Economics
Economics is a very popular discipline that allows students to study the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.
Below you will find information about the specific degree courses offered by Oxford University and Cambridge University to study Economics, how to prepare, and how Oxbridge Interviews can help you with your Economics application.
BOOK COURSECambridge offers a degree course in straight Economics, and is ranked as the top university in the UK to study Economics according to the Complete University Guide.
Getting in is tough - this is one of Cambridge’s most competitive courses – and only 14% of applicants are successful. To be offered a place, you generally need to get A*A*A at A Level (or equivalent), and you must have studied Mathematics at A Level (Further Mathematics is recommended but not required). It is not necessary to study Economics at A Level.
Oxford is ranked second in the UK for studying Economics, but be aware that Oxford does not offer an undergraduate degree in straight Economics.
You must choose from one of the following:
- Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE)
- Economics & Management (E&M)
- Engineering, Economics and Management (EEM)
- History & Economics
To prepare for your Economics application, you must demonstrate your motivation for the subject and specific interests. You can do this reading beyond your school curriculum. Our interviewers recommend:
- "Who Cooked Adam Smith's Dinner?" by Katrine Marcal
- The podcast "Planet Money"
Practice interviews for Economics applications are critical. You wouldn’t sit an exam without doing a mock, so don’t place yourself in an interview without having experienced a practice interview first.
Emily (Economics, Cambridge)
Emily studied Economics at Selwyn College, Cambridge from 2014-2017.
Q&A
Emily, why did you choose Economics?
"I chose to study Economics because I wanted to do a degree that used both mathematical models and argumentative essay writing, as these were the things I enjoyed in my subjects at school. I also found the subject interesting, both in general as I was interested in politics and current affairs, and as a subject as I studied Economics at A Level."
How did you prepare for your application?
"I read several economic books that were recommended on the course site, but were best-sellers so intended to be accessible for those who haven't studied Economics degrees. I read several papers in topics that interested me, and revised my Economics and Double Maths A-Level content as I knew this would come up in my interviews."
What would you have done differently?
"I didn't need to spend time reading books or papers on topics I was less interested in because when it comes to outside reading, they are always going to want to hear you talk about the topics that genuinely interest you most."
All applicants to Economics at Cambridge are required to sit the Economics Admissions Assessment.
All applicants to Economics affiliated courses at Oxford are required to sit the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) prior to interview, and further admissions tests may be required depending on the course.
Learn more about the TSA