Economics

Economics is the discipline that tries to make sense of how societies allocate scarce resources, how markets work, and why the aggregate outcomes of millions of individual decisions can be so different from what any single person intended or wanted. It uses mathematical modelling and empirical analysis to build rigorous explanations of phenomena ranging from the pricing of individual goods to the behaviour of entire national economies, and it informs some of the most consequential decisions in public and private life.

The Open University offers economics on a part-time, distance learning basis, making the degree accessible to people who cannot or do not wish to study at a traditional campus university. This might include those who are working, caring for family members, living in areas without easy access to a university, or who simply prefer the independence and flexibility of studying at their own pace. The OU's approach to economics education has been developed over many years, and the curriculum, learning materials, and online support systems are designed to enable motivated students to succeed without the structure of face-to-face teaching.

You will develop a grounding in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, learning to work with formal models of economic behaviour and to evaluate empirical evidence critically. The OU's approach tends to emphasise the real-world applications of economic theory, connecting abstract reasoning to contemporary policy debates, which many students find motivating and useful. The flexibility of the distance learning format means the degree takes longer than a conventional three-year programme, but the qualification is equivalent and equally recognised by employers and universities.

Graduates from OU economics programmes enter careers in finance, business analysis, the civil service, consulting, and many other fields where analytical and quantitative skills are valued. The degree is also a strong foundation for postgraduate study in economics, finance, or public policy for those who wish to develop their expertise further.