economics undergraduate opportunities · 2020-04-21 · 02 studying economics at the university of...

Economics UNDERGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES

Undergraduate degree programme information www.ed.ac.uk

Economics-OpenDay-POV-brochure.indd 1 21/08/2019 14:33

02 Studying Economics at the University of Edinburgh

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Welcome to Economics at the University of Edinburgh

There has never been a more exciting time to study economics. In a world that is rapidly changing, economics provides us with the means to understand these changes, evaluate them and recognise how to adapt.

At Edinburgh, we have an international reputation for economics research, original thinking and a respected teaching programme established over 200 years.

When you choose to study with us, you’ll explore issues related to economic stability, growth, the role of financial markets in shaping the economic life of firms, and the labour market; all vital topics for understanding and for influencing economic performance and policy.

Throughout your studies, you’ll learn from world-leading economists before following in the footsteps of our graduates who are in demand by national and international organisations and institutions.

This brochure aims to provide you with detailed information on our programmes as well as the range of facilities and opportunities available to economics students. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.


03Studying Economics at the University of Edinburgh

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Why Choose Economics at Edinburgh?

• World leading The School of Economics is home to award winning economists. We are also ranked 1st in Scotland and 8th in the UK by the Times Higher Education in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework thanks to our world-leading research.

• Joint honours Economics can be taken on its own or as part of a joint honours programme with subjects such as business, Chinese and social policy. Employers may see this as an advantage because of your double specification, interdisciplinary knowledge and adaptability.

• A vibrant community You will join a vibrant learning community where active and engaged student societies like the Economics Society and the Edinburgh University Trading and Investment Club, which holds the UK’s biggest student-run investment portfolio, run events and activities throughout the year.

• Whatever your background You don’t have to have studied economics at school to undertake this programme.

• Study abroad You will have an opportunity to spend your third year studying abroad, with a wide variety of international destinations to choose from.



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Our degree programmes Single honours

Four year undergraduate degree programme

MA (Hons) Economics L100

Joint honours

Four year undergraduate degree programme comprising a combination of two subjects

MA (Hons) Economics & Accounting LN14MA (Hons) Economics & Mathematics LG11MA (Hons) Economics & Politics LL12MA (Hons) Economics & Sociology LL13MA (Hons) Economics & Statistics LG13MA (Hons) Economics with Environmental Studies L1F9MA (Hons) Economics with Finance L1N3MA (Hons) Economics with Management Science L1N2

You could also study MA (Hons) Business & Economics NL11

MA (Hons) Chinese & Economics TL11

MA (Hons) Geography & Economics LL71

MA (Hons) History & Economics V200

LLB Law & Economics ML11

MA (Hons) Philosophy & Economics VL51

MA (Hons) Politics, Philosophy and Economics L251

MA (Hons) Psychology & Economics CZ81

MA (Hons) Social Policy & Economics LL41



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Studying Economics as part of a joint degree

Joint degrees are a great way to study two subjects at the same time, and Edinburgh offers a number of degrees with economics. A joint degree can offer many benefits:

• A joint degree qualification shows employers that you can work across a range of disciplines.

• You get to study two subjects, have more choice with courses, and flexibility when you graduate.

Watch our video about joint degrees at edin.ac/joint-degrees

As a student doing a joint degree in economics and politics, economics gave me the ‘hard’ facts behind my studies. With a wide range of courses, from game theory to environmental economics, and with friendly professors, learning the subject was anything but dull.

Alistair Sussock MA (Hons) Economics and Politics



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Introduction to your degree programme

Award MA Honours degree (see page 4 for a full list of our single and joint honours degree programmes).

LocationCentral Area for most courses, except Mathematics and Statistics courses which are at Kings Buildings.

Awarding bodyThe University of Edinburgh

Duration4 years (Full time)

Academic yearComprises 2 semesters: September to December, January to May

TimetablesAre usually available after consultation with your Personal Tutor and option course selection in week 1 of semester 1. Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week, but Wednesday afternoons are usually reserved for sport and cultural activity.

