Masters Degrees in Economic policy

Who is this programme for?:

- professionals with a strong interest and need in gaining a thorough academic foundation in, and understanding of, current developments in the area of global economic governance.

- graduate students from other disciplinary backgrounds wishing to further their understanding of global economic policy issues and debates through systematic academic study.

- economics graduate students wishing to specialize in global economic policy and governance.

Prior knowledge of economics is not a requirement.

The MSc Global Economic Governance and Policy is the most recent addition to the Department of Economics’ portfolio of masters programme. The programme builds on the department’s unique combination of expertise – in policy analysis, regional economics and critical theoretical perspectives – to provide students with an in-depth understanding of core policy debates in the area of global economic governance. Specifically, the programme focuses on:

- global economic governance: It offers in-depth specialisation in this area of wider global governance.

- economic policy: It provides high-level training in the understanding and critical evaluation of economic policy issues, design and solutions, their foundation in the evolution of economic theory and methods, as well as critical discussion of the application of policy design to real-world problems, such as issues of implementation and monitoring.

- regional specificities within the global economy: It provides a differentiated analysis of problems of global economic governance from a range of regional perspectives, in advanced as well as developing country regions.

The programme is taught through two dedicated core courses (Global Economic Governance I: Global Economic Policy Debates and Analysis and Global Economic Governance II: Institutional and Governance Debates on Economic Development and Growth). In addition, students can choose from a wide range of optional courses and will write a 10.000 word dissertation.

Visit the website http://www.soas.ac.uk/economics/programmes/msc-global-economic-governance-and-policy/

Structure

The MSc in Global Economic Governance and Policy is a new masters programme designed for professionals and postgraduate students, with or without a prior background in economics, who wish to gain a focused and in-depth understanding of contemporary economic governance and policy debates.

The MSc is taught through two dedicated core courses. The first, Global Economic Governance 1 deals with issues of Global Economic Policy. This covers international trade and investment relationships between countries, trade and industrial policies, global capital markets, the international monetary and financial system, multinationals, global production networks and labour in the global economy. The second core paper, Global Economic Governance 2 deals with issues of institutions and governance. This includes issues of governance reforms for developing countries, the theory of institutional economics informing these debates, the policy and theoretical debates around property rights reforms, anti-corruption, industrial policy, rents and rent seeking, democratization and related governance issues. In addition, students will choose one, two or three optional courses, depending on the weight of the courses (see the list below), from across a range of SOAS departments plus a 10,000 word dissertation.

Students can, but do not have to, choose a course structure that, in addition to the programme’s focus on policy analysis and training, provides research method training.

- Optional Courses

MSc GEGP students can choose either one (1 unit) course or two (0.5 unit) courses or three (0.33 unit courses) to make up a total of 1 unit from the following list of courses by department. The availability of open option courses in other FL&SS departments from the below list is conditional on the approval of individual course convenors as well as the usual restrictions with regard to pre-requisites, timetable compatibilities and availability of individual courses in any one academic year. Students should note that some courses are capped in terms of student numbers, and that students from home departments will be given priority in case the relevant caps are reached. All law courses are open only for students with an LLB or who take the Law pre-sessional course offered by the School of Law at SOAS.

- Economics Department

MSc GEGP students will be eligible to take any of the post-graduate courses offered in the Economics Department, pending permission by the course convenors on the basis of the students’ prior academic qualifications in economics. Economics options with CATS 22.5 (0.5 unit) modules will be made available subject to approval.

Programme Specification

MSc Global Economic Governance and Policy programme specification (pdf; 392kb) - http://www.soas.ac.uk/economics/programmes/msc-global-economic-governance-and-policy/file97019.pdf

Materials

- SOAS Library
SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.
Access to other London Universities will be provided, where relevant to specific courses.

Teaching & Learning

Courses are taught in lectures and tutorial groups. Degrees are awarded on the basis of assessed coursework, examinations and the dissertation. Courses are generally assessed on the basis of a final examination (70%) and an essay or project-based coursework (30%). MSc degrees are taught over a period of twelve months of full-time study within a structured programme. In the case of part-time study, the degrees will be taught over two or three years.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

- Students will learn about core policy debates on global economic governance.
- Students will study the current institutional and organisational architecture of global economic policy-making and governance.
- Students will have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of differing economic theories and methods, and of how these relate to economic policy debates and designs in the area of global economic governance.
- Students will study regionally specific economic policy challenges in the context of the evolution of the global economy, and will have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of different regional perspectives on global economic governance.
- Students will be trained in the understanding and use of economic policy tools and design, as well as issues of policy implementation and monitoring.
- Students taking the research pathway of the MSc GEGP will acquire sound knowledge of statistical research techniques and economic research methods.

Intellectual (thinking) skills:

- Students will learn to develop intellectual initiative and to analyse, evaluate and reflect critically on current research in the area of global economic governance.
- Students will acquire the ability to discriminate between competing economic theories and methods underlying the design of global economic policies, and to critically appraise the policy implications of these differing approaches.
- Students will learn to apply theoretical, empirical and technical knowledge about core features of current global economic governance to practical policy analysis through coursework and the dissertation.
- Students will have an opportunity to translate a complex understanding of issues in global economic governance into reform proposals, and to learn how to present these in an articulate, informed and coherent manner.

Subject-based practical skills:

- Students will learn how to gather, organise and employ data, information and evidence for economic policy analysis and design in the area of global economic governance.
- Students will gain the ability to critically assess economic policy tools and to design economic policy proposals in a case study context.
- Students will learn how to identify core problems in economic policy design, implementation and monitoring
- Students will acquire the ability to marshal arguments lucidly, coherently and concisely to present core analyses and policy messages or suggestions in clear language (written and verbal).
- Students taking the research pathway of the MSc GEGP will learn how to apply one or more research methods systematically to a chosen topic or project.

