Prominent guest speakers further increase the stellar teaching panel. In previous years these have included former Chancellors George Osborne, Lord Lawson, Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, Ken Clarke, Lord Hammond, Sajid Javid, Lord Lamont and former Chief Secretaries of the Treasury, Sir Danny Alexander and David Gauke. The class may on occasion take place in HM Treasury. Students will gain unprecedented insight into the theory and practice of British economic history since the Second World War from those who have dealt with it first-hand.

'Economic policy is more like foreign policy than it is like science, consisting as it does in seeking a rational course of action in a world of endemic uncertainty. Perhaps that is why I increasingly found economic history, which is scarcely taught at our universities, and then inadequately, to be a more useful guide to economic policy decisions than economic theory, which is taught to excess.' - Lord Lawson, The View from No.11.

The module will cover the following:

• Themes and History to 1970
• Prime Ministers and Chancellors
• The 1970's and the IMF Crisis
• Thatcher
• Exchange Rate Mechanism
• Bank of England Independence
• Financial Crisis
• 2010-2016
• Brexit and COVID
• Being Chancellor.

Learning outcomes

You will learn alongside HM Treasury officials and take part in debates regarding economic policy making. By the end of the module, you will have achieved the following:

• A deep knowledge of the history of British economic policy and HM Treasury
• An understanding of the key themes and crises in British economic history
• An institutional knowledge of HM Treasury and Whitehall from practitioners
• A deep understanding via assessed coursework of a particular aspect of HM Treasury history.

The standard entry requirements comprise:

• A 2:2 honours degree or international equivalent,
• A CV and personal statement outlining your reasons for study,
• English language band B (for example, IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each skill).

Assessment

You will be assessed via coursework.

This is an on-campus module so you will be expected to attend in-person. Exact days and times will be provided upon enrolment.