Finance - BAEcon

University of Manchester

In today’s turbulent economy the importance of understanding global financial markets and risk management has never been more important. The BA (Economic and Social Studies), known as the BA (Econ), is a flagship interdisciplinary degree designed for students who want to understand Finance in its full social, political and technical context. The programme’s Finance specialisation provides a rigorous education in core economic and finance theory and practice, and quantitative methods, while equipping students with the broader perspectives needed to address today’s most complex global challenges. The BA (Econ) is the parent programme to eight distinctive specialisations: Economics; Economics and Politics; Economics and Philosophy; Economics and Sociology; Economics and Finance; Data Science and Economics; Accounting and Finance; and Finance. This structure allows students to gain a strong shared foundation in economics while benefiting from the intellectual richness of other social science disciplines. The BA (Economic and Social Studies) with specialisation in Finance is designed for students seeking a strong academic foundation for careers in finance, investment, accounting and financial services. The programme combines core economic theory with applied finance, financial reporting and empirical analysis. You will study how financial markets operate, how firms and investors make decisions under uncertainty, and how risk is measured, priced and managed. A defining feature of the Finance pathway is its collaboration with Alliance Manchester Business School. Finance and accounting units are taught by AMBS academics, ensuring your studies are informed by current research, professional practice and employer expectations. Throughout the degree, you will develop expertise in: * investment analysis and portfolio decision- making; * financial markets and institutions; * corporate finance and valuation; * risk measurement and risk management; * financial reporting and statement analysis; * empirical finance and data- driven decision- making. Depending on your optional unit choices, the degree offers exemptions from selected professional examinations with ICAEW, CIMA and ACCA, making it particularly attractive for students aiming to qualify as accountants or finance professionals. By integrating economics with finance, the programme ensures you understand not only financial instruments and techniques, but also the wider economic forces shaping financial markets and investment outcomes.