Transferable skills:

- Students will be able to analyse, evaluate and reflect critically on information received.
- Students will learn how to present ideas coherently and concisely, in writing and orally, extracting key elements from complex information.
- Students will be given the opportunity to engage with independent research on well defined tasks or topics.
- Students will learn how to identify policy problems and design solutions, selecting and applying competing theories and methods appropriately.
- Students will gain an understanding of how to gather, organise and deploy data and evidence to form a balanced judgement and to develop and support critical argument and policy recommendations. S
- Students will have an opportunity to present written and oral materials clearly and effectively and to engage constructively with feedback.

Employment

The MSc Global Economic Governance and Policy is a new programme, starting in 2016/17.

Students enrolling in this programme will return to or pursue careers in a wide range of positions in public, private and non-governmental project management and policy advice, for which a thorough understanding of on-going issues in global economic governance is essential.

This includes, for example, government officials from developing and advanced countries whose remit requires a wider understanding of global economic governance issues; employees of international organisations whose remits are not primarily concerned with economic policy-making, but increasingly require a thorough understanding of global economic governance issue to co-ordinate their approaches with those of other national and international organizations; private sector managers and consultants requiring a systematic understanding of current economic crises and imbalances in the world economy as well as regulatory approaches to this; employees of NGOs working in areas affected by current global economic crises and imbalances and policy responses to these; graduate students wishing to build a career in any of the above, and economics graduates with a special interest in global economic policy debates and design.

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website (http://www.soas.ac.uk/careers/graduate-destinations/).

Find out how to apply here - http://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/pg/howtoapply/

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The Economic Policy MSc is a unique programme which takes advantage of UCL's role as a global leader in policy-orientated research. The core teaching in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics focuses on understanding the policy implications of economic models and their applications to real-world examples.

Degree information

The programme is designed to equip the professional economist with the tools required to understand the problems presented by a rapidly changing, complex and uncertain modern world economy. It includes a research methods course that teaches economics and econometrics software, empirical modelling and how to formulate a research project.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules
-Econometrics for Policy
-Microeconomics for Policy
-Macroeconomics for Policy
-Research Methods

Optional modules - at least two of the following applied options:
-Time Series Econometrics
-Public Microeconomics
-Economics of Development
-The Economics of Migration
-Health Economics
-Programme Evaluation for Users
-Behavioural Economics
-Macroeconomic Policy
-Ethics in Welfare Economics
-Empirical Industrial Organisation
-Topics in Labour Economics
-Topics in Money and Finance
-Economics of Households

Remaining options (taking the total to four) from a list of policy options, including:
-Applied Policy Analysis
-Applied Development Economics and Policy
-Agenda Setting and Public Policy (Department of Political Science or International Political Economy (Department of Political Science)
-Environmental Economics: Principles and Policy
-Environmental Economics: Principles and Policy

Dissertation/report
The dissertation of 10,000 words is a piece of original research, carried out between June and September, supported by a research methods course and lightly supervised by a member of faculty.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and practical and problem classes. The MSc degree is awarded on the basis of written, final examination papers and the research dissertation.

Careers

First destinations of recent graduates include:
-Government Economic Service: economic advisor
-Bank of England: economist
-Frontier Economics: analyst
-Oxford Economics: economist
-Charles River Associates: senior associate
-HSBC: analyst
-UCL PhD programme

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Junior Consultant, Frontier Economics
-Associate, BCG (The Boston Consulting Group)
-Consultant, EY
-Assistant Economist, Government Economic Service
-MSc Business and Analytics, University of Manchester

Employability
UCL's Economic Policy MSc is a passport to careers in major national and international institutions that demand deeper, more rigorous analytical reasoning in economics. In these roles, graduates draw on a theoretical grounding and a wealth of practical analytical tools to formulate relevant questions in economics and produce high-quality economic analysis valued by employers and prestigious PhD programmes. Students benefit from the international reputations of the programme’s academic staff and the academic excellence and international perspectives of their fellow MSc students. Major employers invite UCL MSc graduates to apply for their roles. Profiles of recent graduates are available on the department website.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL Economics has an outstanding international reputation in the areas of game theory, industrial organisation, econometrics, applied microeconomics, development and labour economics. The department is a global leader in policy-oriented research, with members directing and holding senior positions in research centres involved in policy design and evaluation. The Research Excellence Framework 2014 ranked the UCL Economics as first in the UK for economics and econometrics, as well as the leading department in the UK in any field in any university. This reflects the high quality of policy-relevant academic research being undertaken by staff, and the excellent research and teaching environment for graduate students.

Resident and visiting economists contribute to the programme through lectures, seminars and research supervision and provide access to a network of both public and private sector employers.

UCL is located in central London at the heart of the UK centre of government. Recognised as the world's best connected city, 75% of the Fortune 500 companies have offices in London.

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The Master Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy (SEEP) is an innovative, internationally unique program that equips participants with the necessary theoretical background and factual information about the interconnected dynamics of economic and social systems and the physical environment. The program also enables participants to use appropriate analytical tools to engage in decision processes and longer-term policy on multiple spatial levels.

