What to expect from Economics at Warwick

Numbers, internships and ca$h? Apparently there’s more to Warwick Economics students than we might think…


Economics at A level was so refreshing, so logical and so rewarding. Why would you not study it at degree level? Moreover, for us ‘mathsy’ type Warwickers, the course is surely perfect! Fewer essays, more theory…

But there are a few things we have to deal with…

World economy: history and theory

Many say this is an interesting module; and don’t get me wrong, I thought so too when I crammed for it at the end of year 1, term 3.

But telling us to rely on an essay based exam for all the marks for the module? Not very encouraging.

Personally I hated history at school, so I had a preconceived judgement unfortunately. To do Economics at Warwick you need at least an A in A level maths so we were prepared for the mathematical course, but this module certainly threw some of us!

How jealous I was of those who could do maths and write essays well, or those who voluntarily took the module and attending all the lectures.

Floor 2 is your haven

Ever wondered why the second floor of the library is always so inexplicably full with people covered in corporate merchandise, trying desperately to find any gap in the conversation in which to drop a mention of their internship offers?

So if you can’t find a seat on floor 2, yes it is probably our fault. We have spouts of working really hard but also wander around chatting about how hard we should have worked throughout, so this floor in the library is our zone.

Stairway to (Economics) heaven

Not going out at the end of term

Going ‘on a mad one’ in week 10 is a privilege we don’t really experience in this course. So cruel we Economics students don’t get the chance to go to Christmas circle (unless of course you’re able to function in a test after 4 hours’ sleep and with a hangover).

Putting tests at the end of term is understandable, but on the last week and on the last day? While everyone else is at every end of term club night celebrating submitted essays and no more deadlines; the library, and in particular Floor 2, is swarming with panicked Economics students.

Then as we finished on the Friday, as luck would have it, no student nights on in Leamington. Awh.

Econ crew finally indulging in a Smack night

Everyone else is just as clever, if not cleverer than you thought

While it’s true everybody studying Economics has achieved at least one A* (likely to be more) and the rest grade As at A level, you don’t immediately realise the type of crowd you are surrounded by.

This is until you find yourself at an Economics society social where a very common topic to discuss will be internships. You may be thrown into this during the first social of term in your first year, or awkwardly realise you probably should have applied for a Spring week during term 2.

Either way, it’s the real world now and you’re surrounded by future bankers and/or leaders.

We do try…

So, what should be the conclusion? If you are an Economics student at Warwick or a prospective one, try to be on top of things. Our first year may not count but there sure is a lot to get done if you’re hoping to remain at the same level as your peers.

In lectures we may be half asleep occasionally and you will find us at Smack Thursdays or Neon Fridays… But as a bunch we definitely have mastered the art of cramming the week before a test or assignment.

As a potential fresher, I’d learn to be organised so you can be sociable and do well. And I’d probably learn to love STATA from first year…