Masters in Economics

Information

The School of Economics offers a one year taught Masters in Economics programme. The objective of the Masters by coursework is to equip students with the theoretical and technical knowledge required to practise as a professional economist in the public and private sector. All courses, including the core theory courses, include theoretical and empirical applications to reflect the objectives of the 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.
• 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 Masters in Economics programme comprises four compulsory courses in the first semester, two elective courses in the second semester, and a compulsory research paper. The degree runs over 12 months. The programme is equivalent to 240 credits.

Compulsory Courses:

ECO5011F Quantitative Methods for Economists (30 credits)
ECO5021F Advanced Macroeconomics (30 credits)
ECO5020F Advanced Microeconomics (30 credits)/ECO6007Z Microeconomics II (30 credits)
ECO5046Z Advanced Econometrics (30 credits)

Optional Courses:

Two 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
ECO5030S Applied Growth Theory

Research Component

ECO5023W Mini Dissertation (60 credits)

With the permission of the Graduate convenor, students may be permitted to take one Masters course (level 5000) from another Department.

Options may be added or withdrawn according to circumstances each year.

Examination requirements:

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. Students may repeat a maximum of one course of the coursework component provided that they have submitted the required dissertation within the time frame for submission.
3. The research component is examined by way of a mini-dissertation which will be due by 15 February in the year following the coursework and accounts for 25% of the final result.
4. 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.
5. Students who fail to complete all the requirements for the Master degree, subject to the exception in (b) above, within one year will not be permitted to re-register.
6. Students may convert to the Masters in Economic Science stream at any stage prior to the end of the fourth quarter. Acceptance into the Masters in Economic Science programme is subject to satisfactory performance in all Masters courses completed prior to the cut-off date.

Bursaries and Scholarships

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