Masters Degrees (Economics And Strategy)

You can start this MSc Economics degree in September or January. It can be tailored to two specialist fields: International Economics or Business and Financial Economics. On successful completion of this programme, you will graduate with one of the following degrees:

• Master of Economics
• Master of Economics (Business and Financial Economics)
• Master of Economics (International Economics).

Graduate market

There is increasing demand for economics graduates in business and public sector decision making. This demand is evident in national and international institutions, including:

• Central banks 
• Ministries and governmental departments
• International governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• Commercial and investment banks
• Rating agencies
• Research institutes and think-tanks
• Economics and business media
• Business and civil society organisations. 

All these employers increasingly look for high-quality, evidence-based decision makers with an ability in applied economics and advanced data analysis. Our Master's degree will enable you to respond to this increasing demand. 

What you'll learn

The programme combines solid training in theory and method with stimulating exposure to economics and financial data sources. We will prepare you to contribute to an international global economy and to respond to its policy changes. 

Our courses weave a three-way linkage between alternative theories of economics and finance, data analysis, and application of theory and method to policy and strategy issues in the world of economics, business and finance.

Our Master's degree has a number of distinctive features to enable you to combine theory and real word examples to develop evidence-based answers to economic and business problems. 

Outcomes

The aims of this degree are:

• Equip you with a sound knowledge of international economics, financial economics and business economics, improving your analytical and problem-solving skills
• Enable you to tackle problems creatively by helping you to think outside conventional boundaries
• Develop skills to seek deeper meaning of a theory or finding in a pluralistic fashion comparing theories and their policy implications
• Equip you with methods to analyse economic issues relevant to the real world
• Enable you to respond to the increasing demand for economics graduates by developing your skills and competence in economics.

Rankings

In 2015, Greenwich was named by The Economist as one of four institutions in the country leading the way on curriculum change.

We are proud to say that our economics subjects were ranked:

• First in London for student satisfaction in both the Guardian University Guide 2016 and the Complete University Guide 2017.
• Top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction by the Complete University Guide 2017.

Greenwich is one of the top two most globally diverse universities in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand, by Hotcourses Diversity Index.

We have also been named as one of the "most international" universities on the planet by Times Higher Education magazine.

What you'll study

Full time

Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

• Introduction to Economic Analysis and Quantitative Methods (20 credits)
• Applied Econometrics (30 credits)
• Microeconomics 1 (15 credits)
• Macroeconomics 1 (15 credits)
• Dissertation (40 credits).

Option courses

Students are required to choose 4 courses from this list of options.

• Microeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Macroeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of International Development (15 credits)
• Economics of European Integration and the UK (15 credits)
• Economics of Finance and Investment (15 credits)
• International Financial Markets (15 credits)
• Microfinance in International Development (15 credits).

For a Business and Financial Economics specialisation, you study the following courses in addition to the compulsory courses listed above.

• Microeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of Finance and Investment (15 credits)
• International Financial Markets (15 credits).

Students are required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

• Microfinance in International Development (15 credits)
• Economics of International Development (15 credits)
• Macroeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of European Integration and the UK (15 credits).

For an International Economics specialisation, you study the following courses in addition to the compulsory courses listed above.

• Macroeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of International Development (15 credits)
• Economics of European Integration and the UK (15 credits).

Students are required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

• Microfinance in International Development (15 credits)
• Microeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of Finance and Investment (15 credits)
• International Financial Markets (15 credits).

Part time

The courses listed above will be split across two years.

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The aim of this traditional taught Masters is to provide you with rigorous training in the analysis of economics, including quantitative techniques and research methods. On completion of this degree you will be equipped with the tools of the professional economist and will be ready for your chosen career path, whether in government, the private and financial services sectors or further research in economics.

You will study core course units in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics, as well as a range of optional courses to allow specialisation. You will be taught by a top-ranking Department of Economics with expertise in a wide set of areas and who produce world leading research.

With an intake of 25-30 places you will benefit from a strong sense of group-identity and enjoy close contact with the academic staff of the department. The course director serves as your personal advisor up until the spring and you will then be assigned a personal dissertation supervisor.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/economics/coursefinder/msceconomics.aspx

Why choose this course?

- The course offers an excellent opportunity to get a strong grounding in core areas of Economics and to specialise your knowledge further through the optional courses on offer.

- You will be taught by academics who produce world leading research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise we were ranked among the top 10 Economics Departments in the UK

- Students attend a two week pre-sessional quantitative methods course to ensure they are in a good position to start this challenging Masters course.

- Our graduates are highly employable: 90% of graduates from the Department of Economics were in full time employment or further study within six months of graduation.

- The Department has expertise in a wide set of areas, including Labour Economics, Experimental Economics, and Public Economics, and the topics taught on our Masters courses reflect these areas of excellence.

- The Department of Economics at Royal Holloway is unique in being a young department, created in 1995, in an established and prestigious college of the University of London.

- We are one of the few Departments in the UK to have an in-house economics experiments laboratory, used by staff and research students.

Department research and industry highlights

- Economics is among the top departments in the UK for Research Excellence. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 80% of the Department's research submitted was ranked as world-leading or internationally excellent (rated 3* and 4*).

- A recent analysis of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) shows that the Economics Department at Royal Holloway is the third best department in the UK for publications. The study by Jim Taylor and Ian Walker provides further insight into the research standing of UK economics departments. Previous rankings from the data already showed the Department in the top 10 in the UK.

- The Department displays strength across the core fields of the discipline - microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics – and in particular labour economics, development economics, experimental economics and economics history.

- We run a weekly Internal Seminar which provides a lively forum for work at an early stage of development. Our External Seminar Series runs weekly during term and welcomed over 20 external speakers from prominent places during last academic year. Invitees are the usual mixture of established names and newer entrants to the profession thought to be doing exciting work.

Course content and structure

The duration of the course is 12 months, including a compulsory pre-sessional mathematics refresher course and a dissertation written over the summer.

On completion of the course graduates will have:
- advanced training in the principles of economics and their application appropriate to postgraduate level

- developed the ability to apply the advanced knowledge, research methods and skills they have acquired to the solution of theoretical and/or applied problems in economic policy

- the ability to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline

- analytical skills and an ability to develop simplifying frameworks for studying the real world and to be able to appreciate what would be an appropriate level of abstraction for a range of economic issues

- a range of transferable skills that will be of value in employment and self-employment

- the knowledge and skills base from which they can proceed to research in economics and related areas.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.

Employability & career opportunities

90% of graduates from Royal Holloway, University of London’s Department of Economics were in full time employment or further study within six months of graduation.

Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different economics-related areas, including working in the Public Sector (Government Economics Service), journalism, business analysis. careers as Economists, Journalists and Business Analysts. Our graduates are currently working for firms such as Accenture, TNS, Bloomberg, Citigroup, Royal Bank of Scotland, Credit Suisse, Pricewaterhouse Cooper and Baker and Mackenzie. This course also equips you with the subject knowledge and a solid foundation for continued PhD studies.