Visit the website: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/programs/masters-programs/socio-ecological-economics-and-policy/overview/

Course detail

Rapid environmental change, population dynamics, poverty, and exclusion are interrelated processes that challenge human development. To tackle these complex issues, traditional disciplinary approaches to analysis and policy formulation are not sufficient. Instead, integrated and interdisciplinary approaches to studying the working of the human-environment system are needed. The Master Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy presents integrated approaches to development and human well-being that go beyond the usual polarization between socioeconomic development and environmental goals.

Purpose

The program offers training in socioeconomic analysis and focuses on the interfaces between environmental, economic and social challenges. This interdisciplinary and internationally oriented approach is based on three major pillars: theory, methodology, and application. The theory courses include concepts from a variety of disciplines, chosen for their relevance to global challenges. The methodological courses offer an integrated introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods and thus illustrate how they are best combined in empirical analyses. Relevance for policy making and organizational practice is emphasized throughout the program.

Our main focus lies on providing a thorough internationalization at the home university by attracting a diverse set of students from all over the world. The “international classroom at home” thus created is meant to allow students to experience foreign (academic) cultures, languages (especially English), and an international renowed faculty without having to leave the campus.

Format

The program offers four concentration areas of which you can choose two: Environment, Population, Multi-Level Policy and Social Policy.

- Semester 1 -

- Contemporary Global Policy Challenges
- Methodology for Interdisciplinary Research
- Growth, Well-Being, and Development
- International Institution, Governance, and Policy Evaluation
- Service Learning 1

- Semester 2 -

- Actors, Behaviors, and Decision Processes
- Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
- Service Learning 2

Concentration Area 1 and 2 – choice of two:

- Environment
- Population
- Multi-Level Policy
- Social Policy

- Semester 3 -

- Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 2

Concentration Area 1 and 2 – continuing the chosen two areas from 2nd semester:

- Environment
- Population
- Multi-Level Policy
- Social Policy

- Semester 4 -

- Research Seminar
- Master Thesis

Career Prospects

The program has been designed to provide students with the necessary understanding of global sustainability issues, an ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, and sound training in socio-economic concepts and methods.

The MSc program prepares graduates for:

- Employment as policy analysts, program managers, consultants, civil servants, project managers, and advisors who provide an insight into and support decision processes relating to sustainability issues by, for example, undertaking risk and uncertainty analyses in the social and environmental sectors; analyzing long-term developments relating to climate change, population development or aging in society; undertaking sustainability appraisals at company, regional or policy levels; helping design social, environmental, economic or educational policies; designing and facilitating participatory processes

- Working in international organizations, consultancies, companies, ministries, national and international NGOs, and research institutes where interdisciplinary skills and knowledge about the interactions of sustainability issues are needed

- Doctoral studies in the social sciences, in particular in economics, social policy, environmental studies and demography

How to apply: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/programs/masters-programs/socio-ecological-economics-and-policy/application-admission/

Funding

Information on funding and scholarships can be found at the following webpage: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/students/my-degree-program/masters-student-guide/grants-and-scholarships/

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The MSc in Agri-Environmental Economics and Policy prepares you for a career as a professional economist dealing with national and international issues in the area of food, agriculture and the environment.

You gain a deep understanding of economic theory and policy, and their application to the environment at local, regional and global levels. The programnme develops your analytical ability to evaluate agri-environmental policy options that could be used to combat a wide range of issues including air and water pollution, bidiversity management, climate change, natural resources, and protection of rural areas.

All of our MSc degrees equip you with a range of quantitative and analytical skills, and the ability to communicate complex economic concepts in a clear and concise style. Our programmes not only offer a stimulating education in economic theory, but also develop your ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills to a range of national and international problems in the areas of finance, development, agriculture and the environment.

Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/191/agri-environmental-economics-and-policy

Course structure

The MSc in Agri-Environmental Economics and Policy is studied over one year full-time or two years part-time and is divided into two stages: eight taught modules (seven of which are compulsory) and a dissertation.

The compulsory modules provide a basis for you to acquire the basic skills for the programme, regardless of your first degree background, while the optional module enables you to acquire a broader understanding of the issues in growth and development, trade and development, or further your skills in econometrics. All MSc students take a module in Research Methods, which provides practical skills and knowledge for MSc-level research.

All of our MSc programmes require some mathematical analysis, and we recognise that students have widely differing backgrounds in mathematics. The first week of all our MSc programmes includes compulsory intensive teaching in mathematics, refreshing and improving your skills in order to equip you with the techniques you will need for the rest of the programme.

Students who successfully pass the taught element of the programme, proceed to the dissertation stage, where you undertake a supervised project of your choice on an applied issue in environmental economics. Advice on choice of dissertation topic and management is given during the taught stage of the programme. The dissertation stage develops students’ research skills and follows on from the Research Methods module. Student dissertations are supervised by academic staff.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take modules from other programmes so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.

EC802 - Advanced Microeconomics of Consumers, Marketsand Welfare (15 credits)
EC817 - Research Methods (15 credits)
EC821 - Econometric Methods (15 credits)
EC829 - Environmental Valuation (15 credits)
EC831 - Rural and Peasant Economies (15 credits)
EC832 - Political Economy of Public Policy (15 credits)
EC834 - Environmental and Resource Economics and Policy (15 credits)
EC825 - Applied Microeconometrics (15 credits)
EC803 - Trade and Development (15 credits)
EC815 - Growth and Development Theory (15 credits)

Assessment

Assessment is through a wide variety of methods including seminar presentations, extended essays, short projects, in-class tests, examinations, and the dissertation.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

- provide a stimulating education in the principles of agri-environmental economics and their application, in which high-quality teaching motivates you to achieve your full potential. The teaching is informed by the research and scholarship of teaching staff

- build on your existing knowledge, abilities and skills and develop a deeper understanding of economic theory, econometric and quantitative techniques, and policy and their applications to food, agriculture, environment and rural development

- provide options to enable you to study related subjects in the area of econometrics, trade and development

- develop your ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills in a range of applied, national and international policy problems in the area of food agriculture and environment

- develop your independent research skills

- provide you with information and advice on future employment and further postgraduate study.

