BSc Economic History

at London School of Economics

The degree involves studying courses to the value of 12 units over three years, plus LSE100. 

First year
In your first year you will take two introductory courses in economic history and will choose one option offered by other departments. You will take introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics courses. In addition, you will ​also take LSE100.

(* denotes a half unit course)

The Internationalisation of Economic Growth, 1870 to the Present Day
Focuses on the inter-relationships between the development of the international economy and the growth of national economies since the late nineteenth century.

Microeconomics I* 
This course provides a foundation to understand key microeconomic questions using non-quantitative conceptual approaches.

Macroeconomics I*
This course provides a foundation to understand key macroeconomic questions using using non-quantitative conceptual approaches.

Pre-industrial Economic History
Surveys long-term processes of growth and development in late medieval and early modern Europe (fourteenth to eighteenth centuries).

One outside option

LSE100*
A half unit, running across Michaelmas and Lent Term in the first year, LSE100 is compulsory for all LSE undergraduate students, and is designed to build your capacity to tackle multidimensional problems through research-rich education.

Second year
In your second year you will take one compulsory economic history course. You will also choose three courses in the second year, at least two of which should be in economic history, and the third of which could be either another economic history option or an option from another department.

Theories and Evidence in Economic History
This course combines practical and theoretical approaches to conducting, evaluating and interpreting research in economic history.  Students will learn to use primary sources and design their own research project. It also introduces students to critical interpretation and analysis of primary sources and research methodologies, and the nature of historical knowledge. 

Two economic history options 

Either

A third economic history course to the value of one unit

Or

One outside option to the value of one unit

Third year
In your third year you will choose three courses in economic history and submit a 10,000 word research project. 

Two advanced economic history options

One economic history option

Dissertation in Economic or Social History

Below we list our entry requirements in terms of GCSEs, A-Levels (the entry requirements should be read alongside our A-level subject combinations information) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK and from overseas.

 

GCSEs

• Applicants should also have already achieved a strong set of GCSE grades including the majority at A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9)
• Your GCSE (or equivalent) English Language and Mathematics grades should be no lower than B (or 6).
• We also consider your overall GCSE subject profile

 

A-levels*

AAB 
We also consider your AS grades, if available.

Contextual admissions A-level grades**
ABB

 

IB Diploma
37 points overall. 666 in higher level subjects.

 

Contextual admissions IB grades**
36 points overall. 665 in higher level subjects.

Every undergraduate student is charged a fee for each year of their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees

Home students:
The 2023 tuition fee for new Home students has not yet been set. As a guide the 2022 fee for Home students is £9,250 per year. The Home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Economic History 

Median salary of our UG students six months after graduating: £35,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

 

 

• Financial service activities
• Legal and accounting activities
• Management consultancy activities
• Education
• Advertising and market research

 

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2017-18 were the first group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling.

Economic history combines the skills of the economist, the statistician and the sociologist, as well as those of the historian, therefore graduates leave with a portfolio of highly transferable skills that can be applied across a wide variety of employment sectors. Our graduates can be found in senior positions throughout many professions, in the City, financial and market consultancy, NGOs and the charity sector, the civil service, sales and marketing, teaching, government and academia.