The Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Finance is built around a core set of economics courses. It also focuses on financial issues and provides students with the skills needed to understand and operate in the world of finance.

Why take a programme with a strong economics component?

Economics is the study of economic life. It asks what, how and why goods are produced and who benefits. Economics covers 'micro' subjects like the firm's economics (profit maximisation etc.) and 'macro' issues like unemployment, inflation and economic growth. Both programmes require that you do core micro and macro courses in the first, second and third year; other economics courses (some optional, some compulsory depending on the programme) include international trade, political economy, public sector economics, game theory, etc.

The more economics you do, the more you will understand economic policy dilemmas, the complexities of economic growth crises, etc. You will, in other words, be able to talk much more sensibly about economic issues than you would if you just took core economics subjects. This skill will enrich your business life (and certainly make you appear more intelligent in an interview!). It will also improve your attractiveness to many employers. Graduates who can think clearly and logically about the broader economic environment have a lot to offer potential employers, especially asset management, stock-broking, merchant banking, investment guidance, and management consulting. Most jobs in business require further training, and a background in economics is usually a good signal to employers that you are capable of analytical thinking and are worth training further.

Possibilities for postgraduate study?

Graduates will be eligible to apply for Honours-level study in Economics at UCT. This could lead to Master's and Doctoral studies in Economics or Business at UCT or elsewhere in South Africa or abroad. In addition to the opportunities listed above, graduates will be eligible to apply for any Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programme available in South Africa or abroad.

For more information on the courses, please refer to the Commerce Undergraduate Handbook. 

For information on applying to UCT, admission requirements, National Benchmark Tests, and key dates, please consult UCT’s Undergraduate Prospectus.