Students in a lecture room, listening to the lecturer

BSc (Hons) January start available

Business Economics

Study the principles of business management alongside economic theory and practice, and gain an understanding of the ‘bigger picture’.

Start date: September 2026; January 2027
Location: Cambridge
Duration: 3 years
UCAS course code: L102

Start date: September 2026; January 2027
Location: Cambridge
Duration: 4 years with foundation
UCAS course code: L105

Start date: September 2026; January 2027
Location: Cambridge
Duration: 4 years with placement
UCAS course code: L104

You can apply to start in January 2026. If you join us in January, the course will be known by its previous name, BSc (Hons) Business with Economics. Find out more and apply.

1st

in the East of England for undergraduates employed as managers, directors or senior officials.

Source: GOS 2025

If you aspire to a successful business career, but also want to gain a wider appreciation of the science of economics and how it influences business practice on the ground, this is the course for you.

You’ll discover how economic theories apply to real world business decisions preparing you with the skills and knowledge for climb the ladder in the workplace. At the same time, you’ll explore big, up-to-the-minute ideas and debates in economics.

Find out more about studying business economics at ARU.

Why ARU?

Study a unique combination of management theory and economic factors.
Debate big ideas and current topics, fostering critical thinking and intellectual curiosity.
Get hands-on with real-world economic and business challenges, gaining valuable experience.
Explore subjects from sustainability in business to applied economics and financial economics.
Prepare for roles such as Business Analyst, Economic Consultant, Policy Advisor and Management Consultant.
Develop critical thinking, analytical skills and the ability to interpret data for business decision-making.

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Careers

On this course, you’ll develop in-demand knowledge and skills spanning economics, business and finance, covering topics including business operations, accounting, and international trade.

You’ll gain practical experience throughout the course through business simulations, case studies, and live briefs. You can also take advantage of our extensive professional network to arrange internships or placements that help you really stand out to potential employers.

What can you do with a Business Economics degree?

How can ARU help with my employability and career development?

Teaching and modules

Explore the power of economics in business, developing analytical skills to drive innovation, shape policy, and lead sustainable growth.

Dr Gamze Saglam, Associate Course Director

Our first-year modules are designed to develop the knowledge you already have, and give you a broad understanding of the key concepts of business and organisational management.

In Year 2, as well as continuing to build your business knowledge and skills, you’ll learn about econometrics, and micro and macro economics.

In your third year, you’ll explore applied and behavioural economics, and sustainability and responsibility in business. You’ll also undertake your major project – a substantial piece of research and/or product development work on a relevant topic of your choice.

What will I study?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1

Elevate 1: How to do Business (30 credits)
Into ARU
Applied Economic Mathematics and Statistics (30 credits)
Organisational Behaviour and AI (Future of Work) (30 credits)
International Business and Market Dynamics (15 credits)
Financial Environment and Analysis (15 credits)

Year 2

Elevate 2: Entrepreneurship and Consultancy (30 credits)
Global Political Economy (15 credits)
Micro and Macro Economics (30 credits)
Introduction to Econometrics (30 credits)
Ruskin Module (15 credits)

Year 3

Applied Economics (30 credits)
Sustainability and Responsible Business (30 credits)
Behavioural Economics (30 credits)
Undergraduate Major Project (30 credits)

Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1

Foundation in Business

Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Placement year

Work Placement School of Economics Finance and Law

Module details

You can apply to start in January 2026. If you join us in January, the course will be known by its previous name, BSc (Hons) Business with Economics. Find out more and apply.

What happens on a foundation year?

What happens on a placement year?

How is Business Economics assessed?

Who teaches Business Economics at ARU?

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Professor Emanuele Giovannetti
Professor of Economics
Laura Muncey
Senior Lecturer
Sarvin Hassani
Senior Lecturer in International Business and Lead of Centre for Student Success (CfSS)
Professor Nick Drydakis
Professor of Economics
Dr Peter MacDonald
Senior Lecturer
Dr Imko Meyenburg
Senior Lecturer

Facilities

At ARU you’ll be part of our School of Economics, Finance and Law:

benefit from award-winning facilities
learn from qualified, expert staff
choose to study abroad for a semester.

Take a guided tour and meet our students.

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Entry requirements

Standard entry requirements

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

112-96 UCAS Tariff points. We accept A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, OCR, Access to HE and most other qualifications within the UCAS Tariff.
3 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English and Maths.
If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.0 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

112-96 UCAS Tariff points. We accept A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, OCR, Access to HE and most other qualifications within the UCAS Tariff.
3 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English and Maths.
If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.0 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

International students

English language requirements

Contextual offers

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Fees and funding

UK students

£9,535 UK students starting 2026/27 (full-time, per year)

An update on tuition fees for 2026-27
The fee of £9,535 quoted for UK students starting in 2026-27 is an indicative fee based on the current maximum regulated tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year.

The University’s policy is to charge the maximum regulated tuition fee as set by the Government. The Government has advised that the regulated fee cap for full-time undergraduate courses taught in the 2026-27 academic year will be increasing in line with inflation.

The exact amount of the maximum regulated tuition fee set by the Government hasn’t been confirmed yet.

We expect confirmation of this in the coming weeks at which point the fee for the 2026-27 academic year will be updated.

Paying your tuition fees
If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2026/27 (full-time, per year)

The exact amount of the maximum regulated tuition fee set by the Government hasn’t been confirmed yet.

We expect confirmation of this in the coming weeks at which point the fee for the 2026-27 academic year will be updated.

Paying your tuition fees
If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2026/27 (full-time, per year)

The exact amount of the maximum regulated tuition fee set by the Government hasn’t been confirmed yet.

We expect confirmation of this in the coming weeks at which point the fee for the 2026-27 academic year will be updated.

Paying your tuition fees
If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

Paying your tuition fees
If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

International students

£17,500 International students starting 2026/27 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

£17,500 International students starting 2026/27 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

£17,500 International students starting 2026/27 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

£16,700 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

Placement year fee

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Bursaries, scholarships and part-time work

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Business Economics

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

January 2026

Careers

Teaching and modules

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

January 2026

Facilities

Entry requirements

BSc (Hons)

Important additional notes

With foundation year

Important additional notes

With placement

Important additional notes

January 2026

Important additional notes

International students

English language requirements

Fees and funding

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

January 2026

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

January 2026

Apply for Business Economics

UK students

International students

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