What A-levels do you need to study Economics?
Where Maths is required, why Further Maths helps, and the essay-subject angle.
Required subjects
- Mathematics — required at the most selective courses (e.g. LSE, Cambridge, UCL, Warwick); check each course, as some are more flexible.
Recommended & helpful
- Further Mathematics — very useful and required by some Cambridge colleges.
- An essay-based third subject — some courses (e.g. LSE) explicitly value one.
Typical grades
A*AA–A*A*A, often with A* in Maths at the top (LSE A*AA with A* in Maths).
Admissions test
TMUA is used or encouraged by some economics courses (e.g. LSE, Warwick, Cambridge); it isn't universal.
The thing students get wrong: Top economics courses are Maths-gated — many reject strong applicants who didn't take A-level Maths. Below the most selective tier, requirements ease, so check the specific course.
Explore these subjects
The specification, assessment structure and real grade boundaries for the subjects that matter for this route:
Always check the specific course.Entry requirements and required admissions tests vary by university and change every admissions cycle. Use these pages to narrow your choices, then confirm on each university's own course page and the Russell Group — Informed Choices.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
More: how to choose your A-levels · hardest A-levels by the grade data