Research areas

Labour and education economics
Staff research includes work in the areas of wage distributions, skills and job quality, education, migration and trade.

Macroeconomics, money and finance
Staff research in this area includes: macroeconometric theory; monetary policy; financial markets and macroeconomic performance growth theory and international macroeconomics; theoretical models of business cycles, labour market search and financial sources of economic fluctuations; DSGE models; growth theory and empirics.

Microeconomic theory, games and behaviour
Research interests cover public economics especially tax policy; gambling and uncertainty; international trade and government procurement; health economics; public goods; leadership in co-ordination games; industrial organisation; theoretic modelling; economic history.

Development economics
Research interests include work on growth; trade; the balance of payments; different aspects of migration and remittances on growth; applied studies focusing on particular developing countries.

Agri-environmental economics
Research interests cover non-market valuation, food safety, information economics applied to environmental problems, design and evaluation of agri-environmental policies, biodiversity, agricultural productivity, European agricultural policy, agricultural trade policy.

Transport and regional economics
Research strengths are the regional impact of transport investments; the economic evaluation of infrastructure; regulation and alternative funding models; the economics of public-private partnerships.

Careers

Kent has an excellent record for postgraduate employment: over 96% of our postgraduate students who graduated in 2014 found a job or further study opportunity within six months.

A postgraduate degree in the area of economics is a particularly valuable and flexible qualification that can open the door to exciting careers in many professions. Our graduates have gone on to work as economists in international organisations, the financial sector, business, UK and overseas governments, and to further postgraduate training and academic careers at Kent, UK and overseas universities. Recent MSc graduates have gone on to work for companies in the UK such as BNP Paribas, AXA, FactSet and PwC.

The School's employability officers and the University's Careers and Employability Service are available throughout the year to offer one-to-one advice and help on all aspects of employability at any stage in your postgraduate studies. We also offer online advice on employability skills, career choices, applications and interview skills.

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

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This innovative course offers both MSc and MA streams. It has been designed to develop your ability to apply economic analysis to policy issues and business problems, which are often ambiguous and multi-faceted. Although there is a strong theoretical core, the course focus of the course is very much on the practical application of economic techniques to problems, and on developing the ability to communicate the insights that economic analysis can provide.

The course has been created in conjunction with the Government Economic Service (GES) – a major employer of economics graduates in the UK. The University of Westminster is the only English university to have secured GES recommended status for a postgraduate course in economics.

The course aims to provide you with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the latest developments in economics, with a focus on practical skills and development of the skills needed by a working economist. It is specifically aimed at those with a genuine interest in the application of economics to real-world situations.

As well as enhancing your ability to apply relevant economic principles in the support of policy and strategy development, the course aims to develop your ability to communicate complex issues to wide audiences, your awareness of significant sources of economic and financial data, the problems faced when carrying out policy evaluation and your capability for self-awareness and group working.

Course content

You will gain an understanding of the key concepts in economics that underpin public sector policy and business decision making. This includes the various scenarios where we explore opportunity cost, equilibrium and disequilibrium, strategic interaction, market failure and the related concept of externalities.

You'll develop your analytical skills by applying these concepts to current challenges that face the profession, at both macro and micro levels, and in both private and public sectors. This will provide you with the latest insights drawn from both the academic and practitioner arenas.

Around a common core of modules covering key theoretical and practical elements, the MSc stream offers the possibility of pursuing a course of study in economics with a greater quantitative focus, while the MA stream has a stronger international emphasis.

Students on this course benefit from free access to part of the material on the course reading list and an online subscription to Financial Times. In addition, you will get exposure to a global network of professional economists through a free student membership to the Society of Business Economists.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course. For more details on course structure and modules, and how you will be taught and assessed, see the full course document.

Core modules
-Economic Evaluation Project
-Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy
-Microeconomic Analysis and Policy
-Research Methods
-Strategy and Appraisal in Economics
-Data Analysis
-Economic Policy Perspectives

Option modules
-Innovation Economics
-Labour Economics

Accredited internship

All students on our full-time business Masters courses can apply to undertake the PG/MBA Internship Programme Reflective Practitioner Module. This is an 8 week unpaid accredited internship, which can be taken in addition to option modules and will help students to gain invaluable work experience. The internships, which are with London-based organisations, take place during the summer period. To apply, students must submit a completed application form and a copy of their updated CV to the Business Experience Team; the team then shortlist from the applications and conduct group meetings with the applicants.

Ultimately it is up to our internship employers to decide whether they would like to interview the candidate(s) and offer him/her an internship. We have received very positive feedback from both postgraduate students and employers and expect that the internship programme will continue to remain popular amongst our students.

Careers

Our dedicated Career Development Centre is actively working with an ever-expanding network of over 3,000 employers to provide you with exceptional employability support and guidance. As a result we were nominated as finalists for a significant industry award – the NUE Awards Most Improved Commitment to Employability 2016.

We provide our students with work placements and international opportunities to support them in becoming highly employable, globally engaged graduates, and with one million businesses operating within 20 miles of the University of Westminster, over 84% of our students are in work or further study six months after graduation. Our graduates work in a variety of sectors and organisations, from small/medium-sized companies and start-ups to large not-for-profit organisations and corporates.

