MSc 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 to study economics at Manchester, attracted by our first-class postgraduate training and supervision offered by our postgraduate programmes.

Aims

This course will:

  • provide balanced and rigorous training in modern economics theories and techniques at postgraduate level;
  • introduce you to key concepts, ideas, tools and techniques via core and optional course units;
  • demonstrate and develop your skills by writing a summer dissertation.

Upon completion of the course, you should be able to read and understand the leading economics journals, develop economic models of your own from which to derive original results and offer a critique of underlying theories.

Special features

Quantitative methods preparation for the MSc:

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 may be unable to attend the course. The marks for this course 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 this route.  

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.

Coursework and assessment

The Master of Economics is awarded by the University on the recommendation of the Board of the School of Social Sciences, Graduate Office. The degree will be awarded with a pass, merit or distinction.

Students who fail a master's degree may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma if they satisfy the appropriate conventions. Once a diploma has been awarded in these circumstances, a student cannot re-enrol on a master's degree.

In Economics, there are three standard methods of assessment: 

  • written examination only;
  • written examination plus an essay, test, or project;
  • examinations are usually 2 hours in length.

Course unit details

There are typically five compulsory course units:  

  • microeconomic theory;
  • macroeconomic theory;
  • mathematical methods in economic analysis; 
  • econometric methods;
  • microeconometrics, and/or applied microeconometrics.

Students undertaking the MSc Economics course are required to write a dissertation of between 12,000-15,000 words following exams in May and June. 

Also, an available option (not listed in 'Course unit list') is a 15-credit taught master's interdisciplinary unit offered by the University College (UCIL) to taught master's students from all disciplines.  

This option may be selected only subject to approval by the Programme Director.

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
Mathematical Methods in Economic Analysis ECON60081 15 Mandatory
Microeconomic Theory ECON60101 15 Mandatory
Macroeconomic Theory ECON60111 15 Mandatory
Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Economics ECON60901 0 Mandatory
Econometric Methods ECON61001 15 Mandatory
Dissertation ECON63000 60 Mandatory
Development Microeconomics ECON60022 15 Optional
Microeconometrics ECON60052 15 Optional
International Macroeconomics ECON60132 15 Optional
Poverty, Inequality and Government Policy in Less Developed Countries ECON60212 15 Optional
Financial Econometrics ECON60332 15 Optional
Healthcare Economics ECON60432 15 Optional
Political Economics ECON60492 15 Optional
Applied Macroeconometrics ECON60522 15 Optional
Applied Development Economics Project (ADEP) ECON60552 15 Optional
Mathematical Economics ECON60562 15 Optional
Economic Growth ECON60662 15 Optional
Economics of Environmental Policy ECON60782 15 Optional
Labour Economics ECON60822 15 Optional
Advanced Topics in Development Economics ECON61212 15 Optional
Financial Economics II ECON61262 15 Optional
Creating a Sustainable World: Interdisciplinary Applications of the Sustainable Development Goals UCIL60312 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 22 course units

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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