MA Economics

The University organises open days every year in June, September and October.

These are an opportunity to find out more about the School of Social Sciences and our resources, as well as meet academics and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

As there is a high demand for our courses we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.

Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing.

Applications for 2025 entry:

Stage 1: Application received by 7th December 2024 ; Application update by 21st February 2025

Stage 2: Application received by 2nd March 2025 ; Application update by 1st May 2025

Stage 3: Application received by 4th May 2025 ; Application update by5 th June 2025

Stage 4: Application received by 1st July 2025 ; Application update by 25th July 2025

Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.

Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.

Please note: All places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.

Tuition fee deposits

If you are successful in receiving an offer, you will be required to pay a tuition fee deposit of £1,000 by the deadline stated in your offer letter to confirm your place. We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability. The deposit amount is then deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The demand for economists continues to grow worldwide. This demand exists across a host of institutions ranging from the public sector (like universities, central banks, international organisations) to the private sector (commercial banks and insurance providers). With the range of applied economics skills provided in the MA Economics course, you are perfectly placed to seek a career in business and position yourself ahead of the competition. At the same time, this degree is ideal if you wish to continue into further education via MSc research degrees across the UK and the world.

The University also has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. You will also have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .