Postgraduate MSc
Economics and Data Science
Take your degree a step further with this flexible and valuable MSc. Open doors to careers in international organisations, the financial sector and overseas governments.
Take your degree a step further with this flexible and valuable MSc. Open doors to careers in international organisations, the financial sector and overseas governments.
Studying Economics at postgraduate level gives you the opportunity to advance your knowledge of core macroeconomics and microeconomic theory, alongside econometrics methods and financial econometrics. Learn the theoretical concepts and analytical techniques that will contribute to your understanding of complex contemporary problems. With opportunities to specialise in areas such as financial economics and money and credit.
This course is studied over two years full-time and is co-delivered with Aix Marseille University, leading to a double degree awarded jointly by the two institutions. You receive high-quality training with real-world applications, and have opportunity to pursue an internship in France, building industry connections.
Be part of a university that has a strong research culture and an international reputation for applied microeconomics, quantitative macroeconomics theory and economic development.
Build on your existing knowledge, abilities and skills by developing a deeper understanding of economic theory, econometric and quantitative techniques and policy applications, whilst choosing modules and areas of interest to specialise in. You’ll develop the skills necessary for independent research and application to real world problems.
You spend your second year at Aix Marseille University where you take courses related to Data Science. These include ‘Machine Learning’, ‘Programming for Big Data’ and ‘Duration and Transition Models’ which are all necessary to meet the growing demand for more specialist needs, such as programming for economic and financial applications and quantitative techniques needed to analyse, in-depth, economic, and financial data.
The School of Economics is dedicated to excellence in both teaching and research, as demonstrated by our results in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 and recent national student surveys. Our academic staff are active in research, and teaching and learning are informed by the School’s thriving research culture and strong cosmopolitan academic community.
We currently have 35 academic staff, with about 35-40 MSc and PhD students, which has the benefit of a good community for interaction between students but also means that each student receives a good deal of individual attention in classes and workshops. It also means that we are able to offer excellent facilities for research.
Our postgraduate student community is global with many of the students originating from outside the UK and Europe. There are also a number of different nationalities represented within the academic staff. You will be able to integrate into this multicultural environment and build yourself an international professional network for the future.
A first or second class honours degree from the UK or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in economics or a combined degree in economics and another subject. Applicants must also have a good level of quantitative skills (eg a pre-university school qualification in mathematics).
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
You take all compulsory modules, then select two modules from a list of optional modules made available by the School.
Consumers and firms interact in markets, motivated by their self-interests. Yet, remarkably, these selfish interactions result in efficient market outcomes, clearing markets and balancing supply and demand. This raises the question: is there an invisible hand" guiding them toward these desirable outcomes? We will provide you with the building blocks of graduate-level microeconomics. We will cover the standard economic models of individual decision-making under different environments
Economic data is abundant in public policy and business applications, ranging from central banks to small firms. With a dataset at your desk, which method should you use to analyse these data and how? What are the potential pitfalls? This module will equip you with skills to choose appropriate econometric methods and execute them professionally. You will develop an understanding of the conventional linear regression model in cross section, time series and panel data, as well as explore more advanced techniques like instrumental variables estimation. We will focus on the application of econometric methods, with little emphasis on the mathematical aspects of the subject. You will use a computer software package for practical work throughout this module, both as a means to provide applications of the theory developed in lectures as well as to give you experience in the use of such software for your own empirical research.
What explains business cycle fluctuations in modern economies? Can fiscal or monetary policy interventions improve macroeconomic performance? And what determines economic growth over long periods of time? This module explores modern macroeconomic theory at the postgraduate level, as an aid to understanding contemporary macroeconomic issues. We study short-term fluctuations in macroeconomic performance (e.g., in GDP, unemployment or inflation) and how macroeconomic policy may be used to address these, as well as the determinants of long-term economic growth. The emphasis is on learning theoretical concepts and analytical techniques, to evaluate macroeconomic issues and understand theoretical mechanisms behind empirical patterns.
Writing a dissertation is the culmination of your master’s programme. What are the skills you need to do this independent, original research project? You will be guided through the iterative process of developing and refining your dissertation proposal so you will be ready to dedicate yourself to it in the late summer term. Based on your initial ideas, you will be matched with a supervisor to help you refine your research question and identify the relevant literature, research methods and actions you will need to answer it. Lectures and workshops will introduce the main empirical strategies for causal inference. You will learn about identification based on observables, randomized control trials, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity design. You will also use econometric software in the analysis of data and estimations. By the end of the module, you will be able to analyse datasets using these methods and present a refined dissertation proposal that will appropriately apply one or more of these methods to your question.
