We caught up with three of our amazing RHUL Econ Alumni to ask the for their experience of the value of combining an Economics degree with contemporary quantitative skills.

Mohammed Bentaleb, Senior Government Analyst 

“The Economics and Data Science degree at Royal Holloway is a unique course that closely aligns students with the skills they need to excel across a variety of industries. It is a response to the demand for graduates with strong data skills, combined with the analytical and literacy skills developed by Economics. 

As a recruiter of Data Analysts, this course demonstrates it is geared towards employability by using the industry standard tools (R and Python) as well as supporting students to develop a portfolio of work – this will undoubtedly give students the edge in their applications and interviews. 

This is the course I recommend for anyone aspiring to be a Data Analyst, Data scientist or Economist.” 

Idreece Khan, Senior Data Scientist at Revolut 

"I am delighted to extend my endorsement for the new undergraduate program in Economics and Data Science offered by the Royal Holloway Econ Department. This program seamlessly integrates economic principles with practical data science skills, providing students with a unique and in-demand skill set. The experienced faculty brings a blend of traditional economic knowledge and contemporary data-driven expertise. 

Having studied at Royal Holloway myself, I can attest that the academic environment and resources provided have been instrumental in shaping my career in data science." 

Sehr Shahid – Economist at HMRC 

“Gaining experience and understanding of statistical software throughout university has allowed me to be one step ahead when entering the world of work. Not only did I learn about R and how to use it effectively, but I began to familiarise myself with coding to a level where I could independently incorporate it in projects. This sets you apart when entering the job market. Being on the Civil Service Fast Stream as an Economist, having the prior understanding, knowledge and application of R has made it significantly easier to adapt and add value at a faster pace in my work. 

Data analysis skills are vital and the sooner you have quantitative training, the more value you can add throughout your career.”