MSc Economics
Canterbury, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 20,700 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international | UK: £10,000
Key Summary
Economics is the study of questions that affect us all.
How do we achieve more equal growth and development? How do we address environmental concerns sustainably? How can financial institutions manage traditional challenges such as inflation and interest rates, as well as newer developments such as cryptocurrencies?
Our curriculum will expand your knowledge of economics and statistics, with a particular focus on quantitative analysis. You’ll find this skill invaluable in any successful employment role, from corporate market data analysis to global trade pattern research for public bodies.
As you advance, you’ll be able to specialise in modules of your choice, and even develop your big data knowledge further by progressing to our data science MSc.
We offer an international perspective at Kent. Students can study in Bangladesh as part of our co-delivery arraignment with Brac and North-South Universities, funded by the Turing Scheme. They also benefit from a close-knit supportive campus environment, and world-class research centres exploring themes such as development economics, macroeconomics, microeconomics and agricultural economics.
Scholarship value
The award covers tuition fees, return airfares and living costs for a one-year taught Master's programme.
Deadline
Deadline for Commonwealth application: - 12 December 2024.
Hold an unconditional offer (with the only outstanding condition, international fee deposit) of a programme of study from the University of Kent - 31 January 2025
Criteria
To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, candidates must:
- Hold an undergraduate degree at UK first-class level equivalent.
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by one of the eligible Commonwealth countries listed or be a British Protected Person.
- Be a permanent resident in one of the eligible Commonwealth countries listed above.
- To be committed to the University of Kent, you can apply for more than one course and/or to more than one University, but you may only accept one offer of a Shared Scholarship.
- Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high-income country.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Return to their home country as soon as their period of study is complete. In some circumstances, a student may be permitted to remain in the UK if seeing doctoral study and satisfy certain strict conditions.
- Hold an offer by the deadline for a full-time postgraduate taught degree on one of the eligible courses at the University of Kent:
- MSc Artificial Intelligence
- MSc Infectious Diseases
- MSc Cyber Security
- MA International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- MSc Applied Actuarial Science
- MSc Conservation Science
- MA English and American Literature
Further details
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, set up by DFID in 1986, represent a unique partnership between the United Kingdom government and UK Universities.
Funded by the UK Department of International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Shared Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development. They are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
These scholarships are offered under six themes:
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Strengthening global peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises - Access, inclusion and opportunity.
How to apply
To be considered for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship you must:
- Make a formal application for a postgraduate degree at the University of Kent commencing September 2025/26. This can be done online here.
- Complete the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) online application process. For information on how to do that and full details of the application process please go directly to the Commonwealth Scholarships webpages.
- Applications will be considered based on Academic Excellence and a completed application.
- The Commonwealth will accept applications until 12th December 2024 (closing at 16:00 GMT).
Stage 1
Compulsory modules currently include the following
- Microeconomics
- Econometric Methods
- Macroeconomics
- Research Skills for Economics Dissertation
- Dissertation
- Dissertation Bangladesh
Optional modules may include the following
- International Economics
- International Finance
- Sustainable Economic Growth and Environmental Valuation
- Money and Credit
- Development Economics
- Financial Economics
Programme aims
The programme aims:
- To provide a stimulating education in the principles of Economics and their application, in which high-quality teaching motivates students to achieve their full potential. The teaching is informed by the research and scholarship of teaching staff.
- To build on the existing knowledge, abilities and skills of all students, and to develop a deeper understanding of economic theory, econometric and quantitative techniques and policy applications to specific areas.
- To provide options to enable students to study selected areas of Economics in depth.
- To develop in students the ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills in a range of theoretical, applied and policy problems.
- To develop the skills necessary for independent research and to prepare students for work as professional economists or in an area related to Economics.
- To provide information and advice on future employment and further postgraduate study.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain a knowledge and understanding of:
- The concepts, principles, theories, models and methods of modern advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and quantitative methods.
- The econometric, mathematical, statistical and computing methods used in Economics.
- Sources of economic data and methods used to analyse such data, and ability to make use of sources and methods.
- Model building in microeconomics and macroeconomics and critical analysis of such models.
- Application of core economic theory and reasoning to applied topics.
- Research methods and management.
- Specialist supervised dissertation topic and quantitative methods project.
- Economic analysis of policy.
- Chosen specialist areas in Economics selected from a range of options.
- Critical evaluation of major debates and articles in advanced economic literature
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual skills:
- Ability to abstract the essential features of a complex system.
- Ability to think about what are the important variables and fixed parameters in analysing a problem.
- Ability to analyse complex issues using deductive and inductive reasoning.
- Ability to organise and use information to analyse complex issues and construct and test different hypotheses.
- Ability to review literature critically and appreciate alternative explanations and analyses of a problem.
- Ability to effectively work under supervision for the dissertation and manage quantitative projects.
Subject-specific skills
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
- Analytical skills in Economics.
- Ability to develop and understand models of Economic behaviour.
- Ability to apply economic principles and analysis to a range of issues, problems and policies.
- Ability to abstract the essential features of an economic issue, problem or system.
- Knowledge of the principal sources of economic data and information and ability to use and present this information.
- Be able to carry out economic/econometric analysis of economic data.
- Ability to synthesize and compare critically different economic analyses of an economic issue.
- Ability to research the literature on an economic issue.
- Research management skills.
- Ability to apply economic skills to investigate supervised dissertation and quantitative methods projects.
Transferable skills
You gain the following transferable skills:
- Effective communication of analysis and ideas both orally and in written form.
- Ability to assemble, analyse, use and present data.
- Understanding and ability to use economic, mathematical and quantitative methods to analyse issues and problems.
- Development of Information Technology skills through using statistical and econometric packages, bibliographic searches and word processing coursework.
- Independence in initiating and executing work.
- Ability to analyse and solve problems.
- Ability to think critically about proposed analyses and solutions to a problem or issue.
- Ability to define and test hypotheses.
- Become responsible for managing own learning and academic performance.
- Research management skills acquired through managing supervised dissertation and quantitative methods projects.
Opening a world of opportunity
Our postgraduate degree gives you an advanced skillset as well as a flexible problem-solving mindset, perfect for research, government and business roles.
Our students make use of their postgraduate degree by working in research and academic careers in the UK and overseas, and by working as economists in:
- International organisations
- Finance
- UK and overseas governments
Graduates have also secured roles at companies such as BNP Paribas, AXA, FactSet and PwC.
Teaching and assessment
Assessment is through a wide variety of methods including seminar presentations, extended essays, short projects, in-class tests, examinations, and the dissertation.