Page contents > MSc Economics (Research) | MSc Economics (two year programme)
About the MSc programmes
MSc Economics is intended to equip you with the main tools of the professional economist, whether you intend working in government, international organisations or business. Our former students are employed as economists in a wide range of national and international organisations in government, international institutions, business and finance. Approximately one third of students proceed to PhD programmes at LSE or other leading universities. As such, the degree concentrates on the core elements of economic theory and econometrics. Although extensive use is made of mathematics, this is primarily to facilitate analysis (if you are interested in a more mathematically oriented course you should apply for the MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics).
To succeed on the programme you need to prove that you can work to a high standard and have excellent analytical ability; the core economics and econometrics courses assume a knowledge of constrained optimisation, matrix algebra and basic statistics.
We expect students to have very good grades, and to have majored in economics (not business studies), with standard courses in intermediate macro and microeconomics and econometrics, and a number of advanced courses that use these as prerequisites. You should have a solid quantitative background with at least a year of calculus and statistics and should, for instance, know how to handle maximisation of a function of several variables subject to constraint, and be able to explain what is meant by an efficient estimator.
If you have not majored in undergraduate economics, you may apply to take the MSc programme over two years; please see the section below on the two year route.
All graduates of non-UK institutions must have taken the GRE General Test no more than five years before applying, and must include full and percentile test scores for all three sections with their application. Please see Admissions Enquiries System|. We do not require a specific mark but the test gives us an indication of aptitude for economics. Typically we expect candidates to score over 760 in the quantitative section of the test. A higher score will count in your favour, but other information, such as grades and references will matter more in the overall evaluation. We recognise that if your first language is not English, the verbal test will present special difficulties and we view your score on that basis.
Students are required to attend the Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics before the main teaching programme starts in October.
Compulsory courses
Options
Choose one from the following:
A dissertation is required as part of the assessment of the option course.
MSc Economics (Research)
The programme of study is identical to the MSc Economics, but applicants with an interest in progressing to the MRes/PhD should apply for the MSc Economics (Research) and include with their application an outline research proposal. This proposal should be a brief description of the research topic you are considering pursuing during your PhD and should explain why you are interested in this area of research. As your research interests will develop further over the year of your master's training your proposal need only be indicative. An offer for a place on the MSc Economics (Research) will include a conditional offer of progression to Track 2 of the MRes/PhD, subject to the attainment of a distinction grade in the MSc.
MSc Economics (two year programme)
The preliminary year of the two year route is designed to give students with a sound quantitative background the opportunity to acquire the foundation in economic theory and techniques that would make them eligible for progression to the MSc in Economics.
The preliminary year will give students the opportunity to:
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acquire a solid foundation in economics and quantitative techniques
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earn the Diploma in Economics
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progress to the final year of the MSc in Economics, or to other related MSc programmes, subject to performance and programme prerequisites.
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prepare for a career as an economist.
To be eligible to apply for the two year route, a student should have a strong academic qualification with emphasis on quantitative subjects. We give detailed attention to transcripts and look for strength in mathematics and statistics especially.
All applicants must have taken the GRE General Test no more than five years before applying, and must include full and percentile test scores for all three sections with their application. Please see Admissions Enquiries System|. Typically we expect candidates to score 780 or higher in the quantitative section of the test and 5.0 or higher in the analytical section. We recognise that if the applicant's first language is not English, the verbal test will present special difficulties and we take that into account when assessing the score.
Students who have not previously studied economics are required to first take LSE Summer School courses in introductory macroeconomics and introductory microeconomics. Alternatively, such students may arrange to take equivalent courses elsewhere, subject to obtaining prior confirmation that the proposed courses are acceptable to us.
The preliminary year consists of examined intermediate level courses to the value of four full units.
Compulsory courses
(* half unit)
Students progressing to the final year of the MSc Economics must attend the Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics in September 2013.
Further information about the MSc Economics programme can be found at econ.lse.ac.uk/study/programmes/mscecon.html|
Further information about the two year route, including progression requirements and contact information, can be found at econ.lse.ac.uk/study/grpr.html|