Geography and Economics (Regional Science) with Professional Experience University of Reading

Overview

Geography and Economics (Regional Science) with Professional Experience BSc degree from the University of Reading led by experts from the Department of Geography and Environmental Science and the Department of Economics, examines issues that dominate the news and shape the world in which we live. An integrated placement year between your second and final year enables you to gain valuable real-world experience in the workplace.

Key features

 You’ll address challenges across a range of scales – local, regional, national and global – from the spatial implications of economic processes, to the economic impact of social processes.

Develop your knowledge and expertise as you critically analyse:

• how resources are allocated and used, and the consequences for social and economic wellbeing
• the impact of consumerism and sustainability
• issues of work, employment and development
• how neighbourhoods and urban spaces are regenerated
• the application of micro-economics and macro-economics to globalisation.

We’ll support you to develop subject-specific and transferable skills, including:

• GIS and remote sensing
• modelling and cartography
• statistical and numerical analyses
• research techniques, including quantitative analysis, interviewing and ethnographic approaches
• teamwork, communication, and leadership.

Throughout your degree, you’ll have the opportunity to shape your learning and follow your individual interests through our wide range of optional modules.

Professional experience

This degree includes an integrated year in industry – between your second and final year – enabling you to experience the workplace, develop your skills, and gain insight into possible future careers.

Previous students have applied for placements with the Government Economic Service, supporting professional economists in a range of government departments, or joined accountancy or consulting firms to gain experience in the private sector. Students have recently worked with organisations such as:

• The Environment Agency
• The Earth Trust
• Department of Education
• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Bank of England
• Deloitte
• NHS England
• IBM.

Your placement will be supported by our dedicated placement team, and you will also benefit from staff links with industry, including NGOs, local authorities and government departments.

Career opportunities:

Your BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science) with Professional Experience degree will equip you with a wide range of transferable skills and experiences to prepare you for your career. You may choose to apply your economics knowledge in the private sector, with many graduates pursuing careers with economic consultancies, financial organisations, or policy think-tanks. You can also enter the public sector, making use of your specialist background in civil service with central or local government. Your skills could be put to use as a teacher, campaigner, or communications specialist; provide consultancy on transport, regeneration management, insurance or real estate; or move into accountancy and banking, manufacturing, or retail. Recent graduates have gone on to work for organisations including:

• Thames Water
• BBC
• Office for National Statistics
• Deloitte
• Citigroup
• Ministry of Defence.