About this course
On this joint honours course, you'll gain an in-depth understanding of human welfare and social justice, political ideals and economic realities. You'll study economics and philosophy while broadening your degree through a wide range of optional modules. The critical, logical and imaginative skills you'll develop are sought after by a wide range of employers.
Your A level results will determine which core or compulsory modules you'll need to take.
In your BA Economics and Philosophy degree you can:
- develop an understanding of philosophical questions such as ethics, reason and responsibility
- study broad principles in economics and develop knowledge in your own specialist area, for example, principles of finance, labour economics or econometrics
- explore the Social sciences laboratory and the Financial laboratory (FinLab), a realistic trading room environment
- develop research and presentation skills
- gain the practical knowledge and skills needed to find employment and build a career as an economist
You can take modules from other disciplines such as anthropology or psychology. You can study a language or choose from a range of cross-disciplinary modules.
You'll graduate as a confident, curious and independent self-starter, equipped with the skills for a successful career.
Year abroad
A year abroad will enhance your understanding of philosophy and economics and let you experience a new culture. Discover more benefits and financial support options for studying abroad.
Apply using:
- Course name: Philosophy and Economics with a Year Abroad
- UCAS code: VL16
Year in employment
Enhance your employability by taking this course with a paid industrial placement year.
You'll spend this extra year applying the skills and knowledge you've learned so far.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).
Learn more about these subject areas
Course location
This course is based at Avenue.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the Course Description Document
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
Entry requirements
For Academic year 202526
A-levels
ABB including A Level Mathematics. OR if you are not taking A Level Mathematics, AAB and Grade 8 or 9 at GCSE Mathematics.
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: BBB including A Level Mathematics and grade A in the EPQ, Or ABB and grade A in the EPQ, and grade 8 or 9 in GCSE Mathematics
A-levels contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 32 points overall with 16 points at Higher Level, including 5 points at Higher Level Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation)
OR
Pass, with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level and grade 8 in GCSE Mathematics.
International Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC
Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC National Extended Diploma plus Grade B in A Level Mathematics Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma plus B in an A level Mathematics Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AB in two A levels including A Level Mathematics
RQF BTEC
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
QCF BTEC
Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC Extended Diploma plus Grade B in A Level Mathematics Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC Diploma plus B in an A level Mathematics Distinction in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AB in two A levels including A Level Mathematics
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit plus Grade B in A Level Mathematics
OR
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 of which 39 credits must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit plus grade 8 in GCSE Mathematics.
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3 including Mathematics
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)
A2 A2 B1 B1 B2 B2 including Mathematics at B1
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 M2 M2 in three principal subjects including Mathematics
OR
D3 D3 M2 plus grade 8 in GCSE Mathematics
Welsh Baccalaureate
ABB from 3 A levels including A Level Mathematics or AB from two A levels including A Level Mathematics and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
T-Level
Not accepted for this course.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 6.0
- writing
- 6.0
- speaking
- 6.0
- listening
- 6.0
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
- our Ignite your Journey scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
- skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Foundation programmes for international students
A foundation programme will give you the language skills and subject knowledge you need if you're not qualified for direct entry to your chosen undergraduate course.
You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the foundation programme.
Find out more about undergraduate foundation programmes for international students.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
You'll have the freedom to shape your degree to suit your interests by choosing modules from a wide range of options, including modules outside economics and philosophy.
You'll also have the opportunity to broaden your studies by selecting:
You do not need to choose your modules when you apply. Your academic tutor will help you to customise your course.
Year 1 overview
Compulsory modules in the first year give you a firm foundation in the philosophical concepts of reason, argument, freedom and responsibility. You'll also start gaining knowledge about economics and employability, with an introductory module that will:
- provide useful information about internships in economics
- offer online training opportunities useful for your economics projects
- give you the opportunity to improve your professional skills, including presentation and writing skills
Optional modules cover a broad range of topics, allowing you to select areas that interest you the most. You can even take optional modules outside your subject areas. For example, you can learn about cultural economics (which encourages you to attend arts events to learn more about them), or learn a language.
Year 2 overview
In your second year, your core modules include studies of microeconomics and macroeconomics, together with basic philosophical topics such as appearance and reality.