Writing a dissertation is an exciting opportunity to conduct your own original piece of research at high level under the guidance of your dissertation supervisor, a specialist in your area of interest. You will go into depth, investigating and specialising in your interest area whilst developing advanced research skills. Applying these skills means you won’t just graduate with knowledge in your area, you’ll be able to investigate and research other topics so you can grow and adapt with the changing business world throughout your career.
You may also opt for a co-delivery arrangement with Brac University, Bangladesh, or North South University, Bangladesh, in which you are hosted by Brac / North South and jointly supervised by academic staff members from Kent and Brac / North South University (one supervisor from each institution). This option gives you the opportunity to travel abroad on a scholarship and use data from and get to know several NGO’s that collaborate with these two Bangladeshi universities.
Are you interested in the global financial markets? Do you want to know what drives a country’s exchange rate and what determines an open economy’s current account position? This module is designed to introduce you to the main theoretical and empirical models of international financial relations in open-economy context. You will find out about the most widely debated topics in international finance, such as exchange rates, capital flows, financial crises, current account and debt dynamics will be studied in this module. This module will provide you with the economic foundations for a full understanding of these debates from a rigorous point of view. Working on the areas of financial economics and development (be it on private or public institutions) requires a solid knowledge of the topics studied in this module. We will focus not only on the analytical side of the stories but also on their empirical relevance. You will learn the strong foundations of the theory and empirics of international macroeconomics and finance and will analyse the impact of international monetary flows on national economies.
How do investors construct the best portfolio, and why is the portfolio the best for the investor? Why do some assets have higher returns than others? This is a classical module on advanced financial economics that provides the technical foundation of economic analysis of portfolio problems and asset pricing. The module covers key economic principles, such as discounting, diversification, expected utility, and no-arbitrage, and discusses each asset class, such as bonds, equities, and their derivatives (instruments), emphasizing the general idea behind them. Although different types of assets require different methods of valuations and risk control, the basic principles are common to all asset classes. The economic analysis of capital market instruments provides a solid platform for understanding, interpreting, and developing analytical models of the dynamics of financial markets and making informed decisions on their basis. The foundations are central to students who see their future careers among financial market actors as well as at national or international institutions that oversee and regulate financial market activity.
Economies worldwide are confronted with severe environmental problems. How can we apply environmental economics to help design, implement and evaluate environmental policies in developed and developing economies? We will discuss the properties of economic growth models with environmental elements and their implications for long-run sustainable development. Then you will explore environmental valuation techniques and how these can be incorporated into economic decision-making processes to contribute to sustainable economic growth and development. You will gain knowledge of the key non-market valuation techniques that are used to monetarily value environmental goods and services. You will be equipped to contribute to improving the protection and management of natural resources and the wider environment, with career opportunities in national and local government, environmental regulation, environmental consultancy, NGOs and research organisations.
Money and credit perform a range of crucial functions in market economies. This module studies the microeconomic foundations of money and credit, and the roles played by money and credit markets in contributing to macroeconomic growth, fluctuations and crises. Throughout the module, we also consider the roles of government institutions including central banks and financial regulators within modern markets for money and credit. The module makes use of theoretical models to aide understanding and analyse policy. These models are motivated by and tested against historical and contemporary evidence. We explore and compare a variety of frameworks for organising monetary policy and the particular challenges facing modern central banks in how they implement monetary policy today. We understand the microeconomic foundations of banking and how these should influence financial regulation, examining the linkages between the private banking sector, central banks and monetary policy throughout the module.
How does economic development happen and why, in many instances, do we see ‘development failures’? In the first part of the module, you will learn about different aspects of the development phenomenon such as industrialisation, structural transformation, migration, fertility decline, and technological change. In the second part, you will learn about institutional failures – political, legal, social and economic – and how individuals, social groups and governments deal with these failures (using informal institutions, social networks and various policy interventions). We will use both classical texts, and modern theoretical and empirical tools for studying the behaviour and constraints of individuals, households and firms in developing country settings. Throughout, we will emphasize (i) the use of rigorous theoretical models to understand the process of economic development and strategic interaction between agents; and (ii) identifying causal effects in empirical analysis.
