Politics and Economics, BA (Hons)

Our BA Politics and Economics degree at the University of Reading offers a three-year joint programme from the School of Politics and International Relations and the Department of Economics. This course combines in-depth study of politics—covering topics such as comparative government, political theory, international relations, and contemporary democracy—with a solid foundation in economics. You will explore practical economic issues, including macroeconomics, microeconomics, economic institutions, and the economics of social policy, while learning to apply economic tools to real-world markets and situations.Core modules include Politics of Climate Change, Introduction to Contemporary Democracy, Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis, Intermediate Microeconomics, and The Study of Politics. These modules equip you with skills to analyse economic problems using theories like game theory and behavioural experiments. Note that modules are subject to final approval and potential changes; for the latest details, visit the programme page at https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/politics-ug/ba-politics-and-economics.

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change. Core modules for this course: Politics of Climate Change; Introduction to Contemporary Democracy; Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis; Intermediate Microeconomics; The Study of Politics. The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest that you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme. Check our website for more details about the course structure.