Economics (MSc)

Pave the way for a career as a professional economist or for PhD study, with a thorough grounding in all the core areas of economics.

Our MSc Economics is a taught master’s that offers rigorous training in the three main strands of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, giving you the broad level of knowledge needed to work as a professional economist or undertake doctoral study.

Alongside the core subjects you will have the chance to delve into areas like financial economics, growth theory and environmental economics.

Developing practical skills to take with you into your career is a fundamental aspect of the course. We will enhance your research abilities throughout, and particularly during the dissertation you work on over the summer under the supervision of one of our experienced lecturers.

You can choose to conduct your dissertation on the area of economics that most interests you, or that should prove of most use in your career. It’s a chance to apply your newly acquired knowledge to a specific problem or debate.

Students have explored topics as wide-ranging as the effectiveness of tax credit policies to how financial transaction taxes can be used to regulate financial markets.

We also offer a dedicated module in research methods, which will allow you to practice using specialist software packages to analyse data, including EViews, Stata and Matlab.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• analyse economic and financial data and critically evaluate existing research
• understand the key issues surrounding major economic debates and contribute to these
• apply economic concepts to specific economic and social policy questions
• formulate an original research question and write at an academic level

We limit students on this course to ensure a collegiate atmosphere and a high degree of interaction between students and lecturers.

Graduate prospects

This course is designed to give you the knowledge and level of skills required to secure work as a professional economist in government, research units or commercial enterprises. It is also suited to those wishing to undertake PhD study.

Our graduates have excellent employment prospects. Recent students have progressed to prestigious jobs around the world, including:

• Economic Advisor (UK Department for Education)
• Chief Analyst (Enterprise Lithuania)
• Principal Case Officer (Competition and Markets Authority, London)
• Senior Tax Consultant (KPMG, Kazakhstan)
• Investment Manager (private equity company, Prague)
• Director, Regional Sector Research (Emirates NBD Global Markets and Treasury Department, Dubai)

Others have opted to stay in academia.

Course structure

This course lasts 1 year. Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Units

Compulsory course units

These compulsory units are currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new units.

Semester 1

• Econometric theory
• Macroeconomic theory
• Microeconomic theory
• Research methods in economics
• Plus one optional unit

Semester 2

• Econometric methods
• Advanced economic theory
• Quantitative methods for economics
• Plus two optional units

Summer

• Economics: Masters dissertation

Optional course units

These optional units are currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new units.

• Economics of fairness
• International monetary economics
• Growth theory
• Environmental & resource economics
• Economics of financial institutions

Learning and assessment

Learning

• Lectures
• Online resources
• Practical sessions
• Seminars

Assessment

• Attendance
• Coursework
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Multiple choice examination
• Online assessment
• Oral assessment
• Practical work
• Written examination

Visit the Economics (MSc) page on the University of Bath website for more details!