles, to meet the needs of diverse audiences
11. INNOVATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVER: Able to confidently explore challenges from different perspectives, to creatively offer practical and timely solutions.
12. PROACTIVE COLLABORATOR: Able to actively build strong working relationships with others to have positive outcomes.
13. DIGITALLY FLUENT: Able to embrace a variety of digital technologies to critically source, process and communicate information
14. RESILIENT SELF-ADVOCATE: Able to develop self-awareness through a commitment to learning from experiences and taking responsibility for personal growth.
15. CRITICAL THINKER: Able to proactively analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources to draw independent and well-founded conclusions.
16. GLOBALLY ENGAGED: Able to recognise diverse individual and cultural perspectives, in order to communicate on interconnected world issues and sustainable decisions

10 BEE 1032 History of Economic Thought requires seminar presentations tofellow-students uninitiated in the subject. Other work is done with the assumption that audience / reader is already an expert.

11 POL 1029 Comparative Politics, BEE 1032 History of Economic Thought and BEE 3042 International Political Economy are all about differing perspectives in economics and political science. Their coursework therefore by definition involves challenges from different perspectives.

12. BEE1032 History of Economic Thought asks students to work in groups.

 

13. BEE1025 Statistics for Business and Management instructs students in the use of software packages such as Excel and Minitab.

14 all core modules. Students are adults and entirely responsible for their own learning and growth.

15 BEE1029 Economic Principles allows students to apply the economic way of thinking to understand microeconomic problems such as why markets allocate resources where they are most wanted; why prices and wages rise and fall; how consumers allocate their budgets, and how firms arrive at production decisions.

POL1047 Global Sustainability Governance and Policy asks students to engage critically with material and to obtain a degree of academic impartiality on the prevailing trends in the environmental policies of governments around the world

POL1029 Introduction to Comparative Politics requires students to assess the insightfulness of different interpretations of political texts and phenomena. In addition students must assimilate and analyse a range of sources in political theory;

BEE2039 Intermediate Macroeconomics asks students to critically evaluate macroeconomic policies; after completing the module, students are able to apply economic reasoning to the analysis of economic questions and policy.

POL2027 The Politics of the World Economy asks students to think critically about how the international political economy is conceived and governed, in particular through evaluating issues of power and equity.

POL2046 The Economics of Politics aims to provide students with the skills to critically evaluate and apply rational choice approaches as an analytical tool for the examination of political phenomena.

BEE3042 International Political Economy critically explores contemporary issues in international political economy such as the nature and logic of capitalism, the rise of neo-liberalism, new economic thinking and globalisation.


16 POL2027 The Politics of the World Economy instructs students about how the how the international political economy impacts on particular actors, including governments; firms and other producers; civil society

BEE3042 International Political Economy - The massive differences of income levels between countries is a well known fact. The central focus of the module is to study the factors behind economic development and growth. In this module, we focus on two factors, institutions and culture.

10. POL2027 – Essay (ILOS 1& 3) and Issue Briefing (ILO 3)

BEE3042 – Examination and essay– (ILOs 1 and 3)

11. BEE1029 – Examination 1 and 2, gropu presentation and online exercises (ILOs 4 and 8 )
POL1049 – Case study report (ILOS 2 & 3) and blog (ILOS 2&3)

POL1029 - Examination and Essay (ILOs 3 and 4)

BEE2038 – Examination and ELE quizzes (ILOs 4 and 5)

BEE2039 – Examinations 1 & 2 and homework tasks (ILOs 4 and 5)

11. POL2027 – Essay (ILOS 1& 3) and Issue Briefing (ILO 3)

POL2046 –Examination (ILOs 3, 6 and 7)

BEE3042 – Examination and essay (ILO 7)

12. POL2027 – Essay (ILOS 1& 3) and Issue Briefing (ILO 3)

14. BEE1025 – Examination and Mid-Term (ILOs 5 and 8)

7. Programme Regulations

Classification

8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning

Personal and Academic tutoring: It is University policy that all Colleges should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.

 

Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students & staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.

 

The Undergraduate Student Handbook can be accessed via ELE at the following address: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1647

9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning

10. Admissions Criteria

All applications are considered individually on merit. The University is committed to an equal opportunities policy with respect to gender, age, race, sexual orientation and/or disability when dealing with applications. It is also committed to widening access to higher education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience.

 

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of the University of Exeter.

International students should check details of our English language requirements and may be interested in our Foundation programmes.

 

Please read the important information about our Typical offer.

For full and up-to-date information on applying to Exeter and entry requirements, including requirements for other types of qualification, please see the Applying section.

11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards

12. Indicators of Quality and Standards

Certain programmes are subject to accreditation and/or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs).

13. Methods for Evaluating and Improving Quality and Standards

14. Awarding Institution

University of Exeter

15. Lead College / Teaching Institution

University of Exeter Business School (UEBS)

16. Partner College / Institution

Partner College(s)

College of Social Sciences and International Studies (CSSIS)

Not applicable to this programme

Partner Institution

Not applicable to this programme.

17. Programme Accredited / Validated by

0

18. Final Award

BSc (Hons) Economics and Politics with Industrial Experience

19. UCAS Code

LL12

20. NQF Level of Final Award

6 (Honours)

21. Credit

CATS credits

480

 ECTS credits

240

22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group

[Honours] Economics
[Honours] Politics and international relations

23. Dates

Origin Date Date of last revision

20/06/2022