Skip to main content

University of Reading Cookie Policy

We use cookies on reading.ac.uk to improve your experience. Find out more about our cookie policy. By continuing to use our site you accept these terms, and are happy for us to use cookies to improve your browsing experience.

Continue using the University of Reading website

  • Schools and departments
  • Henley Business School
  • University of Reading Malaysia
  • Applicants
  • Student
  • Staff
  • Alumni
Show/Hide navigation
University of Reading University of Reading
Mobile search categories
  • Study and life
  • Research
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • View courses
  • Home
  • Study and life
    • Clearing 2023
    • Study
    • Student life
    • Open Days and visiting
    • International students
    • Accommodation
  • Research
    • Themes
    • Impact
    • Innovation and partnerships
    • Research environment
    • Get involved
  • About us
    • Our global community
    • Business
    • Local community
    • Visit us
    • Strategy
    • Governance
  • Contact us
  • Applicants
  • Student
  • Staff
  • Alumni
  • Schools and departments
  • Henley Business School
  • University of Reading Malaysia
  • View courses
mask
CHOOSE A SUBJECT
2023/24
2024/25
Undergraduates
Postgraduates
Undergraduates
Postgraduates

Subjects A-B

  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Science
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Bioveterinary Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

Subjects F-G

  • Film & Television
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre & Performance

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

Subjects A-C

  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business (Post-Experience)
  • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise
  • Creative Writing

Subjects D-G

  • Data Science
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

Subjects H-P

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Management and Digital Business
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

Subjects Q-Z

  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
  • Teacher training
  • Theatre
  • Typography and Graphic Communication
  • War and Peace Studies
  • Zoology

Subjects A-B

  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Bioveterinary Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

Subjects F-G

  • Film & Television
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre & Performance

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

Subjects A-C

  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business (Post-Experience)
  • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise
  • Creative Writing

Subjects D-G

  • Data Science
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

Subjects H-P

  • Information Management and Digital Business
  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

Subjects Q-Z

  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
  • Teacher training
  • Theatre
  • Typography and Graphic Communication
  • War and Peace Studies
  • Zoology

MSc Applied Economics

  • Year of entry
    2024/25 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months
  • Year of entry
    2024/25 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months

Apply theory and analysis methods to the problems and policy issues facing economists all over the world.

Led by experts from the University of Reading’s Department of Economics, this master’s degree focuses on the application of economics to contemporary problems and policy, with a multicultural and global outlook.

Choose economics at the University of Reading

  • Established for more than 50 years.
  • 100% of our research impact has been classed ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ (REF 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions – Business and Management Studies, and Anthropology and Development Studies).
  • Ranked among the top 200 universities in the world for Economics (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).

Designed by academics who have worked as professional economists in the UK Government Economic Service and the World Bank, this programme combines theoretical, methodological, and practical issues, based on rigorous training in core areas of the discipline.

This degree will equip you with the tools required to work in government, international organisations, or business, or as preparation for further research in economics.

Study in a research-intensive department with a strong applied focus

This programme strongly aligns with the research and teaching expertise of the Department of Economics: applied and policy-focused topics that aim to improve the quality of life in the UK and around the world.

Our academics work to address current socio-political issues, such as ethnicity and inequality in the job market and the gender pay gap, as well as policy problems in a variety of areas, including:

  • energy and climate change
  • global development
  • behavioural and psychological economics
  • forecasting
  • monetary policy
  • sports economics and management

Our staff are involved in research that informs the policy decisions of governments, major multinational organisations, and international agencies, such as the United Nations (UN) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This wealth of experience will enhance your learning, providing relevant training in applied economics and boosting your employability.

Equip yourself with the tools of a professional economist

You will be introduced to core topics and methods in the analysis of economic data, while also developing data handling skills using statistical software and learning to critically evaluate policies aimed at addressing socio-economic problems.

Our dedicated Applied Behavioural Economics module will teach you how to apply insights from psychology to a range of modern policy issues. You will use practical tools needed to design experimental studies, programme interactive games, and work with statistical and econometric software.

Develop as a researcher and practitioner

You will also be supported to become an active researcher with a formidable skillset. You will complete an Applied Economics Project to address a particular economic problem, with data, supervision, and support from an experienced applied economics researcher.

Additionally, you will be offered research-ready datasets and topics to work on, designed by supervisors who either created those datasets or have significant knowledge of them.

Build connections with industry

We are one of the few universities to offer an optional Capstone Project module, designed to give you hands-on and real-world experience within your studies. Working in small groups and overseen by a faculty member, you will contribute to your degree by completing a project on behalf of an external organisation. This could include:

  • business companies
  • government agencies
  • not-for-profits
  • non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Past projects have included:

  • impact assessment of policy and business options
  • cost benefit analysis
  • a review of the dynamics of central Reading, focusing on its rapidly changing economy and demography
  • advice to a local economic partnership on how to develop a strategy in response to the UK government’s new Industrial Strategy White Paper. 

Overview

Apply theory and analysis methods to the problems and policy issues facing economists all over the world.

Led by experts from the University of Reading’s Department of Economics, this master’s degree focuses on the application of economics to contemporary problems and policy, with a multicultural and global outlook.

Choose economics at the University of Reading

  • Established for more than 50 years.
  • 100% of our research impact has been classed ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ (REF 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions – Business and Management Studies, and Anthropology and Development Studies).
  • Ranked among the top 200 universities in the world for Economics (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).

Designed by academics who have worked as professional economists in the UK Government Economic Service and the World Bank, this programme combines theoretical, methodological, and practical issues, based on rigorous training in core areas of the discipline.

This degree will equip you with the tools required to work in government, international organisations, or business, or as preparation for further research in economics.