Support with your studies

We recognise that everyone needs a little extra help and support from time to time and if you do, you can visit our Economics Help Desk, staffed by top students from previous years. If you need further support or advice, lecturers and course teams are often on hand to help.



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The benefits of a four year degree programmeAs a Scottish university, Edinburgh offers a flexible four-year honours degree programme. The four-year degree programme offers a range of advantages.

In years one and two, you can study subjects outside your key discipline, before specializing in years three and four. This allows you to develop a breadth as well as a depth of knowledge, expanding your academic range and enhancing your student experience.

Your final ‘honours’ years three and four allow you to focus on your subject in depth, and the fourth year dissertation – comprising a piece of original research – represents the culmination of your degree programme and the demonstration of your abilities as an independent scholar.

We use a mixture of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and online environments.

The added experience and intellectual depth acquired over four years is widely recognised and greatly valued by employers.

Everything you need to know about option courses

Because of the four-year degree programme structure, you get the chance to take a number of option courses outside your key discipline in your first and second year. For a single honours degree you will take 80 credits of outside courses in Year 1 and 60 credits in Year 2. For a joint degree it will be 20-40 credits depending on your degree. A credit is a unit of study, and a single course will usually consist of between 10 and 40 credits. There are a wide range of courses to choose from and you might choose based on enhancing or complementing your degree programme or choose something totally unrelated based purely on interest.

In welcome week, the Academic Fair is a chance to investigate all the courses on offer and discuss them in more depth. Your Personal Tutor can also advise you on your choices when you meet in the first semester.



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Degree programme structurePlease note, that we regularly review and update our programmes so the degree content and structure may change. For up-to-date information, visit the Degree Finder Regulations and Programmes of Study (DRPS) www.drps.ed.ac.uk

MA (Hons) Economics

Year 1• Economics 1 (40 credits)• Two further courses in outside subjects of

your own choice (80 credits)

Year 2• Economics 2 (40 credits)• Statistical methods for Economics (20

credits)• Two further courses in an outside subject of


Year 3• Topics in Microeconomics (20 credits)• Topics in Macroeconomics (20 credits)• Essentials of Econometrics (20 credits)• Applications of Econometrics (20 credits)• Two honours option semester-length courses

(40 credits)

Year 4• Equivalent of four economics honours option

semester length courses (80 credits)• Dissertation of thirty-five pages (40 credits)



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MA (Hons) Economics & Politics

If you choose to study a joint degree (combined with politics for example) the courses you study might include:

Year 1• Economics 1 (40 credits)• Introduction to Politics and

International Relations (20 credits)• Political Thinkers (20 credits)• One additional course in a subject of

your choosing (40 credits)

Year 2• Economics 2 (40 credits)• Statistical Methods for Economics (20

credits)• International Co-operation in Europe

and Beyond (20 credits)• Comparative Politics in a Globalised

World (20 credits)• One course in an outside subject of


Year 3• Topics in Microeconomics (20 credits)• Essentials of Econometrics (20

credits)• Either Applications of Econometrics

or Topics in Macroeconomics (20 credits)

• Two politics honours option courses (40 credits)

• One economics or politics honours semester-length course (20 credits)

Year 4• Two economics honours semester

length courses (40 credits)• Two politics honours semester-length

courses (40 credits)• A dissertation in economics or politics

(40 credits)

Advanced Mathematical EconomicsBehavioural EconomicsDevelopment Economics Economics of Asymmetric InformationEconomics of EducationEconomics of InequalityEconomics of MigrationEconomics of Sport Economics of Strategic BehaviourEconomics of the Family Economics of Transition Experimental Economics International Economics Introduction to Environmental Economics Issues in Climate Change Economics Key Developments in Modern Economic AnalysisNatural Resource and Environmental Economics Policy Evaluation for Public Economics Productivity, Growth and Development The Chinese Economy: Past and Present The Economics of Cities and Regions The Economics of Crime

