Economics and Joint Schools

Oxford University hosts one of the top economics departments in the world and there is a wide range of lecture courses available from distinguished economists. 

Teaching

It is not necessary to have studied Politics, Economics or Philosophy at A-level to be successful in PPE. Somerville welcomes applications with any combination of A-level subjects, whether Arts, Science or a mixture of the two.

Teaching in Economics will be led by our full-time Tutor Dr Francesca Arduini, an applied microeconomist with a policy-oriented research agenda. A former Oxford PPEist herself, Arduini joined Somerville after having been a Stipendiary Lecturer at Jesus College, and has several years of experience teaching Oxford undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including microeconomics, maths for economists, and game theory. Her research interest lies in understanding the behaviour of individuals, households and firms to the end of informing evidence-based decision-making by institutions including governments, courts and employers. Much of her work is motivated by the goal of uncovering and narrowing inequalities, especially gender inequalities. 

The best part about studying economics at Somerville is that it provides a platform for making fascinating links and connections which I could not make on my own. 

Alexander (2020, Economics)

Undergraduates reading economics attend weekly tutorials or classes. The majority of Economics undergraduates read PPE, the joint Honours degree which combines philosophy and politics with economics. The course allows for considerable specialisation, with up to six out of eight Finals papers in economics. A smaller number of economics undergraduates read for Modern History and Economics in which up to five of the eight Finals papers may be in economics.

The College does not, at present, admit undergraduates reading for the Economics & Management degree or Engineering, Economics and Management degree.

Community

The College usually admits one to two to read History and Economics, and eight to ten undergraduates a year to read PPE, meaning there is a large undergraduate economics community. 

As a Somerville Economist, you will be walking in the footsteps of people like Rachel Glennerster, the Chief Economist of the UK government’s Department for International Development; Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, an education economist who has advised the governments of New Zealand, France and South Africa and serves as member of the House of Commons Advisory Committee for Education; and Dame Barbara Ward, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award-winning economist who was one of the first advocates of sustainable development.

The lectures are extremely helpful, as is the reading list from your tutor, which generally isn’t too long and helps prepare you for the mathematical questions, theory questions and essays found in the problem sheet for your weekly tutorial. 

Saleh (2020, Economics)

Next Steps

Somerville College has a strong tradition of success in the subject. Our graduates go into a wide variety of careers including the Civil Service, international organisations, the media, finance and industry, law, politics, teaching, social work, and academic research.

For more information, please visit the University’s course pages on History and Economics or Philosophy, Politics and Economics.