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Economics and Sustainable Development (with professional placement year)

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time with year in industry
  • 09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

Sustainable development is key to helping future generations flourish. Despite global efforts, our uncertain world can make this feel difficult to achieve. Is it possible to balance development with ecological preservation? And how can we ensure we meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

More than ever, we need innovative strategies and effective resource management. We need people who understand interconnected challenges to generate long-term prosperity. On this course, you’ll develop the skills to address sustainability issues by examining the complex dynamics of environmental change, human wellbeing and economic growth.

Integrating economics, geography and international development, you'll gain a multidisciplinary perspective on sustainable development. You’ll learn from academics with teaching and research excellence in economics, climate change, sustainability, development, quantitative methods and applied policy analysis.

By studying at Sussex, you will:

  • analyse environmental and climate processes

  • gain a comprehensive understanding of core economic fields

  • develop strong quantitative skills

  • learn to design policies for development issues, including economic stability, food security, global health, migration, displacement and the climate crisis.

When you graduate, you’ll be ready for a wide range of career opportunities. This could include:

  • economic consultancy, policy or data science

  • positions within public-sector agencies, research institutions and think tanks

  • opportunities linked to the growing green economy.

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
LL18
Institution code:
S90
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

A level - ABB

You must have GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics, with at least grade 6 (or grade B). We will also consider applicants with grade 5 in Maths if you are taking A-level Accounting, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Maths, Physics, Psychology or an LIBF Diploma in Financial Studies or Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths (grade B). AAT accounting qualifications can be used as an alternative to the grade 6 GCSE Maths requirement. You should also have a broad range of GCSEs grade 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD

The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma would normally be in Business. You must have GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics, with at least grade 6 (or grade B). AAT accounting qualifications can be used as an alternative to the grade 6 GCSE Maths requirement. You should also have a broad range of GCSEs grade 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass Diploma with at least 39 level 3 credits at Merit or above including 24 credits at Distinction. The Access to HE Diploma would preferably be in Business Studies or include a Business pathway. You must have GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics, with at least grade 6 (or grade B). AAT accounting qualifications can be used as an alternative to the grade 6 GCSE Maths requirement.

Scottish Higher - AABBB

You will need Scottish National 5 in Mathematics at grade B.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points

This score should be from the full IB Diploma.

Extended Project

We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer. We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact Admissions at ug.applicants@sussex.ac.uk

T Level - D

including grade B in the Core Component. The T Level would normally be in Accounting, Finance, Management and Administration, Digital Business Services, Digital Support Services, Digital Production, Design and Development, Science, Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing. You must have GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics, with at least grade 6 (or grade B). You should also have a broad range of GCSEs grade 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Sussex, we recognise that not everybody has the same support to help them get to higher education. At Sussex it’s important to us to have a diverse, inclusive university community with a range of voices and experiences. Contextual offers are one of the ways we remove the barriers to higher education ensuring that we have fair access to all regardless of background. A contextual offer is a reduced grade offer which is given to students who meet certain eligibility criteria.

Learn more on the University of Sussex website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2026-27. Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis.

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