Economics

• At UC, students can specialise in Economics or study it alongside other disciplines. As an Economics major can be studied as part of an Arts, Commerce, or Science degree, you can decide which combination suits your personal strengths and interests best. Common combinations include studying Economics with Finance, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, and Mathematics. Students who wish to combine the study of Economics with another business discipline as part of a BCom degree may be interested in the Business Economics major.
• There is a 'compact study route' available, which is a pathway for students looking to combine Economics with another major or another degree but who have little interest in postgraduate study in the subject. Visit the Department of Economics and Finance website for more information on this route.
• The Department of Economics and Finance operates a consultancy project and internship programme where students have the opportunity to gain real world experience that enhances the valuable work-ready skills that an Economics degree provides.

While previous study of economics is useful preparation, it is not essential to have studied this subject at secondary school.

Students can study Economics without having to take any mathematics. However, students who wish to keep open the option of progressing to postgraduate study in Economics are strongly advised to include calculus, statistics, and modelling in their Year 13 programme.

A broad education, including history and English, is useful to develop the ability to write clearly and analyse written material.

Students with very good Year 13 results in economics may be offered direct entry to 200-level Economics courses at the discretion of the Head of Department.

For the complete three-year Bachelor of Commerce Economics major degree plan, see the UC Business School | Te Kura Umanga website.

Graduates in Economics find employment in many areas of government and business, where it is recognised that an economist's education provides valuable specialist training for a professional career as well as good general preparation and background for an executive, entrepreneurial, or administrative career.

The increasingly large volume of information available to decision makers has created a demand for people with well-developed quantitative analysis skills, such as those developed in econometrics.

Professional economists are employed to conduct research and give advice on economic matters in various organisations such as government ministries and state-owned enterprises (eg, Kaitohutohu Kaupapa Rawa | Treasury, Health, Social Development, Agriculture and Forestry, and Manatū Aorere | Foreign Affairs and Trade). Graduates also find work in marketing organisations, Te Pūtea Matua | Reserve Bank, Tatauranga Aotearoa | Stats NZ, trading and merchant banks, stockbroking, insurance, trade commissions, local authorities, market research and other consultancies, and large businesses.

Those who are passionate about economics and education can also go on to teaching careers in schools or universities.

Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Economics.