Postgraduate Economics modules
Each of our postgraduate masters courses contains a mix of core and optional modules, allowing you to tailor your degree towards your own interests.
Applied research project
Gives an opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge gained throughout your studies. In small groups, you will choose appropriate topics on which to make a short presentation. You are expected, via these presentations, to provide coherent, concise economic analysis of current topics related to your specific field of study.
Banking and the macroeconomy
Focuses on several aspects of banking and financial intermediation. In particular, you will gain an understanding of how banks manage different types of financial risk, what causes bank runs and financial panics, why banks need a central bank, and the links between financial intermediation and economic growth.
Banking in transition economies
Provides an overview of the current theoretical research in commercial and central banking and corporate governance in transition economies. You will examine, amongst other issues, the establishment of a payments system, and the problems of bad loans, bank profitability and privatisation.
Business analysis
Delivers a broad insight into the theory of firm behaviour. It covers the firm's pricing behaviour, conduct, market structure and its determinants, vertical restraints and price and non-price competition.
Business and management in emerging markets
Draws on the latest relevant research, with its main objective being the practical application of the knowledge acquired, through the comparison of managerial and business practices in emerging markets, the in-depth treatment of major common themes, and the discussion of a wide range of economic models, empirical data, and industry and company case studies.
Business and management in the Asia-Pacific region
Provides you with an understanding of Asian business management systems and practices and explores the opportunities and challenges facing Pacific rim firms. In addition, this module will develop the skills necessary to assess the strategies adopted by a range of Asian enterprises, to critically analyse these strategies, and to communicate this information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Contemporary diplomacy
Provides an understanding of ideas and concepts of contemporary post-war diplomacy. It shows the evolution of diplomatic practice, the changes in content and methods across a range of international transactions, including negotiation, multilateral conferences, international disputes, international trade, covert diplomacy, and international regulation.
Corporate finance
Gives you an insight into the major financial decisions taken by firms. You will gain an understanding of the theory underlying capital budgeting, risk assessment and financing choices.
Corporate management in the Commonwealth of Independent States
Focuses on the main theoretical models used in the analysis of corporate management and considers their application to business corporations in the CIS. Through practical examples, current research and case studies you will compare traditional western management theory with the practicalities of corporate management in the states of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Development policy
Provides you with knowledge of the development policies carried out by the IMF and the World Bank, as well as policy approaches to international aid and developing countries' external debt, discussing them in light of economic theory and empirical evidence from different countries.
Dissertation
Presents an opportunity to analyse in some depth a specific topic within your field of study, and to display the ability to carry out original research. The research proposal will be defined in consultation with the dissertation supervisor and the completed dissertation should have a length of 10000-12000 words.
Econometrics
Provides a firm understanding of the theoretical principles underlying econometric estimation and inference; and a practical knowledge enabling the application of econometric techniques to real world problems.
Economic development in emerging markets
Centres on the changes over time in the origins, principles and management of economic systems which have moved away from central planning are examined in this module. You will gain a comprehensive view of the economic heritage and the economic trends in transitional and emerging economies both from a theoretical and practical viewpoint of the responsibilities of the West.
Emerging economies and policies
You will become familiar with the analysis of the specific economic issues of countries undergoing post-communist transition and emerging markets. You will understand the main principles of functioning within the transitional and emerging economies and be able to apply them to different countries' case studies.
Financial development in emerging economies
Provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical and empirical literature on the role of the financial sector in economic development. You will get an understanding of the links between financial intermediation and other fundamental aspects of economic organisation.
Financial markets
Focuses on the different markets in which financial assets are traded, the different assets used in these markets, and the institutions through which these assets are traded. In addition, you will develop a basic economic understanding of how assets are valued, the importance of risk and return in choosing assets, and the key concepts underlying basic portfolio choice theory.
Financial markets and corporate governance
Introduces you to the ways in which different types of financial markets work, with an emphasis on trends in Tailor your course to meet your own interests markets in the UK. It also discusses the ways in which the ownership of firms is transferred in the capital markets and asks if changes in ownership can improve performance, or if legal and institutional factors are more important in deciding how firms behave and perform.
Financial regulation
Focuses on the purposes and objectives of financial regulation. In addition, the strengths and weaknesses of existing regulatory frameworks, the links between financial innovation and regulation, and the role of regulation in both causing and solving financial crises will be explored.
Financial systems and institutions
Provides an introduction to key aspects of financial systems and their role in the macroeconomy. In particular, it is concerned with understanding the various institutions (both national and international) which comprise a financial system. This includes the various functions undertaken by central banks and the relationship between central banks and the rest of the financial system.
Fundamental economic methods
Delivers a grounding in the core mathematical skills needed in all of our courses and will also ensure that you have an understanding of core macro and microeconomics, as featured in a number of other modules.
