Masters study

The Department of Economics is a supportive and encouraging learning environment for students from broad academic backgrounds. Whether you're a masterful mathematician or new to numbers, we provide a range of structures and initiatives to support your study. They include:

Your course structure, module choice, and teaching time:

Teaching time and course structure are determined by your course and module choice. Therefore, teaching time will vary throughout your degree. Classes are between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm from Monday to Friday. Modules will typically have two to four contact hours per week.

Voluntary maths and stats support classes:

Need extra help with your mathematics or statistics skills? All students in the Department of Economics are welcome to join a voluntary support class. Classes run during term time. They support modules in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. Students with an undergraduate degree in a different subject often find these classes incredibly useful.

Drop-in laboratory sessions:

We offer personalised support for postgraduate students undertaking dissertation research. Our drop-in laboratory sessions are by staff with specialised knowledge of data analysis and computer programming. These sessions are held during the summer term to help you take the pressure off and get ahead of the deadline. 

Personal tutors:

You will be assigned a personal tutor upon joining the Department of Economics. Your tutor will act as an academic mentor throughout your degree. They can help you to develop your studies, improve your research mindset, and signpost you to academic resources. They can also direct you to further support within the University, should you require it.

Excellent library resources for economists:

Postgraduate students in the Department of Economics will find a wealth of study resources at the Albert Sloman Library at the University of Essex. These include:

• A dedicated Liaison Librarian to help you locate and access relevant library material
• Research support classes for postgraduate students
• Curated subject guides, reading lists, eResources and databases, special collections, and a laptop loan scheme

Wider University learning support:

The University hosts an extensive range of study support resources. Whether you need language support, help with your study skills, or extra exam practice, the Academic Skills for Success team is on hand to help you. You can meet with them individually or attend one of the many workshops they host.

Ensuring you graduate career-ready is our top priority in the Department of Economics. We provide many intensive and bespoke career support initiatives for you to benefit from. They include:

Career talks and networking dinners:

You can enjoy regular employability talks in the Department of Economics. These events feature invited experts and practitioners from a variety of disciplines. Our guest speakers offer you their unique and relevant insights from the field.

After each talk, we host a complimentary dinner for staff and students at Wivenhoe House Hotel. These fortnightly events provide the perfect networking opportunity and a relaxed environment to ask questions.

Previous guest speakers have shared insights from careers including:

• Systematic Equities at Jupiter Asset Management
• Transport Economist at KPMG UK
• Operational Risk Management at Legal and General
• Real Estate at BNP Paribas
• Senior Economist at Compass Lexecon

Placements and internships:

The Department of Economics will help you undertake a work placement or internship during your studies. The University placements team will help you make your application and secure your opportunity. The Department will check in with you for the duration of your placement. Workplace experiences will provide you with first-hand insight into a particular industry and develop your C.V. in readiness for a competitive jobs market post-graduation.

Previous students of the Department have gained experience in a range of companies and organisations, including:

• Investment banks, including Barclays, Lloyds, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley
• Technology companies, including Google and Samsung
• Public sector organisations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Bank of England, the Government Economic Service, and the Office for National Statistics

A lifetime of University career support:

The University offers a bespoke careers service for all students at Essex. Whether you need help finding a suitable placement or advice on perfecting your LinkedIn profile, the Careers Service can help you. They provide lifetime support to all graduates of the University, so you can access the help you need at any point in your career post-graduation.

University support for entrepreneurship:

Are you thinking of starting your own business? Essex Startups is a dedicated team to support entrepreneurs in Essex. You can find everything from business boot camps to networking events and investment opportunities. The Startups team can help you get your business started.

Postgraduate students in the Department of Economics can benefit from many scholarship and funding opportunities. We provide financial support, incentives, and schemes to help you fund your study. They include:

Scholarships and funding opportunities:

The University of Essex offers numerous bursaries and scholarships for postgraduate students. You can find opportunities for United Kingdom, European, and overseas students. Many scholarships include generous fee discounts, some with a value of up to £5000. There are also non-residential scholarships and scholarships from other organisations available.

Alumni discount scheme:

The University of Essex offers an alumni discount scheme. Previous students are eligible for a fee discount of up to 33% in their first year of study. If you have completed a bachelor's degree with us or would like to complete a master's degree and continue your studies with a research degree, then you could be eligible.

Paid employment opportunities:

The University provides numerous employment opportunities for students. You will find many varied employment opportunities on campus that can help fund your studies.