During your time at Westminster you will be able to use our comprehensive online vacancy service and meet with our experienced careers consultants, providing you with thorough training and support on CV writing, application forms, interview preparation and assessment centres.

In addition to this, you will receive careers support from academic staff and faculty work placement teams, offering targeted course-specific careers advice and assistance in securing a work placement during your time at Westminster.

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Economic Policy

The MSc in Economic Policy deals with complex societal issues, with a focus on the role of government policies, ranging from the organisation of care and the provision of social insurance to policies of sustainable growth. You will learn to apply modern economics to questions relating to labour market reform, inequality, the future of education and health care, energy transition and sustainable economic growth.
You will take courses that combine economic theory with socio-economic policy-making in a small group of students representing diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. This diversity helps to create a learning environment that encourages intense discussion and interaction.

Characteristics:
*Analyse topical issues in depth
In order to prepare you fully for the job market, you will explore important topics such as the key concepts of public finance, active labour market policies and sustainable economic growth.

*Pay special attention to questions around sustainable growth and development in public policy
One of the main challenges for the future is how to make the transition to sustainability, not only in terms of use of natural resources, but also with respect to the institutional framework of society, e.g. the tax-and-transfer system and the issue of sustainable finance. The insights of behavioural economics are used to improve public policy decision-making.

*Be part of a small, international community
The high staff-to-student ratio in tutorials encourages close interaction between you, your peers, and your professors and lecturers in this highly international programme.

*Learn from active and experienced professionals
Our tutors and academics have significant professional experience as researchers, advisors and consultants.

"The initial core modules are challenging, but covered important economic theories and techniques. This is built on with constant reference to real-world situations and implications throughout the year, making it all the more engaging. The teaching staff, who are open and extremely proficient in English, have extensive professional experience. Courses didn't just cover economic measurement and analysis, but also policy design, implementation and review."-John Appleton (MSc graduate United Kingdom)

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Master's specialisation in Economics, Behaviour and Policy

Bridging the gap between theory and practice – and applying them to the design of sound, feasible policies – can provide the key to solving micro, meso and macroeconomic issues.
How do policy makers make decisions that affect economic, societal and personal welfare? How is welfare defined and measured? And how can we design more effective policies? This specialisation covers not only econometric questions, but also psychological, cultural, legal and philosophical ones. By improving your insight into complex issues, it will prepare you for designing successful strategies in your future career as a policy maker or consultant .
Our graduates are experts in economic policies who work for government and semi-government organisations, and also as consultants in business and industry. You can do the same. By examining real-world scenarios, you’ll acquire the analytical skills you need to take research results and apply them to a wide variety of problems.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/ep

Why study Economics, Behaviour and Policy at Radboud University?

- You’ll tackle economic and policy issues at all levels – focusing mostly on the real economy.
- You’ll combine learning with research: your lecturers are researchers who incorporate the latest findings into their teaching. As a student, you’ll also do research.
- You’ll interact with your professors in small seminar groups.
- By taking our ‘Economics Plus’ package, you’ll combine ‘standard’ economics with disciplines such as psychology and sociology. This will give you the knowledge you need to tackle policy issues in today’s globalised world.

Change perspective

You’ll gain a strong theoretical background in both mainstream and heterodox (i.e. non-mainstream) economic theories, augmented by methods derived from disciplines that include psychology and sociology. There’s good reason for this broad approach: if an economic problem seems intractable, you may need to change your perspective. We also examine the policy relevance of theoretical insights and give you the tools you need to design policies that will make a difference to people’s lives.

Admission requirements for international students

1. A Bachelor's degree in Economics – or a closely-related discipline – from a research-oriented university, with sufficient background in Research Methods and Mathematics (and Economics if you took a different degree).

2. Proficiency in English
In order to take part in this programme, you must be fluent in both written and spoken English. Non-native speakers of English need one of qualifications below. Please note that certificates must have been awarded in the past two years, and that no other certificates are accepted:
- A TOEFL (iBT) Certificate with a minimum overall score of 90 and no subscore not less than 18, or
- IELTS Academic Certificate: a minimum overall score of 6.5 less than 6.0, or
- A Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with a minimum score of C, or
- A Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a minimum score of C.

3. A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages)
Please explain why you want to follow this programme and why you think you should be part of this programme.

Career prospects

This programme will provide you with a toolbox filled with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle a whole array of economic problems. Besides issues at the micro and macroeconomic level, graduates learn to deal with issues at the meso level, for example, how to stimulate innovation.
Our graduates devise policies and learn to analyse critically which solutions are most likely to work in a specific economic and social context. They regularly find employment as policy makers for government and semi-government organisations, in ministries, national banks, NGOs, think tanks, the UN and the EU , as well as national and international labour organisations. But your career prospects are much broader than that. You could for example, work as a consultant in industry or as a lobbyist.

Our approach to this field

By giving you a strong theoretical grounding in a broad range of current economic theories – both mainstream and heterodox –this programme will show you not just what is happening, but also why and how. To ensure that it is always relevant, we update the content every year.

Our main aim is to unravel the diversity – and the complexity – of economic issues, and thus clarify the role of economics in society. At the micro level, we might look at, for example, policies for reducing traffic jams or encouraging citizens to opt for more sustainable ways of living. At the meso level, we might examine policies intended to determine which companies should be supported – those that are struggling or those that are successful? – and how companies can be encouraged to innovate. And at the macro level, we might try to determine whether government policies should respond to financial crises through austerity or through investment.