Global strategy and implications of multinational enterprise
Gives you an overview of the strategic scope of multinational enterprises (notably with regard to their generation and use of technologies). You will gain a thorough understanding of the multinational enterprise. to show how this can reflect on the implications of their role in the global economy.
Industrialisation and the multinational enterprise
Focuses on issues relating to the role of multinational enterprises in the process of industrialisation. You will review theory and evidence relating to the impact of foreign direct investment on economic structure and industrial development in host countries.
Interdisciplinary seminar on recent developments in Euro-Asia
Invites speakers from a range of disciplines and occupations to address students about contemporary issues in the Euro-Asian region covering a variety of issues, from a variety of perspectives. You will be required to think outside of any one discipline or narrow area of specialisation.
International management and business cultures
Examines, from an international comparative perspective, key issues in management such as management education and the role of managers in society, and introduces the theory and practice of cross-cultural management. Topics include cross-cultural management, management in small and medium sized enterprises and the role of managers in society.
International money and finance
Introduces you to the concepts and models that are widely used in modern analysis of central open-economy topics such as balance of payments adjustment, exchange rate determination and monetary policy coordination. In addition, you will be able to link major conclusions from these models to relevant realworld financial, macroeconomic, and policy situations as well as discuss broader national and global welfare and coordination issues.
Introductory econometrics
Enables you to undertake basic statistical analysis of economic data; interpret and evaluate statistical analysis reported by others; use a standard spreadsheet package and a specialized econometric programme; report statistical evidence informatively.
Macroeconomics for developing countries
Focuses on macroeconomic issues in developing countries. Theoretical tools are provided for students to critically assess different areas of policy making such as trade policy reform in selected countries.
Microeconomic analysis for industrial development
Presents you with a theoretical and empirical foundation to the microeconomic behaviour of firms and industries in developing countries.
Microeconomics for developing countries
Focuses on microeconomic issues of development. It will provide a theoretical and empirical foundation to the microeconomics of households and firms within agriculture in developing countries.
New issues in globalisation
Provides you with an understanding of the processes of globalisation, the benefits and the costs that it provides to countries across the world as well as to make them aware of the different perspectives that exist to an analysis of globalisation.
Policy analysis
Develops your understanding of the basic tools used in policy analysis. Topics covered include policy objectives and an introduction to the political economy.
Private sector development in low income countries
Provides you with an understanding of the framework within which the private sector operates in low-income countries, and to evaluate, both in terms of theory and practice, the robustness and appropriateness of a range of policies and strategies.
Quantitative research methods
You will learn to understand the basic statistical methods as applied in economics. This necessitates an understanding of linearity and will include an introduction to basic tests of parameters, simple correlation analysis, and basic linear regression techniques.
Regional integration and the developing countries
Develops your understanding of the theories and controversies concerning the economic effect of preferential trade agreements between industrialised and developing countries and between developing countries, including a good appreciation of the empirical evidence on the subject.
Regulation
Lays down a foundation to the theory of regulation, why governments need to regulate markets, the different forms of regulation and the costs and benefits of such regulation.
Research methodology
Provides you with an understanding of the basic structure of academic writing and presentations and equivalently professional business reports. This includes the basic format used by academic articles (introduction, literature review, methodology and data, results and analysis, conclusion, and references).
Small business economics
Develops your understanding of the importance of small firms and of theory relevant to them, and to give knowledge of empirical evidence on small firms. Topics include the birth, growth and decline of firms, employment, innovation and franchising.
Strategy and management in the Asian corporation
Drawing upon the main theoretical models used in the analysis of corporate management this module considers their application to business corporations in Asia. You will use practical examples and case studies to investigate the mix of business and cultural aspects which have created unique management methodologies in East Asia and China.
The microeconomics of banking
Provides a theoretical analysis of the microeconomic foundations of financial intermediation. In particular, it is concerned with understanding why banks exists, why do they take the particular form we see in the real world, and why debt contracts are structured the way they are.
Theoretical approaches to the multinational enterprise
Provides an understanding of the economic theory of the multinational enterprise. This can serve as a basis for practical evaluation of the behaviour and performance of multinational enterprises and their role in the contemporary global economy.
Trade policies for developing countries
Provides a systematic understanding of the debates concerning the appropriate trade policies for economic development; a good appreciation of recent empirical research in the field of study and the problems and limitations of research methodologies; and an ability to draw together and assess complex arguments and alternative policy recommendations and communicate this assessment to specialised and non-specialist audiences.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and developing countries
Presents an overview and analysis of the World Trade Organsation agreements and its operations from the perspective of the developing countries.
Urban economics
Covers themes in location theory, housing, economic geography, urbanization and local private finance. Includes topics such as empirical evidence on cities, market forces explaining the emergence of cities, city size and urban hierarchy, monocentric model, urban land use patterns, the role of local governments, income and racial segregation, poverty in cities, crime, pollution and other externalities and issues in third world urbanization.
