Economics (MSc)

Graduation from this course open doors to vast career opportunities, preparing you for roles in economics, finance, policy-making, and more, and we have a strong record of graduate employability. Previous students from this course have obtained roles as Economists, Sales Consultants, Finance Assistants and Lecturers in companies and organisations including government offices (Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trad), Next, Barclays, the Office for National Statistics and Chapel Wealth Management.

This programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge to navigate and influence the complexities of economic policy challenges, such as AI, climate change, supply chain shocks, Covid-19 and Brexit.

During the course, you will build strong transferable skills in relevant quantitative methods and statistical techniques, developing expertise in quantification, evaluation and design to an advanced level. Across the four modules, you will learn about the forces shaping global economies, analyse the dynamics of competition and innovation in digital markets for decision-making, gain hands-on experience with latest data analytics tools and engage with pressing issues like international trade, sustainability, and the dynamics of emerging markets. Your learning will culminate in your final block of teaching, when you deliver an in-depth dissertation on a topic of your choice.

The course is designed for ease of understanding and assessments are carried out in a variety of formats, making complex concepts more digestible. The curriculum has been meticulously tailored to be accessible for students from diverse academic backgrounds, offering a versatile and dynamic course that transcends a traditional Economics masters.

Key features

• Bring learning to life in our state-of-the-art Trading Floor, which is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. Equipped with industry-standard software, Bloomberg and LSEG Workspace, you will experience what it’s like to work as a real-world Economist.
• Benefit from real-word applications. A significant emphasis is placed on applying theoretical knowledge with case studies, policy analysis, and market assessments to real-world economic issues such as Brexit, AI, the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Develop 'hands on' skills in the use, presentation and interpretation of economic data, including time series, cross-section and panel data. 
• Enjoy a varied curriculum, which includes a mix of lectures, hands-on workshops, and real-world case studies, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of economics. Learn through a variety of assessment methods including reports, portfolios, presentations, data visualisations, tests, reflective work and exams.
• Participate in our exciting research projects. Under the mentorship of distinguished scholars, you will craft novel approaches to tackle economic challenges. Your research may focus on areas like environmental economics, development studies, international economics, to name a few, or you might choose to undertake projects with a practical business application. An example of our project is the East Midland Economic Data Repository where students contribute to address the on-going economic and social issues in the East Midlands. 
• Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Structure and assessment
Course modules

• Block 1: Macroeconomics in a Global Context: Shocks, Policy Implications and Future Directions 
• Block 2: Microeconomics and Digital Markets: Competition, Innovation and Strategic Analysis
• Block 3: Econometrics and Data Science: Programming, Modelling & Forecasting
• Block 4: Contemporary topics in Global Economics: International Trade, Sustainability, and Emerging Markets
• Block 5 & 6: Applied Economics Dissertation

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching and assessment

• You will be taught through a combination of large group sessions, tutorials, online resources and formative assessments. Assessment is through group work for individual presentations, and research reports.  
• You will be given feedback throughout the course to develop and improve your economic knowledge and skills development. Emphasis is placed on research and analytical skills through the use of assessments. The skills are built up gradually from the first block to the final block.

Graduate careers
The Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics has a strong work-related bias, offering professional, postgraduate and undergraduate courses.

• You will develop an advanced understanding of economic issues for the private and public sectors, both nationally and internationally, enhancing your career prospects with key skills sought after by many organisations.