Welcomes from the School of Economics
Sarah Brown, Head of the School of Economics
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the School of Economics. As a School, we are committed to developing and furthering our understanding of economics that makes a difference to society. As a student in the School of Economics, you will be right at the heart of this in terms of identifying and analysing economic issues in the world around us. Our teaching is research led – you will be taught by academics who are experts in their particular field of economics. We don’t just teach a fixed body of knowledge but we actively contribute to that knowledge. For example, my research interests lie in the areas of labour economics and household finance and I enjoy talking to students about my latest research projects. We will engage you in research by developing your independent research skills and supporting you to put these skills into practice. As part of this, we will develop your skills of critical evaluation. We don’t just tell you about a particular economic theory or model but we also want to know your thoughts about what is good or not so good about it. This research led approach to teaching will allow you to see how economics as a discipline evolves over time.
Starting a new programme of study can be daunting. However, we provide lots of support to help you throughout your time with us. At the start of the academic year, you will meet your academic tutor who will guide and support you through your studies. In addition, for each module, you will be supported by a teaching team comprising lecturers and tutors. All of our teaching is in person. We may use digital resources to supplement the in person teaching but this is not a substitute for in person teaching. In addition, academic staff provide consultation and feedback times when you can book one to one slots to discuss any questions or comments that you have about the lectures, tutorials or the reading material. In addition to academic staff, our fantastic team of professional services staff are available to deal with any questions that you might have such as how to switch modules or degree programmes.
We pride ourselves on being friendly and approachable so if you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us. We want you to enjoy your time at the University of Sheffield and we are here to support you. My role as Head of School is to provide leadership and strategic direction in the School. This includes decisions about what we teach, how we teach and who teaches which module. In making such decisions, student feedback is invaluable. I am available throughout the year if you have any questions or suggestions in terms of what works well or any areas for improvement.
I hope you enjoy your studies in economics and I look forward to meeting you.
Sarah Brown
Professor of Economics and Head of the School of Economics
Daniel Grey, Director of Education
Welcome to the School of Economics!
I hope you are excited to join our community and continue your development as an economist. In your program, you will gain a core understanding of economic theory, covering microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, while also learning how to apply these concepts to real-world settings.
In addition to core economic knowledge, you will develop a range of transferable employability skills, known at the university as the Sheffield Graduate Attributes. Throughout your studies, we will encourage you to reflect on the broader skills you are developing, and how they relate to your future employment.
While you are with us, I encourage you to engage with all the opportunities available to you, both within your modules, the School, and across the University. A key difference between university-level study and A-levels is that university study requires you to take ownership and responsibility for your learning. Throughout your studies we will support you through lectures, tutorials, and online digital content, but the emphasis will be on encouraging you to develop as an independent learner.
The School of Economics aspires to be a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students who wish to study economics. We seek to offer equal learning and teaching opportunities to all our students, regardless of demographic and socio-economic backgrounds. We want all our students to succeed and achieve their potential while they are with us.
I wish you all the best as you start your university studies.
Dan Gray, School Director of Education