Honours options for MA Degrees

Our option courses vary from year to year, but are likely to include topics such as:



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Course content

Economics 1

This is a calculus-based course. The first semester focuses on developing and using models of supply and demand in microeconomic (individual market) contexts. The second semester considers macroeconomic (aggregate, economy wide) phenomena. During the second semester we look in greater depth at national income accounting, economic growth, money and inflation, labour markets and unemployment.

You’ll learn relevant mathematical techniques and apply them to economic contexts as an integral part of the course. Problem solving is an important part of this course.

Economics 2

This course is also calculus-based. The first semester looks at the theory of the firm and market structure, factor markets, externalities, the role of government and general equilibrium, with applications to monopoly and oligopoly, stock markets, property rights and public goods. The second semester looks at macroeconomics and includes topics such as monetary and fiscal policy, the open economy, exchange rate systems and monetary union, business cycles, economic policy and financial markets.

Statistical Methods for Economics

This course is intended as an introduction to probability theory and statistics for economists and other social science students. It covers the



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s core prerequisites needed for future courses in econometrics. The use of Excel for statistical analysis will be supported through material available on the course website.

Essentials of Econometrics

This course provides an opportunity to learn skills that are important for the later stages of the economics programme. Essentials of Econometrics aims to ensure that you have a sound grasp of the basic techniques of modern empirical economics. The topics covered are likely to include statistics, the linear regression model, and regression analysis in practice. This course also includes weekly lab sessions to reinforce lectures and an opportunity to develop and practice key practical skills in computing, data gathering, processing, analysis and presentation.

Topics in Microeconomics/Topics in Macroeconomics

These courses extend and deepen the work of Economics 1 and Economics 2, bridging the gap between intermediate and graduate level courses in economics, and providing insight into recent areas of economic research activity. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the application of economic principles.

In Microeconomics, topics covered may include economics of asymmetric information, principal agent model, hidden action, moral hazard, hidden types adverse selection, topics in game theory, auctions, bargaining theory and topics in behavioural economics.

In Macroeconomics, topics covered are likely to be drawn from; dynamic models of unemployment and the macro-economy, international macroeconomics, the economics of banking and the financial cycle.



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s Sample Year 1 timetableThe following timetable is an example of a student studying MA (Hons) Economics and Politics who has chosen Introduction to Business as their option course.

Semester 1

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

09.00

10.00Business Tutorial

Politics Workshop

11.10Economics

Tutorial12.10

Politics Tutorial

13.10

14.10Politics Lecture

15.10Politics Lecture

16.10Economics

LectureEconomics

LectureEconomics

Lecture

17.10Business Lecture

Business Lecture

Business Lecture

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll be required to set aside time for independent study. This includes, background reading, writing up notes, preparing for tutorials, completing coursework and taking part in group activities.

This is a sample timetable only. Courses may be subject to change and availability.



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Teaching

Support When you arrive you will be assigned a Personal Tutor who can offer assistance and advice throughout your academic journey, including advice on choosing your option courses, and what to do if you need to take time out, or need advice when personal circumstances affect your work.

Types of teachingWe use a mixture of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and online environments. In your first year, lecture audiences may be as large as 400, but tutorial sizes are typically 15-20 students. Apart from private study, a normal weekly workload consists of 6-9 lectures and 3 tutorials in first or second year; in honours years you will attend several weekly teaching sessions depending on the options you choose.

AssessmentThere are examinations in most subjects in December and April / May but assessment varies from course to course, with a mixture of essays, projects and short examinations used.

Facilities

Economics is based in the Central Area so you will be located in the heart of the city.

You will have access to:

• Well-equipped labs

• Computer suites

• The University Main Library with2,300 study spaces and 24 houraccess

• Some of the best universitysports and gym facilities in theUK.