Learning

Study in a research-intensive department with a strong applied focus

This programme strongly aligns with the research and teaching expertise of the Department of Economics: applied and policy-focused topics that aim to improve the quality of life in the UK and around the world.

Our academics work to address current socio-political issues, such as ethnicity and inequality in the job market and the gender pay gap, as well as policy problems in a variety of areas, including:

  • energy and climate change
  • global development
  • behavioural and psychological economics
  • forecasting
  • monetary policy
  • sports economics and management

Our staff are involved in research that informs the policy decisions of governments, major multinational organisations, and international agencies, such as the United Nations (UN) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This wealth of experience will enhance your learning, providing relevant training in applied economics and boosting your employability.

Equip yourself with the tools of a professional economist

You will be introduced to core topics and methods in the analysis of economic data, while also developing data handling skills using statistical software and learning to critically evaluate policies aimed at addressing socio-economic problems.

Our dedicated Applied Behavioural Economics module will teach you how to apply insights from psychology to a range of modern policy issues. You will use practical tools needed to design experimental studies, programme interactive games, and work with statistical and econometric software.

Develop as a researcher and practitioner

You will also be supported to become an active researcher with a formidable skillset. You will complete an Applied Economics Project to address a particular economic problem, with data, supervision, and support from an experienced applied economics researcher.

Additionally, you will be offered research-ready datasets and topics to work on, designed by supervisors who either created those datasets or have significant knowledge of them.

Build connections with industry

We are one of the few universities to offer an optional Capstone Project module, designed to give you hands-on and real-world experience within your studies. Working in small groups and overseen by a faculty member, you will contribute to your degree by completing a project on behalf of an external organisation. This could include:

  • business companies
  • government agencies
  • not-for-profits
  • non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Past projects have included:

  • impact assessment of policy and business options
  • cost benefit analysis
  • a review of the dynamics of central Reading, focusing on its rapidly changing economy and demography
  • advice to a local economic partnership on how to develop a strategy in response to the UK government’s new Industrial Strategy White Paper. 

Entry requirements

 

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent)

Entry requirements: Normally a good undergraduate honours degree (2:2 or above) in a numerate, quantitative or business related discipline. 

To apply for this course, you must have an undergraduate degree in a numerate, quantitative or business-related discipline such as economics, business administration, finance, accounting, international trade, banking, financial management, public finance, mathematics, computer science, data science, geography.

Applications are also welcome from candidates with strong career experience in a relevant field.

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score, you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Modules

Compulsory modules

Applied Economic Project

Apply the concepts and methods that you’ve mastered to produce in-depth, applied analysis. Your project will investigate an economic problem or evaluate an intervention to address an economic problem.

Microeconomic Policy

Develop an understanding of the main microeconomic theories and models used to analyse individual and firm behaviour. You’ll combine analysis and examples of applications to a range of policy and decision-making issues.

Macroeconomic Policy

Gain an understanding of the core macroeconomic concepts of growth, inflation, and unemployment, along with how fiscal and monetary policy at national and international levels influence these concepts.

Economic Data Analysis

Gain an understanding of the main methods used in economic data analysis and their applications to cross-sectional data. You’ll apply the core methods used in empirical research in economics to gain practical experience.

Applied Behavioural Economics

Applying psychology to a range of economic problems, you’ll develop an understanding of how psychological motives are expressed in economic models, how predictions can be tested, and their implications for policy and organisational design.

Economic Appraisal and Evaluation Methods

Focus on the key economic methods in appraisal and evaluation, with topics relating to efficiency and equity/distributional concerns. You’ll consider methods and applications across various sectors of developed and developing countries.

Optional modules

Introduction to Econometric Analysis

Establish a general understanding of econometrics, with an emphasis on the interpretation of basic linear regression results and their relevance in economic analysis.

Econometrics II

Learn advanced econometric methods in time series and panel data and empirical applications of those in macroeconomics and finance. You’ll also develop software skills with an introduction to R in computer workshops.

Topics in Business Economics

You’ll conduct analysis of corporate decision-making such as price setting, output setting, mergers, and anti-competitive behaviour. You’ll also consider the role of market competition and the imperatives for government intervention.

The Economics of Financial Markets

Discover the fundamentals of financial markets and institutions, including how consumers and producers make decisions in a perfect capital market under certainty, the theory of choice under risk, and how asset prices are determined.

Development Economics

Understand the economics of developing countries by examining the microeconomic and macroeconomic issues of development. You’ll review research in different facets of development economics that use a wide range of research methods.

Economics of Social Policy

Study topics that reflect important and contemporary socio-economic policy issues and consider how economic analysis contributes to the solution of domestic and international social problems.

Capstone Project

Complete a project in a group on behalf of an external organisation, providing them with independent analysis and benefiting you with hands-on experience. An academic supervisor will provide your team with guidance throughout the project.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £10,800

New international students: £22,350

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what is available.

Careers

Our MSc Applied Economics course is designed to help you develop a variety of transferable skills, such as:

  • research
  • critical analysis
  • fundamental theories of economics
  • quantitative research techniques and applications
  • use of relevant software
  • evaluating economic interventions
  • an array of approaches to solving applied economic problems
  • written and verbal communication skills
  • independence in formulating and developing research ideas
  • collaboration skills.

While these broad-ranging skills are particularly relevant to economist roles in government, the commercial sector, and NGOs (non-governmental organisations), they are also applicable to graduate roles in other sectors:

  • banking
  • investment and insurance
  • accountancy and financial services
  • business management
  • consultancy
  • public administration.

Take the next step


Apply online now

Ask us a question

Come to a postgraduate event

Get a prospectus

Related Subjects


  • Economics

Ready for more?

Apply now
How to apply
Visit an Open Day
Get a prospectus
  • Charitable Status
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Terms of use
  • Sitemap

© University of Reading