Your careers ambitions are supported by our Careers Officer, Dr.Melanie Luhrmann as well as the College Careers Service, located right next door to the economics department. They offer application and interview coaching, career strategy discussions, and the opportunity to network with major employers on campus. Our careers service is provided by the Careers Group, the main provider of graduate recruitment services in London. Thus, you will have additional access to a wealth of presentations and networking opportunities.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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This programme prepares you for a career as an economist in business, financial markets and the public sector. Upon completing the programme you will be awarded the Master of Social Sciences degree, having demonstrated that you have developed many skills needed in your future career:
-Profound knowledge of economic theory and familiarity with scientific economic literature.
-The ability to apply economic theory to solving practical problems and interpreting economic phenomena.
-Familiarity with econometric methods and the ability to apply them to practical research problems.
-The ability to collect and interpret empirical data.
-The ability to communicate conclusions and assess the significance of the assumptions made for them.
-Fluency in communicating economic issues to different domestic and international audiences as well as the capability to work independently and in multidisciplinary cooperation.
-Readiness to assess your own professional performance and systematically develop it.
-Knowledge of sources of economic information and the ability to adopt new tools of economic analysis.

The programme comprises two tracks. The Research track is more demanding in that it gives more profound knowledge of economic theory and econometric methods than the General track. This track is particularly suitable if your goal is to pursue a doctoral degree in economics. Profound knowledge of economic theory and methods is also useful in many demanding careers as an economist.

The degree requirements in both tracks correspond to international standards, which will help you when finding employment and pursuing further studies towards a doctoral degree in Finland and globally.

The University of Helsinki will introduce annual tuition fees to foreign-language Master’s programmes starting on August 1, 2017 or later. The fee ranges from 13 000-18 000 euros. Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries, who do not have a permanent residence status in the area, are liable to these fees. You can check this FAQ at the Studyinfo website whether or not you are required to pay tuition fees: https://studyinfo.fi/wp2/en/higher-education/higher-education-institutions-will-introduce-tuition-fees-in-autumn-2017/am-i-required-to-pay-tuition-fees/

Programme Contents

The module of Economic Theory and Econometric Methods, which you will take in the autumn semester of your first year of study, is the foundation of the programme. It covers the central microeconomic and macroeconomic theory as well as basic econometric methods. After completing this module, you can choose from a wide selection of fields of economics to concentrate on. Optional studies consist of additional courses in economics, or other university-level courses. In addition, an internship or a labour market project is included in the degree requirements.

The programme mostly comprises lecture courses. The courses on economic theory and econometric methods consist of lectures and exercise sessions; for the most part they are completed by taking a written examination. Depending on the track, you take 3 to 4 field courses, selected based on your interests so that they form a meaningful whole. Additional field courses in economics can be included in the optional studies. In the field courses, you will be exposed to different teaching methods, such as problem-based learning and other group activities and seminars. Your grades in many field courses will be based on assignments, presentations and term papers in addition to a final examination.

Economics is a quantitative social science discipline, so you are expected to have good basic command of mathematics and statistics. Your skills in these areas will be systematically developed in this programme. Especially if you aim for a career as an economist or for doctoral studies, you are advised to include further methodological courses in your optional studies. In addition to mathematics and statistics, courses in computer science are recommended.

The structure of the programme is comparable to those of the Master's programmes in economics offered by the best international universities. It differs from the Master's programmes of the Finnish business schools in that the demanding courses in economic theory and econometrics comprise a greater proportion, and the goal is above all to prepare you for a career as an economist. The research track corresponds to Master's programmes in quantitative economics offered by some foreign universities. In line with our programme, the research track will prepare you for a career as an economist and for doctoral studies in economics.

Selection of the Major

The programme has two tracks:
-General track
-Research track

You select the track when applying for the programme: your choice will determine the degree requirements. The difference between the tracks is that the Research track aims at providing more profound knowledge of economic theory and econometric methods, whereas the General track emphasises fields and applications of economics, and it is possible to include more optional studies in the degree. The Research track prepares you for doctoral studies in economics, and its degree requirements contain most of the doctoral-level core courses in economic theory and econometrics. Taking these courses as part of the Master's degree helps you to graduate faster from the doctoral programme later. Graduates from the Research track are given precedence for the doctoral programme in economics at the University of Helsinki. The Research track is also recommended if you are interested in taking the more demanding core courses to acquire more profound knowledge of economics even if your goal is not to pursue doctoral studies.

Programme Structure

The programme comprises 120 credits (ECTS, European Credit Transfer System), and it is designed to be completed in two years. The degree requirements consist of the following modules (in the General / Research track):
Advanced studies (at least 90 ECTS / 100 ECTS)
-Economic theory and econometric methods (30 ECTS / 45 ECTS)
-Research skills (10 ECTS)
-Master's thesis (30 ECTS)
-Field courses in economics (at least 20 ECTS / 15 ECTS)

Internship or Labour market project (5 to 15 ECTS)

Optional studies (15 to 25 ECTS / 5 to 15 ECTS)

After completing the unit in economic theory and econometric methods, you select the fields in economics that you want to concentrate on. It is advisable for you to include further advanced field courses in economics or methodological courses in your optional studies. The study unit in research skills prepares you for writing the Master's thesis, and familiarises you with scholarly work in economics, research ethics and reporting research results. In addition, you prepare a research proposal for your thesis. Integrated into the studies, the degree requirements include drawing up a personal study plan, and career planning. An internship period, a labour market project or other studies aimed at developing employment skills are also included (5 to 15 ECTS so that the extent of these studies and the optional studies amount to 30 ECTS in the General track and to 20 ECTS in the Research track).

Career Prospects

The Master's Programme in Economics at the University of Helsinki prepares you for a career as an economist in business and the public sector. Economists are employed in administrative, planning and development duties requiring economic expertise in various national and international organisations. Examples include an analyst career involving risk management, asset pricing and investment strategy, jobs related to analysing the market, production and pricing in companies, assessment and planning of economic policy, and communication. Analytical skills and knowledge of quantitative methods will be of central importance in your work as an economist. In particular, economists find employment in government, financial institutions, central banks, national and international organisations, and business.

The Research track prepares you for particularly demanding careers. It is also an excellent path to doctoral studies in economics. It is advisable to select the field courses and the topic for your Master's thesis in view of your interests and career goals. An internship is a good chance to acquire work experience in your area of interest.

Internationalization

The atmosphere at the Helsinki Centre of Economic Research (HECER) is quite international, consisting of the Discipline of Economics and the departments of economics at Aalto University and the Hanken School of Economics. The staff regularly publish in international journals and collaborate with foreign researchers. There are also several regular research seminars on a number of fields, where mostly foreign visitors present their work. In addition, foreign researchers often pay longer visits to the HECER, and a large proportion of the graduate students come from abroad.

All courses in the programme are taught in English, and a large proportion of Master's theses are written in English. The staff have ample experience at universities abroad, and there are several foreigners among them. Foreign graduate students act as teaching assistants, and exchange students from the universities involved in the HECER regularly take the courses of the programme. You can include study units in foreign languages arranged by the Language Centre in the optional studies.

The degree requirements meet internationally unified standards in economics. The University of Helsinki has a number of agreements with foreign universities that enable you to visit them to gain international experience and take courses offered there. Courses taken at the master's level at universities abroad can replace field courses in economics in the degree requirements, and you can include other university-level courses in your optional studies. The most suitable time for a visit to a foreign university is in the spring semester of your first year of study after completing the core courses in economic theory and econometrics. You can also include an internship abroad as part of your studies.

