Overview and entry requirements

The MSc Economics equips you with the specialist knowledge that is necessary to answer key questions.

How will climate change affect economic policies in the Global North and the Global South? What is the future of fiscal policy and central banking? What are the economic effects of income and wealth inequality? What drives economic and financial crises? How does shadow banking affect financial stability? What is the role of game theory in economics? What are the gendered effects of recessions?

The programme provides unique training in both mainstream and heterodox theories and methods. It allows you to develop quantitative and qualitative skills and to apply these to a variety of contemporary economic issues.

See Department of Economics

Why study MSc Economics at SOAS

• we are 12th in UK for course satisfaction Guardian League Tables 2021 and 5th in London Complete University Guide 2021
• it provides rigorous training in both mainstream and heterodox economics
• it makes explicit links between economic theories and the real world, using pluralist and political economy perspectives
• it provides economic knowledge for specific regions, drawing on the rich regional expertise of SOAS
• contemporary topics (like environmental policies and the gendered effects of monetary and fiscal policies) are incorporated in the core modules of the programme; they are not just taught in optional modules

Career paths

The SOAS MSc in Economics and the critical approach to economics that it provides is a gateway to various job opportunities in private companies, the government sector and international organisations. The advanced nature of the programme also serves as an excellent foundation for PhD studies.

Explore

• Economics at SOAS: my experience as a postgrad student
  
• COVID-19 and crises of capitalism: intensifying inequalities

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Structure

Msc Economics consists of eight taught modules, each worth 15 credits.  In addition, an MSc dissertation focusing on general economic theory, policy and or/the history of economic analysis accounts for 60 credits.

Programme Specification

• MSc Economics Programme Specification (pdf; 163kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

The MSc Economics consists of six core modules and two optional modules, each worth 15 credits. Four of the core modules cover microeconomic and macroeconomic theories, while the other two core modules give training in econometrics.  In additions, an MSc dissertation focusing on general economic theory, policy and/or the history of economic analysis accounts for 60 credits.

The modules are taught in seminar groups and lectures. The degrees is awarded on the basis of assessed coursework, examinations and the dissertation.

Full or part time study

The MSc is taught over a period of twelve months of full-time study withing a structured programme. In case of part-time study, the degree will be taught over two or three years. 

For a two year study, four modules are studied each year, with the dissertation normally being completed in the second year, while the number of modules taken is decided in consultation with the programme convenor for a three year study.

Contact hours

All Masters programmes consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes.

Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. In the Department of Economics, most postgraduate modules have a two hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

More information is on the page for each module.

Lectures

Most courses involve a 2-hour lecture as a key component with linked seminar or tutorial classes.

Seminars

At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work. Students make full-scale presentations and are expected to write papers that often require significant independent work. 

Dissertation

Students are required to complete an 10,000-word dissertation focusing on economic theory, policy and/or the history of economic analysis.

Pre Entry Reading

Preliminary Mathematics and Statistics
Our MSc programmes attract students with a wide range of backgrounds including many who have worked for a few years before coming to SOAS. Our popular quantitative courses are designed to be accessible to all of our students including those with a relatively small quantitative component in their first degree. They focus on applying basic methods used in empirical research and equip students to carry out their own high quality empirical work and critically evaluate research, with relatively little emphasis on advanced econometric theory and mathematical proofs.

The compulsory Preliminary Mathematics and Statistics course will be offered on the SOAS Moodle/BLE online platform. The objective of the course is to review the basic quantitative skills assumed once formal teaching commences. Students will be enrolled on the Module from July 2022 onwards. Students will be required to take the course and complete the exam prior to their arrival at SOAS. Limited support via office hours will be offered by the lecturer during September 2022.

For further details please visit the Preliminary Mathematics and Statistics page.

Tuition fees

Fees for 2022/23 entrants, per academic year (Band 2 tuition fee) 

Fees go up each year, therefore your tuition fee in your second and subsequent years of study will be higher.

Our continuing students, on the same degree programme, are protected from annual increases higher than 5%.

Full fees details can be found on the Postgraduate tuition fees page.

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

Employment 

Economics graduates leave SOAS with a solid grounding in statistical skills and an ability to think laterally, take a global perspective, and employ critical reasoning.

Recent graduates from the Department of Economics have been hired by:

• Bain & Co
• Bank of America
• Cabinet Office
• Deloitte
• Ernst & Young
• HM Treasury
• KPMG
• NHS England
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• HSBC
• National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi
• UK Civil Service
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• University of Bayreuth
• HM Treasury
• Department for International Development
• PwC
• UNDP
• King’s Investment Fund
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• The World Bank
• EY
• British Chamber of Commerce
• Oxfam
• RBS

Find out about our Careers Service

• How to Apply
• Online Application
• Request a prospectus
• Got a question - use our enquiry form (opens a new window)
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts