Learn how studying the past can help us predict market futures
Year of entry: 2025/26
VL11
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
AAA (full entry requirements)
September 2025 (semester dates)
Join two highly-performing departments and graduate as a creative and analytical problem solver.
Economics uses theory and empirical evidence to explain the dynamism of economic systems. History seeks to understand social, political, and intellectual shifts. We can use these to determine the causes and consequences of economic trends.
This course brings these disciplines together. You'll use the past to examine economic problems societies face today. Join two highly-performing departments and graduate as a creative and analytical problem solver.
It's been a long journey, and I always emphasize that it started at York, where I learned so much of the economics I've used throughout my career.
Professor Daron Acemoğlu (BA Economics, 1989; Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences, 2024)
Both departments have impressive research reputations. You'll be taught by academics at the forefront of their field.
for History, in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024.
Our Department of Economics and Related Studies is 14th in the UK for research - according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
Your modules in History progress from broad to specialised topics. Core modules in the first year introduce you to the broad sweep of history across time and place and historical problems. You develop this in the following years, cultivating your expertise, and - if you choose - leading up to an 8,000-word dissertation in your final year.
In Economics, you'll be introduced to key topics during Year 1. Years 2 and 3 will enable you to consolidate and expand upon this knowledge via a series of study modules which have been developed to give you a thorough understanding of the subject.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
Your first year introduces several economic theories, in addition to covering basic historical perspectives on markets and economic trends.
You will study three option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
Your second year focuses on important domestic and international economic concepts. You'll connect these ideas with an in-depth look into a specific historical period of your choice.
You will also study three option modules. In semester one, you'll study either Microeconomic Theory or Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy core modules, plus two option modules (one in Economics and one History Exploration module). You can alternatively choose to take both of these Economics core modules, plus one History Exploration module. In semester two, you'll study two core modules and either one History Exploration modules or an elective.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
In your final year of the History and Economics degree, you will study one core module, plus three option modules - including one History Special Subject (taken in two parts, one per semester). You will then choose between taking additional History and Economics option modules and writing an 8,000-word History dissertation.
or
or
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £25,800 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
You will have to pay for the cost of printing some assignments for submission as assessed work in Years 2 and 3.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
We focus on small-group teaching that is interactive and engaging. This includes lecturers, seminars, discussion groups, specialist workshops and field trips.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 7 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 3 hours per week |
| Workshops | 3 hours |
| Practicals | 0-2 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in both the Department of History and the Department of Economics and Related Studies on Campus West. Your teaching will take place in a variety of locations on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Your first-year work doesn't contribute toward your final marks. We recognise that students are only beginning to develop over the course of their degree.
From Year 2 onward, formal assessments contribute toward your degree. In your third year, your optional 8,000-word dissertation focuses on a specific topic of your choice.
The History and Economics degree develops skills that are highly valued by employers. Our graduates are adept at engaging in argument and proposing alternative solutions. The mix of abstract thought and quantitative techniques develops excellent technical skills for solving complex problems.
Our graduates have gone on to work in sectors such as:
You'll graduate with a wide range of transferable skills. These include:
York is a beautiful city. It’s quite a privilege to spend your days encountering that history, stumbling around incredibly long cobbled streets! I really miss it as a place. That’s why I’ve loved coming back for the past nine years to give talks – it feels like coming full circle.Greg Jenner, York Alumni
Public Historian & Podcast Host
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA including Mathematics and either History or Classical Civilisation |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 39 credits at Distinction including at least 9 credits in History-related units and 9 credits in Mathematics and 6 credits at Merit or higher. |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD with additional A Levels or equivalent qualifications in either History or Classical Civilisation and Mathematics at grade A. |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including History and Mathematics |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% overall, including 85% in History and 85% in Mathematics |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 points, including 6 at Higher Level in both History and Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations). |
| T levels | We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless additional A Levels (or equivalent qualifications) in History and Mathematics have been taken. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Advanced Highers - AB in History and Mathematics plus Scottish Highers - AB We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve A or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
Department of Economics and Related Studies, Department of History
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