Economics MA

The MA economics course is designed to meet the growing demand for those students who seek an applied economics degree that combines a solid training in microeconomic and macroeconomic principles with quantitative methods and research informed applied economics units. This course is clearly different from the existing MSc Economics courses at Manchester because of its focus on mainstream but less theoretical units that need to be completed.

Students on the MA economics will take compulsory courses in both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics; they will further advance their quantitative skills and techniques in the core courses in Introduction to Econometrics, Mathematical Methods in Economic Analysis and Further Econometrics; and, as part of their MA research project, they will focus on applied and/or policy-oriented research of economic data as relevant to policy makers and economics professionals.

The programme is focused on students interested in a career straight after the MA and not on those students interested in postgraduate research, as the latter group will find our MSc Economics more appropriate. 

• Provide instruction and rigorous training in economics and the relevant methods of mathematical economics and econometrics research in this area
• Develop your powers of inquiry, critical analysis and logical thinking, and your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to current issues of policy and practice in economics
• Encourage initiative, independent learning, awareness of analytical and theoretical approaches in the field of economics, exposure to recent research and the state-of-the-art tools in applied work in economics
• Train you in research methods and core skills in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, mathematical economics, problem-solving, written and oral expression, communication and presentation skills
• Equip you with the intellectual apparatus and practical skills necessary for an economist working in private or public organisations
• Enable you to apply advanced research skills to a relevant research area either in economics or econometrics, via course units and a research project

Semester 1 (60 credits)

ECON60411 15 credits Macroeconomics

ECON60391 15 credits Microeconomics

ECON60081 15 credits Mathematical Methods for Economic Analysis

ECON60611 15 credits Introduction to Econometrics

ECON60901 0 credits Pre Session Maths

Semester 2 (60 credits)

One core and three optional units from:

Core (compulsory) unit:

ECON60622 15 credits Further Econometrics

Optional units:

ECON61222 15 credits Industry, The Corporation and Government

ECON60072 15 credits Growth, Development and Economic Transformation

ECON60282 15 credits Economic Analysis for Developing Countries

ECON60202 15 credits Public Economics

ECON61902 15 credits Topics in the Economic Development of China

ECON60022 15 credits Development Microeconomics

ECON60782 15 credits Economics of Environmental Policy

ECON60422 15 credits Environmental Valuation

ECON70892 15 credits Monetary Theory and Policy

ECON60212 15 credits Poverty, Inequality and Government Policy in LDCs

ECON60762 15 credits Agriculture in Economic Development

June - September (60 credits)

MA research project 60 credits

A full-time student normally attends for 12 months from mid-September, the academic year being divided into two semesters. You will:

• Take compulsory course units in both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
• Further advance your quantitative skills and techniques in the core course units in Introduction to Econometrics, Mathematical Methods in Economic Analysis and Further Econometrics
• Focus on applied and/or policy-oriented research of economic data as relevant to policy-makers and economics professionals, as part of your MA research project (60 credits)

Further information is available via the Programme Handbook

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