Course overview
- One of Europe’s leading centres for economics research and research-led teaching
- Internationally renowned for postgraduate training with a range of master’s courses and exposure to state-of-the-art research
- Gain theoretical and practical skills necessary for a professional economist
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
A USA 2:1 honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in economics, finance, mathematics or a related subject with economic theory, mathematics and econometrics studied at a high level.
When applying, please submit these supporting documents, in addition to the online form:
- copy of transcript from undergraduate degrees (interim transcripts are acceptable if you have not yet finished the degree);
- English language evidence (for applicants from non-native English speaking countries.
English language
- IELTS – overall score of 7, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5;
- TOEFL IBT 103 with 28 in writing and no further score below 25 in each section. TOEFL code for Northampton is 0757.
- Pearson – overall 73 with 73 in writing and no further score below 66
Pre-Sessional English Courses
If you are eligible to do a pre-sessional English course (either 6 weeks or 10 weeks, depending on your English score), you will need to successfully complete the course at the required level before you are permitted to register on your academic course.
English language test validity
Degree awarded:
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration:
1 year (full-time); 2 years (part-time)
Entry requirements:
A USA 2:1 honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in economics, finance, mathematics or a related subject with economic theory, mathematics and econometrics studied at a high level.
When applying, please submit these supporting documents, in addition to the online form:
Advice to applicants
Due to high demand for this course, we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year.
If we make you an offer, you will have approximately 4 weeks to accept. Any offers not accepted by the deadline will be withdrawn so that an offer can be made to another candidate.
All conditional offer holders have until 1 August to satisfy the conditions of the offer.
You need to ensure that you submit your supporting documents with your online application as it may delay us processing your application before the decision deadline.
Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the decision date, in some instances due to the competition for places/volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date. If this is the case, we will let you know after the deadline date.
Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.
We can accept your application before you complete your undergraduate studies; please submit your latest transcripts with your online application.
Please note:
- All places are subject to availability and if you apply for one of the later dates, some courses may already be closed. We recommend that you apply early in the cycle to secure your place with us.
- Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an offer.
- How your application is considered
Re-applications
Programme details
urse description
Northampton is a leading centre for economics and research-led teaching. Graduate students from across the globe come to study economics at Northamoton, attracted by our first-class postgraduate training and supervision in the core and specialist areas of economics.
Many famous names from the world of economics have worked here at Northampton, including three Nobel Prize winners.
The MSc also provides the option of specialising in the following areas:
- econometrics;
- environmental economics; and
- health economics.
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 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 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, and;
- cross section econometrics.
In addition, you can choose from a wide range, three approved optional course units. 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.
The MSc Economics allows you the option to specialise, if you so wish, in one of three areas; Econometrics, Environmental Economics or Health Economics, by selecting in the second semester specialism-specific units as detailed below. Students may decide to choose specialisms by the end of semester one.
Econometrics specialism
This specialism aims to provide balanced and rigorous training in modern theories in economics and econometrics at the postgraduate level. Although similar to the MSc in Economics, it differs in the level of econometric course units it provides.
The aims are:
- To provide advanced instruction and rigorous training in economic and econometric theories and the relevant methods of empirical research in those areas.
- To develop your powers of inquiry, critical analysis, and logical thinking and to apply theoretical knowledge to current issues of policy and practice.
- To encourage initiative, independent learning, and create awareness of the range of methodological approaches to research and problem solving and their implications for research findings.
- To enable you to apply advanced research skills to a relevant research area in economics and/or econometrics, via course units and a dissertation.
In addition to the five compulsory course units, you are required to take the following:
- Econometric Theory
- Applied Macroeconomics
You then select one further course unit from an agreed list of options.
Environmental Economics specialism
This specialism aims to provide a balanced and rigorous training in modern theories and techniques in environmental economics at the postgraduate level. Although similar to the MSc in Economics, it differs in the specialist course units it provides.
- You are introduced to key concepts, ideas, tools and techniques via core and optional course units, and have the opportunity to combine and develop your skills in writing a dissertation.
- By the end of the course, you are able to critically engage with the current theory and practice in environmental economics. You are able to develop approaches and models of your own, based on the environmental problem at hand, from which to derive original results and offer a critique of existing theories and practice.
- It provides training for those aiming to be environmental economists in national and international public (Defra, FSA, Environment Agency, OECD, etc) and private institutions including environmental consultancies. It also serves as a sound foundation from which to embark on a PhD in environmental economics.
In addition to the five compulsory course units, you are required to take the following:
- Environmental Valuation
- Economics of Environmental Policy
You then select one further course unit from an agreed list of options.
Health Economics specialism
This specialism aims to provide rigorous training in modern theories and techniques in economics of health and health care at postgraduate level. Although similar to the MSc in Economics, it differs in the specialist course units it provides.
- You are introduced to key concepts, tools and techniques via core and optional course units, and have the opportunity to combine and develop their skills in writing a supervised dissertation.
- Cutting-edge health related issues and policies will be critically examined and by the end of the course, you will be able to rigorously engage with current theory and practice in health economics. You can develop theoretical or empirical models of your own from which to derive original results and offer a critique of existing theories and practice.
- The bulk of the teaching and research supervision on this programme is done by members of the Department of Economics and the NorthamptonCentre for Health Economics research group ( Institute of Population Health ).
- It provides training for those aiming to be health economists in national and international public (NHS, WHO, etc) and private institutions including consultancies. It also serves as a sound foundation from which to embark on a PhD in Health Economics.
In addition to the five compulsory course units, you will be required to take the following units:
- Topics in Economics of Health
- Economics of Health
You then select one further course unit from an agreed list of options.
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.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Methods in Economic Analysis | ECON600 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Microeconomic Theory | ECON601 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Macroeconomic Analysis | ECON601 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Economics | ECON609 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Econometric Methods | ECON610 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Dissertation | ECON630 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Development Microeconomics | ECON600 | 15 | Optional |
| Micro Econometrics | ECON600 | 15 | Optional |
| International Macroeconomics | ECON601 | 15 | Optional |
| Public Economics | ECON602 | 15 | Optional |
Careers
Career opportunities
The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.