Economics Options for Academic Year 2026/2027

As you will be aware, you will shortly have the opportunity to make optional unit choices for your final year. The options system will open on Monday 9th February and close on Friday 13th February.

Once the options system opens we encourage you to make your choices as soon possible. Units are allocated on a first come first served basis and the smaller units are usually filled within the first couple of hours of the option selection window opening.

Picking options will require you to think about:

  • What you have enjoyed studying so far
  • What your strengths and weaknesses are
  • What career direction you might want to take after graduation.

To help you choose your options, unit leaders will have individual availability during the week commencing 3rd February. You can use these drop-ins to ask any follow up questions from their briefing videos included in this document. Details of the drop-in times will be communicated to you in the new year.

Please note that options cannot be changed once selected.

BA Economics Level 6

You will study six core units in your final year (3 in Semester 1, 2 in Semester 2 and a dissertation unit across both Semesters) and an additional Option Unit in Semester 2:

Dissertation:

You will be required to complete a 30-credit dissertation unit across both Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Core Units Semester 1

Advanced Macroeconomics

Economic Policy Institutions

International Business & Global Change

Core Units Semester 2

Advanced Microeconomics

Economic Policy Challenges

Options for Semester 2 (pick one unit from the list):

Environmental Economics

Contemporary Issues in International Business and Economics

International and Developmental Economics

Please take your time to look over the unit briefings and watch the video recordings which provide an overview of the unit including what is covered and how it is assessed. If you still have queries, contact the unit leaders, or speak with your personal tutor to discuss your choices further.

To help you choose your options, unit leaders will have individual availability during the week commencing 2nd February. You can use these drop-ins to ask any follow up questions from their briefing videos included in this document. Details of the drop-in times will be communicated to you in the new year.

Please note Unit Leaders will not be giving presentations about their units, the emphasis is on you to have watched the videos below before attending the drop-in.

Environmental Economics (Semester 2)

You can contact Unit Leader Gareth Downing by email G.Downing@mmu.ac.uk

This unit encourages students to use key economic concepts and theories to understand the important interactions between the economic system and the environment. Looking at how the economic system is dependent on the environment for resources, amenities and for life support, whilst at the same time the economic system is having increasingly damaging effects on the environment in terms of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. Managing these interactions is a huge challenge of the upmost importance.

I am generally available for questions as required.

Contemporary Issues in International Business and Economics (Semester 2)

You can contact Unit Leader Julia Jeyacheya by email J.Jeyacheya@mmu.ac.uk

  • In this unit we explore contemporary issues that challenge and contradict the policy options, economic pathways, and business practices for ‘building back better’.
  • We analyse the consequences and costs of individual nations pursuing a ‘greener’ future, and assess the impacts on global societies, ecosystems and economies.
  • The nature of the unit demands a global perspective and case studies from The Global South are used to explore a range of contemporary issues that challenge and contradict the principles of sustainable development.

The Learning Outcomes for the unit include:

  1. Examine the challenges and contradictions of ‘building back better’
  2. Evaluate the implications of contemporary issues across different political economies.
  3. Critically analyse contemporary issues across the range of economic sectors.

There is one assignment only.

This is a 15-minute presentation designed and delivered in pairs.

A 5-minute Q&A session follows your presentation.

All Learning Outcomes are assessed in the presentation.

This unit attracts students from across economics, finance and international business.

You can contact me at: J.Jeyacheya@mmu.ac.uk  to arrange an informal chat about this unit. This can take place on line via Teams or In person.

International and Developmental Economics (Semester 2)

You can contact Unit Leader Tidings Ndhlovu by email T.Ndhlovu@mmu.ac.uk

BSc Economics Level 6

You will study five core units in your final year (2 in Semester 1, 2 in Semester 2 and a dissertation unit across both Semesters) and an additional Option Unit in each semester:

Dissertation:

You will be required to complete a 30-credit dissertation unit across both Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Core Units Semester 1

Advanced Macroeconomics

Econometrics I – PPD

Core Units Semester 2

Advanced Microeconomics

Economentrics II: Time Series Analysis & Forecasting

Options for Semester 1 (pick one unit from the list):

Behavioural Economics

Corporate Finance & Investment

Options for Semester 2 (pick one unit from the list):

Environmental Economics

International & Development Economics

International and Developmental Economics

Please take your time to look over the unit briefings and watch the video recordings which provide an overview of the unit including what is covered and how it is assessed. If you still have queries, contact the unit leaders, or speak with your personal tutor to discuss your choices further.

To help you choose your options, unit leaders will have individual availability during the week commencing 2nd February. You can use these drop-ins to ask any follow up questions from their briefing videos included in this document. Details of the drop-in times will be communicated to you in the new year.

Please note Unit Leaders will not be giving presentations about their units, the emphasis is on you to have watched the videos below before attending the drop-in.

Behavioural Economics (Semester 1)

You can contact Unit Leader Sabaa Jahangir by email S.Jahangir@mmu.ac.uk

Behavioural Economics is a method of economic analysis that applies psychological insights into human behaviour to explain economic decision-making.
Behavioural Economics explains how and why humans make decisions, understand inaction, regard climate change, the rise of populism and nationalism as well as how people spend their money.
This is a fascinating branch of economics and assists the students’ understanding of why the real world deviates from the predictions of economic models.

Corporate Finance & Investment (Semester 1)

You can contact Unit Leader Muhammad Farhan Malik by email M.Malik@mmu.ac.uk

The general aim of this unit is to develop knowledge and understanding of how to value and assess different types of investments and to develop portfolios with satisfactory characteristics. 

I can be contacted by email for any questions. 

Environmental Economics (Semester 2)

You can contact Unit Leader Gareth Downing by email G.Downing@mmu.ac.uk

This unit encourages students to use key economic concepts and theories to understand the important interactions between the economic system and the environment. Looking at how the economic system is dependent on the environment for resources, amenities and for life support, whilst at the same time the economic system is having increasingly damaging effects on the environment in terms of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. Managing these interactions is a huge challenge of the upmost importance.

I am generally available for questions as required.

Contemporary Issues in International Business and Economics (Semester 2)

You can contact Unit Leader Julia Jeyacheya by email J.Jeyacheya@mmu.ac.uk

  • In this unit we explore contemporary issues that challenge and contradict the policy options, economic pathways, and business practices for ‘building back better’.
  • We analyse the consequences and costs of individual nations pursuing a ‘greener’ future, and assess the impacts on global societies, ecosystems and economies.
  • The nature of the unit demands a global perspective and case studies from The Global South are used to explore a range of contemporary issues that challenge and contradict the principles of sustainable development.

The Learning Outcomes for the unit include:

  1. Examine the challenges and contradictions of ‘building back better’
  2. Evaluate the implications of contemporary issues across different political economies.
  3. Critically analyse contemporary issues across the range of economic sectors.

There is one assignment only.

This is a 15-minute presentation designed and delivered in pairs.

A 5-minute Q&A session follows your presentation.

All Learning Outcomes are assessed in the presentation.

This unit attracts students from across economics, finance and international business.

You can contact me at: J.Jeyacheya@mmu.ac.uk  to arrange an informal chat about this unit. This can take place on line via Teams or In person.

International and Developmental Economics (Semester 2)

You can contact Unit Leader Tidings Ndhlovu by email T.Ndhlovu@mmu.ac.uk