(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Economics with Portuguese (Including Year Abroad)
Withdrawn
University of Essex
University of Essex
Economics
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Economics
BA L1RM
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
GCSE: Mathematics B/5
A-levels: ABB
BTEC: DDD
IB: 32 points or three Higher Level certificates with 655. Either must include Standard Level Mathematics grade 5, or a minimum of 3 in Higher Level Mathematics. We will accept grade 5 in either Standard Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Standard Level Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation.
Maths in the IB is not required if you have already achieved GCSE Maths at grade B/5 or above or 5 in IB Middle Years Maths.
We are also happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programme Courses (formerly certificates) at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for.
We can also consider combinations with BTECs or other qualifications in the Career-related programme – the acceptability of BTECs and other qualifications depends on the subject studied, advice on acceptability can be provided. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.
Access to HE Diploma: 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 30 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided.
T-levels: Distinction
What if I don’t achieve the grades I hoped?
If your final grades are not as high as you had hoped, the good news is you may still be able to secure a place with us on a course which includes a foundation year. Visit our undergraduate application information page for more details.
What if I have a non-traditional academic background?
Don’t worry. To gain a deeper knowledge of your course suitability, we will look at your educational and employment history, together with your personal statement and reference.
You may be considered for entry into Year 1 of your chosen course. Alternatively, some UK and EU applicants may be considered for Essex Pathways, an additional year of study (known as a foundation year/year 0) helping students gain the necessary skills and knowledge in order to succeed on their chosen course. You can find a list of Essex Pathways courses and entry requirements here
If you are a mature student, further information is here
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. Different requirements apply for second year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College here.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
1. To provide students with an academic training in the principles of economics.
2. To achieve an appropriate level of proficiency in Portuguese.
3. To provide students with an awareness of the quantitative methods appropriate for knowledge of economic principles and applied economics.
4. To foster in students an appreciation of the appropriate level of abstraction and simplification needed to explore a range of economic issues.
5. To encourage in students the acquisition of autonomous study skills and the adoption of an investigative approach to tackle economic problems.
6. To develop in students the ability to construct logical arguments, to communicate arguments clearly in writing, and to appreciate, evaluate and respond to potentially conflicting interpretations of economic phenomena.
7. To provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills constructively to one or more specialist areas of economics and the associated policies.
8. To allow students, through the study of economics, to acquire critical, analytical and research skills, problem-solving skills, and transferable skills.
9. To provide students with a foundation for further studies in economics and allied disciplines.
To enable students to broaden their understanding of economics by studying in a partner institution abroad for one academic year.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Knowledge of the fundamental principles of economics, including microeconomics and macroeconomics.
A2: Understanding of the application of economic reasoning to the study of relevant problems and policies.
A3: Knowledge of the mathematical methods needed to comprehend economic principles.
A4: Awareness of the sources of economic information and/or knowledge and understanding of sources available for historical research.
A5: Knowledge of statistical methods needed for the analysis of economic issues.
A6: Appreciation of one or more specialist areas of economics in depth.
A7: An appropriate level of phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical, pragmatic and discourse competance in Portuguese, and ability to undertake translation, and creative writing.
A8: Knowledge of linguistic concepts and metalanguage used to describe and analyse Portuguese, and techniques used to analyse texts and other authentic materials in Portuguese from a variety of perspectives.
A9: Awareness of aspects of the culture and society of one or more countries which use Portuguese as medium of communication, and ability to compare and contrast relevant aspects of that culture with one's own.
Learning methods
Economics Lectures are the principal method of delivery for the principles, concepts and arguments in A1-A6.
Students are also assigned readings from textbooks, academic journal papers, unpublished research papers and on-line resources.
Students’‘ understanding is reinforced by classes, especially for outcomes A1, A2, A3, A5.
Laboratory sessions are provided to support learning of quantitative methods (A5).
Individual supervision of the final year project provides additional support especially for outcomes A4 and A6, and reinforces A2, A3, A5.
Lectures and classes in final year courses are particularly important to enable students to achieve A6.
Portuguese Classes are the main method of delivery for A7, A8 and A9.
Students’‘ knowledge is reinforced via laboratory work (A7), group discussions (A7, A8, A9), use of computer software packages (including web-based materials) (A7) and individual staff contact during office hours or via email (A7, A8, A9).
Assessment methods
Economics Achievement of knowledge and understanding is assessed through marked assignments (A1, A2), tests (A1, A2, A3, A5), term papers (A1, A2, A4, A6), project work (A1-A6) and unseen closed-book examinations (A1, A2, A3, A5, A6).
Learning outcomes A2, A4 are assessed by tests and unseen closed-book examinations.
Learning outcome A6 is assessed by term papers and unseen closed-book examinations particularly in final year, EC3xx, economics courses.
Learning outcome A4 is assessed especially via term papers (in second year and final year economics courses) and the final year project.
Portuguese Coursework and final examinations formally assess skills A7, A8, A9.
These methods are complemented with role-plays (A7), oral class presentations (A7, A8, A9), class tests (A7), book reports (A8, A9) and project work (A7, A8, A9).
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Analyse a specified problem and choose the most suitable methods for its solution.
B2: Assess the relative merits of a range of theories, techniques and tools needed to articulate arguments and policies.