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This two-year taught Masters provides you with an opportunity to study a portfolio of courses in the first year, designed to bring you up to the entry standard for the Master's degree; ideal if you have graduated from disciplines other than Economics, or if you have some background in Economics and wish to deepen your understanding of the discipline.

Subject to performance pre-requisites, at the end of the first year you will progress to the 1-year MSc in Economics, or on to other related MSc programmes of your choice.

The course will provide you with rigorous training in the analysis of economics, including quantitative techniques and research methods. On completion of this degree you will be equipped with the tools of the professional economist and ready for your chosen career path, whether in government, the private and financial services sectors or further research in Economics.

In the first year you will study undergraduate level courses in three core areas: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Quantitative Methods. You will also select either one or two (depending on their credit value) optional courses from a wide range on offer. In the second year, subject to progression, you will study at Masters level.

You will be taught by a top-ranking Department of Economics with expertise in a wide set of areas and who produce world leading research.

With an intake of only 10 places you will benefit from a strong sense of group identity and enjoy close contact with the academic staff of the Department. The course director serves as your personal advisor up until the spring of the second year, where you will then be assigned a personal dissertation supervisor.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/economics/coursefinder/msceconomics2yearprogramme.aspx

Why choose this course?

- The course is ideal if you have graduated from a discipline other than Economics or wish to deepen your understanding of the discipline.

- The course offers an excellent opportunity to get a strong grounding in core areas of Economics and to specialise your knowledge further through the wide range of optional courses on offer.

- You will be taught by academics who produce world leading research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise we were ranked among the top 10 Economics Departments in the UK.

- Our graduates are highly employable; 90% of graduates from the Department of Economics were in full-time employment or further study within 6 months of graduation.

- Our courses are small and select, the 2-year course is limited to 10 students, thus ensuring that you will receive individual attention from the academic staff.

- The Department has expertise in a wide set of areas, including Labour Economics, Experimental Economics, and Public Economics, and the topics taught on our Masters courses reflect these areas of excellence.

- We are one of the few Departments in the UK to have an in-house economics experiments laboratory, used by staff and research students.

Department research and industry highlights

- Economics is among the top departments in the UK for Research Excellence. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 80% of the Department's research submitted was ranked as world-leading or internationally excellent (rated 3* and 4*).

- A recent analysis of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) shows that the Economics Department at Royal Holloway is the third best department in the UK for publications. The study by Jim Taylor and Ian Walker provides further insight into the research standing of UK economics departments. Previous rankings from the data already showed the Department in the top 10 in the UK.

- The Department produces top research across the main fields of the discipline and has particular strength in applied work.

- We run a weekly Internal Seminar which provides a lively forum for work at an early stage of development. Our External Seminar Series runs weekly during term and welcomed over 20 external speakers from prominent places during last academic year. Invitees are the usual mixture of established names and newer entrants to the profession thought to be doing exciting work.

Course content and structure

The duration of the course is 2 years. In year one you will study for 9 months (September to May) and start year two in in the following September. Year two begins with a compulsory two week mathematics refresher course prior to lectures and seminars starting. The dissertation is written over the summer.

On completion of the course graduates will have:
- advanced training in the principles of economics and their application appropriate to postgraduate level

- developed the ability to apply the advanced knowledge, research methods and skills they have acquired to the solution of theoretical and/or applied problems in economic policy

- the ability to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline

- analytical skills and an ability to develop simplifying frameworks for studying the real world and to be able to appreciate what would be an appropriate level of abstraction for a range of economic issues

- a range of transferable skills that will be of value in employment and self-employment

- the knowledge and skills base from which they can proceed to research in economics and related areas.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.

Employability & career opportunities

90% of graduates from the Economics Department at Royal Holloway University were in full time employment or further study within six months of graduation.

Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different Economic-related areas, including working in the Public Sector (Government Economic Service), journalism, and business analysis. Our graduates are currently working for firms such as Accenture, Barclays, TNS, Bloomberg, Citigroup, Royal Bank of Scotland, Credit Suisse, Pricewaterhouse Cooper and Baker and Mackenzie. This course also equips you with the subject knowledge and a solid foundation for continued PhD studies.

You career ambitions are supported by our Careers Executive, Dr. Melanie Luhrmann as well as the College Careers Service, located right next door to the economics department. They offer application and interview coaching, career strategy discussions, and the opportunity to network with major employers on campus. Our careers service is provided by the Careers Group, the main provider of graduate recruitment services in London. Thus you will have additional access to a wealth of presentations and networking opportunities.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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Drawing on the strength of teaching and cutting‑edge research at Imperial College Business School, MSc Economics & Strategy for Business (ESB) prepares students for a dynamic career in business. You’ll learn to apply analytical techniques to the decision making process and develop an understanding of the relationship between strategic management and core business activities.

Technology is an integral part of our programme. A range of teaching innovations will enhance your learning and bring digital media, particularly social media, into the classroom.

The Programme

The programme consists of three distinct phases:

The ESB core
Consisting of six modules in the autumn term, the ESB core provides you with a broad understanding of the tools required for economics and strategy. You’ll strengthen your understanding of the key economic frameworks and principles in relation to both macroeconomics and business economics. Core modules include:
• Analytics for Applied Economics and Business
• Business Economics
• Corporate Strategy
• Economics and Strategy for Innovation
• Accounting
• Strategic Marketing

The ESB advantage
Comprised of five modules, this phase of the programme in the spring term builds on the ESB core to deepen your understanding. It is designed to help you develop your skills in strategic and innovative thinking and your ability to consider strategic implications for
specific organisations. Advantage modules include:
• Corporate Finance
• Information, Incentives and Contracts
• Macroeconomics for Business
• Risk Management and Corporate Governance
• Global Strategy

ESB applications
In the summer term, ESB applications provides you with practical experience, applying theories that you have learned to real‑world cases. You will work on a business simulation, allowing you to integrate your learning with a focus on decision making. The Consulting Project, undertaken for a real client, will enable you to apply the programme material to the solution of a live problem. Application modules include:
• Business Simulation
• Digital Economics and Digital Strategy
• Energy Economics and Strategy
• Strategy Implementation

Students on this programme will participate in career and professional development workshops in the month of September, with continuing careers support and workshops throughout the programme year.

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Behavioural economics applies psychological insights into human behaviour to explain how real people make economic decisions.

Who is it for?

The course is suitable for recent graduates in economics, psychology and related social science or quantitative disciplines who are looking to develop a career in the fast-paced world of behavioural economics, either in the public or private sector.

As the course is offered in full-time and part-time modes, it is also suited to professionals who want to enhance their theoretical knowledge and practical skills and would benefit from an academic environment.

Objectives

Behavioural economics applies psychological insights into human behaviour to investigate how people make economic decisions under various conditions of constraint (e.g. time and knowledge) and influence (e.g. social pressure). This is an important field in modern economics, and the social sciences more generally.

Commercial organisations have long known the limitations of individual decision making and they routinely use this knowledge in their commercial practices (e.g. anchoring effect of minimum payment on credit cards). The practical implications of behavioural economics are varied and significant, and acknowledged to provide a powerful and cost-effective approach to improving human welfare.

The Behavioural Economics MSc will develop your skills and knowledge to prepare you for a wide variety of roles in the private or public sector that require a solid understanding of human behaviour.