Lectures are devoted to detailed discussions of a wide range of real-world scenarios. As an active participant, you’ll join in debates with your lecturers and your fellow students, and sometimes with experts from the field. One module – Technology & Innovation Policy – is taught by an emeritus professor and two business leaders. Guest speakers are drawn from varied backgrounds, such as a recent speaker from the Dutch Ministry of Finance, who discussed financial illiteracy. Activities such as these all exemplify the kinds of concerns – economic and otherwise – you’ll be likely to encounter as a policy maker.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/ep

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Start of programme: November / February / April / June / August

Mode of Attendance: Distance Learning

This programme is principally for postgraduates working on economic policy in government, central banks, other public organisations, international institutions and consultancy. It will increase your understanding of the principles, applications, and context underlying economic policy, focusing on the financial aspects of policy making.

Find out more:
To find out more about this programme, including module details, fees and entry requirements, please visit the MSc Finance (Economic Policy) section of the Centre for Financial and Management Studies website (http://www.cefims.ac.uk/cgi-bin/programmes.cgi?func=programme&id=52#0).

Visit the website https://www.soas.ac.uk/cefims/programmes/mscfinanceep/

Structure

You will choose five core modules.

Banking & Capital Markets
International Finance
Macroeconomic Policy & Financial Markets
Microeconomic Principles & Policy
Public Financial Management: Revenue
The International Monetary Fund & Economic Policy

You will also choose three modules from the list of electives or core modules.

Bank Financial Management
Bank Regulation & Resolution of Banking Crises
Corporate Finance
Corporate Governance
Derivatives
Econometric Analysis & Applications
Econometric Principles & Data Analysis
Finance in the Global Market
Financial Econometrics
Modelling Firms & Markets
Risk Management: Principles & Applications
Project Appraisal
Research Methods
Dissertation

To find out more about this programme, including module details, fees and entry requirements, please visit the MSc Finance (Economic Policy) section of the Centre for Financial and Management Studies website (http://www.cefims.ac.uk/cgi-bin/programmes.cgi?func=programme&id=52).

Teaching & Learning

The MSc is made up of eight modules. Each module is studied in eight-week sessions. You can only take one module at a time, but each module is typically available in at least two of the year's study sessions. This gives you the flexibility to plan how you study during the year, enabling you to fit your study in with your professional, family and personal commitments.

You will be individually assigned an online academic tutor for the duration of each module with whom you can discuss academic queries at regular intervals during the study session. You will also have a named administrator providing you with help and advice throughout your studies.

Before the start of each module you have enrolled on, you will be sent a package containing all of the study materials that you need to complete the module – the core text, textbooks, a collection of key articles, and any module related software.

To make your experience as a distance learning student more complete and rewarding, we provide access to the Virtual Learning Environment, which is a web-accessed learning environment. Via the VLE, you can communicate with your assigned academic tutor, administrators and other students on the module using discussion forums. The VLE also provides access to the module Study Guide and assignments, as well as a selection of electronic journals available on the University of London Online Library.

For each module, you will sit a three-hour examination, held on a specified date in September/October, and complete two assignments during the module study session. Assignments are submitted and feedback given online. Examinations and assignments are weighted 70:30.

For more information about studying with us, please visit the Frequently asked questions section of the Centre for Financial and Management Studies website (http://www.cefims.ac.uk/apply/faqs.shtml).

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section (http://www.soas.ac.uk/registry/scholarships/)

Employment

As a graduate of this programme you will be well prepared for senior positions in government, central banks, other public organisations, international institutions and consultancy.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.cefims.ac.uk/apply/

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The Economic Policy and International Trade MSc applies theoretical concepts in economics to the analysis of practical problems, evaluation of policy outcomes and market efficiency in the real-world context. The course aims to assist in the development of highly qualified and skilled economists with a range of analytical and technical skills who are equipped to cope with the challenges and complexities of the modern world. The key competencies students will have the opportunity to develop include skills in critical analysis, collecting and utilising information for decision making and usage of statistical software packages.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

The programme recognises the changes ongoing in the global as well as national economies, including the emergence of new trading powers, increasing importance of analytical skills and evidence-based policies. The course strongly relies on the research-led teaching which allows students to analyse these issues using the current knowledge and techniques.

The team of academic staff teaching on this course are a blend of highly qualified economists with various professional and research interests. They have rich experience from a wide range of institutions and distinctive international backgrounds which add to the international student experience. Each team member contributes their expertise and strengths into the teaching and learning context.

Some of the course’s features are:
-The opportunity to gain valuable analytical skills
-Emphasis on developing quantitative skills for evaluation of outcomes of economic policies, interventions and various events
-Enabling students to make evidence-based decisions and formulating policy recommendations
-The opportunity to apply gained knowledge through workplace experience (in the internship module, subject to availability and a competitive application process)
-The opportunity to specialise in the dissertation to match students' specific career aspirations and interests
-An interactive and internationally diverse teaching and learning environment

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

This course is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new developments in economics, the world economy and the needs of private and public sectors, so the course content may be different to that stated here. Students enrolled on the course are expected to complete the following modules:

Semester 1
-Microeconomic Policy
-International Macroeconomics
-Quantitative Methods
-Market Efficiency and Government Regulation
-Global Professional Practice (to be taken in Semester 1 or Semester 2)

Semester 2
-Econometrics
-Policy Evaluation Methods
-International Trade and FDI
-Economics of Emerging Markets or International Financial Markets

Semester 3
-Dissertation in Economics or Company Internship (subject to a competitive recruitment process)

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

The course utilises a number of different assessment techniques. For example, written assessments are used to assess specific subject knowledge and the student’s ability to access relevant and valid data, whilst oral presentations and group work help assess the transferable skills that students will need in their postgraduate careers. Both formative and summative assessments are used on the course to enable students to reflect on feedback and incorporate learning into their work.