You'll study modules defined by Aix Marseille University. You'll take all compulsory modules and choose two modules from the list of optional modules.
See the Teaching sections of the MSc Economics and Data Science at the Partner University website.
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Further details on AIX’s website
Duration: 2 years full-time
You spend the first at our Canterbury campus, and the second year at AMU in Aix-en-Provence in Marseilles. This means after graduating you are well placed to go into either further study, or kick start an international career.
The Stage 1 is taught at our Canterbury campus, and Stage 2 at AMU in Aix-en-Provence in Marseilles. You must pass Stage 1 to be able to proceed onto Stage 2.
Stage 1 comprises modules to a total of 125 credits and Stage 2 comprises modules and industry placement to a total of 120 credits. One credit corresponds to approximately ten hours of 'learning time' (including all classes and all private study and research). Thus obtaining 245 credits in two academic years requires 2,450 hours of overall learning time.
Assessment is through a wide variety of methods including seminar presentations, extended essays, short projects, in-class tests, examinations, and the dissertation. Stage 2 industry placement is assessed by a technical report.
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
The School provides rooms specifically for use by MSc students, with computer facilities and open space for discussion and group work.
All MSc students are assigned an academic adviser to be their point of reference for advice, support and guidance during their studies. They are also allocated a supervisor for the MSc dissertation, who can advise on data and provide comments on methodologies and the written material.
The School has an active and inclusive research culture involving all postgraduate students, with a regular seminar programme during the year mixing internal workshops with events to which we invite outside speakers. There is also a student Economics Society, which invites its own speakers for discussion of economics topics, and Kent Invest Society which manages a virtual portfolio.
Our postgraduate student community is global with about half the students originating from outside the UK and Europe, including Africa, China, India, the Middle East, Pakistan, Russia and the USA. We have strong links with universities in Australia, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Japan and the USA, among others. Economics staff teach on the postgraduate courses provided by the University of Kent at Brussels. You will be able to integrate into this multicultural environment and build the foundations for an international professional network.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
The School of Economics has a strong research culture and an international reputation in several fields, particularly applied microeconomics (labour and agri-environmental), quantitative macroeconomic theory, macro and microeconometrics and economic development.
The School is home to two research centres and one research group:
CEAS has a long history of participating in agri-environmental research and policy debate. Founded in 1974 to conduct research into the implications of the UK's entry to the European Economic Community, CEAS has developed into a centre of research excellence, focusing on food and agri-environmental policy in the UK and Europe.
MaGHiC brings together a large number of researchers at the School whose main interests lie in the wide area of macroeconomics. MaGHiC is the focal point for macroeconomic research, impact and training at the University of Kent. The centre's main focus is on the analysis of macroeconomic issues, including productivity and growth, labour markets, income distribution, business cycles and macroeconomic phenomena from a historical perspective. The group also has technical strength in computational economics, macroeconometric modelling and forecasting, and expertise in building long-run macroeconomic time series and reconstructing historical national accounts.
In addition to the two research centres, the School has an active microeconomics research group, whose members’ research spans applied and theoretical microeconomics, and microeconometrics. The group’s research covers a wide range of areas with the main focus being on development economics, labour and education economics, microeconometrics, games and behavioural economics, the economics of food, economic geography, industrial organisation, political economy, networks and the economics of taxation.
A postgraduate degree in the area of economics is a particularly valuable and flexible qualification that can open the door to exciting careers in many professions. Our graduates have gone on to work as economists in international organisations, the financial sector, business, UK and overseas governments, and to further postgraduate training and academic careers at Kent, UK and overseas universities. Recent MSc graduates have gone on to work for companies in the UK such as BNP Paribas, AXA, FactSet and PwC.
The School's employability officers and the University's Careers and Employability Service are available throughout the year to offer one-to-one advice and help on all aspects of employability at any stage in your postgraduate studies. We also offer online advice on employability skills, career choices, applications and interview skills.
For the first year of the course you will be charged the tuition fee for Msc Economics by the University of Kent.
For the second year you will be charged the current fee charged by the Aix Marseille University. For more information, contact the School of Economics.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
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Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
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Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
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