You'll continue to choose from a wide selection of optional modules. You can learn economics research skills that will help to prepare you for your final year research project - and for a future career as a professional economist.
There are also topics such as econometrics, which looks at the nature of economic data, the methods by which it's compiled, and the problems it may present.
Year 3 overview
You'll demonstrate your research and planning skills by writing a dissertation in philosophy or economics, or doing a research project in economics.
You'll also select further optional modules. These usually cover topics that academic staff are actively researching, introducing you to the latest thinking. Options include studying the work of Nietzsche, or looking at classical Indian or Islamic philosophy. You can also focus on economics modules such as the principles of finance, or labour economics.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.
For entry in academic year 2025 to 2026
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules in year 1:
Economics Skills and Employability 1
The aim of this module is to equip you with some analytical and professional skills that will be useful in your economics degree and future careers. The module will also provide information about employability opportunities in your discipline, such as int...
Ethics
We all make moral judgements every day. Today you might have decided not to push into a queue because it would be unfair. You might think that murder is wrong but that it is still not permissible for the state to take an innocent life in retribution. You ...
Principles of Macroeconomics
This module provides an introduction to macroeconomics – the study of the economy as a whole. Combined with Foundations/Principles of Microeconomics this module will provide an appropriate foundation for subsequent economic modules. We begin by discus...
Reason and Argument
One of the main reasons the study of Philosophy is valued by employers is that it develops an ability that is invaluable in all sorts of contexts: the ability to reason rigorously and correctly. All Philosophy modules aim indirectly to develop this skill,...
Statistics for Economics
All economics students, on both single and joint honours programmes, take this course. It is optional for students outside of economics. The module is designed to prepare students for the econometrics modules taken in second and third year. It also comple...
Truth, Knowledge, and Objectivity
The central goals of enquiry are to discover what the world is like and how we ought to live. A simple and initially attractive picture is that there is a world independent of us that we can learn about via experience, and via reasoning. But both parts of...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 1:
Applied Ethics
In both public and private life, we face difficult and pressing ethical questions every day. Should we give a proportion of our wealth to those in developing countries? Should we allow doctors to perform abortions or euthanasia and, if so, under what circ...
Faith and Reason
Debates between believers and non-believers are often fierce and can appear intractable, while the differences between them leads to social tension, conflict, and even war. Non-believers frequently charge believers with irrationality; in response, believe...
Foundations of Microeconomics
This module will provide an introduction to microeconomic analysis, the detailed analysis of individuals and groups within the economy. Combined with Principles of Macroeconomics this module will provide an appropriate foundation for subsequent economic m...
Freedom and Responsibility
Human beings have free will, and that is why they are responsible for their actions and choices. Or so we tend to think. But is it really so? Are our choices and actions not determined by factors outside our control—are they not the inevitable upshot of c...
Introduction to Mathematics for Economics
This module provides a bridge between school mathematics and university mathematics. It provides a good grounding and in-depth understanding of the theory and application of differential calculus, and other techniques widely used in Economics and Finance....
Mathematics for Economics
This module provides a bridge between A-level mathematics and university mathematics. It provides a good grounding and an in depth understanding of the theory and application of differential calculus, and other techniques widely used in Economics and Fina...
Political Philosophy
States impose many demands upon their citizens through the law and the magistrates and police who enforce it. But are there good reasons why citizens should comply with these demands, or do they act merely out of a fear of punishment? Some states we seem ...
Principles of Microeconomics
This module will provide an introduction to microeconomic analysis, the detailed analysis of individuals and groups within the economy. Combined with Principles of Macroeconomics this module will provide an appropriate foundation for subsequent economic m...
Puzzles about Art and Literature
Both individuals and society attach great importance and value to certain works of art, including poems, novels, films, plays, symphonies, and paintings. Most of us spend a considerable amount of our limited time and resources acquiring, creating, experie...
Year 2 modules
You must study the following modules in year 2:
ECON Dissertation: Prelim Info
This is a blended learning module to provide students with the basic tools and information necessary to embark in their third year dissertation modules.
Economics Skills and Employability 2
The aim of this module is to equip you with some analytical and professional skills that will be useful in your economics degree and future careers. The module will also provide information about employability opportunities in your discipline, such as int...
