Economics

Modern economics is an increasingly rigorous discipline and advanced degrees are now essential for careers in international institutions, government and industry. The Economics MSc at UCL will equip the professional economist with the powerful tools required to understand the rapidly changing, complex and uncertain modern world economy.

The programme aims to provide all students with a sound and worthwhile education in modern economics and econometrics, developing important transferable skills of problem-definition, analysis and self-motivation. Students will learn to use the formal tools that are necessary to understand and conduct cutting-edge research in both theoretical and applied economics.

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

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Econometrics
• Research Methods

Optional modules

• At least two of the following advanced core modules:
• Advanced Macroeconomic Theory
• Advanced Microeconometrics
• Advanced Microeconomic Theory
• Time Series Econometrics
• Remaining applied options (taking the total to four) from a list including:
• 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
• Environmental Economics: Principle and Policy

Dissertation/report

The dissertation of 10,000 words will be a piece of lightly supervised research, including a brief critical review of the literature in the relevant area.

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.

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in Economics with a significant quantitative component from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with a qualification of an equivalent standard in another quantitative discipline, such as statistics, mathematics, engineering or physics, may also be considered.
Applicants whose undergraduate degree is from a university outside the UK must supply GRE scores. The quantitative GRE score must be 155 or above and the verbal score must be 150 or above (post-August 2011 scores).