# What's Next? A Guide for Pupils > [!info] If economics interests you, here's how to take it further — now and later. You don't have to wait until university to start, and you don't need to have studied economics at school to take it further. Here's where to go from here. ## Start exploring now You can begin today, whatever subjects you're taking. - **The SES resources.** Talks, slides and explainers from SES and STE events, organised by topic and subject. → [[Introduction to SES Resources|Browse the SES Resources archive]] and [[1 - Economics Across the Scottish Curriculum|See how economics sits in other subjects]] - **Economic Futures Hub.** Free topic resources built around the Scottish Economics curriculum — interactive charts, summary slides and flashcards, organised by unit. → [Explore the Hub](https://hub.economicfutures.ac.uk/) - **Competitions.** You don't need to study economics to enter — just an interest in the ideas. → [[4 - Competitions]] - **Watch and read.** Short talks, podcasts and the interactive *World in 1776* on our → [[2 - Resources|Resources page]] and [[Wealth of Nations at 250]]. - **[Economics Observatory](https://www.economicsobservatory.com).** Clear, up-to-date explainers on the economic questions in the news, written by economists for a general reader. - **[In Search of the Real Adam Smith](https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/in-search-of-the-real-adam-smith/)** (Freakonomics). A podcast on where economics came from and what it's really about — a good follow-on if the [[Adam Smith]] material caught your interest. ## Studying it further > [!success] You don't need school economics to study it at university > Most economics students arrive having never sat an economics class. A solid grounding in **Maths** is often what matters most — so if your school doesn't offer economics, you're not shut out. - **At school (if offered):** Economics is available at **National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher** in some Scottish schools. Subjects that pair well include Maths, Modern Studies, Geography, History and Business. - **At school (if it's *not* offered):** You're likely already meeting economics without the label — the questions turn up in **Geography, History, Modern Studies, Business and Maths**: see [[1 - Economics Across the Scottish Curriculum#Questions that cut across subjects|where the economics is in each subject]]. Build on those and keep your **Maths** strong. - **At university:** Economics degrees come in many shapes — single honours, or joint with politics, maths, history, philosophy, finance, data science and more. Entry usually leans on Maths rather than economics itself; always check each course's own requirements. Discover Economics sets out [what's typically required](https://www.discovereconomics.co.uk/course-requirements), and you can search and compare courses [on UCAS](https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=economics). - **Applying:** the Economic Futures Hub has thorough [personal-statement guidance](https://hub.economicfutures.ac.uk/personal-statement-guidance), including a section to help you find the area of economics that interests you most. ## Where it can lead Economics is as much a **way of thinking** as a single job, so economics graduates end up in a wide range of places: - **Government & policy** — the Scottish and UK governments, the civil service, central banks, regulators and think tanks. - **Data, research & analysis** — economists and analysts in business, consultancies, universities and public bodies. - **Charities & NGOs** — development, poverty, health and environmental organisations. - **Business & finance** — banking and accountancy, but also management, strategy and start-ups. - **Media & communication** — economics journalism, broadcasting and public explanation. - **Teaching & academia** — researching and teaching the subject itself. Discover Economics goes further on [what economists actually do](https://www.discovereconomics.co.uk/what-economists-do) and [why study economics](https://www.discovereconomics.co.uk/why-study-economics), and has interviews where you can [meet an economist](https://www.discovereconomics.co.uk/meet-economist). For the Scottish angle, Economic Futures has a [careers guide](https://www.economicfutures.ac.uk/Guides/What-is-Economics). --- → Next: [[6 - Get In Touch]]