Intermediate Macroeconomics
This module will equip students with the central concepts of macroeconomics, building on the foundations laid in ECON1021 Principles of Macroeconomics. Students will gain a clear understanding of the equilibrium behaviour of economies at the macro level. ...
Intermediate Microeconomics
This module will familiarise students with the central concepts of microeconomics, building on the foundations laid in ECON1001/ECON1003. Students will gain a clear understanding of the role of the price mechanism in organising economic activity and of ch...
Rationality, Preference, Wellbeing, and Fairness: Concepts in the Philosophy of Politics and Economics
This module explores issues at the intersection of philosophy, politics, and economics, focusing on questions about the relevance of preference and wellbeing for government decision-making. What are preferences? How might they be relevant to good governme...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:
Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art
You might watch a stunning film, hear a delightful song, enjoy a beautiful sunset, read a dreadful poem, attend an elegant dance, or see a garish building. Experiences like this can stimulate thoughts and feelings of great depth, and provide pleasure or d...
Applied Econometrics
The module will enable you to apply statistical and econometric techniques to the estimation and testing of economic models and for causal inference. It will thereby provide you with the skills necessary both to undertake your own empirical studies and to...
Development Economics
The module will introduce students to the economics of development.
Dynamic Macroeconomics
The aims of the module are to develop a simple dynamic framework in order to: (b) give microeconomic foundation to macroeconomic analysis, (a) learn to approach macroeconomic problems from a general equilibrium perspective, (c) enable students to eva...
Epistemology: Knowledge and Evidence
Epistemology is dedicated to questions about the nature and structure of knowledge and justified belief. Some central questions in epistemology include: - What is knowledge? Why is it valuable? - To gain knowledge from a reliable source, does one n...
Ethics of Global Poverty
Ethics of Global Poverty examines the duties of affluent people towards those living in poverty around the world. Among the questions we will examine are: What obligations do we have to help strangers in need? What bases might such obligations have? Are s...
Ethics of Public Policy
This module involves the ethical evaluation of public policies. Note that it is not primarily concerned with how public policies are made and implemented, nor with non-ethical assessment of them, such as how effective they are in achieving their aims. The...
Games
This module gives a comprehensive overview of the modelling of strategic behaviour in modern microeconomics, building on the foundations laid in Intermediate Microeconomics. It will familiarise students with the central concepts in game theory, covering c...
Industrial Economics
In this module we study the working of imperfectly competitive markets, the behaviour of firms in these markets, welfare implications and competition policy.
Introduction to Econometrics
This module provides an introduction to the nature and use of empirical investigation in economics. The module will familiarise students with the basic concepts in econometrics as well as outline the statistical theory underpinning econometrics and statis...
Kant’s Copernican Revolution in Philosophy
Among philosophers in the modern era, Immanuel Kant is widely acknowledged as the most important, original and influential. His challenging book, Critique of Pure Reason, asks what we can know about the nature of reality at the most fundamental level. Can...
Logic
Ever since Aristotle, philosophers have been interested in developing formal systems of logic to refine our ability to distinguish valid from invalid arguments and to further our understanding of the nature of logic and validity. The aim of this module is...
Metaethics: Facts and Feelings in Ethics
We all make moral judgments and think about moral questions. For instance, you might think that torture is typically wrong but wonder whether it may sometimes be right. Whereas normative ethics tries to answer these questions, metaethics is concerned with...
Metaphysics: The Nature of Reality
Metaphysics is the study of what kinds of things there and what they are like in the most general terms. We have both a common sense picture of the world and a scientific picture of the world, and sometimes these two appear to conflict. Part of the job of...
Moral Philosophy
Moral philosophy is concerned with questions of right and wrong, good and bad, virtue and vice. Such questions are familiar: can it be right to lie to someone to avoid hurting their feelings? Is it okay to favour my friends and family, or should I be impa...
Philosophy of Religion
Can there be a proof that God exists? Or might phenomena such as suffering serve to show that an omniscient, omnipotent and omnibenevolent being cannot exist? Such questions are central to the philosophy of religion; attempting to answer them leads us to ...