TEACHING CONTACT HOURS

In a typical week you will normally have up to 14 hours of teaching contact with staff. In addition, you can meet with your personal tutor or lecturing staff during office hours sessions which will allow you to discuss problems or investigate further topics that interested you in a lecture.

HOW WILL THIS COURSE ENHANCE MY CAREER PROSPECTS?

Successful completion of this specialist course can help prepare students for careers as market analysts, government economists, senior managers within multinational corporations, economic consultants, data analysts and policy advisers, just to name a few. They will also be able to pursue a PhD study in economics or related disciplines.

The nature of specialist knowledge, technical, analytical and transferable skills developed during the programme, and the opportunity to specialise in the dissertation to match specific career aspirations will produce highly employable experts in economic analysis with working understanding of concepts applicable to various institutions and fields.

WORK PLACEMENTS

Students have the option (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria, and subject to availability) of enrolling on the internship programme which normally lasts between 8–12 weeks and provides students with an opportunity to undertake a workplace project on behalf of an organisation. Coventry University works closely with companies across the UK and Europe to offer a wide variety of internships.
-Eligibility: students must successfully meet the following assessment criteria:
-Academic: successfully complete all Semester 1 modules including research methods at the first attempt;
-CV shortlisting: submit a CV, which will be used for competitive short listing by the internship panel;
-Presentation: prepare and successfully deliver a formal presentation;
-Interview: interview with the university internship panel.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

The Centre for Global Engagement (CGE) is Coventry University’s dedicated service that supports students’ international experience. Whether you are interested in studying abroad or would like to gain some work, volunteering or teaching experience in the UK, Europe or beyond, CGE is here to make it a reality.

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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About the MSc programmes

In the MSc International Health Policy programme, you analyse current and emerging health care problems and the range of health policies being developed to meet them internationally. The programme gives you the opportunity to examine important health policy issues through the application of basic health policy and economic principles. The MSc International Health Policy (Health Economics) allows you to concentrate on options geared to health economics analysis.

Both streams will take Financing Health Care, and a course on Health Economics. Students on the health policy stream will also take the following compulsory courses: Pharmaceutical Economics, Foundation of Health Policy, and Measuring Health Care Performance. Meanwhile, students on the health economics stream will also take the following compulsory courses: Statistical Methods in Health Care Economic Evaluation, Cost Effectiveness Analysis and Applied Health Econometrics.

You will benefit from contact with research staff in LSE Health and Social Care, including specialists in a range of subject areas.

Graduate destinations

Professional destinations after completing the degree include consultancies, pharmaceutical companies, health services, international organisations, government departments and agencies and NGOs as well as employment in research or further study for a PhD.

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The MA Economic Policy & Communication programme is an exciting mix of economic policy and the communication of economic knowledge. Economic arguments are central to political decision-making, and the most effective economic analysts are not only able to understand the technical detail, but can also engage in meaningful conversation about economic matters with both economists and the general public.

This Master’s programme can be completed in one year (full-time), or stretched over two years (part-time). International students who require a visa are only eligible to study this programme on a one-year, full-time basis.

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'Public Policy' (formerly: Socio-Economic Policy) is one of the specialized tracks of the Master's program in Economics. The track focuses on how governments can achieve their domestic policy objectives, design effective policies, and finance their activities.

Tilburg University is ranked #11 worldwide in Business and Economics (Times Higher Education, 2016).

Important domestic public policy objectives range from reduced income inequality and job security, to an affordable health care and pension system. Effective public policy requires the balancing of public services provision and individual incentives to makes use of these services. In this track you study how public policies and tax schemes can be designed to create the right incentives and nudges and make societal goals within reach.

Career perspectives

This track is advised to you if you wish to pursue a career as policy advisor in national governments (Ministry of Social Affairs, or other Ministries) or in international organizations such as the EU, as a researcher in applied research institutes (e.g., Netherlands Bureau of Economic Research (CPB)), or as a consultant with nationally or internationally oriented consultancy firms.

Examples of functions of recent graduates of this track:
•Data-Analyst at the Municipality of Amsterdam
•Statistical Researcher labor and mobility at Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
•Policy advisor Decentralisations at the Municipality of Culemborg
•Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Finance
•Doctoral Student at the University of Oxford
•Junior Pensions Specialist at Syntrus Achmea
•Economic Adviser at VÖB Bundesverband Öffentlicher Banken Deutschlands
•Policy Advisor at Ministry of Economic Affairs
•Consumer Finance Associate at De Lage Landen
•Policy Advisor at Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
•Statistical Analyst at De Nederlandsche Bank
•Market Mitigation and Analysis at NYISO

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The MSc in Economic Development and Policy Analysis is designed for students who wish to apply advanced level knowledge of economics to practical and policy issues, and who have a particular interest in development issues. The core modules provide a solid grounding in economics, and specialised modules address current theories, issues and evidence in economic policy as applied to developing countries. The specific objective is to equip students with knowledge of the techniques for economic policy analysis in developing countries and the ability to apply them.

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Gain a thorough foundation in the tools required to analyse aspects of public policy.

Overview

York enjoys a prominent international reputation in public economics and in the use of economics in the design of social policy. If you already work in the public sector, the NHS or for an international agency, the MSc in Economics and Public Policy will help you upgrade your existing skills. You'll gain more exposure to up-to-date techniques and knowledge relevant to policy analysis in social and other public policy areas, and to public sector administration and financial management.

