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CHOOSE A SUBJECT
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  • Nutrition
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Subjects A-B

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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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

Please note that entry requirements for 2024/25 have not yet been confirmed. The entry requirements for 2023/24 were:

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

Entry requirements: You should have a bachelor's honours degree or international equivalent, typically a 2:2 or above.

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

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Compulsory modules:

  • Applied Economic Project
  • Microeconomic Policy
  • Macroeconomic Policy
  • Economic Data Analysis
  • Applied Behavioural Economics
  • Economic Appraisal and Evaluation Methods

Optional modules:

  • Introduction to Econometric Analysis
  • Econometrics II
  • Topics in Business Economics
  • The Economics of Financial Markets
  • Development Economics
  • Economics of Social Policy
  • Capstone Project

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available between May and August 2023. We suggest that you regularly revisit this webpage during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.

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: £10,500

New international students: £21,350

Fees for 2024/25 have not yet been set. For your reference, fees for 2023/24 are listed on this page.

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.

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