Paul's career perspective
‘I chose to study Economics because of my interest in macroeconomics and the mechanisms of monetary policy in particular. Along with an in-depth economic knowledge, my Sussex degree gave me an array of transferable skills that are highly valued in the job market and have proved to be crucial to my career so far.
‘While studying, I benefited from great teaching, support and advice from my tutors and also from their motivation. Talks from guest speakers, arranged by the Careers and Employability Centre, also came in handy in helping me choose my career path.
‘During my final year I was fortunate enough to earn a place on the graduate scheme of the insurance company RSA. In my role I’ve put my economic knowledge to good use in analysing global trade patterns and ascertaining where potential business opportunities lie.
‘I’m currently working in the strategic department but I’m also being trained to become a marine cargo underwriter– insuring high net worth goods in transit – where the analytical and problem-solving skills I developed while at Sussex will continue to be of great importance.’
Paul Fuller
Economics BSc student, now Graduate Trainee Underwriter at RSA
Elizabeth's international perspective
Elizabeth Emmanuel, a BSc Economics student from Tanzania, shares her experiences as an international student at the University of Sussex. She tells us about her arrival, housing, adjusting to life in the UK and making friends.
Kate's perspective
'During my time at Sussex, I have not only acquired knowledge about the principles of economics, but I have also learned the importance of digging deeper to try to understand mechanisms driving the economic outcomes we observe.
After graduating from Sussex, I decided to pursue my Master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science. This proved to be a demanding year but thanks to excellent courses in econometrics I participated in at Sussex I found it easier to cope with complex academic papers and carrying out my own research.
After completing my Master’s Degree, I joined Redington – consultancy firm offering investment advice to the pension schemes. I work in the Manager Research Team, where we choose asset managers that best suit our clients’ needs. My new role requires me to quickly absorb new concepts and effectively communicate new ideas. My experience at the University of Sussex equipped me with skills necessary to achieve that.
I wholeheartedly recommend studying Economics at Sussex, as it not only helps you to better understand economic principles but also changes the way you think about the world. It teaches you to stop and ask questions rather than simply accept the theories or ideas you come across – a skill highly valued by employers!'
Katarzyna Mijakowska
Economics BSc student
Rob's perspective
'I recently joined HM Treasury as an Assistant Economist through the Civil Service Fast Stream. I am within the Banking Commission Implementation Team which is responsible for implementing policy in line with the Independent Commission on Banking's (ICB) recommendations on UK banking regulation.
I am a part of the Cost-Benefit Analysis branch which is responsible for analysing whether the recommendations in the ICB's final report will deliver net benefits to the UK economy. This involves researching and analysing numerous research pieces, creating internal cost and benefit models, and then presenting this analysis to ministers as an evidence base for any subsequent policy decisions.
I thoroughly enjoyed studying Economics at Sussex and so I like that everyday my job requires me to draw on my knowledge of the economic principles I learned here. I enjoy that my role is very analytical and that the research I will be doing will shape future policy decisions for the Government. It has been a steep learning curve, but at the same time incredibly satisfying.
Due to the increasing media coverage of the UK economy at the time I became very interested in developing my macroeconomics knowledge and so in my final year I chose to study the modules 'Monetary Theory and Policy' and 'International Finance and Macroeconomics'. These courses have been incredibly useful as a basis for developing my understanding of the UK Financial Sector which is necessary for my role. The various statistics and econometric courses have also proved vital when researching academic papers and manipulating data.
I will always have fond memories of Sussex as a friendly, diverse and progressive university. The location of the university is perfect being on the doorstep of Brighton, with the city offering so much for a wide range of tastes and interests. Studying Economics here was incredibly stimulating and enjoyable and I highly recommend the course.'
Rob Lloyd
Economics BSc student