Program Overview

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Economics, MA

Introduction

Economics at Aberdeen helps you understand the global economy and the factors that influence income, wealth, and wellbeing from both social and financial perspectives. You will gain a thorough understanding of economic theories and explore how they function in the real world, acquiring skills that are attractive to top graduate employers.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MA
• Duration: 48 months
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Start Month: September
• UCAS Code: L100
• Pathway Programme Available: Undergraduate Foundation Programme

Economics at Aberdeen explores the factors that affect political processes, social reforms and international relations within an economic context. You'll study topics including microeconomics of business and society, macroeconomics of the world economy, and economic problems within a variety of political, social, and historical contexts.

Our Economics teaching is research-led and delivered by lecturers who are experts in their fields. We have a strong track record in labour, health, and environmental economics—particularly energy transition, given our position in the global energy hub of Aberdeen. You will study topics including the microeconomics of business and society, the macroeconomics of the world economy, and tackle applied economic problems from a variety of political, social, and historical contexts.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

What You'll Study

Economics at Aberdeen is a diverse programme that explores the many factors that influence wealth from a social and financial perspective. You will gain an in-depth understanding of economics by studying topics such as the microeconomics of business and society, macroeconomics of the global economy and economic problems within a variety of political, social and historical contexts.

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • The Economics of Business and Society (EC1006)
  • The Global Economy (EC1506)
  • Academic Writing for Business (AW1003)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)

Year 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Intermediate Microeconomics (EC2003)
  • Intermediate Macroeconomics (EC2503)
  • Building Skills and Experience for Career Success (PD2002)

Year 3

• Optional Courses:
  • Students are required to have exactly 240 credits at levels 3 and 4, at least 210 of which must be EC coded. At least 90 credits must be at level 4.

Year 4

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Economics Dissertation (EC4526)

How You'll Study

Course delivery is via a mixture of lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Research
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

• Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course;
• Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and
• Written examinations at the end of each course.

Why Study Economics?

• The University of Aberdeen was ranked 12th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025 and 15th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• 1st Scotland in Student Positivity for Business Studies and Management Studies in the National Student Survey 2024
• Ranked 13th in the UK for Economics in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• An excellent teaching environment, committed to the needs of industry, which integrates research into teaching, enables transferable skills and develops intellectual skills on a range of contemporary economic problems.
• ACREEF (the Aberdeen Centre for Research in Energy Economics and Finance) headed by leading international petroleum economist Professor Alex Kemp, adviser to the Scottish Government.
• CELMR (the Centre for European Labour Market Research) leading research in education, skills and labour markets so topical today.
• Benefit from professional training facilities such as the Bloomberg finance lab which is used by major financial services companies across the world and integrating real activity in financial markets directly into our students’ courses.
• A thriving Economics Society, organising annual trips to international economic institutions including the European Union in Brussels, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris
• With a community of over 130 nationalities at the University of Aberdeen, students are immersed in an environment that enables international discourse creating truly global exchanges, generating deep insights that spark innovative change.

Careers

Studying Economics at Aberdeen will provide you with a wide variety of career choices. Many of our graduates have obtained graduate employment that values their skills in numeracy and economic analysis. Some recent graduates have gone on to work in banks (e.g. Royal Bank of Scotland), consulting firms (e.g. Ernst and Young), financial service companies (e.g. Morgan Stanley), accounting firms (e.g. Deloitte), and government departments.

Job titles of recent graduates include:

• Economist
• Fund Administrator
• Business Analyst
• Accountant

Additionally, being known as the oil and gas capital of Europe, there are many graduate opportunities in Aberdeen and the North East for careers in oil and gas and energy transition.

We also have graduates entering the not-for-profit sector, including the Centre for Global Development, working to reduce global poverty, and the Institute for International Economics, conducting research on topics concerning the international economy.

Industry Links

Typically, our students value the skills in numeracy and economic analysis developed in their studies, which are highly sought after by employers in various sectors, including business, banking, finance, consultancy, education, and government. Moreover, Aberdeen is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe, which provides contact with multinational energy companies and graduate opportunities.

Accreditation

The Business School is EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions. Out of over 15,000 business schools worldwide, only around 200 schools across 45 countries have attained this distinction.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• SQA Highers: Standard - AABB, Minimum - BBB, Adjusted - BB
• A LEVELS: Standard - BBB, Minimum - BBC, Adjusted - CCC
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3

English Language Requirements

• IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
• PTE Academic: OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
• Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Fees and Funding

• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535
• EU / International students: £20,800
• Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme
• Home Students: £1,820

Related Undergraduate Degrees

• MA Accountancy and Economics
• MA Economics and Finance
• MA Economics and French
• MA Economics and Gaelic Studies
• MA Economics and Geography
• MA Economics and German
• MA Economics and History
• MA Economics and International Relations
• MA Economics and Legal Studies