Teaching and learning

The modules are taught by lecturers from the economics and psychology department with research interests in behavioural economics.

In each module you will receive typically 30 hours of face-to-face contact, supported by online resources (e.g., videos and advanced readings provided on the learning platform Moodle) for your self-directed study. You will be required to take responsibility for your own learning and to take advantage of the learning opportunities offered (e.g., invited speakers programme and online resources). The learning and teaching strategies for each module will expose you to a range of methods, comprising: lectures, guest lectures, seminars, group work, workshops, small group discussions, tutorials, reflective reports and research project supervision.

Assessment

In order to assess your full range of learning, you will complete reflective reports, essays, examinations, interpretation of statistical analyses, formal research proposals and a research dissertation. Most individual modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and examinations. In addition, you will be directed to independent study and receive detailed feedback on your coursework as an aid to your further learning. These different forms of assessment have the aim of assessing your knowledge, skills and appreciation in different areas of behavioural economics (e.g., theoretical knowledge and applied aspects of behavioural techniques).

Modules

Full-time students take four modules in each of the first two terms, followed by a written research dissertation in the third term.

Most of the modules are structured as a combination of two-hour lectures (to present information) and one-hour seminars or clinics (to understand and assimilate lecture material) or lab sessions. Teaching and learning is enhanced by technology-supported resources, and teaching staff are available for one-to-one interaction and feedback.

It is expected that full-time students will spend about three hours in lectures/seminars plus self-directed, independent study hours for each module per week. You should also expect to attend seminars given by invited speakers and seminars on dissertation writing (about one to two hours per week).

Your workload might vary from week to week.

Term 1
-Principles of Economics
-Cognitive and Economic Science of Rational Choice
-Psychological Processes: Individual and Social
-Behavioural Research Methods: Design and Analysis

Term 2
-Experimental Economics and Game Theory
-Fundamentals of Cognitive Science
-Applied Econometric and Psychological Research Methods
-Professional Aspects of Behavioural Economics

Term 3
-Research Dissertation
Students with a strong background in Economics may substitute 'Principles of Economics' with a microeconomics module from one of the MSc programmes offered by the Department of Economics. You may also substitute an appropriate elective from one of the MSc modules offered by the Department of Economics for 'Professional Aspects of Behavioural Economics' - this will allow a pathway through the programme that is focused on theoretical and research economic themes.

Career prospects

Whilst there is not yet a specific occupation of 'behavioural economist', the knowledge and skills acquired are highly valuable in a range of sectors:
-Economic consultants undertaking marketing activities
-Health economics consultants developing sales/markets for products (from branded medicines to health insurance schemes)
-Public policy specialist who advises on the choice architecture of decision making (e.g., transport decisions)
-Political campaigns and public relations more generally
-General marketing, sales and consumer psychology (preferences, sensitivity to incentives, and default behaviour)
-Brand awareness consultancies
-Financial trading and risk assessment
-Internet auction companies
-Design consultancies (e.g. websites)
-In large international institutions, e.g. World Bank, EBRD, Central Banks etc.

City’s Behavioural Economics postgraduate course would be especially valuable for professionals who already work in occupations which involve the need to understand the scientific dynamics of human decision making and behaviour (e.g., financial traders who require the right psychological attitude as much as appropriate strategy knowledge).

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MSc in Economics

• You need an undergraduate knowledge of economics, finance, mathematics or statistics.
• The new focus of the programme in Economics is to provide a self-contained, rigorous but relevant learning experience that prepares students either to start employment at a senior level in a wide variety of economics-related activities or to pursue further research.
• Advanced rigorous training in essential elements of an economics Masters degree (macroeconomics, microeconomics, econometrics) is combined with a very wide variety of applications, all taught in very small groups (6 - 12 students).
• Students wishing to pursue a PhD programme will have a bespoke study plan, with the direct supervision of a member of staff with expertise in the student’s specific chosen field.

See the website http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/pg/taught-programmes/economics/

Features

* An academic team of 30 composed of world-leading specialists in Behavioural Economics, Decision Theory, Econometrics, Development, Growth, Finance, International Economics, Monetary Policy, and Strategy.

* You will enhance your analytical and decision-making abilities through training in problem solving, specifically through the use of quantitative and model-based methods of analysis.

* Dissertations are supervised on an individual basis by members of staff with internationally recognised expertise.

* Regular seminars and workshops bring you into contact with cutting edge research.

* Entry is competitive and entrance standards are high.

* These qualifications have taken previous students to a wide range of career opportunities across the globe.

Economics and finance are broad and important research fields linking almost all aspects of human activity: running a business, purchasing stocks and bonds, managing a charity, taking on a job, getting married, regulating an industry, administering a loan and so on. Despite this diversity the key concept is simple: economic agents act in pursuit of their own interests and this simple and unifying concept can be rigorously applied in many areas of research. These extend from core areas like macroeconomics, the business enterprise, and household behaviour, to areas such as innovation, taxation, the environment, quality of life, financial markets, the business cycle and inflation.

Economics and finance is expanding and changing at St Andrews and we have recently welcomed a number of new lecturing staff adding to our cosmopolitan staff. We bring understanding and excitement from the latest cutting-edge research into the teaching of all our postgraduate degree programmes. Our emphasis on smaller group teaching allows a high level of interaction between both students and teachers, encouraging a warm and friendly learning environment. We also offer an opportunity for our postgraduates to engage with our enthusiastic undergraduates via the School’s tutorial system. We encourage our postgraduates to take a full part in our guest lecturer seminar series and to attend international events, so broadening their interests and enabling exploration of the
widest application of economic theories.

Location

St Andrews has a tradition in economics and finance dating back over one hundred years.The School of Economics & Finance is located in Castlecliffe, a beautiful Edwardian mansion on The Scores, overlooking the delightful St Andrews Bay. Many of our students enjoy the rural pursuits on our doorstep with the opportunity to venture out to the mountains and even ski in the Cairngorms in the winter months.

Teaching

Our modules are delivered through traditional lectures and supported by a combination of tutorials, seminars or computer laboratory work, as appropriate. Choosing your individual syllabus is important and is done in personal consultation with your course director. You will be assessed by both continuous assessment and examinations, with exams held at the end of each semester. Students who complete the taught component, but not the dissertation, are eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma.

Each module typically has 20 lecture contact hours, and four seminar/ workshop/ tutorial contact hours (there is some variation by specific module design). Assessment is typically 50% by continuous assessment and 50% by two-hour examination (there is some variation in format by module design). Intensive independent study is expected of all students.

Careers

There is a long-standing tradition of our graduates working in a wide variety of challenging and rewarding posts, in economics, finance, commerce, insurance, industry, academia, diplomatic service, and banking. They work in the UK, Europe, and North America, and more frequently in locations such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand.

Some more widely recognised graduates in Economics and Finance from St Andrews have included: Professor Sir Alan Peacock, Professor Ian Wooton, Professor Grant Baird, Professor Sheila Dow, Alex Pratt OBE, Alex Salmond former First Minister.

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The course is designed to give you a thorough background in the latest advances in theoretical and mathematical financial economics.

Who is it for?

This course is designed for anyone who wants to undertake rigorous training in financial economics and mathematics, either immediately after completion of an undergraduate degree or as a mid-career professional.

