University College Dublin

MSc Quantitative Economics

Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)

UCD School of Economics is Ireland's leading economics department. Our staff are experts with international reputations in a wide range of topics such as macroeconomics, econometrics, applied microeconomics, behavioural economics, health economics, international trade and economic history. School members play a significant role in debating economic policy issues and in contributing to the formulation of economic policy. Students get to know our staff via participation in small classes and seminars and through direct supervision.

This one-year course provides high quality quantitative training in economics, a focus on advanced research methods and a supervised research thesis. Students get a rigorous grounding in using mathematical and statistical methods to derive, test and apply formal economic models. In addition to core modules in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, students have the option of completing a two-term specialisation in either Statistics or one of Behavioural Economics, Law and Economics of Competition, Environmental and Energy Economics or Development Economics.

The course prepares students for PhD-level study in economics or obtaining employment as a professional economist in jobs requiring the application of analytical methods to economic problems. Students have the ability to switch after first term to our MSc in Applied Economics, which includes the option of a summer internship.

This programme features small group teaching from leading economists and a supportive environment. Masters students are an integral part of our School community, attending research seminars and receiving a wide range of supports to help them prepare for the research thesis element of their degree.

- Students get a rigorous grounding in using mathematical and statistical methods to derive, test and apply formal economic models.

- The course prepares students for PhD-level study in economics or obtaining employment as a professional economist in jobs requiring the application of analytical methods to economic problems.

- Students have the ability to switch after first term to our MSc in Applied Economics, which includes the option of a summer internship.

This programme is aimed at students who wish to develop a rigorous understanding of economic principles. It targets students who wish to obtain employment as economists as well as students who are interested in pursuing a PhD in economics. Due to its technical and cumulative nature (current topics building on material covered previously in the programme), we encourage our students to have strong quantitative skills and to be active, motivated, and autonomous learners.

Our learning environment provides a solid foundation in fundamental economic concepts, and the small group classes, presentations by past students and employers of MA graduates, and weekly seminars from leading academics encourage students to obtain exposure to cutting-edge research and real-world experiences of economists. This programme uses small-group teaching in the subjects of microeconomics, macroeconomics, quantitative analysis, and econometrics during semester 1. In semester 2, students have small-group teaching in elective subjects such as international trade, as well as more advanced courses in the core topics. The summer semester is devoted to thesis research: students identify and articulate a research problem and present a report detailing how they developed and executed a research plan to resolve the problem.

Outcomes
- understand the main models across different fields of economics;
-know how to use an econometric approach to model economic phenomenon, estimate the resulting model, and interpret the estimated parameters
-demonstrate mastery of the issues, theories and latest advances in at least one of the sub-fields of economics
-be able to interpret and communicate economic issues to a wider non-specialist audience including decision makers, NGOs, practitioners, and the media
-explore the relationship between theory and practice; test theories by using published and bespoke data sets
-demonstrate ability to conduct independent and original basic and applied research in economics
-articulate socio-economic policy recommendations based on sound scientific reasoning