Philosophy of Science
We build our world on scientific knowledge, in fact we stake our lives on it. Every time we board a train, send an email or take a medical drug we reaffirm our trust in the products of science. But what, if anything, gives science the authority it seems t...
Self and Agency in the History of Philosophy
As modern science developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, philosophers asked what place there is for individual, human agency in a law-governed, mechanistic world. And, as traditional social structures were overturned in this period, philosophers asked ...
The Mind, The Brain, and Consciousness
Philosophy of mind explores questions about the nature of the mind and mental states – states such as perceptual experiences, beliefs, desires, and emotions. What is the mind? Is it an immaterial substance? Is it the brain? Is it something like a computer...
Year 3 modules
You must study the following modules in year 3:
Applied Economics
The module shows economic analysis at work in a number of areas of policy concern and develops simple and more advance models and empirical methodologies that help us both to understand central problems of economic policy analysis and evaluate alternative...
Economics Skills and Employability 3
The aim of this module is to equip you with professional skills and knowledge that will be useful in your future careers, as well as when applying for graduate jobs. The module consists of up to three timetabled lectures per semester plus independent stud...
International Macroeconomics
This module provides a short course in international macroeconomics. We begin by studying exchange rates before turning to wider issues in international macro, such as the costs and benefits of participation in global capital markets; sovereign debt and c...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 3:
Business, Morality, and Markets
Business can be understood narrowly as the part of life in which we exchange services and goods. But in contemporary society, many of us spend a large part of our lives conducting business—either working within firms or for ourselves—and all of us engage ...
Choice and Decision
This module familiarises students with central concepts and findings in decision theory. It will explore in detail how decisions should be made, introducing normative benchmarks such as rationality and consistency, and will present how decisions are made,...
Classical Indian Philosophy: Self, Knowledge, and Liberation
Philosophy flourished in classical India for well over a millennium, with figures in this tradition producing works that are on a par with those of figures in ancient Greece and late antique and medieval Europe. In fact, figures in classical India contri...
Contemporary Theories of Justice
The aim of this module is to familiarise you with several important, but competing, theories of justice. Such theories give guidance on important questions of distributive justice (who ought to get what, when and why?), and provide, to varying degrees, gr...
Dissertation: Literature Review
This module forms the first part of a dissertation in Economics. You will undertake a substantive piece of independent work in composing a literature review on your chosen research topic. You will motivate the research topic, survey and review the relevan...
Dissertation: Research Project
This module forms the second part of a dissertation in Economics. You will undertake a substantive piece of independent work in form of composing a piece of economic research on your chosen topic. This is designed to demonstrate your ability to manage you...
Dissertation: Research Topics
This module forms the second part of a dissertation in Economics. You will undertake a substantive piece of independent work in form of composing two reports addressing specific economic questions. This is designed to demonstrate your ability to manage yo...
Empirical Finance
Specifically the module aims to provide a bridge to the more theoretical articles in finance theory, by offering a simple framework of conceptual knowledge that enables thinking while making financial decisions. As such the module gives an appreciation of...
Fiction and Fictionalism
We are all familiar with fictions from Romeo and Juliet to Jaws, from The Hobbit to Harry Potter. Despite this familiarity, the nature of fiction and of our engagement with it appears puzzling. On the one hand, fictional characters do not exist. On the ot...
Happiness and Wellbeing
It seems clear that people’s lives can go well or badly. But what is it for one’s life to go well? Does it consist in feeling good more often than feeling bad? Or getting most of what you want? Or does it consist in achievement, friendship, knowledge and ...
Heidegger and the Philosophy of Being
This module aims to introduce and explain some central themes of Heidegger’s early masterpiece, Being and Time. It will explore central concepts such as Being-in-the-world and authenticity and how they relate to established philosophical issues, including...
International Trade
This module explores key questions in the area of international trade. Should countries trade freely with each other? What are the gains/losses from free trade and are they distributed evenly within the population? What are free trade agreements and what ...
Islamic Philosophy
There is a rich and often overlooked tradition of Islamic philosophy, or 'falsafa'. This module focuses on the classical period of the Islamic Golden Age, from Al-Kindi, via Ibn Sina (also known as Avicenna), to Ibn Rushd (also known as Averroes). The cla...
