How will I be taught?
Economics is a department within our Business School. Birmingham Business School has strong links with industry, so as well as exploring theoretical aspects, you’ll find that your degree has a strong practical focus, and this is reflected in the way you’ll be taught. Learning from experts in their field, you will be encouraged to think for yourself and will experience a number of different learning settings, including lectures, tutorials and even the opportunity to be involved in our Economics Laboratory. Our aim is to equip you with specific skills in economics, but also generic skills that can be applied right across the job spectrum, such as analytical and data analysis.
As a Birmingham student you are part of an academic elite and will learn from world-leading experts. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.
Your learning will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study and peer group learning (for example preparing and delivering presentations with your classmates).
To begin with you may find this way of working challenging, but rest assured that we’ll enable you to make this transition. You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues, and a formal transition review during your first year to check on your progress and offer you help for any particular areas where you need support.
Find out more about our academics' approaches to teaching and learning.
Personal Tutor
Throughout your course, your Personal Tutor, who will be assigned to you from day one, will be on hand to give you all the academic and welfare support and advice you need. Our aim is to ensure you make the most of your potential and your time here at Birmingham, and your Personal Tutor will help you to do this.
Contact hours
As well as time with your lecturers and personal tutor, academic and professional services staff (like our dedicated Careers Network team) will be avialable to offer individual and group support throughout your time here at Birmingham.
Learning settings
You’ll find our Economics department staff here at Birmingham located in a building at the heart of our world famous main campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Lectures and teaching will take place in a variety of versatile lecture theatres and breakout rooms which, as well as the traditional whiteboard and pen, are equipped with wireless connection and constantly updated technology including all the audio-visual equipment that you would expect from one of the UK’s premier insitutions.
Small-group tutorials/personal tutorials run alongside our lectures, addressing any individual problems you may have and allowing you to consolidate lecture material, as well as test your understanding through problem-solving exercises.
Self study is an essential part of the programme and requires self motivation and enthusiasm for your subject. It also allows you to pursue your own lines of enquiry and become an independent thinker.
Birmingham Business School has invested in The Birmingham Experimental Economics Laboratory (BEEL) which was founded in 2012 and enables economics experiments to take place on campus. The laboratory focuses on research into individual and strategic decision making and students are actively encouraged to participate in these experiments.
Studying at degree-level is likely to be very different from your previous experience of learning and teaching. You will be expected to think, discuss and engage critically with the subject and find things out for yourself. We will enable you to make this transition to a new style of learning, and the way that you are assessed during your studies will help you develop the essential skills you need to make a success of your time at Birmingham.
You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations, laboratory-based work (depending on your chosen degree) and formal exams.
Throughout the degree, you will receive timely, constructive feedback on your work to help you progress and address any areas that may require attention. This will include written feedback on your assessments, class feedback sessions and discussions with your tutor.
At the beginning of each module, you’ll be given information on how and when you’ll be assessed for that particular programme of study. You’ll receive feedback on each assessment within four weeks, so that you can learn from and build on what you have done. You’ll be given feedback on any exams that you take; if you should fail an exam we will ensure that particularly detailed feedback is made available to enable you to learn for the future.
Your work will be assessed both through your end-of-year exams and coursework, and of course in your final year you will also produce an extended essay to demonstrate your communication skills.