B3: Synthesise and interpret information from a range of sources (lectures, classes, journals, books, etc.) developing a critical evaluation of the importance and relevance of the sources to an area of study.
B4: Construct reasoned, informed and concise descriptions and assessments of economic ideas.
B5: Abstract and synthesise information from a variety of authentic written and spoken materials in Portuguese.
B6: Analyse texts and other authentic Portuguese materials from a variety of perspectives.
B7: Engage in rational debate in (written and spoken forms of) Portuguese, expressing one's own ideas (and responding to those put forward by others).
Learning methods
Economics Students’‘ acquisition of intellectual and cognitive skills, B1-B4, is enabled primarily through lectures and further sustained via classes.
Outcome B1 is developed particularly in exercises designed for core economic theory, mathematical methods and quantitative methods classes.
Outcomes B2, B3 and B4 are key elements in students’‘ preparation for assignments.
Individual project supervision and guidance for term paper study are especially important in providing opportunities for students to acquire B2, B3 and B4.
Portuguese Outcomes B1, B3, B5 and B6 are developed primarily through preparation of coursework and for final examinations, lectures, classes and staff guidance in office hours or via email.
Outcomes B5, B6, B7 are sustained through class-based discussion, group discussion, oral presentations, role-plays and staff guidance in office hours or via email.
Assessment methods
Economics Achievement of intellectual/cognitive skills is assessed through marked assignments (especially B1 and B3), tests (especially B1), term papers (especially B2, B3, B4), project work (especially B2, B3 and B4) and unseen closed-book examinations (especially B1, B2 and B4).
Portuguese Skills B1, B3, B5 and B6 are assessed via written coursework and written examinations.
Achievement of skill B7 is assessed primarily though listening tests, reading comprehension tests and oral examinations/presentations.
These forms of assessment are also relevant for skills B5 and B6.
C: Practical skills
C1: Identify, select and gather information, using the relevant sources.
C2: Organise ideas in a systematic way.
C3: Present economic and/or historical ideas and arguments coherently in writing.
C4: Use and apply economic terminology and concepts.
C5: Organising and presenting ideas in Portuguese in written and oral forms, including taking notes and producing a range of materials (e.g. social and business letters, summaries, reports, etc.) in Portuguese.
C6: Apply the necessary organisational and cultural skills for living and working abroad.
Learning methods
Economics Skill C1 is developed via directed reading from textbooks and academic journal articles together with searches for online materials.
Skill C2 is acquired during lectures and classes, and as a consequence of studying course materials.
Skill C3 is articulated in the preparation of assignments and term papers.
Skill C4 is developed in classes and is emphasised in the preparation of assignments, term papers and projects.
Portuguese C1 and C2 are developed during class based instruction and in contact with teachers during office hours and via email.
C5 is acquired in class-based instruction and in contact with teachers during office hours and via email.
Skill C6 is acquired through the guided but relatively independent process of organising and successfully completing a period of living and studying abroad.
Assessment methods
Economics Achievement of practical skills C1, C3 and C4 is assessed directly through marked assignments, tests, term papers, project work and unseen closed-book examinations.
Skill C2 is assessed indirectly via assignments, term papers, projects and final examinations.
Portuguese Skills C1 and C2 are directly assessed directly through written coursework and unseen final examinations.
Skills C2 and C6 are assessed indirectly via coursework and final examinations, and directly via oral examinations and presentations.
Skill C6 is assessed through the work of the Year Abroad.
D: Key skills
D1: Communication in writing, using appropriate terminology and technical language:
(a) the articulation of economic theories,
(b) the description of economic evidence,
(c) the critical assessment of economic arguments and policies.
Communicating ideas, information and arguments in oral and written form in Portuguese using the appropriate register and style.
D2: N/A
D3: Understanding of quantitative methods, an awareness of the contexts in which the methods are relevant and a knowledge of how they are applied in practice to analyse economic data.
D4: Understanding of how economic reasoning is used to address problems involving opportunity cost, incentives, households' and firms' decision-making, strategic thinking, expectations and market outcomes in equilibrium and disequilibrium.
D5: N/A
D6: Capacity to:
(a) organise and implement a plan of independent study;
(b) reflect on his or her own learning experience and adapt in response to feedback; and
(c) recognise when he or she needs to learn more and appreciate the role of additional research
Learning methods
Economics Students are guided in lectures, classes and individual advice from teachers in acquiring skills D1, D3, D4, D6.
Skills D3 and D4 are reinforced through the quantitative methods course, and courses in theoretical and applied economics.
Skill D6 is enhanced as students reflect upon the knowledge they need when researching term papers and their final year projects.
Portuguese D1: class discussion; written coursework.
D6: coursework, independent learning.
Only minimal formally assessed requirements for the completion of the programme are listed here.
In reality, the overwhelming majority of BA Economics with Portuguese students acquire a much broader range of key skills, and at greater depth, in ways that are integrated seamlessly throughout their studies of the subject.
Assessment methods
Economics Skills D1 and D4 are assessed through marked assignments, tests, term papers, projects and unseen closed-book examinations.
Skill D3 is assessed through tests and unseen closed-book examinations.
Skill D6 is assessed indirectly through students' capacity to construct submitted work (assignments, term papers and projects for which feedback is given) and their study plans for unseen tests and examinations.
Portuguese D1: written coursework/exams; oral presentations D6: regular assessed coursework/exams.