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The Careers ServiceThe University’s Career Service looks to enhance your university experience from the moment you arrive, not just in your final year, so use us from day one.

We’re here to inspire and empower you to be the best you can be and fully develop your potential. We support you to gain experience that will enhance your personal development and employability, alongside your academic studies.

In an increasingly competitive employment environment, we offer many opportunities to gain the skills and experience that will ensure you are as well prepared as possible to achieve a satisfying and rewarding future.

Our services

• A dedicated careers consultantfor your School offeringtargeted information resources,newsletters and one-to-ones.www.ed.ac.uk/careers/schools

• Information and advice; inperson via our drop-in centre inthe Main Library, and available24/7 via our websites, blogsand social media:www.ed.ac.uk/careers

• Careers consultations.

• CV and applications advice.

• Careers events: job fairs,themed events, volunteering,creative careers, sustainability,IT, and much more.

Information and advice • Volunteering opportunities within

the University and beyond it.

• Go Abroad opportunities.

• The Edinburgh Award - getrecognition on your finaltranscript for additional workand extracurricular activitiesyou’ve been part of during yourtime with us.

• Part-time and vacation jobs,internships, graduate jobs andmore, via our dedicated job site:https://mycareerhub.ed.ac.uk



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Careers open to economics graduatesA degree in economics has long been regarded as excellent preparation for many types of career. It provides a good education in literacy and numeracy relevant to the modern world, as well as being one of the most intellectually challenging of subjects. Employers favour the University of Edinburgh; many of them only recruit from us and a handful of other leading universities.

There are Edinburgh economics graduates in most leading UK banks and other financial institutions, often at the top level. Accountancy, the civil service and the media are also popular career destinations, and economics graduates are welcome in a wide range of management jobs. In addition, many of our graduates proceed annually to postgraduate study in Edinburgh and other leading universities.



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Getting ready for Economics at Edinburgh

If you’d like to get ahead with some background reading, we recommend the following books:

• A Concise Guide to Macroeconomics by David Moss(macroeconomics)

• Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee & Esther Duflo (development economics)

• The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier(development economics)

• GDP by Diane Coyle(economic growth)

• The Art of Strategy by Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff(game theory)

• The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford(microeconomics)

• The Logic of Life by Tim Harford(microeconomics)

• The Undercover Economist Strikes Back by TimHarford (macroeconomics)

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman(psychology/behavioural economics)

• The Next Convergence by Michael Spence(economic growth)

You’ll also find lots of information and links to online publications at sites such as:The UK Treasury www.hm-treasury.gov.ukThe Institute for Fiscal Studies www.ifs.org.uk

And here you’ll find general information and advice on studying economics at university: www.whystudyeconomics.ac.uk

Accommodation offers to unconditional offer holders begin



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FAQsWhere do I find degree programme listings and entry requirements? www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees

Where can I find out about accommodation?www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/accommodation

Where do I find out about applying? www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply

Where do I find out about my offer?www.ed.ac.uk/studying/my-offer

Where do I apply and track my application? www.ucas.com

What financial support can I apply for? www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding

What information can I get about facilities and support services? www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/facilities

Where can I find out about sports facilities? ww.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/sport

Where can I find out more about transport in and around the city? http://transportforedinburgh.com

What do your students think? edin.ac/student-life

All information correct at the time of going to print. No part of this publication may be reproduced without writtten permission of the University. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336

©The University of Edinburgh 2019. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the University. The University of Edinburgh is a chartable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.


For further information about studying economics at Edinburgh, email: [email protected]

For further information about your application, email:[email protected] Tel: +44 (0)131 650 3565

We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this brochure before going to print. However please check online for the most up-to-date information: www.ed.ac.uk/economics

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economics undergraduate opportunities · 2020-04-21 · 02 studying economics at the university of...

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