The MPhil Economics is a one-year
master’s degree that runs from
mid-September to late July. This degree is specifically aimed at
candidates who are interested in undertaking a master’s degree
that will give them the training required to undertake a career as a
professional economist working for, say, the UK Government Economic
Service or an economics consultancy.
Each student will take eight modules plus a
dissertation. One
module is equivalent to eighteen hours of lectures.
Requirements:
- to attend the preparatory course in
mathematics and
statistics
- one compulsory module in each of the
three core areas [3]
- Three more modules which can be taken
from any of the core
areas [3]
- two additional modules, either from
the core areas or from
the list of additional options [2]
- a dissertation of up to 10,000 words.
Preparatory Course in Mathematics and
Statistics
The compulsory three-week preparatory course in mathematics
and statistics runs from mid-September to early October. The aim of
this is to review and develop the required technical methods for the
compulsory core modules in macroeconomics, microeconomics, and
econometrics. The topics covered are: linear algebra; statistics;
static optimisation; dynamic optimisation; differential and difference
equations. The preparatory course also includes a two hour examination.
Core Areas
Microeconomics
- Microeconomics I (Compulsory)
- Microeconomics II
- Topics in Economic
Theory
- Applied
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
- Macroeconomics I
- Macroeconomic Analysis (Compulsory)
- Macroeconomics II -
Macroeconomic Theory
- Applied Macroeconomics
- Advanced Topics in
Macroeconomic Theory
Econometrics
- Econometric
Methods (Compulsory)
- Time Series
Econometrics and Financial Econometrics
- Cross-Section and
Panel Data Econometrics
- Applied
Econometrics
Additional Options
PLEASE NOTE that these are all modules which may be offered,
but the Faculty reserves the right to alter, omit or add optional
modules within the overall framework described above.
Assessment
Examination of the Modules will be in
May. Each module accounts for 10% of the overall mark and
the dissertation accounts for 20% of the overall mark.
Dissertation
During the second term, each student is allocated a supervisor
for the dissertation (maximum length 10,000 words). The topic of the
dissertation is associated with either a core subject or a specialist
subject and must be formally approved by the Faculty. During the second
and third terms the student will meet the supervisor to discuss an
outline of the topic, a bibliography, the use of appropriate data and
methods of analysis, and a draft of the dissertation. After the written
examinations in the third term, students can concentrate entirely on
their dissertations, with supervisors permitted to give comments until
the end of June (maximum of two hours supervision). A further three
weeks after the end of June are available for students to write up and
submit their dissertation.
Continuation to PhD
Although the MPhil in Economics is designed for students who
wish to obtain a one-year master’s qualification before leaving
academic economics, it will be possible for students to continue from
the MPhil in Economics onto the PhD programme. To do this, students
will be expected to perform at a standard similar to that required for
continuation from the MPhil in Economic Research, this means that as
well as achieving continuation marks students would need to have taken
the advanced modules that are compulsory for MPhil in Economic Research
students.
