Course description

Manchester is a leading centre for economics and research-led teaching. Graduate students from across the globe come to study economics at Manchester, attracted by its 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 Manchester, including three Nobel Prize winners. 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 students who seek a degree that combines 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 Manchester because of its focus on mainstream but less theoretical units that need to be completed.

Students who choose the MA Economics course 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;

mathematical methods in economic analysis;

further econometrics, and;

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 programme suits students who are interested in a career straight after the MA and not those students interested in postgraduate research. The latter group may find our MSc Economics more appropriate.

Aims

The course will:

provide instruction and rigorous training in economics and the relevant methods of mathematical economics 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, mathematical economics, problem-solving, written and oral expression, communication and presentation skills;

equip you with the intellectual apparatus 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.

Special features

Quantitative methods preparation for the MA:

1. Please visit our Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Economics website, where you will find information about the minimum level of knowledge of mathematics and statistics that you should possess from your current or previous training.

2. On the same website, please look at the details and content of our Introduction course on Quantitative Methods in Economics which builds on the knowledge resumed in (1) and which is designed to equip you with further technical skills that you will require before starting the MA.

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 1 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 significance of this course is illustrated by the fact that the obtained marks contribute 10% to the final marks of the Maths Methods and Econometrics compulsory units of semester 1.

Teaching and learning

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme.  

You must first check the schedule of the compulsory modules and then select your optional modules to suit your requirements.  

Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your module choices during induction week with your Course Director.