Our economics postgraduate programme is challenging but rewarding. It is designed to equip you with tools and techniques that provide a strong basis for careers in business, government and academia. It provides a grounding in economics and econometric techniques:

looking at standard economic theories and their applications to new economic problems
enabling you to access and evaluate current research output in academic journals and in the public domain
providing you with the ability to use economic analysis and related techniques in practical and professional contexts
examining the issues behind current controversies in economics and finance
training you in quantitative skills and data handling
requiring you to combine your theoretical and quantitative understanding in an original piece of applied work.
Prior training in economics is a distinct advantage, but not essential. If your first degree is in another discipline, in your first year at Birkbeck we may ask you to complete some or all of the modules in our well-established Graduate Diploma in Economics, which will provide you with key tools in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics to enable you to tackle advanced study in economics. The exact choice and number of modules will depend on your academic background.

You will learn to assess original ideas in academic papers and to test them with the use of econometrics.

MRes Economics: If you opt for the MRes it will prepare you to undertake MPhil/PhD or professional research by giving you the theoretical knowledge and analytical techniques you need. The course will give you a solid understanding of economics through modules taught at master's and MPhil level, including a dedicated research topics module in macroeconomics. You can also specialise in a particular area of personal or professional interest via a range of option modules. You will be assigned an academic MRes supervisor from the onset. After specialist training in research skills, you will undertake a piece of independent research, supervised by one of our academics and culminating in a dissertation. If you are interested in pursuing further research, we offer an associated MPhil/PhD Economics.

Birkbeck's postgraduate economics courses are built around our long-running experience in research-led evening teaching. Many of our students work in government, finance, economic consultancies, think tanks and the digital economy, which generates a lively atmosphere in class and ensures that you'll be studying alongside, and networking with, committed, enthusiastic students with a wealth of experience. You will be taught by active researchers, working at the cutting edge in their respective fields, who are also experienced professional practitioners, giving specialist advice and in-house training to government departments and banks and firms in the City of London.