You have the option of studying full-time over the course of one year or part-time over the course of two.

Objectives

The aim of this course is to develop your critical and analytical abilities in mathematics and economics and to prepare you academically for a career as a financial economist or quantitative analyst.

The dissertation track also serves as a stepping stone to an Economics or Finance PhD.

Teaching and learning

The Financial Economics MSc course is delivered through a flexible combination of lectures, seminars and computer lab sessions. Lectures introduce you to the key theories, concepts and economic models. In seminars you have the opportunity to solve applied problems, analyse case studies and make presentations of research published in leading academic journals.

The computer labs provide you with practical experience of using computer software to perform calculations and conduct realistic simulations. In addition, econometric methods are taught in lab sessions, so you have the opportunity to apply econometric software to empirical research and financial market estimations.

When appropriate, "practitioner slots" - such as research seminars conducted by external financial experts, presentations by invited academics etc. - will be incorporated into module delivery.

We also offer pre-sessional induction courses on economic analysis for students who need to build up their background in the fundamental aspects of financial economics.

Teaching takes place over two terms, from September to June. Full-time students who pass all the taught modules during the main exam sessions finish the programme at the end of September when they submit their dissertation or literature review. Full-time students who successfully complete the taught modules in the August resit exam session submit their dissertation or literature review in December.

Part-time students complete there modules over the course of four terms from September to June before undertaking their dissertation or literature review.

Assessment

Assessments are a combination of unseen written examinations (70% for each module) and coursework (30% for each module).

Modules

You will take two 30 credit taught modules, four 15 credit taught modules and will accrue 60 extra credits through one of the following routes:
-Literature survey: two extra elective taught modules of 15 credits each and a literature survey (Economics Literature Survey) worth 30 credits
-Dissertation: a 60 credit dissertation (Economics Research Project).

Note: It is not possible to give exact hours per week because these can vary from one term to the other depending on which electives the students choose.

Dissertation route modules
Core modules:
-Financial Markets (30 credits)
-Econometrics (30 credits)
-Economics Research project (60 credits)

Literature survey route modules
Core modules:
-Financial Markets (30 credits)
-Quantitative Methods (30 credits)
-Economics Literature Survey (30 credits)

Elective modules:
-Economics of Regulation and Competition (15 credits)
-The Economics of Micro-Finance (15 credits)
-Economics and Business Strategy (15 credits)

Electives
On the dissertation route you will choose two modules from group one and one module from group two. On the literature survey route you will choose two modules from group one, two modules from group two and two further electives from either group or from the route specific electives.
Group one
-Financial Derivatives (15 credits)
-Asset Pricing (15 credits)
-Corporate Finance (15 credits)

Group two
-Quantitative Finance with Matlab (15 credits)
-International Macroeconomics (15 credits)
-Corporate |nvestment under Uncertainty (15 credits)

Career prospects

On completing the Masters in Financial Economics course you will have a range of employment possibilities, to some extent determined by the electives you choose.

For example, you may work in the financial industry as a consultant, banker, quantitative analyst, or in the health industry as a financial analyst, or in any industry that requires a financial or industry analyst.

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Business and Austrian economics

This new master’s program combines high-level economics with application-oriented courses in business and finance. Economics is thereby taught based on the foundations of the Austrian School. Entrepreneurial Economics is the first English-taught master’s program in Europe that is solidly rooted in the Austrian tradition. However, besides the Austrian focus this program also committed to methodological pluralism, since all relevant schools of thought are included in the curriculum.

Austrian economics, by its very nature, is entrepreneurial economics. No other school of thought investigates markets under the paradigm of human action and constant change. Combining classes in business and Austrian economics is thus a natural step. Together, they build a first-class education portfolio that teaches theoretical understanding, entrepreneurial thinking and independent decision making. These skills, in combination with the general analytical competence that this program conveys, lay the foundation for many promising career paths.

The program

The core of this program is formed by a comprehensive education in Austrian Economics. This school of thought – rooted in the Vienna of the late 19th century – provides until today the most comprehensive approach to the social sciences. Humans are generally being regarded as individual entrepreneurs who influence their living conditions trough target-oriented actions.

This paradigm sharply contrasts with the model of the “homo oeconomicus”, which is central to mainstream economics. The homo oeconomicus allows for a mathematization of economics, but at the same time overemphasizes equilibrium thought, thus leaving no room for entrepreneurial actions. The Austrian School, in contrast, makes the „homo agens“ the centerpiece of analysis and thus assumes a process-oriented view. Instead of mathematical formalization the conceptual analysis of human action becomes the dominant scientific principle. Using this approach the Austrian School develops a holistic and philosophical understanding of economics.

The main goal of this program is to convey this economic understanding to students so as to shape entrepreneurial personalities who are able to think both theoretically and application-oriented. In assuming the Austrian perspective entrepreneurial spirit is stimulated immensely, since this perspective is directly linked to independent thinking and a liberal social philosophy. Beyond that, this study program comprises an application-oriented part that focuses on the relevant methods of business management and thus offers the best possible preparation for a professional career. The degree of practice orientation can be further increased if a student decides to do an internship instead of a research project or if he decides to write the master´s thesis in cooperation with a company. Also, special leadership trainings as well as extracurricular studies are offered so as to further support the development of entrepreneurial personalities.

Also from an academic point of view this program is highly ambitious. It intentionally refuses to adopt the methodological imperative that characterizes modern mainstream economics, but rather takes students to the research frontier in Austrian Economics. At the same time, however, the program does not limit itself to explaining the Austrian perspective, but also teaches competing ideas and approaches, such as, for example, the neoclassical or the Keynesian view. Thereby, the students gain a unique methodological expertise and learn to understand the originality of the respective approaches. With such knowledge they are well prepared to pursue a Ph.D., as science generally commences with an understanding of the controversies that govern the debate. In addition, having completed this program, the students also possess economic knowledge that is significantly superior to the formal training of mainstream economists.

Careers

The graduates of this program are highly qualified for various professions in the private sector. With their deep understanding of the economy the graduates of this program have a particular strategic competency and are therefore suitable for numerous tasks within consultancy firms, strategy departments, and medium-sized businesses, who all seek independent-minded people.

Such strategic competencies are especially important in the area of change management, a field that is nowadays often addressed using “Embedded Entrepreneurial Teams”. Economists with a profound knowledge of the financial and banking system are also sought after in the finance sector. The graduates of this program are well-prepared to start a career in any of these areas because they are able to critically discuss various opinions and provide strong and convincing arguments. In general, however, the graduates with a master´s degree in Entrepreneurial Economics and Management should consider themselves as entrepreneurs on their own behalves with personal business goals and ideas that they can put into practice.

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The purpose of the MSc in International Business Economics at Coventry Business School is to provide you with the opportunity to investigate the complexities of and challenges facing today’s world markets.

The course enables you to examine in depth, critical issues in international business economics at a time of continuing turbulence in the global economy. The course structure takes a holistic approach, exploring the synergies between economic theory and practice, finance and international business.

