Economics

Department statement

The Economics Department offers the opportunity to study economics in a range of different programmes in which students can either focus solely on the study of economics (the BSc Economics) or can combine their desire to learn about the economy with learning about other social sciences (in programs like the BA (ECON), PPE, IBFE, Modern History with Economics). A unique aspect of our provision is that we allow students who dropped their mathematics education after GCSE level to study on a programme specializing in Economics (BA (ECON) Economics specialization). This is rather unusual in Russell Group universities and only possible as we cater, both in our Maths and Stats teaching as well as in our core Economics teaching, for students without A-level Maths. At the postgraduate level we offer programmes which are standard in the sector – MSc Economics and MSc Financial Economics – and an MA Economics which allows students with less than a complete Economics degree to engage in Economics focused postgraduate studies. We are also in the process of designing a new MSc Economics with Data Science program, which will complement the existing MSc Data Science and will make use of a newly emerging strength in staff expertise.

We ensure that the students in our UG programs have the opportunity to choose options which provide excellent preparation for post-graduate studies at competitive programmes (e.g., MPhil Economics at Oxford, Cambridge or postgraduate programs in top US and other European programs). External Examiners have in the past noted that our UG programmes are among the very few in the UK that allow students to be exposed to full training in Development Economics, and allow students from Year 1 to Year 3 to choose among a broad range of options requiring different skills within the broader subject area. Students can also choose from a range of options that are policy related or focus on practical skills development. Our option provision is a particular strength of the Department with newly evolving opportunities in Economic History and Data Science.

The Department also actively supports students in learning econometric/statistical computing (mainly using the R software), which has allowed students who opt to take a Year 3 dissertation, for example, to do some outstanding work (over the last five years at least two dissertations won external UG dissertation awards).

We have strengths in teaching large units and make good use of online learning technologies to deliver and support teaching. We actively use discussion boards on large units and students tend to comment very positively on the impact these make on their learning. They also play an important role in the creation of a learning community. Increasingly colleagues also use group-work to help students see themselves as part of a learning community and facilitating their development of key employability skills. While some colleagues use group work as formal assessment tool, others will facilitate the creation of informal study groups to produce essay-based questions, presentations, and coursework. This has proved to be extremely useful in increasing the number of opportunities where students receive feedback on their learning. Over the last 5 years the Economics Department has worked hard to broaden the types of assessments used away from traditional forms used in Economics departments (MC questions, formal Model based questions). In particular, we have introduced many more writing pieces (in a range of formats like policy brief, essay questions or critic reviews).

We provide excellent opportunities for our students to learn practical data skills (statistical computing in R is compulsory for al Economics specialists). We believe that, given the emerging Data Science strength in our faculty, we can still improve in this area (on PGT through the development of the MSc Data Science). We attempt to expose our students to the wide range of career opportunities available to Economists but also allow them to get a taste of real economic research presented in a way, which makes it understandable to students. In the past, we had initiatives like “Lunch with Economists” which worked to deliver such opportunities. We also regularly organize seminars and lectures with interesting outside speakers (IFS, RES Annual Lectures, OFCOM, CMA, ODI etc).

Information about studying Economics at The University of Manchester

People in the Economics Department