Labour Economics
The module will introduce students to key theories in the analysis of labour markets and to develop knowledge of the relevant institutional framework. The module aims to relate both theory and evidence to key policy issues.
Nietzsche
Reading the works of Friedrich Nietzsche is both exciting and troubling. He sets out to undermine the basis of many of our beliefs about values. Christianity, he believed, has had a powerfully negative effect on the potential of human beings. His method o...
Philosophy Dissertation
Students taking this module undertake research on a philosophical topic of their choice (subject to approval by the Department), and write a dissertation of 8,000 words on that topic.
Philosophy and Ethics in Psychology and AI
The science of psychology and the project of artificial intelligence raise profound philosophical issues as they attempt to understand, simulate and even go beyond human thought. Some concern the kind of explanation that these ventures seek: If we underst...
Philosophy of Sex, Sexuality, and Gender
In this module you will explore some major philosophical questions related to sex, sexuality and gender. We will consider general questions about the nature of sex, sexuality and gender: What makes an act sexual? What is a sexual orientation? What is gend...
Principles of Finance
The module aims to provide a bridge to the more theoretical articles in finance theory, by offering a simple framework of conceptual knowledge that enables thinking while making financial decisions. As such the module gives an appreciation of the scope of...
Public Economics
The objectives of this module are to introduce students to the major themes of public economics and to develop their skills in using microeconomic tools to analyse public policy.
Schopenhauer
Schopenhauer is one of the great original writers of the nineteenth century, and a unique voice in the history of thought. His central concept of the will leads him to a pessimistic view of existence: he regards human beings as striving irrationally and ...
The Ethics of Climate Change
The climate crisis is one of the most urgent issues facing humanity. Climate change is having an increasing impact on individual lives, and on social and political relations and institutions. This module examines the moral and political philosophical issu...
Topics in Macroeconomics
The main objective of this module is to expose students to the state-of-the-art discussion in a range of macroeconomic topics: growth, unemployment, taxation, and monetary policy. The approach is to study a simplified version of some widely used models in...
Topics in Political Economy
This module introduces topics at the intersection between politics and economics. It exposes students to substantive issues in political economy, such as the comparative analysis of different electoral systems, distributive justice, and the moral limits o...
Truth, Opinion, and Ideology
It is commonplace to hear people say such things as, "You should believe that the climate is changing—that's what the evidence tells us", or "You ought not to believe that the earth is flat—that's just not true". These judgements concerning what people ou...
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Course time
How you'll spend your course time:
Year 1
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
How we'll assess you
- coursework, laboratory reports and essays
- dissertations
- essays
- group essays
- individual and group projects
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 1:
Year 2
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
How we'll assess you
- coursework, laboratory reports and essays
- dissertations
- essays
- group essays
- individual and group projects
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 2:
Academic support
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Course leader
Giulia Felappi is the course leader.
Careers
100% of our Philosophy graduates were in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating, according to the most recent Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2021/2022 (published in 2024).
As an economics and philosophy undergraduate, you'll finish the course with a wide range of transferable skills such as research, critical thinking, analysis and team working. Career skills are embedded at every stage of our courses and certain modules offer specific teaching in reasoning and communication.
Our graduates have secured many different roles, such as:
- project manager
- teacher
- human resources (HR) coordinator
- investment analyst
- digital marketing coordinator
- tax consultant
- data analyst
Our philosophy degrees are also a good foundation for further study at master's or PhD level.
Careers services at Southampton
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:
- work experience schemes
- CV and interview skills and workshops
- networking events
- careers fairs attended by top employers
- a wealth of volunteering opportunities
- study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Work in industry
You can choose to spend a year in employment during this course.
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay £9,250.
- EU and international students pay £23,400.
The Government has recently announced changes to UK tuition fees from September 2025 onwards. We will update our website to reflect this shortly.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.
Find out how to:
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Funding for EU and international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
How to apply
What happens after you apply?
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted grades
- academic achievements
- personal statement
- academic reference
We'll aim to process your application within 2 to 6 weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
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- Against Climate Change (DACC): improving the estimates of forest fire smoke emissions
- All-in-one Mars in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) system and life-supporting using non-thermal plasma
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