About the School
The School of Economics is one of the leading economics departments in the UK, renowned for its high quality teaching and research. The School sits within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law.
11th UK University for Economics
(QS Subject Rankings, 2023)
The School of Economics has a distinctive focus and reputation: we combine innovative, policy-focused research and a firm commitment to public and policy engagement with high-level advances in economic theory, structural modelling and econometrics.
A key feature of Bristol economics research is a commitment to being outward-focused through multi-disciplinary as well as policy-relevant research. We were among the top economic departments in the UK in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). We are ranked top 5 in the UK for Economics and Econometrics "world leading" impact and top 5 in UK for Economics and Econometrics research output (REF 2021).
The School has more than 60 faculty members, the majority of whom have been recruited in the last six years. The School has achieved a Bronze Award from the Athena Swan Charter in recognition of our commitment to gender equality.
Economics has grown rapidly on the back of strong student demand for our undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes. We have recruited talented junior researchers from top programmes in US and Europe and the current faculty is truly international. It is a dynamic and vibrant research environment.
Our educational environment is exciting and challenging. We pride ourselves on the synergies between research and teaching and our courses are delivered by international researchers and world-class teaching staff. We are innovative – among the first economics departments to adopt the CORE syllabus for our undergraduates and introducing new courses in data science and economics for our postgraduates to ensure that they have cutting edge technical skills. We are home to the Economics Network providing support to HE economics teachers across the UK. We nurture adaptable, resilient graduates who leave our school with a broad range of skills and expertise, and are prepared for their career in a rapidly changing world.
Pioneering Research
Research in the School of Economics is internationally recognised for its originality, significance and rigour, and for delivering real-world impact.
Rich History
The School of Economics is proud of its history dating back to the 1880s when groundbreaking economists Mary Paley and Alfred Marshall joined the university.
The University of Bristol was the first higher-education institution in the UK to admit men and women as equals.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
We're committed to providing a diverse and inclusive environment for our students and staff, celebrating diversity through events, teaching and mentoring.
The School of Economics has achieved a Bronze Award from the Athena Swan Charter in recognition of our commitment to gender equality.
We welcome staff and students from over 120 countries across the world, creating a vibrant and diverse work and study experience.
A new School of Economics
Read about the new School in our Economics Annual Newsletter (PDF, 7,430kB)