Course details

Summary

The Master of Economics (MEcon) will equip students to be either professional practitioners or academic researchers in the field of Economics. It can also provide a pathway to doctoral-level study in Economics. The degree consists of both coursework and a research dissertation.

The normal admission requirement is a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Economics and an average grade of at least B+ for the relevant 300-level papers. Candidates should have also completed 300-level papers in mathematical economics and econometrics. Admission on the basis of alternative qualifications and experience is possible.

The Master of Economics can be completed in one year of full-time, or its equivalent in part-time, study. You may begin the MEcon degree in semester one or semester two.

Structure of the Programme

The programme of study shall consist of six papers worth a total of 120 points selected from ECON 402-413, including ECON 410 and ECON 411 plus at least one of ECON 412 and ECON 413:

ECON 402 Growth, Institutions and Development 20 points

ECON 403 Monetary Economics 20 points

ECON 404 International Economics 20 points

ECON 405 The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice 20 points

ECON 406 Labour and Population Economics 20 points

ECON 407 Special Topic in Advanced Economics 20 points

ECON 410 Advanced Microeconomic Theory 20 points

ECON 411 Advanced Macroeconomic Theory 20 points

ECON 412 Macro econometrics 20 points

ECON 413 Micro econometrics 20 points

together with:

ECON 580 Research Dissertation 60 points

A candidate may be exempted from some of the required papers on the basis of previous study, subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce). Alternative papers will be required at an equivalent level of study.

A candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in the dissertation, secure the approval of the Head of the Department of Economics for the topic, the supervisor(s) and the proposed course of the investigation.

A candidate may not present a project which has previously been accepted for another degree.

A candidate must pass both the papers and the dissertation components.

Entry criteria

Every applicant must either

• be a graduate with Economics as a major subject including 300-level papers in both econometrics and mathematical economics, and
• normally have achieved an average grade of B+ in the papers satisfying the final year requirements for that major subject; or
• have equivalent alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce).

No applicant will be admitted who has previously been awarded an honours degree or postgraduate diploma in Economics.

English Language Requirements: IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.