The course has a strong focus on key economic modules with a dissertation specialized in economic areas. Furthermore, the course is designed to include two mandatory modules in finance and one mandatory module in business and strategy, enabling the student to show competence in both international business and finance field.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

The course will appeal equally to those of you with a general background in economics who wish to specialise further in international and financial economics and those from a wide disciplines who wish to pursue a career in international business. By choosing this course range of non-economics you will benefit from the ability to:
-Critically apply economic tools to the challenging management problems associated with international business decision making
-Examine and assess different aspects of the global business environment and provide insights into the operation of international organisations and financial services
-Demonstrate competency in advanced skill sets in economics, finance and international business, essential to the career development of global business managers

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

These courses are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new developments and the requirements of the profession, needs of industry and government legislation.

Semester 1
-International Macroeconomics for Business
-Economics of Strategic Management
-Corporate Finance
-Quantitative Methods

Semester 2
-Economics of Emerging Markets
-Business Economics and the European Union
-International Business and Global Strategy
-International Financial Markets
-Research Methods

Semester 3
-Dissertation
OR
-Company Internship

HOW WILL THIS COURSE ENHANCE MY CAREER PROSPECTS?

Graduates from the MSc in International Business Economics will be well informed to face the challenges of managers working in international financial and business markets in the twenty first century. In addition having completed successfully the MSc in International Business Economics degree you will be well placed to embark on further graduate level study towards a PhD in the area of global economics.

WORK PLACEMENTS

We offer the opportunity to undertake a work placement or internship as part of this course.

GLOBAL LEADERS PROGRAMME

To prepare students for the challenges of the global employment market and to strengthen and develop their broader personal and professional skills Coventry University has developed a unique Global Leaders Programme.

The objectives of the programme, in which postgraduate and eligible undergraduate students can participate, is to provide practical career workshops and enable participants to experience different business cultures.

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Objectives

INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY TRIP WITH A PEDAGOGICAL OBJECTIVE

USA 2016 - http://en.grenoble-em.com/msc-ise-residency-trip-silicon-valley

The aim of the MSc Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship's master degree is to provide a framework and a toolkit for future managers and entrepreneurs to identify, assess and manage business opportunities in either their own companies or in existing organizations.

The program reflects the realities of the global environment and provides general management courses together with highly specialized modules in the areas of Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship.

A word from the Program Director

"Innovation and Entrepreneurship are everywhere in our daily lives: smart cities, internet society, the digital economy, big data and design thinking, to name only a few. The consequences are huge: we will no longer buy – we will use! We will no longer manufacture - we will print with 3D printing!

After the Internet of People with mobile internet technology and applications, the next wave will be the Internet of Things called : IoT with news applications, new behaviors, and above all new business models. You have to discover and learn the causes and impacts of IoT in the next decade.

The MSc in Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship is a convergent Master-level program designed for students who want to prepare themselves for the tectonic shift in the way we live and work. Companies and organizations, already responding to the challenges of tomorrow, project hiring graduates who have learned to navigate through the new landscape of innovation and strategy. See the opportunities got by the graduates in Employability section - http://en.grenoble-em.com/msc-innovation-strategy-and-entrepreneurship#Entreprise

If you want to broaden your theoretical knowledge while gaining practical experience in the working world, network with today's leading industry experts and tomorrow's game-changers, create your own business or help companies face tomorrow's challenges head-on, this program was designed for you! You will be challenged by an intensive, rigorous curriculum, taught by acclaimed academics and professional experts, and learn from your fellow students – a truly international group – through teamwork and intensive real-life case studies.

If you are ready to embark on this adventure and be part of this unique experience in Grenoble, heart of the French Alps and France's capital of innovation and entrepreneurship, come and join us!"

Marie-France Derderian, MSc Innovation, Strategy and Entrpreneurship Program Director

Program

In addition to its proximity to research-intensive, international companies (STMicroelectronics, Hewlett-Packard) and scientific organizations (the micro and nanotechnology innovation center GIANT Minatec (http://www.minatec.org/) - the French Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (http://english.cea.fr/english-portal) and LETI (http://www-leti.cea.fr/en/Discover-Leti/Innovation-platforms)), this program also comes from a top quality international teaching team made up of academics and professionals, thus creating an atmosphere supportive of teaching, learning, creative thinking and research.

The program’s main objective is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to the field of Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship

The program corresponds to the realities of the global management environment by offering highly-specialized courses in the fields as well as courses relating to general management and business, thus extending the intellectual understanding of Innovation, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship as a discipline.

PROGRAM ORGANIZATION

Students will be required to attend the program full-time for one academic year from September to June the following year.

Following the classroom portion of the program, students will complete a Final Management Project on a topic of their choice related to the program content. Students may complete the project while participating in an internship or full-time employment.

1) General Management and the Corporate Environments

- Finance for Managers
- Cross Cultural Communication and Negotiation
- Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Issues in Business
- Managing IT for Success
- Leadership, Team Building and Managerial Creativity
- Project Management
- Legal Environment of International Business
- Economics
- Accounting for Managers

2) Innovation Management

- Introduction to Innovation
- Creativity and Innovation
- Innovation Through Design
- Marketing High Tech and Innovation
- Managing Business and Innovation Networks

3) Strategy

- Strategic Management
- Microeconomics of Competitiveness (Harvard)
- Mergers, New Acquisitions and Restructuring
- Strategic Marketing and Marketing Planning

4) Entrepreneurship

- Introduction to Entrepreneurship
- New Venture Business Planning
- Entrepreneurship and Business Opportunities
- Small and Family Business
- Digital Marketing for Entrepreneurs

*Content subject to change.

At the end of the classroom portion of the program, each student will be required to complete a Final Management Project of approximately 20,000 words in length under the guidance of a GGSB professor.

In order to successfully complete the Final Management Project, students are required to address a particular research question or knowledge gap in their field of study.

This research should be business-oriented and coherent with the program’s objectives. A student may choose to write the Final Management Project on a topic grounded in his or her internship experience.

Live Business Cases

LIVE BUSINESS CASES 2015-2016 - http://en.grenoble-em.com/live-business-cases-msc-innovation

During this program, participants will have the opportunity to become real-life business developers by exploring a Live Business Case provided by companies working in partnerships with the MSc Innovation, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship program. Students will work in groups and delve deeply into their cases during the seven months from October to June under the supervision of a GGSB coach.The Live Business Cases are launched by a briefing given by the company.

LIVE BUSINESS CASES WILL COVER:

- Innovation, entrepreneurship, and management issues from an integrated, holistic perspective.
- A capstone opportunity for students to apply theoretical principles from coursework and lectures.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE LIVE BUSINESS CASE, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:

- Build a company analysis
- Select and apply a methodology, and make useful and efficient recommendations.
- Understand the Business Development process
- Provide critical analysis
- Make strategic decisions
- Work in a small multicultural group under time constraints
- Produce compelling written and oral presentations
- Demonstrate communication, negotiation and leadership skills

At the end of the seven-month Live Business Case, each group will produce a written report and make an oral presentation to the Jury and other groups from the program. The Jury consists of the company coach, the school coach, and the program director.

MANAGERIAL CREATIVITY : A METHOD OF SELF MANAGEMENT BY THE STUDENTS

This course/workshop is an introduction to all group assignments to be carried out all through the year. In order to help you to be efficient when working in small groups, you need to know not only your personal strengths and improvement points but also those of your class.

