MSc Finance and Economics
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
Course Overview
On this course, you'll develop your expertise in the fields of finance and economics by taking on intensive research-led training in advanced economic theory, econometrics and research methods, combined with a particular focus on finance.
Alongside core modules in economic theory and financial econometrics, you'll have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional modules, giving you the chance to tailor the course to your own interests and goals.
This MSc is ideal for you if you’d like to work as a professional economist in government, financial institutions, business, commerce, international agencies and other similar organisations. It's also suitable if you’re thinking of continuing to a PhD.
Our MSc Finance and Economics is part of our Academic and Professional Programme – designed for people who want to pursue a professional career in finance or economics or move into PhD study.
It’s ideal for you if you’ve studied economics before and are looking to specialise further – through intensive, research-led training in advanced economics with a particular specialty in finance. You should already have a good undergraduate degree (equivalent to a 2:1 or a 1st) with a substantial component of economics, or a graduate diploma in economics.
You'll build your expertise with core compulsory taught modules in microeconomic theory and financial econometrics, along with a range of optional modules. Along with your dissertation, this is an area where you can tailor the course to meet your own personal interests and aspirations.
Your dissertation – which you'll write towards the end of your year with us – gives you the freedom to choose your own topic from within the area of finance and economics. Throughout your dissertation, you'll benefit from supervision and support from a member of the School of Economics.
We offer specialised structural support to help you negotiate your Master’s course. This includes compulsory, intensive pre-sessional training before the start of teaching on your course modules. This training incorporates the techniques of calculus and matrix algebra and an introduction to the specialist econometric software that you'll use in your MSc programme.
Study and Modules
Structure
The course is a 12-month programme consisting of taught modules followed by a dissertation.
MSc Finance and Economics consists of advanced modules in the areas of economic theory and financial econometrics. This course also includes a number of specialist finance modules. Some finance modules are quite technical, some are more descriptive, while some are more empirical based. You're likely to find complementarities between the modules, with similar topics being approached from different perspectives, and these complementarities will enhance your grasp of financial concepts.
Although you'll write your dissertation in summer, you'll begin your dissertation module with a sequence of dissertation training lectures during the Spring Semester. Here you'll discover how to choose a topic, how to access financial data and search literature and how to analyse quantitative data. You’ll be able to take advantage of further dissertation training workshops in early summer.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
UEA’s School of Economics is lively, friendly, research-orientated and committed to excellence in teaching. We have an international reputation in many key areas, covering both theoretical and applied economics. Our principal research strengths include behavioural economics, competition economics, environmental policy, contests and corporate behaviour, finance and financial markets, and data science.
You’ll take taught modules, spread over two semesters. In a typical module, you'll have two hours of lectures and one hour of workshops (or lab sessions) per week. Your workshops are more interactive than lectures and provide you with an opportunity to raise questions arising from lectures.
In your econometrics modules, your workshops will take place in computer labs, where you'll learn how to conduct econometric analysis using the specialist econometric software package, STATA.
You’ll also become practiced in independent study, spending time working on coursework assignments, preparing for seminars, and doing your own wider reading. These skills become particularly valuable when you come to work on your dissertation.
Assessment
Your assessment will be in a variety of forms, including take-home assignments, seminar presentations, written tests, computer tests and your dissertation (which you'll submit in late summer).
You’ll regularly be given “formative assessment” tasks, which give you an opportunity to practice assessment tasks in a way that does not impact your module marks. When marked assessments are returned to you, you’ll receive constructive written feedback that will help you to improve further.
If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia, you can obtain help from our Student Support Service.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors degree 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Economics
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 6.0 in Writing and Speaking and 5.5 in Listening and Reading)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2024/25 are:
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UK Students: £11,025 (full time)
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International Students: £21,200 (full time)
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Upon completing this MSc, you can pursue a variety of careers as a professional economist in government, industry and international agencies as well as positions in the financial sector.
Past graduates from the School of Economics have gone on to work for HM Treasury, the Home Office, Bank of England, Aviva, Barclays, M+A Partners, BDO, Deloitte, Ernst and Young, Goldman Sachs, Grant Thornton, HSBC, JP Morgan, KPMG, Lloyds, PwC and Santander amongst others.
You'll also be well qualified to enter a PhD programme with a view to continuing onto an academic career. Several of our former PhD students now hold academic posts as lecturers in university departments both in the UK and overseas.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Example of careers that you could enter include:
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Government agencies
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Economic consultant
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Bank of England
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Deloitte
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International organisations
Discover more on our Careers webpages.