Is an Economics degree worth it for this?

On median DfE LEO earnings a Economics degree overtakes the no-degree alternative after 8 yrs post-grad, and you repay £87,928 over the life of the loan.

Career route

Do you need a degree to be a economist?

Q: Do you need a degree to be a economist?

Usually, but there are other routes. Government and consultancy economist roles almost always ask for the degree, often a postgraduate one.

Usually, but there are other routes

Government and consultancy economist roles almost always ask for the degree, often a postgraduate one.

The official route in

The National Careers Service publishes the entry routes for this job — apprenticeship, college, university and direct application — with the GCSE and A-level requirements for each. It is the authoritative source, and worth reading before committing to anything.

How to become a economist

National Careers Service — routes and requirements

Find an apprenticeship

GOV.UK — live vacancies

If you do take the degree route

The closest subject is Economics. On current fees and median graduate earnings, here is what it costs and how long it takes to pay for itself against not going at all.

Worth it after

8 yrs post-grad

Borrowed

£53,370

You will repay

£87,928

Starting salary

£30,700

Full Economics report

30-year projection, AI risk, adjust your own costs

Economics vs Mathematics

Side-by-side comparison

The short answer is our reading of the entry routes, written conservatively — where a non-degree path exists at all, we say so. The National Careers Service profile is the authoritative source and should be your check before deciding. Economist earnings shown here are for Economics graduates, not for this job specifically.