UCL Department of Economics

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The UCL Department of Economics, established in 1828, is part of the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences at University College London. It is the oldest economics department in England and a leading center for research. The department is headed by Fabien Postel-Vinay. It has more than 50 academic staff, 18 administrative staff, and about 1,129 students (906 undergraduates and 223 postgraduates). The department is located at Drayton House, 30 Gordon Street, London.

Its Chair of Political Economy was created in 1828 in memory of David Ricardo; the first chair was John Ramsay McCulloch. William Stanley Jevons taught here from 1876 to 1880. The department maintains a close relationship with the Institute of Fiscal Studies, with many professors collaborating and serving as visiting professors there, including IFS director Paul Johnson.

In research and rankings, the department performed exceptionally in the 2014 REF, earning an average score of 3.78 out of 4, the highest in the UK for economics and econometrics, with 79% of outputs rated 4*. It consistently ranks among the top economics schools in Europe and worldwide. Notable rankings include: fourth in the UK in the 2021 Complete University Guide; third in Europe and 15th globally in Tilburg’s ranking; fourth in Europe and 16th globally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities; fourth in Europe and 15th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2020); and fourth in Europe and 16th globally in the QS World University Rankings (subject: Economics & Econometrics, 2021).

Student life is supported by The Economist’s Society, which runs for undergraduates and organizes events such as a Speaker Series, the UCL Economics Conference, inter-university debates, and the David Ricardo Ball. The Society also publishes The Economic Tribune, the department’s quarterly magazine. The department hosts visiting professors from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and has hosted high-profile speakers, including Mark Carney in 2020.