When you join the Department of Economics, you will work alongside some of the most respected economists researching and teaching today. Home to two winners of the Nobel Peace Prize in Economics. The Department has been a powerhouse of cutting-edge research since the 1960s.

Our staff often feature in high-profile media outlets, including:

• The Economist
• New York Times
• Wall Street Journal
• The BBC
• The Guardian
• Financial Times
• Bloomberg
• The Atlantic

Our work has informed national and regional governments, public policymakers, central bankers, non-government organisations, think tanks, and private ventures on issues such as:

• Advising policy makers on the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment and earnings inequalities
• Shaping the European Union's revised framework for regulating technology transfer within and outside the EU
• Documenting gender bias in teaching evaluations, which led to a change in teaching evaluation practices in higher education across Europe, Canada and the United States

The Centre for Behavioural Science Laboratory:

Masters students within the Department can access the Behavioural Science Laboratory. The laboratory is a leading facility for behavioural science research, equipped with specialist biometric equipment, including eye tracking, heart rate monitoring, and emotion recognition software. You can access a pool of over 2000 participants to conduct studies on, with a team of specialised researchers and lab technicians to support you.

The Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER):

The University of Essex is home to the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER). ISER is a leading research centre for the production and analysis of longitudinal studies. When you join the Department of Economics, you can access the wealth of data, research, and expertise housed within this world-leading destination for economics research.

The Department of Economics is home to a diverse staff and student community. Our members come from across the world to study and work here. We provide a welcoming environment with bespoke support services for our postgraduate community, including:

Personal tutors and Department support staff:

Our tutoring scheme and friendly Department support staff can help you address any queries you might have throughout your studies. The Department often acts as the first point of contact should you require extra support during your time with us.

Dedicated resources for international students:

The Department of Economics is home to many international students. The University provides a bespoke support service for international students to help with visas, student finance, language support, and much more.

In-person campus learning with online support:

The Department of Economics is committed to providing an in-person and on-campus learning environment. With everything from fascinating lectures to lively extra-curricular events, you will find a vibrant campus community.

Lectures are in person, and postgraduate-taught students typically experience a minimum teaching time of 2 hours per module per week. You can also listen to your lectures again online - just in case you missed something!

The Student Union and student community:

The University is home to over 15,000 students from over 140 different nationalities. When you join the University of Essex, you will automatically become a member of the Student Union at Essex, one of the liveliest and most diverse student communities in the United Kingdom. With over 120 student societies, sports clubs, events, and volunteering opportunities, our fantastic community provides a welcoming and fun home to all.

University student support services:

Studying for a masters can be challenging, so the University provides a range of student support services you can access during your time with us. You might need help with finance, mental or physical health, childcare, or international study. Whatever your need, the student services hub will support and guide you.

The Department of Economics is a lively place for postgraduate students to study and socialise. We host various social events and fascinating lectures, from informal gatherings to our latest research seminar series. Our regular events include:

Research seminar series:

The Department hosts five seminar series, which run throughout the academic year. The series includes seminars on applied economics, econometrics, macroeconomics, microeconomics, and behavioural, experimental, and development economics. Postgraduate students are welcome to attend these fascinating insights from today's most respected economists.

Career talks followed by networking dinners:

We regularly host external speakers to give career talks to students in the Department. During term time, you can join us for bi-monthly events by industry experts. After each event, we invite you to join us for a complimentary networking dinner at the Wivenhoe House Hotel.

The Atkinson Lectures:

The Department of Economics hosts the Atkinson Lectures, a much anticipated biannual event open to students and staff across the University. Our guest speakers are selected from varied backgrounds to speak on hard-hitting economic issues impacting our world today. Previous lectures have included discussions on cryptocurrency, oil disruption, inflation, and the labour market.

The Economics Society:

The University of Essex Economics Society is an active group dedicated to providing a forum for students to share and discuss current issues and affairs in economics. They meet regularly and have received recognition from our Students Union with a Golden Society Award.

The Student Union:

The Student Union at the University of Essex is a brilliant place to socialise and meet other students. With plenty of societies and a raft of social events, the Student Union is a fantastic place to meet new friends and find things to do. They also offer a range of student support services.

University-hosted events:

The University hosts a lively calendar of events for all to enjoy - from mindfulness classes, comedy nights, and study skills workshops to big nights out. We've got a busy calendar of exciting events on campus all year round.