If you have completed a degree in economics, the Masters will allow you to build on this by gaining further knowledge and expertise in more specialised areas, such as health economics, social policy analysis and public finance.

The programme is also suitable for those with a background in disciplines such as government, sociology, mathematics or natural sciences, who wish to develop their abilities in economics and related areas, particularly economic and social policy, administration and management. If you don't have a strong background in economics, but have other relevant qualifications or experience, you can take a Summer Session course in Economics and Quantitative Methods.

Course Content

The MSc in Economics and Public Policy will offer you a thorough training in core areas of economics used in the evaluation of public policy. Taught by leading experts, you'll complete modules to the value of 180 credits. This includes 100 credits of taught modules - some core and some optional - and an 80 credit dissertation.

Modules
For the Masters you will take 100 credits of taught modules. There are five core modules which make up 80 of your 100 taught credits:
-Applied Microeconomics 1 and Applied Microeconomics 2 or Advanced Microeconomics (20 credits)
-Public Policy Analysis (20 credits)
-Econometrics 1 & 2 or Statistics and Econometrics or Econometric Methods for Research orEconometrics 1 and Applied Microeconometrics (20 credits)
-Public Finance (10 credits)
-Public Sector Economics (10 credits)

In addition you can choose 20 credits from:
-Advanced Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-Applied Microeconometrics (10 credits)
-Design and Analysis of Mechanisms and Institutions (10 credits)
-Evaluation of Health Policy (10 credits)
-Experimental Economics (10 credits)
-Health and Development (10 credits)
-Industrial Economics (10 credits)
-International Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-Labour Economics (10 credits)
-Project (10 credits)

You'll complete a piece of independent research carried out over three months of the summer, guided by a supervisor. The dissertation, of up to 10,000 words, is worth 80 credits and offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.

Careers

The MSc in Economics and Public Policy will open up a broad range of career options in government, the public sector, health or public administration. It is an ideal basis for progression to a PhD.

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Overview

The Master of Research (MRes) in ‘Global Political Economy: transformations and policy analysis’ trains doctoral students who can assess the impacts of globalisation both in the short run and longer term using new international data sources and comparative methods.

On completion of this programme, students will:

- have a deepened and interdisciplinary understanding of social science discourses and methods for analysing global processes of change both generally and in specified policy areas.
- be knowledgeable of key contributions to thinking about social, economic and political aspects of the planet as an interdependent social system.
- have an understanding of how global and national policy processes interact.

The programme aims to equip students for careers as professional researchers in either academic or non-academic environments, by developing core research skills. Students will be encouraged to review and critically evaluate approaches to research and their application, and to identify and investigate their own original research questions.

- South West Doctoral Training Centre
This MRes is accredited by the Economics & Social Research Council (ESRC), specifically, as part of the larger South West Doctoral Training Centre (SWDTC). It is a collaborative, interdisciplinary programme, delivered by two universities (Bath and Bristol), building on the research strengths of each institution through the inclusion of collaborative units (delivered jointly by the two institutions).

The MRes can be taken as a course in its own right, or as part of the 1 + 3 (MRes + MPhil/PhD) pathway, which includes further collaborative elements with the University of Bristol.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of this programme, successful graduates could proceed onto an MPhil/PhD in one of several areas/departments, specifically:

- Department of Economics
- Department of Education
- School of Management
- Department of Social & Policy Sciences

If applying for an MRes/PhD (the 1 + 3 programme) applicants should indicate on the Application Form, their preferred MPhil/PhD route.

Progression from the MRes to the MPhil/PhD stage is dependent on achieving an acceptable level of achievement (typically an overall average of 60% on at least the taught component of the MRes).

Visit the website http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/pg/programmes/mres-glob-poli-econ-tran/

Programme structure

View programme catalogue (http://www.bath.ac.uk/catalogues/2015-2016/sp/sp-proglist-pg.html#CB) for further information.

About the department

The Department of Social & Policy Sciences (http://www.bath.ac.uk/sps/) includes academics from social policy, sociology, social work and international development.

The international excellence of our research (http://www.bath.ac.uk/sps/research/) was recognised by the award of the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2011.

We are committed to advancing learning and knowledge through teaching and research. Our Department collaborates with a wide range of users at the local, national, European and global levels.

Postgraduate programmes:
We offer a wide range of postgraduate programmes. Our postgraduate teaching strongly reflects our research and our links to policy-makers and development institutions at the national, European and global level.

Our Department also has an active MPhil/PhD research programme. We take great pride in fostering a friendly and supportive learning environment.

Seminar series:
We run a lively and well attended postgraduate research seminar series. Each of the Research Centres run seminar series and conferences associated with their research activities. The University of Bath also has a Research in the World public lecture series where key national and international academics are invited to speak.

Careers information:
We are committed to ensuring that postgraduate students acquire a range of subject-specific and generic skills during their training. Our graduates generally go on to work in a wide variety of organisations, for example:

- social research in universities and research institutes, government, business, voluntary organisations and international organisations
- public policy analysis at local, national and international levels
- public information and campaigning within organisations concerned with wellbeing, sustainability and social justice.

Main areas of research

We are an internationally-recognised research-intensive department with a strong focus on policy and practice and a commitment to contribute to social wellbeing and social justice.

We draw together academic staff with backgrounds in Social Policy, Sociology, Social Work and International Development and work closely with colleagues in Psychology, Economics, and Health.

We also have an active and vibrant community of research students (http://www.bath.ac.uk/sps/research/research-students/) undertaking their own research alongside our academic staff.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.bath.ac.uk/hss/graduate-school/taught-programmes/how-to-apply/

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