Economists explore how people and institutions behave and function when producing, exchanging and using goods and services. Economists’ main motivation is to find mechanisms that encourage efficiency in the production and use of material goods and resources, while at the same time producing a pattern of income distribution that society finds acceptable.
Economics will appeal to students with a wide range of interests. For students who are interested in current economic affairs or in understanding how public policies could lower unemployment or assist the developing world, then they will find studying economics both stimulating and rewarding. Economics is also a strong platform for careers in business and finance. Students who enjoy abstract thinking, and are evaluating courses such as engineering or physics, should also consider economics as a degree option.
Geography is a discipline inherently suited to addressing current and future societal challenges. It asks questions about how and why human, physical, and environmental phenomena vary across space and time. Geography is intrinsically interdisciplinary and, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, geographers are well placed to bring their understanding and skills to bear on social and environmental issues.
Geographers are trained to analyze and provide solutions to diverse global challenges, ranging from the environmental and the urban, to the economic, political and social. This combination of subject specific (e.g. GIS, remote sensing, modelling) and transferable skills (e.g. teamwork, problem solving) make geography graduates highly valued in today’s job market, where adaptability and flexibility are widely regarded as assets.
