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Start date: September 2022
Gain the fundamental tools of a professional economist with our MSc Economics.
On this course, you’ll learn how to assess a wide range of theoretical, empirical and policy-related economic issues.
You will work with academics from the Department of Economics, and your training will emphasise interactive and applied learning as you study a number of key areas. These include:
- micro-principles of economic behaviour
- macro-outcomes of national and global importance
- combining methodological, theoretical and applied issues of prime relevance to the study and practice of economics and economic policy
- building a strong working knowledge of current statistical software and other applications used in economic analysis, both in the public and private sectors.
We are one of the top 25 highest-ranking UK universities for Economics and Econometrics (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2018), and our teaching is supported by our academics’ research. For example, many of our economists conduct applied research that influences economic policy formation at the local, national and international levels – and this work directly informs what you’ll study. This ensures that what you learn is topical, relevant and has practical implications.
Here at Reading, you will be just a 30-minute train journey from London, a major hub of financial activity. Reading itself is home to a number of financial services businesses and has the highest density of digital tech businesses of any UK town or city. Our location makes it very easy for us to arrange trips to relevant organisations and institutions during your studies.
You will typically spend six to eight hours a week in lectures and supported classroom seminars, studying alongside academics, industry professionals and postgraduate colleagues. Our classes are small in size to allow for active participation, and lecturers include economists and other real-life practitioners who actively put economic principles into practice.
This master’s course is for people who have studied undergraduate economics. This includes joint degrees in which economics accounts for around half or more of the programme.
Flexibility in your studies
You will have the opportunity to specialise your degree by choosing from a range of optional modules. Examples of optional modules are listed under the 'What will you Study?' section below.
You will also have the opportunity to do a Capstone project as one of your optional modules. This involves working within a team to deliver a project for an external organisation, and applying your academic knowledge in a practical way. You will then submit an individual report after the project is complete.
You can attend the course on a full-time basis over one year, or part-time over two years.