Economics & Public Policy

Master your ambitions in economics by growing and developing your skills in public policy analysis, global economic policy, decision making, data exploration & analysis, financial management and applied economics.

This innovative Postgraduate Diploma in Economics and Public Policy is designed to benefit individuals at different stages in their career journey; those who want to study Economics at postgraduate level but who do not have an extensive undergraduate background in the subject or those who plan on acquiring a Master's degree in Economics.

The programme is also suitable for individuals who are already registered secondary school teachers as the programme is suitable for the Teaching Council's curricular teaching subject requirements declaration.

To provide flexibility, this programme is delivered through a blend of online events and residential academies, under a structure that will emphasize application of economics in the real world and introduce these detailed applications at a much earlier stage than a traditional economics programme. The structure and context of this programme reflects input from our faculty members and Adjunct Faculty and partners from government and non-governmental organisations, and the private sector.

Economists observe the world and try to make sense of it. To structure their approach in making sense of the world, our students will learn about the key models and methods used by professional economists in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. During the Postgraduate Diploma in Economics and Public Policy programme, there will be a big emphasis on students applying the scientific process to economic phenomenon by formulating good questions, and answering them by gathering, organizing and analysing data.

Our Faculty members will be alongside our students to guide them on their intellectual journey via our research-led teaching and problem-based learning. Furthermore, we will foster a learning environment that values diverse perspectives. For example, we will place a big emphasis on valuing the perspectives of different groups when evaluating economic policies.

We will deliver the programme through a blend of online modules (with both synchronous and asynchronous learning events) and residential academies to facilitate students who might live far away from UL or have work and personal commitments. The residential academies will help students focus on their studies, develop key study skills, and network with their classmates.

In addition to our academic faculty, there will also be guest lectures by adjunct faculty from both policymaking and commercial organisations. Students will be assessed on a continuous basis through a mix of essays, projects, and presentations, at an individual and group level. There will be workshops to help students develop their communication skills. There will be a big emphasis on being able to communicate economic ideas and analyses through different mediums, with both economists and non-economists.

Our students will be encouraged to plan their future intellectual and professional development. To that end, we will hold networking events and career workshops during the academies. Furthermore, students will be given the opportunity to build confidence in learning new skills with statistical software and to keep up-to-date with research in economics by reading professional and academic journals. We have an international outlook, so our graduates will be encouraged and supported to become dynamic observers of the world in identifying solutions to key emerging global economic challenges.

Award: Postgraduate Diploma
Qualification: NFQ Level 9 Minor Award

Both the part-time and full-time students on this postgraduate programme in Economics and Policy Analysis begin with an Induction Academy – this will be the first in-person meeting of the class at the University's beautiful campus at the start of the Autumn semester. Students then take modules in key areas of economics; learning online through a combination of live and recorded learning events, and then completing assignments. The modules will cover the core areas of economics, macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics, as well as research-led teaching in the specialist areas of our Faculty members.

The Part-Time programme takes place over two years. The Full-Time programme takes place over one year. Both programmes conclude with a Residential Academy at the end of Spring Term to tie together the previous modules.

Year 1

Autumn
Induction Academy
Decision Making with Scarce Resources
The National Economy

Spring Semester
Applied Economics and Public Policy Issues

Year 2

Autumn Semester
Data Exploration & Analysis

Spring Semester
The Global Economy
Contemporary Issues in Economics and Policy
Residential Academy

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn Semester
Induction Academy
Decision Making with Scarce Resources
The National Economy
Data Exploration & Analysis

Spring Semester
The Global Economy
Contemporary Issues in Economics and Policy
Applied Economics and Public Policy Issues
Residential Academy

Students should hold a Level 8 honours degree with a minimum of an upper second class honours (2.2) result or equivalent prior learning that is recognised by the University as meeting this requirement. Applications with a lower result or a Level 7 qualification will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The admissions process might include an interview.

Students should be comfortable with thinking quantitively. If they have little or no mathematical training in their previous university degree, they will be advised, prior the start of the program, to refresh fundamental mathematical concepts. We will provide them with relevant material (such as videos, problems sets, etc) to do so.

Applicants whose first language is not English must satisfy the University's General Entry Requirements for taught masters programmes pertaining to English Language Proficiency.

WHAT TO INCLUDE WITH YOUR APPLICATION:

Qualification transcripts and/or certificates (including certified English translations if applicable)

A copy of your birth certificate (long document) or passport

If your qualifications have been obtained in a country where
English is an official language this will suffice

If this is not available, the following additional documents must be provided:

• English translation of your qualification(s)/transcripts
AND
• English language competency certificate

1 Year Full-Time/2 Years Part-time