MSc Finance and Economics: The University of Manchester

Course description

The MSc Finance and Economics course is offered jointly by the Economics Division in the School of Social Sciences, The University of Manchester, and the Accounting and Finance Division in Manchester Business School. The course appeals to those students who are strongly committed to economics with a serious interest in finance. The course provides focused, intensive training in advanced economic theory, econometrics and mathematical skills, with considerable emphasis on empirical research methods. You carry out a significant piece of empirical research to complete your degree.

You need to have taken final year undergraduate courses in advanced microeconomics and/or macroeconomics, together with a high level of econometrics. It is, therefore, particularly well suited to students who have taken a degree in economics and wish to progress to research and study for a PhD in order to pursue an academic career in financial economics. The course also provides the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a career as financial economists, often working in the public sector (including central banks and universities), and also in research departments of large financial institutions.

Career opportunities

The course provides the knowledge and skills that are required by those wishing to take up a specialist position in finance and economics in government, the City or training for a research degree.

Entry to this course is restricted to students who have taken final year undergraduate courses in advanced microeconomics and/or macroeconomics, with a high level of econometrics. It is, therefore, particularly well suited to students who have taken a degree in economics and wish to pursue an academic career in economics or finance.

Entry requirements

Normally look for a UK bachelor degree with upper second class honours, or the overseas equivalent, with excellent results in finance and economics subjects (accounting is not considered to be finance).

When assessing your academic record, they take into account your grade average, position in class, references and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

You need to have studied or be studying a degree in economics. This course teaches a very high level of economics and advanced econometrics. It is therefore essential that you have taken or are studying a significant number of economics courses and importantly a high level of econometrics, and macroeconomics or microeconomics in the FINAL year of your degree and achieve excellent results in these subjects.