About the MSc programme
This interdisciplinary programme offers the following benefits:
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Taught jointly by two departments at LSE which are internationally recognised as among the best in their respective disciplines.
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It is unique in offering a rigorous programme in core graduate-level economics courses whilst offering students the opportunity to engage with moral, methodological and foundational issues.
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The philosophy offerings are resolutely interdisciplinary. We take philosophical analysis to be continuous with scientific approaches to political, social and economic problems, and all philosophy staff have a strong background in interdisciplinary work and in areas of social or natural science.
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It is taught at an institution which is a major centre for national and international public policy debates.
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Students have access to a wealth of courses and resources within the Philosophy and Economics Departments and at LSE that are relevant for their studies - for example:
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Research seminars on topics in economics, rational and social choice, scientific evidence and policy-making.
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The LSE Internships programme in Public Policy, Social Issues and Public Affairs;
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The many colloquia at LSE
Some of the questions concerning philosophy of economics that we study are:
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What are the moral advantages and disadvantages of market institutions?
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Can we make interpersonal comparisons of well-being, and if so, how should we do so?
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How do models of economic phenomena relate to the actual social world?
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What are the assumptions underlying the rational choice model in economics? Can they be normatively justified? Are they descriptively accurate?
To succeed on the programme you need to have excellent quantitative skills and general analytical abilities. The economics courses assume knowledge of constrained optimisation, matrix algebra and basic statistics.
We expect students to have very good grades, with a substantial component of economics in their first degree including standard courses in intermediate macro and microeconomics and econometrics.
All graduates of non-UK institutions must have taken the GRE General Test no more than five years before applying, and must include the test scores with their application. Please see Admission enquiries system| for further information. We typically expect candidates to score over 760 in the quantitative section of the test. Good scores on the analytical and verbal are also important. When an applicant's first language is not English, we take this into account in assessing the verbal score.
Students are required to attend the Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics before the main teaching programme starts in October.
Internships
Students will be able to apply to the LSE Internships programme in Public Policy, Social Issues & Public Affairs. This initiative, led by the Careers Service and the LSE Public Policy Group, offers internships to LSE graduate students in key organisations working across the field of public policy, social issues and public affairs. The initiative builds on the success of an existing Parliamentary Internship Scheme founded in 1998.
The LSE Internships programme in Public Policy, Social Issues and Public Affairs offers students flexibility in the nature of the intern's work and the duration of the internships. MSc and PhD students commit to do one to one and a half days per week with an organisation.
Student life
Our students typically form a tight social group. The Department organises social occasions through the year. Needless to say London has a wide range of opportunities for socialising to offer.
Career development
The degree offers a good preparation for doctoral research in both economics and philosophy. It also prepares students for careers in financial institutions, and intergovernmental, governmental, and non-governmental organisations, and for employment in such fields as financial and economic journalism and consulting.
For a selection of reports from graduates, see MSc Economics and Philosophy career placement|
Courses
Economics courses
Choose two of the following:
Philosophy courses
Choose two of the following:
Compulsory seminars
This seminar will prepare you to write a dissertation| of not more than 7,000 words on some aspect of the philosophy of economics seminar.