What is Economics at university really like? University of Birmingham Dubai student Lahek shares her biggest surprises after A-level Economics.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Some said a scientist, others said a teacher, and some said a footballer. Me? I tried to fit myself into a box that would be considered the right answer. It changed depending on the person asking. I enjoyed every subject at school and did my best at them- I felt like I could be anything.
Fast forward to year 12, where I chose economics as an A-level. It didn't confine me to a single career path. I enjoyed writing essays that linked 2 concepts which seemingly had no influence on each other. The subject showed me how much I don't know, much like the paradox of when you learn more, you realise how much you don't know. I also loved the satisfying feeling of writing pages of working for a maths question and getting it right. I knew there was an intersection between these subjects and needed to dive into it. If this sounds even a little like you, continue reading.
I expected my further education to prepare me with the relevant technical skills (such as using STATA for regression analysis) that would increase my choice of careers post-graduation. I aspired to write better essays and exercise my critical thinking to expand my theoretical knowledge. Although graduates from a broader Business degree and Economics can both work in finance, consulting, marketing, and the government, I knew I’d rather have Economics as my main meal with Business as an appetiser rather than the other way round, as I was more interested in the growth of an economy rather than the growth of a business.
From my first year of Economics at University, here are some pointers you might want to know before saying yes to the BSc in Economics.
The biggest jump for us A-level students was not knowing how to write without a given format. When we first got our essay assignments, we didn't know where and how to begin, because there’s no predefined structure of what a top-class answer looks like. For me, this was very different than in school, where my teacher created a formula for a high scoring essay to apply every time.
In “The Global Economy” module at University, it was free styling. The ability to interweave ideas, think from opposing views all while presenting an unbiased argument was the key to a great essay. No doubt the transition is tough, but there’s plenty of support (which I discuss at the end).
At school, revision meant solving past papers, as many as you can and there's a textbook with chapters and that's all you have to read. At University, you get seminar worksheets, lecture slides and a ton of academic papers which made me feel like a horse that's got its reins cut off. The world is your new textbook. You get to curate your own knowledge bank through suggested readings, choose what you want to remember and apply!
Unlike school where your whole grade is determined by your exam, in this course, it’s most commonly a 50-50 split between a research-based assignment, and an exam, which offers students with varied styles of learning an equal chance to do really well for themselves.
I highly recommend continuing the practice of writing down practice essays (especially for the “Principles of Economics” module). Unlike school, where your teacher regularly goes through your writing, at University you need to make the extra effort of meeting your professor during Office Hours to get personalised feedback. In fact, it’s the biggest reason why I scored the highest in my module exam. I asked for feedback on an inflationary shock answer just 2 days before, and coincidentally, the exam presented a very similar question, so I got the tingly feeling of knowing exactly how to go about it.
You might think for a maths module, a right answer with reasonable working earns full marks. In the “Intro to Mathematics” module, that only means half the mark. The other half comes from your economic interpretation of the answer. My big-sister advice to you would be to attend every maths lecture to understand the concept and seminar in person (these are not recorded) to observe your professor work out the toughest question from scratch and pay close attention to the steps required and awarded. There will be days where it’s just you and a few others that choose to stay in seminars- I can tell you it’s worth it.
For me and my friends, The Global Economy (TGE) was the least “structured” module - open to discussions always, as our professor would often have interesting things to say that proved there were no perimeters to this module. For me, it completely rebranded the topics I dodged at school - like Globalisation. If ever I had a choice between that and another topic, I’d choose the latter.
Globalisation in school meant free, unrestricted flow of trade between interconnected economies. At University, it extended to: when trade becomes strong enough to converge prices across economies. In no time, I was able to appreciate its connections with the Industrial Revolution and The Great Divergence, truly changing my sentiment toward Economic history.
There's little convincing needed for a student that's already inclined to pursue Economics. It offers so much flexibility, and more than anything, it builds you holistically. The ability to not easily accept, but to question and get to the bottom of things is what I developed in my first year. Be prepared to think a lot. Think beyond what is given, as that’s what is ultimately rewarded.
To assist you in your academic journey, library workshops take place regularly and are invaluable in learning essential writing and referencing skills. Moreover, joining the mentorship program as a mentee helped me understand what my professors’ expectations are.
In semester 1, my mentor inspired me to select a unique example of a monopoly for my assignment (the Chiquita banana company) and I scored fairly well for that assignment! It’s a great way to make friends with seniors and learn from their experiences that you can consider for your future.
Today, reflecting on the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is easier for me to approach. From my first year at UoBD, I know I like being challenged on what I believe to be true and being able to explain the intricacies of fast-paced economies. For example, I can go beyond just understanding what the Federal Reserve chairman says - I can critique it and offer my own views confidently.
I no longer have to ‘fit myself into a box’, as I am developing skills that are valuable across different career paths.
BSc Economics (Dubai)
Hi, I’m Lahek, a BSc Economics student at the University of Birmingham Dubai, sharing my student life, interests and exp...
