Masters in Economic Science

Information

The School offers a two year coursework and dissertation based Masters in Economic Science degree. The objective of the programme is to prepare students with the theoretical and empirical knowledge required for research in Economics, including doctoral research. It provides training equivalent to the first two years of a good PhD programme at an overseas university.

The coursework content of the first year of the Masters stream is similar to that of the Masters in Economics. In the second year, students are required to complete additional core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and other electives. In addition students are required to complete a 90 credit dissertation.

Subject to satisfactory progress with the coursework and dissertation, students will be able to upgrade their dissertation and advance to the dissertation stage of their PhD degree. Students who meet the requirements for the initial degree may also exit the programme with a Masters in Economic Science degree.

Admission Requirements

• An average of at least 65% in an Honours degree in Economics.
• Applicants may be required to undertake a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test.
• Students who have completed equivalent courses at the Masters level may apply for exemption, but not credit, from particular courses.
• Students who registered for the Masters Programme in Economics (CM012/CM013) in 2007 will be permitted to transfer to the Masters in Economic Science in 2008.
• Recommendation of acceptance is at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.

In addition to completing the University application form, students must complete a Departmental Application form and submit it to the Graduate Administrator, School of Economics before 31 October. The programme commences in late January.

Programme Structure

The course consists of a number of compulsory courses and optional courses. The courses may be completed during any stage of the degree. Students are advised to follow the Masters in Economics stream during the first year. Students are also required to commence with their dissertation (ECO5066W) during the first year.

Coursework component

Compulsory Courses:

ECO5011F Quantitative Methods for Economists (30 credits)
ECO5021F Advanced Macroeconomics (30 credits)
ECO5020F Advanced Microeconomics (30 credits)
ECO5046F Advanced Econometrics (30 credits)
ECO6007F Microeconomics II (30 credits)
ECO5030S Applied Growth Theory (30 credits)/ECO6002F Macroeconomics II (30 credits)

Optional Courses:

Three courses to be chosen from (30 credits each):
ECO5001S The Economics of AIDS in Africa
ECO5025S Financial Economics II
ECO5050S International Finance II
ECO5052S Natural Resource Economics
ECO5057S Labour Economics
ECO5062S Applied International Trade
ECO5064S Views of Institutional and Behavioural Economics
ECO5069S Applied Time Series Analysis
ECO5070S Microeconometrics

Research Component

ECO5066W Half Dissertation (90 credits)

With permission of the Graduate Convenor, a Masters in Economic Science student may be permitted to take two Masters courses (level 5000) from another Department.

Options may be added or withdrawn according to circumstances each year. See under Masters in Economics for descriptions of the compulsory and elective courses.

Examination requirements:

Two options are available to students.
(1) Students may exit the programme with a Masters in Economic Science degree
(2) Students may upgrade their 90 credit dissertation (ECO5066W) and register for the PhD

(1) The examination requirements for the award of the Masters in Economic Science degree are:

1. To qualify for the Masters degree, students cannot fail more than one course in the programme, cannot score less than 40% on any course, must achieve at least 50% for the research component and must achieve an overall average of at least 50%.
2. Candidates may repeat a maximum of one course within the stipulated time frame for completion of the degree.
3. Candidates are required to complete all the coursework within two years.
4. The dissertation is examined by way of a 90 credit research paper which will be due by 15 February in the year following the coursework.
5. The degree will be awarded with distinction if the candidate obtains an overall average mark of 75% or higher, and if the candidate obtains not less than 70% for both the coursework component and the dissertation component of the degree.
6. Students who fail to submit their dissertation and complete their coursework requirements for the Masters in Economic Science degree within two years will not be permitted to re-register.

(2) To upgrade to a PhD in Economics, students must fulfil the following requirements:

1. Satisfactory completion of the coursework requirements of the Masters in Economic Science degree.
2. Satisfactory completion and presentation of a research paper to the Graduate Committee within the School of Economics during the third quarter of the second year. Successful candidates are required to submit their final PhD proposals to the Doctoral Degrees Board by the end of February the following year. Unsuccessful candidates are required to submit their 90 credit dissertation (ECO5066W) by 15 February in the following year.
3. Candidates must meet the rules for admission to the PhD as set out by the University.
4. Subject to the University rules, candidates who have upgraded to the PhD may graduate with a Masters in Economic Science upon successful submission of a 90 credit points dissertation and successful completion of the coursework.

Bursaries and Scholarships

Click here for information on general bursaries and scholarships, or visit the Postgraduate Funding Office's website.