MA Economics / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

The University of Manchester is a leading centre for economics and research-led teaching. Many famous names from the world of economics have worked here at Manchester, including three Nobel Prize winners. Graduate students from across the globe come here to study economics, attracted by our first-class postgraduate training and supervision in the core and specialist areas of economics.

Interdisciplinary study is also actively pursued here with many course units involving a number of different Schools at the University.

The MA Economics course is designed to meet the growing demand for those who seek a degree combining a solid training in microeconomic and macroeconomic principles with quantitative methods and research informed applied economics units.

This course is different from the existing MSc Economics course at The University of Manchester because of its focus on mainstream but less theoretical units that need to be completed.

If you choose the MA Economics course, you will take compulsory course units in both microeconomics and macroeconomics; you will further advance your quantitative skills and techniques in the core units:

  • introduction to econometrics;
  • mathematics for economists;
  • further econometrics;
  • as part of your dissertation, you will focus on applied and/or policy-oriented research of economic data as relevant to policy makers and economics professionals.

The course suits students who are interested in a career straight after the MA. If you are interested in postgraduate research, you may find our MSc Economics course more appropriate.

Aims

The course will:

  • Provide instruction and rigorous training in economics and the relevant methods of mathematics for economists and econometrics research in this area.
  • Develop your powers of inquiry, critical analysis, 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 state-of-the-art tools in applied work in economics.
  • Train you in research methods and core skills in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, mathematics for economists, problem-solving, written and oral expression, communication and presentation skills.
  • Equip you with the intellectual 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 in economics, via course units and a dissertation.

Special features

Quantitative methods preparation for the MA:

1. Please visit our Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Economics website for information about the minimum level of knowledge of mathematics and statistics that you should possess from your current or previous training.

2. The website also provides details and content of our Introduction course on Quantitative Methods in Economics which builds on the knowledge gained in (1) and is designed to equip you with further technical skills that you will require before starting the MSc.

3. You are strongly advised to attend this course which is offered free of charge. The course will run during induction week and we recommend that you spend some time between July and September studying and familiarising yourself with the course material on the website, especially if you might not be able to attend the course. The importance of the course is illustrated by the fact that the marks contribute 10% towards the Maths Methods and Econometrics compulsory units of semester one.

Teaching and learning

Part-time students complete the full-time course over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time course.  

You must first check the schedule of the compulsory course units and then select your optional units to suit your requirements.  

Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your unit choices during induction week with your Course Director.

Course unit details

ECON60901 0 credits Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Economics.

Semester 1

Four mandatory units:

  • ECON60411 Macroeconomics
  • ECON60391 Microeconomics
  • ECON60081 Mathematical Methods for Economic Analysis
  • ECON60611 Introduction to Econometrics

Semester 2

One mandatory unit:

  • ECON60622 Further Econometrics

Three optional units:

  • ECON60432 Topics in Economics of Health
  • ECON61902 Topics in the Economic Development of China
  • ECON60022 Development Microeconomics
  • ECON60782 Economics of Environmental Policy
  • ECON60422 Environmental Valuation
  • ECON60212 Poverty, Inequality and Government Policy in Less Developed Countries
  • ECON60762 Agriculture in Economic Development
  • ECON60472 Labour Macroeconomics
  • ECON60482 Topics in Applied Economics
  • ECON60462 Numerical Methods for Economists
  • ECON6XXX2 Labour Economics 

Please note that not all options may be available every year.

Also, other options (not listed in 'Course unit list') may be selected subject to approval of the Programme Director and unit lecturer.

These include a 15-credit taught master's interdisciplinary unit offered by the University College (UCIL) to taught master's students from all disciplines.

Please talk for to your Programme Director first who can advise you on the list of other options available.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Microeconomics ECON60391 15 Mandatory
Macroeconomics ECON60411 15 Mandatory
Introduction to Econometrics ECON60611 15 Mandatory
Further Econometrics ECON60622 15 Mandatory
Mathematics for Economists ECON60811 15 Mandatory
Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Economics ECON60901 0 Mandatory
MA Dissertation ECON73000 60 Mandatory
Development Microeconomics ECON60022 15 Optional
Poverty, Inequality and Government Policy in Less Developed Countries ECON60212 15 Optional
Healthcare Economics ECON60432 15 Optional
Topics in Applied Economics ECON60482 15 Optional
Political Economics ECON60492 15 Optional
Applied Development Economics Project (ADEP) ECON60552 15 Optional
Economic Growth ECON60662 15 Optional
Economics of Environmental Policy ECON60782 15 Optional
Labour Economics ECON60822 15 Optional
Creating a Sustainable World: Interdisciplinary Applications of the Sustainable Development Goals UCIL60312 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 17 course units

What our students say

Find out why our students and alumni chose to study Economics at The University of Manchester in Student Spotlights .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk