Economics at Warwick Open Day May 9 th 2009 Dennis Leech Professor of Economics
Economics at Warwick The department Research Teaching and learning Our degree courses Careers Some notable economics graduates Applying for a place
Economics department Academic Staff –Professors 28 –Associate Prof (SL/Reader)11 –Assistant Prof (Lecturer)11 Graduate Students –Doctoral (research)~60 –Masters (taught)~80 Undergraduates ~600
High quality research Research Assessment Exercise 2008 (official rating): ranked in the top five Third equal with Oxford and Essex LSE and UCL ranked first and second 40% of research assessed rated as 4* (‘world leading’) 95% either 4* or 3* (‘internationally excellent’) – equal first place
Why research matters for students Research income brings cash for more academic staff & research students –Subsidises our teaching More resources for learning –Better campus, library, computers….. Better academic staff, more of them Better class tutors, etc Teaching more authoritative
High quality teaching QAA 2002 Teaching Quality Assessment: top marks (24/24)
Our degree courses Economics department based –Economics –Econ, Politics & International Studies (EPAIS) –Industrial Economics –Economics and Economic History
Other degrees –Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE) –Maths, OR, Stats & Econ (MORSE) –Maths and Economics
BSc Economics course A specialised programme –Aims to make you think like an economist –Mainstream economic principles & skills –Also transferable skills Flexibility is limited –Only a little each year that’s not economics no more than 25% of load can be non-economic E.g. finance, maths, a language, ….. But: possibility of a year of study abroad
Teaching We teach from first principles –A-level Economics is not required We use a lot of maths –Geometry, algebra, calculus –You have to work hard to keep up But support is available –Staff are generally accessible
The course structure Year 1: Foundations (5 modules) –Micro, Macro, Quant Tech, Econ History –1 Option: Language, Politics, History, WBS ….. Year 2: Core (4 modules) –Micro, Macro, Econometrics –1 Option: Industrial, Public,…, Language, WBS Year 3: Specialisation (4 modules) –Research Project –3 Options: Labour, Econometrics, Development,…
Year of study abroad After second year (making 4 year degree) Good partner institutions –EU Amsterdam, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Lille, Antwerp –USA California Complements regular Warwick studies Some help with fees and expenses Numbers limited therefore selective
Employment by sector
Some distinguished alumni Cabinet Secretary: Sir Gus O’Donnell Chief Economist, BOE: Spencer Dale Professors: Harvard; many other leading academics at UK universities Christian Wolmar, Writer, transport policy Liam Halligan, economics journalist Steve Heighway, Liverpool footballer
Entry requirements Conditional offers only to students expected to get straight A’s Typical or standard offer –AAA at A2 (incl Maths*) plus a B at AS level [*Statistics modules recommended] A personal statement showing interest in and intelligent engagement with economics We are happy to defer entry
Our degrees are popular Student numbers for Economics degrees 2009/10 Home/EUOverseas Places Applications (so far)
Apply if… You are expected to get straight A’s at A level You have a real interest in how the economy works You’re sure you want a specialised degree You are comfortable with algebra You are prepared to be challenged
Economics at Warwick Questions