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Our popular flagship course, MSc Economics, provides an advanced level of understanding in the techniques of economic analysis. It is a widely recognised route into PhD studies at Essex and other universities and also can lead to jobs in finance, business and the public sector.
One module, Microeconomics, provides a rigorous training in key areas such as strategic behaviour, public choice and general equilibrium, while Macroeconomics covers modern theory and methods with applications to policy. In Mathematical Methods you will gain a good understanding of optimisation theory, but also understand formally how economic arguments work and the role of equilibrium. You will acquire a mastery of econometric methods applicable to a wide variety of situations from your compulsory module, Econometric Methods and Applications. Alongside these modules you will take optional modules in areas which most interest you and you will undertake a dissertation.
Our MSc Economics will help you develop key employability skills including; analytical reasoning, model building, mathematical techniques, evaluation of mathematical models, statistical analysis and data analysis.
This course has ESRC Doctoral Training Centre accreditation, meaning it can form part of a 1+3 funding opportunity worth up to £21,575 for talented postgraduates. Our University is one of only 21 ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centres in the UK.
Why study MSc Economics at Essex?
Our Department of Economics maintains a world-class reputation for our outstanding quality research and teaching. We were ranked joint third in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE, December 2008), reflecting our well-established reputation for excellence. Many of our staff, who are world renowned experts in their fields, have been elected to leadership roles in learned societies and have been editors of leading economics journals.
Essex economists are engaged in a variety of research networks and collaborate with economists at other universities in the UK and overseas. Much of our research is related to policy and we often provide advice to government and non-government organisations. The top quality of our work is reflected in our stream of publications in high profile academic journals like Economic Journal, Journal of Econometrics, American Economic Journal and Journal of the European Economic Association.
Our facilities
Our Department of Economics forms part of our Universitys accredited Doctoral Training Centre of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), meaning a number of ESRC studentships available for new postgraduates.
As well as access to all University facilities at our Colchester Campus, such as our well-equipped Albert Sloman Library and extensive open access computer laboratories, we provide good facilities within our Department for study, with access to a range of resources and support mechanisms to foster your progression and studies.
With the skills and knowledge you acquire from studying within our Department of Economics, you will be in demand from a wide range of employers. We have excellent links with the research community, both in the UK and worldwide, and strong ties with the business/consultancy world, especially in London and other major financial centres.
Recent graduates of MSc Economics have found employment as the chief tax inspector for the Ministry of Finance, an economist for HM Treasury, an economist for The Work Foundation, an analyst for Fitch Ratings and a finance position at Schroders Investment Management.
Other examples of the jobs you may do after graduating are: statistician; economist in a bank or other financial organisation; official in a regulatory agency; business or financial analyst; economic analyst or advisor; financial, management or economic consultant; managerial position; and government official.
Your employability
A postgraduate qualification is a major achievement and greatly valued by employers. Recent surveys show that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level and less likely to be unemployed. For some jobs a postgraduate qualification may be essential, for others it offers a competitive edge. Our graduates go into a variety of jobs, where the key employability skills and knowledge they have gained through postgraduate study are put to good use.
Our Languages for All programme lets you study a language, alongside your course, at no extra cost. You can take one of 50 taught language modules on a part-time day-time basis, or undertake flexible web-based learning, or opt for a language module taught in the evening. As employers can struggle to find graduates able to speak more than one language, Languages for All places Essex graduates in a very advantageous position.
If you achieve your Masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree and many who graduate from Essex choose to stay here for research study. Some of our Masters may be taken as the first part of an Integrated PhD, leading to your PhD after a further three years of full-time study.
Support for postgraduates
Our University has a range of support services designed to help you to achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies. These form a co-ordinated network of support, and are an important part of your overall student experience at Essex.
Our staff operate an 'open door' policy so are available to discuss any concerns with you throughout the year.
Research study opportunities
Within our Department of Economics, we offer supervision for PhD and MPhil. Essex economists are engaged in a variety of research networks and collaborate with economists at other universities in the UK and overseas. Much of our research is related to policy and we often provide advice to government and non-government organisations.
We also aim to apply economic methods to new and original ways. One example is Professor Andrea Galeottis research on the diffusion of information through social networks, another is Professor Marco Francesconis work on how resource allocation takes place within the family.
A Masters course is an academically rigorous programme during which you explore your subject in depth, reaching a high level of specialist knowledge. You draw on knowledge and skills from your undergraduate study or your professional life to produce work of a high academic standard, informed by current thinking and debate.
This course lasts twelve months (full-time), starting in October, and consists of taught modules during your autumn and spring terms and a research-based dissertation to be submitted in September. Your research-based dissertation counts for 40 credits and you will take seven 20 credit modules, four of which are compulsory. (If you are from the EU, then our Masters courses are regarded as second-cycle qualifications under the Bologna Declaration and consist of 90 ECTS credits).
ModulesCore modules
- Msc Dissertation
Compulsory modules
- Econometric Methods And Applications
- Macroeconomics
- Mathematical Methods
- Microeconomics
Optional modules
- Applications Of Data Analysis
- Behavioural Economics I: Individual Decision Making
- Behavioural Economics Ii: Games And Markets
- Economic Development Theory
- Economics Of Financial Markets
- Economics Of Incentives, Contracts And The Firm
- Game Theory And Applications
- International Finance
- International Trade Theory
- Panel Data Methods
- Political Economy
- Theory Of Industrial Organisation
- Time Series Econometrics
- Topics In Financial Economics
- Topics In Labour Economics
Core modules must be taken and passed.
Core with options modules selected from limited lists must be taken and passed.
Compulsory modules must be taken.
Compulsory with options modules selected from limited lists must be taken.
Optional modules are selected from course specific lists.
We offer many funding opportunities to support students, including a broad range of University of Essex scholarships, bursaries and research council funding to awards funded by charities and other external organisations.
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