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Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Main Site
Full Time
Sep 2026
4 Year
Economics is the study of how people interact with others and their surroundings, and here at Stirling we look at Economics in a rich and varied way: from artificial intelligence in the labour market to addressing climate change, and from behavioural economic insights in decision making to tackling global poverty and inequality. An Economics degree from Stirling empowers you with sharp analytical tools, from experts in their field, with an ever-present emphasis on intellectual curiosity. Our introductory teaching is delivered in a revolutionary new way of learning Economics through our commitment to the CORE Project – “Economics for a Changing World”. In using real-world data to answer real-world questions from the very beginning of your studies, you will understand global issues with historical and philosophical context. We focus on real-world theory instead of textbook-simple theory, which is rigorously challenged with data and evidence. Our specialisms of environmental economics, behavioural economics, and public policy analysis are embedded throughout the course. The internationally-renowned Behavioural Science Centre within the Economics Division contributes two modules in behavioural and experimental economics to our degree. Strategic thinking is one of the central pillars of the course, and you will be introduced to decision and game theory as part of this through a bespoke module in year three. The course includes a dissertation, which arms students with cutting-edge research methods, and challenges you to produce publication-quality research. The best pieces are published in our in-house journal, the Stirling Student Economic Review. We foster a strong staff/student community, emphasising collaboration and ensuring you’re a name and not a number from the outset. Our expert staff will give you an insight into professional practices through their cutting-edge research, teaching practice, and links to industry. Study abroad opportunities
This module introduces students to the discipline of economics by asking questions of the real world. More importantly, as this module is built on the principles of the CORE project, students are introduced to a radically different way of approaching Economics which is question-motivated, student-centred, and data-founded. From the outset, the ways that economists think will be explored using contemporary and historical problems, with an emphasis on real world examples. By the end of the module, students will have explored the challenges that economics has faced, introduced students to economics as a science, identified the importance of data, and equipped students with the analytical tools to look at the world in a different way.
This module continues the CORE approach of learning in economics to study how the aggregate (macro) economy works. Students are given an immersive learning experience through the constant use of data, research developments and real-world issues in policy design and evaluation. Students are therefore introduced to the most important contemporary issues that policymakers in the globalised world, from technological change and artificial intelligence in the labour market, to global inequality and instability. By putting the student in the role of policymaker, the importance of understanding data, identifying the limitations to economic models and the trade-offs between competing objectives is brought to life by using both contemporary and historical data. There is a dedicated capstone unit to economic history and financial crises.
This module builds on the introductory module in macroeconomics. It presents a more formal treatment of the foundations of macroeconomic theory and policy, with the aim of providing a deeper understanding of how the macro-economy operates. Students will learn about the role of fiscal and monetary policies in determining aggregate output in a closed and open economy. Stabilization policies will be discussed along with government deficit & debt issues.
This module presents a rather formal treatment of the foundations of microeconomic theory, with the aim of providing a deeper insight into the nature of economic theorising. It introduces key results and methods of analysis that will be developed in later economic modules and provides a preview of the issues discussed in these modules. It aims at helping students develop critical knowledge and understanding of the core concepts in microeconomic theory.
Understanding descriptive statistics and probability is not only an essential foundation to undertaking economic research, but it is also a crucial and valuable transferable skill. This module provides you with basic and practical knowledge of statistics using real world examples and economic scenarios. This module will contribute substantially to your quantitative skills development and is compulsory to take in Year 2 if you wish the option of completing an economics dissertation.
The purpose of this course is to provide a foundation in the literature on behavioural science with particular relevance to Economics and Management. In particular the module aims to: Provide an overview of the key areas of intersection between economics and psychology. Enable students to develop a detailed understanding of the key concepts of behavioral economics (e.g. Overview of Economics; Rationality; Utility; Choice under uncertainty; Judgment, Biases and Heuristics; intertemporal choice; Affective forecasting; emotion; identity, compliance, social influences).
The aim of this module is to introduce and extend major topics in microeconomics including intertemporal choice, the economics of uncertainty, general equilibrium, welfare economics and game theory.
This module is an advanced presentation of both current and fundamental economic research in economic growth, unemployment and monetary policy. Students will use the original research papers that have reshaped economic thought in a rigorous way, but with an emphasis on evaluation and evolution of thought when applying theory to real world data. Students will analyse the causes of economic growth, inequality and (un)happiness in the long run. Students will also focus on macroeconomic instability in the short run, and how central banks operate in practice. This module equips students with the skills to both mathematically and discursively evaluate economic problems whilst emphasising empirical skills and independent thought. Students are required to demonstrate their ability as a professional economist by writing a policy briefing paper which applies macroeconomic theory and research to real world data.
Research in economics has taken an empirical turn since the 1990s. In this module you will explore the engine of the ?credibility revolution? in economics: causal inference. This means establishing that one variable has a causal impact on another (i.e. X causes Y), and is not simply correlated to, or associated with (i.e. X and Y move in the same direction). In order to explore valid research designs which allow one to use quasi-experimental methods for causal inference, this module first arms you with the basic toolkit of the econometrician.
This course is part of UG dissertation module and is designed to lay the foundations for research in empirical economics and guide students prepare their own dissertation. The module gives students guidelines on and experience in every stage of the research process, from the choice of the research question, the assumptions that underpin common research methods used in economics, to the structure of a research paper, what to include and what to leave out when writing.
The primary aim of the module is to study the role of the government in the economy. Gaining insight into the theory of public finance, we critically assess real-world systems of government as well as various policy issues.
Accommodation(Based on the range of costs for a self-catered room in university halls of residence. Includes cost of electricity and wi-fi.)360.20 to 795.48 (Monthly expenditure)
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