By discovering them during this course, you will be able to imagine together how to leverage the strengths of your class and how to manage your improvement points. You have to manage the classroom as a company, so we will appoint different representatives in charge of the main aspects of the construction of the class as a performing team: event manager, class representative, timekeeper, project leader, MSc community leader, and Alumni communication and coordination manager. These representatives and their teams will draft an action plan for the coming year.

Foreign Languages

Foreign language skills are essential in business today and the program is taught in English but provides the possibility to learn a foreign language at the same time. No prior knowledge of French is required to attend the program. Non-French speakers may study French. Native and fluent French speakers will have the possibility to choose from Spanish or Chinese. The language component is not compulsory.

Careers

The students following the MSc Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship generally wish to prepare for careers as:

- R&D Managers
- Project Managers
- B to B Product Managers
- Business Engineers
- Business Developers

Or in the following fields:

- Biotech
- High Tech IT
- Start-ups

CAREERS

Graduates of the MSc Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship program hold positions in a variety of sectors all over the world:

- Guillermo, Venezuela: Product Manager - Organizacion Palo Alto
- Huwein, China: Project Manager, Reverse Innovation - Biomerieux
- Amit, UK: EMEIA Product Marketing - Apple
- Alexandre, France: Business Analyst and Pricing Expert - Schneider
- Nikolay, Russia: Analyst - International Innovation Nanotechnology Center
- Nikos, Greece: Business Developer - Intralot
- Agostino, Canada: Associate - Kachan and Co.
- Mayur, Singapore: Executive Business Development - Adnai Mining
- Khodor, France: Digital Marketing Manager - Eurocopter

Admission

This program is designed for recent graduates from any background as well as managers or entrepreneurs willing to develop and manage technological and business opportunities.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

- Bachelor-level undergraduate degree in any subject with a good grade average
- No past work experience necessary
- Fluency in English - see test requirements below.
- The GMAT is not required for this program.

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What is the 'Master of Economics' all about?

The Master of Economics programme offers students with a bachelor's degree a theoretical framework, allowing them to provide well-grounded answers to socio-economic questions. As an economist, you will observe the various players (individuals, companies, domestic and foreign governments) and their interactions within the global economy. You will be able to interpret the general economic situation in a wider social and legal context.

The programme consists of a common core of two programme units and a master's thesis.

You select one of the three majors:

• General Economics
• Research in Economics
• Financial Economics

Truly international

The Faculty of Economics and Business has close links with top business schools around the world, such as Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, University of Cardiff in the UK, Hanken in Finland, SKEMA Business School in France, the University of Illinois in the United States, the University of Sydney and het University of Adelaide in Australia, Queen's University in Canada, Tsinghua and Fudan University in China, PUC in Brazil, City University of Hong Kong and many more institutions both in Europe and overseas.

For Student MSc in Business Economics, the faculty offers an additional semester at one of these destinations after completing 2 semesters in Leuven. Make your experience truly international by studying in different parts of the world.

Is this the right programme for me?

• You have an interest in the dynamics of economy and society.
• You have an ability to analyse, synthesise and interpret.
• You have a positive scientific attitude and you are critical and creative.

Students should have a solid academic background in economics or business, including the most important domains in economics or business/management (such as macro and microeconomics), mathematics and statistics. Students should also be familiar with more general themes necessary for understanding the evolutions in the business world and be able to relate these evolutions to the broader social, juridical, political and societal context.

Objectives

The Master of Economics programme aims to transfer an economic-science based structured reasoning about individual, interpersonal and social phenomena, so that the student is able to autonomously formulate an answer to questions or developments that the society/sector/company is facing.

The training aims knowledge, to provide understanding, skills and attitudes required to achieve recognition, structuring and solve complex economic issues in their contextual environment. In addition, the training aims the ability and skills to communicate and to report economic analysis and solutions and to test the results in an explicit ethical value framework.

Exit qualifications of the programme:

The student masters the general framework of economic analysis, the conceptual and methodological principles of economic science and can therefore recognize economic problems.

The student can - by means of economic research methods and techniques - carry out, independently and in teams as well - a complete analysis of economic problems. This includes: formulating the problem, selecting of information, master mathematical and econometric methods, setting up a research-based strategy, reporting and presentation of the research and the results, including the possible policy recommendations.

Career perspectives

As a graduate, you will have a very informed perspective on society as a whole. Moreover, you will be equipped to address social problems in an economically and socially sound way. Thanks to the expertise and flexibility acquired throughout the course of the programme, you will be qualified for employment in a variety of contexts, including:

• Policy development in sectors in which decision making is highly dependent on the external economic context: government research centres, professional associations, large enterprises and international organisations.
• Problem solution and implementation in managerial positions involving external communication, i.e. government departments, public institutions, international organisations, financial services, companies and social organisations.
• Critical reflection on and transfer of knowledge in education and basic scientific research

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Sophisticated politics involves communication, strategy and manipulation of the political agenda.

This programme engages you in the practical issues of political delivery. The areas of political communication, political leadership, strategy, crisis management, political branding, and public relations are all the leading vocational aspects of a developed academic understanding of politics and international relations. It is an area of growing importance that distinguishes our graduates as policy-relevant, engaged thinkers in the political arena.

- Extended programme

The extended programme allows students the opportunity to study their subject in greater detail, choosing a wider range of modules, and also provides the opportunity to spend one term at the Canterbury campus. The extended programme is ideal for students who require extra credits, or would like to have more time to pursue an internship.

Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/59/political-strategy-and-communication

Brussels School of International Studies

The Brussels School of International Studies (BSIS) is a multidisciplinary postgraduate School of the University of Kent bringing together the disciplines of politics, international relations, law and economics to provide in-depth analysis of international problems such as conflict, security, development, migration and the political economy and legal basis of a changing world order.

We are a truly international School, our students are drawn from over 50 countries. The strong international composition of our staff and student body contributes significantly both to the academic as well as to the social experience at BSIS. The value-added of a location in Brussels is the opportunity to expose students of international issues to the working of major international organisations such as the EU and NATO and the many international and non-governmental organisations based in Brussels. Students have the added opportunity of undertaking an internship with one of these organisations.

Course structure

We are committed to offering flexible study options at the School and enable you to tailor your degree to meet your needs by offering start dates in September and January; full- and part-time study; split-site options, and allowing students to combine two fields of study leading to a degree that reflects both disciplines.

The MA in Political Strategy and Communication allows students to choose secondary areas of specialisation from the range of programmes offered at BSIS (http://www.kent.ac.uk/brussels/studying/index.html). Thus, a focused programme of study can be constructed by studying Political Strategy and Communication in the context of International Relations; International Conflict and Security; Human Rights Law, and other subject areas we cover.

This leads to the award of an MA degree in, for example, 'Political Strategy and Communication with Human Rights Law'.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

- provide you with a research-active teaching environment which provides a good grounding in the study of social science in general, in political strategy, and in the communication of political positions in particular

- offer you a critical perspective of the interplay between international relations and European politics as they relate to the process of creating a strategy for dealing with political issues, and communicating effectively the issues and positions on the basis of that strategy, in order to influence outcomes at the European and national levels

- ensure that you acquire a solid understanding of methodologies for the study of social science in general, and in the application of those understandings to the study of political strategy in particular

- ensure that you acquire a solid understanding of major theoretical approaches to policymaking and policy analysis, the historical development of the contemporary European policy landscape, and the application of theoretical and historical knowledge to the analysis and understanding of contemporary issues and cases in the field, with particular emphasis on the manner in which policies, positions, perspectives, and attitudes are communicated

- ensure that you acquire the necessary skills for an advanced assessment of contemporary problems in European politics, society, and economy, and their solutions

- develop your general research skills and personal skills (transferable skills).

