Durham University - Undergraduate Pre-application Open Day
26 Jun 2026, 08:00
Durham
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Course summary
Course details
Economic and political theory shapes the decisions made in our society at every level. From the economic effects of climate change to healthcare policy, or the distribution of social funding to the legitimacy of cryptocurrency, the fields of economics and politics have a significant impact.
BA Economics and Politics explores the connections between these two closely linked disciplines. You will develop your own views on a wide range of current issues and build a skill set that will help you make sense of some of society’s biggest challenges.
You’ll divide your time equally between the two disciplines, studying a diverse range of topics such as world economy, macro and microeconomics, corporate finance, international relations and political systems.
Why Durham University?
We are part of Durham University’s Business School, one of the UK's longest established business schools.
We offer an inspiring and stimulating learning environment, and consistently rank highly for the quality of our teaching, research and for graduate career prospects.
You will learn from leading academics across a range of economic disciplines. Many of the academic team are active practitioners and researchers who will share their skills and knowledge directly, delivering their insights to the classroom and bringing you closer to the realities of the business world.
You will also benefit from lectures by guest speakers who give new perspectives on relevant topics, while case studies give you the opportunity to explore a range of contemporary economics issues. There are further opportunities for hands-on work placements and international study.
Rankings
4th in The Guardian University Guide 2025
7th for Economics in The Complete University Guide 2025
Top 10 in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
Careers Opportunities
Economics degrees at Durham prepare students to become the innovative business thinkers of the future and our qualifications are highly successful in creating job opportunities.
Our focus on employability stretches beyond the classroom. You will benefit from events that will give you a competitive edge in the job market. From employer talks and interview advice to business-tailored careers fairs, we work with you to achieve your goals.
Previous Economics graduates have gone on to work for global innovators and leaders in their sector including Ernst and Young, Deloitte, Lloyds Banking Group, PwC, JP Morgan and for government departments such as the National Audit Office, HMRC and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Modules
For current information please scroll to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.
Assessment method
Modules are assessed via a combination of examinations, written assignments and reports, projects and presentations.
The range of assessment methods is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the material, test your critical thinking skills, enhance your written and oral communication skills, and assess your ability to relate your learning to real-world issues.
The Year 3 dissertation, which can be based around a politics or economics topic, makes up one-third of your final-year marks.
In addition to the help provided by your subject lecturers, you can also access extensive support for your assessments through ASC, the Academic Skills Centre. See below for details: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/centres/academic-skills-centre/
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Durham City
Study options
- BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years
Start dates
- 29/09/2025
Apply by
29 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- LL12
- Institution code:
- D86
- Campus name:
- Durham City
- Campus Code:
- O
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Durham University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- EU has vacancies
- does not have vacancies
- does not have vacancies
- International has vacancies
- Scotland does not have vacancies
- Northern Ireland does not have vacancies
- Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies
Apply by
29 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:
- LL12
- Institution code:
- D86
- Campus name:
- Durham City
- Campus Code:
- O
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Durham has a long and proud history of welcoming students from countries across the globe. For further details please visit: https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/international/
International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year. For further details please visit: https://www.durhamisc.com/programmes/international-foundation-year
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Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - A*AA
including Mathematics and a social sciences or humanities subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*DD
Subject specific A-levels (or equivalent) may also be required.
Access to HE Diploma - D: 30 credits M: 15 credits
We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to meet additional subject-specific requirements for particular courses at Durham.
Scottish Higher - AAAAA
We will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. If an applicant has not been able to take 3 Advanced Highers, offers may be made with a combination of Advanced Highers and Highers, or on a number of Highers.
Specific subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade A in AH Mathematics and an accepted social science or humanities subject.
Scottish Advanced Higher - AAA
Specific subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade A in AH Mathematics and an accepted social science or humanities subject.
We do not accept Advanced Higher Statistics as a substitute for AH Mathematics. If you are taking both of these subjects at this level then a further Advanced Higher is necessary.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 38 points
Specific subjects/grades required for entry:
To include 6, 6, 6 at Higher Level, including grade 6 in Higher Level Mathematics, or grade 7 in Standard Level Mathematics, and grade 6 in a Higher Level accepted social science or humanities subject.
Under the new scheme we will accept HL Maths Analysis and Approaches or HL Maths Applications and Interpretation.
Mathematical Studies cannot be used to meet the subject specific Mathematics requirement.
Information:
Applicants are encouraged to avoid studying both Economics and Business Studies.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - Not accepted
Extended Project - Not accepted
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H1, H1, H2, H2, H2
Specific subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade H1 in Higher Level Mathematics and an accepted social science or humanities subject.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - D2, D3, D3
Specific subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade D3 in Mathematics and an accepted social science or humanities subject.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - D*DD
Subject specific A-levels (or equivalent) may also be required.
T Level
At Durham we welcome applications from students of outstanding achievement and potential from all educational backgrounds. We will consider applicants studying T level qualifications for entry to many of our courses.
Where a course requires subject specific knowledge and this is not covered within the T level being studied, you may need to supplement your T level studies with a suitable qualification to meet this requirement, for example at A level. Where this is needed this will be clearly stated in our entry requirements.
Detailed entry requirements can be found on individual course entries on our courses database.
Whilst many of our applicants exceed our entry requirements, we don’t make offers based only on who has the highest grades. We’ll look at your background, context and personal statement as well as your academic grades when we consider your application. We also make reduced grade contextual offers to many applicants and are sometimes able to accept applicants who narrowly miss their offer conditions.
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | with no component under 6.0 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 92 | with no component under 23 |
Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by visiting the link below under English Language requirements.
You should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course.
For more information on pre-sessional courses please visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/pre-sessional-english-language-required/
English Language requirements https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
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.
Our contextual offer for this programme is A level ABB (or equivalent) including A in Mathematics, plus a social sciences or humanities subject. To find out if you’re eligible, please visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/what-happens-to-your-application/contextual-offers/
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
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £29500 | Year 1 |
| International | £29500 | Year 1 |
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
The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.
Durham University will charge home rate tuition fees up to the maximum allowed by the UK Government. Should the UK Government choose to increase the maximum tuition fee allowed in the second and subsequent years of your course, Durham University will raise tuition fees in line with UK Government policy and approvals, subject to an inflationary cap, but at no time more than 10-15% of your total tuition fees.
There may also be additional course costs for things like books (if you want to purchase them), field trips etc.
Sponsorship information
Durham University offers a range of scholarship opportunities to academically well-qualified and highly motivated students. For further details, including deadlines for application, please visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/scholarships/
Durham University
The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE
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Course contact details
Recruitment and Admissions Office
Phone:0191 334 1000
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