Research areas

Our research interests span a broad spectrum of the discipline, with particular strengths in the fields of conflict analysis and resolution, political theory and European politics. The strength of the School’s research culture is reflected in the numerous books and articles published and in the existence of its three core research groups: Conflict, Security and Human Rights; Comparative Politics; and Political and Social Thought. We also host four University-recognised research centres: the Conflict Analysis Research Centre (CARC), the Global Europe Centre (GEC), the Centre for Critical Thought (CCT), and the Centre for Federal Studies (CFS).

All members of staff can supervise theses leading to research degrees. We encourage potential research students to refer to our postgraduate research handbook (pdf) for detailed information (http://www.kent.ac.uk/politics/postgraduates/research-programmes/pgrhandbook.pdf).

In 2011, the University successfully applied for ESRC recognition as a provider of doctoral training in political science and international studies (and other areas of the social sciences) as part of a consortium. As a result, we are now part of the South East ESRC Doctoral Training Centre, making us one of the key training outlets in our subject in the UK.

Careers

The School of Politics and International Relations has a dedicated Employability, Placements and Internships Officer who works with students to develop work-based placements in a range of organisations. Centrally, the Careers and Employability Service can help you plan for your future by providing one-to-one advice at any stage of your postgraduate studies.

Many students at our Brussels centre who undertake internships are offered contracts in Brussels immediately after graduation. Others have joined their home country’s diplomatic service, entered international organisations, or have chosen to undertake a ‘stage’ at the European Commission, or another EU institution.

Our graduates have gone on to careers in academia, local and national government and public relations.

Kent has an excellent record for postgraduate employment: over 94% of our postgraduate students who graduated in 2013 found a job or further study opportunity within six months.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/

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The MSc Managerial and Financial Economics program at HEC Paris is a unique Master’s programs combining rigorous training in quantitative and analytical skills with essential knowledge in economics and finance. Students are prepared perfectly with the essential reflexes for a career in many diverse business sectors, such as in the banking and finance industry, in consulting, as well as in the corporate strategy or corporate finance departments in multinational companies.

AN INTENSIVE AND SELECTIVE MASTER PROGRAM

Admission to the MFE program (http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-Managerial-and-Financial-Economics/Admission) is highly selective. Only students with a proven track record from a recognized international institution will be admitted. HEC’s expectations regarding the performance of students are very high and students should expect to put in considerable effort during the program.

A BALANCED COMBINATION OF THEORY AND APPLICATIONS

The objective of the program is not to produce theoreticians but to train students to become top corporate executives by equipping them with the capacity to apply economic concepts and methods to their work and by enhancing their understanding of the economic forces shaping the business and financial environment. A solid basis in economics and its applications is an invaluable asset for solving problems in all areas of management.

8 CERTIFICATES TO ENHANCE YOUR EXPERTISE

With 8 certificates (http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-Managerial-and-Financial-Economics/Program-Details#block-35194) to choose from, students are able to deepen their knowledge in a specific area of their choice, and hence boost their added-value on the job market. The certificates are chaired by some of the top leading global companies.

AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM WITH LOCAL CONNECTIONS

MFE students (http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-Managerial-and-Financial-Economics/Meet-the-Students) follow the same program as the students enrolled in the Managerial and Financial Economics specialization of the Grande Ecole and benefit from the same access to both our powerful local and international networks. Interactions with French students will also enhance their understanding of the local culture and business practices.

STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL COMMUNITY

Students will have many opportunities to meet business leaders and top executives from financial institutions through consultancy projects, seminars, internships and career fairs organized on campus.

Program details

http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-Managerial-and-Financial-Economics/Program-Details

Careers

http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-Managerial-and-Financial-Economics/Career-Paths

FAQs

http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-Managerial-and-Financial-Economics/FAQ

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What is the 'Master of Business Economics' all about?

Upon completing the Master of Science in Business Economics, you will be able to apply scientific frameworks independently and critically, allowing you to evolve continuously in a dynamic society. By combining this programme with initial specialisations from your bachelor's programme, you will develop deeper insight into a broad range of fields. The programme is structured around the choice of a major and minor discipline, which allows you to fine-tune your personal graduation profile, and to apply research- and evidence based management practices and tools in various domains. You will gain expertise in selecting best practices in management in today’s volatile, complex and ambiguous business environments. The programme equips you for both entrepreneurship and start-up management as well as for management and strategic decision making in established organisations.

KU Leuven occupies a leading position in management and economic research and is highly ranked by the European Economic Association. Top-level research and education complement and strengthen each other. The Faculty of Economics and Business Alumni Association includes many leaders of industry, ensuring excellent career opportunities for our graduates.

International experience

The Faculty of Economics and Business has close links with top business schools around the world, such as Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, University of Cardiff in the UK, Hanken in Finland, SKEMA Business School in France, the University of Illinois in the United States, the University of Sydney and the University of Adelaide in Australia, Queen's University in Canada, Tsinghua and Fudan University in China, PUC in Brazil, City University of Hong Kong and many more institutions both in Europe and overseas.

For students MSc in Business Economics, the faculty offers an additional semester at one of these destinations after completing 2 semesters in Leuven. Make your experience truly international by studying in different parts of the world.

Is this the right programme for me?

You have an entrepreneurial personality with broad socio-economic interests. You are fascinated by the business world and would like to pursue a management career in strategy, international business or finance.

To start this programme, students need a solid background in economics or business economics. They should have acquired the basic conceptual frameworks of diverse areas in business economics and have a sufficiently broad view on the general economic and social contexts in which business operates as well as on the human networks within these organisations.

Specifically, students need:

• sufficient analytical skills which will allow them to complete advanced courses in management;
• background knowledge of other social scientific disciplines related to managerial sciences;
• sufficient knowledge of economics.

Objectives

Building on previously acquired general economic knowledge and insights in business, the student is taught to judge complex business structures and propose creative solutions independently or in a team. He develops the skills to take on a management function in a company, he learns to fit decisions in with the whole structure of a company and assess strategic consequences for other departments of the company. He has a lot of specialised knowledge, but is also very versatile.

The programme consists of a compulsory part, a major and a minor and a Master's Thesis.

• The compulsory programme aims to lend the students insight into the strategic consequences of certain decisions.
• The major lends depth in a sufficiently broadly defined functional area, which trains the student for a management position with a wide variety of tasks within this area.
• The minor allows the student to choose between a further deepening of the area discussed in the major, or a broadening in other areas/disciplines.

Career perspectives

Graduates generally take up managerial and/or research positions in business, national and international institutions, and in managerial functions at universities. Given the variety of skills acquired, you will be highly sought-after by a wide range of companies (from small firms to multinational corporations) in a variety of positions and sectors in Belgium or abroad.

You can pursue a career as:

• auditor
• entrepreneur
• consultant
• financial analyst
• financial manager
• project manager
• sales manager
• stockbroker

This is only a small selection of the many options available to you.

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