Overview
Top reasons to study with us
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11
11th for Research Quality for Economics
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2024)
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Designed for Economics graduates interested in a wide range of careers involving Economics.
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Lancaster University is top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2025
The world needs people who can address global challenges by analysing problems and finding solutions. This intellectually demanding and stimulating Master's programme equips you with the tools to achieve this, and pursue an analytic career in Economics or take the next step towards a PhD.
Our MSc Economics programme is designed for those who have already studied Economics and wish to deepen their knowledge. You will join a select group of talented students, and our tailored learning experience allows you to tap into the wealth of expertise available in one of the UK’s largest faculties. This includes intensive support from a supervisor closely aligned to your dissertation’s subject matter.
We have an outstanding international research reputation in game theory, industrial organisation, econometrics, applied microeconomics, empirical macroeconomics, labour economics, and the economics of education. You will be invited to special guest lectures, research events, our weekly seminar series, and our annual workshops and conferences on subjects such as game theory and macroeconomics.
Our three-block programme is made up of compulsory modules, your dissertation and optional modules which play to your strengths. Unlike some other Master's programmes, we will teach you how to research, read critically, write academically and present your results.
You will develop rigorous training in economic theory and methods, which are extremely marketable. Our graduates often secure successful positions in consulting companies, research centres, government departments, international agencies, or in the financial sector.
The programme is also excellent preparation for a PhD. We can support you by helping secure scholarships and with writing your research proposal.
Entry requirements
Academic Requirements
2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in Economics, or in a related subject, with at least 50% Economics or Economics-related modules, with Econometrics as an essential pre-requisite.
We may also consider non-standard applicants with a good quantitative background (i.e. excellent knowledge of mathematics and statistics). Please contact us for information.
For mature applicants, there should ideally be no more than five years since the most recent full time academic study.
If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.
English Language Requirements
We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.
We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.
If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.
Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Course structure
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Core
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The dissertation is a substantial piece of independent work where you can apply research techniques and relevant economic theory to a research topic. This can be an area which has attracted your attention in the course of your studies, or may be linked to an aspect of your professional working experience. You choose your topic during the second term, in consultation with the MSc Director. You are then assigned to an appropriate member of teaching staff who acts as a supervisor and gives you guidance on the structure and content of the research.
This module introduces you to the main techniques that are used for empirical analysis in fields ranging from microeconomics to macroeconomics and finance. The main goal is to teach you how to become both a producer and a critical consumer of empirical research. This is achieved by focusing on the practical implementation of econometric techniques.
This module aims to provide you with an overview of the methods and models used in modern macroeconomics. You will be introduced to intertemporal decisions and workhorse models in modern quantitative macroeconomics, including the overlapping-generations model, economic growth theory in closed and open economies, the Real-Business-Cycle approach, and the classical monetary and New Keynesian models.
The course will emphasise the link between theory and data and how to solve the model analytically and/or numerically (using MatLab and Dynare software). By the end of this module, you should be able to choose the appropriate model and solve it to address a macroeconomic question. Within the course, we tackle some key macroeconomic questions, such as the size of the fiscal multiplier in modern macroeconomics, the impact of technological change on labour, the cause of international differences in hours worked, and the impact of monetary policy, among others.
This module builds on the basic concepts and principles covered in an undergraduate microeconomics course to delve deeper into specific areas of study and provide you with valuable skills for further studies or to widen your career opportunities. You will further analyse the behaviour of consumers and firms, as well as gain a solid background in game theory that will help you analyse different applications of strategic interaction. Finally, you will analyse several situations of asymmetric information in different areas of economic activity.
This module is made up of two subjects:
- Quantitative tools: This part of the modules will refresh your knowledge of mathematical methods before the start of quantitative modules and teach you advanced optimisation methods.
- Empirical tools: You will learn how to use Stata software to apply different econometric techniques to investigate research topics in economics.
This module will show you how to process datasets, visualise data, and design an empirical strategy. You will also receive help and feedback for preparing your research proposal for the MSc Economics dissertation. This module ensures a smooth progression toward the dissertation, which is the cornerstone of your training.
Optional
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This module looks at what can happen to asset pricing in situations where market imperfections coincide with imperfections in investor rationality. It, therefore, explores the boundary between mispricing which can be exploited and that which cannot be exploited profitably.
The module lays the foundations for arbitrage, investment and wealth management, investment banking, and corporate finance. The material covered is at the frontier of academic and industry research, forming a conceptually advanced body of knowledge (CFA level III) which is of relevance for theory, research and practice.
Topics covered include:
- The efficient markets hypothesis and competing theories
- Limits to arbitrage
- Heuristics, biases and prospect theory: mental accounts and evidence in market prices
- Myopic loss aversion, disposition effect and overtrading
- Professional investors and analysts: over- and under-reaction
- Bubbles: observational and experimental, rational and non-rational
- Closed-end fund discounts, co-movement and sentiment
- The equity premium puzzle and the volatility puzzle
- Herding
- Behavioural portfolio theory
This module provides an introduction to key concepts, tools, and methods in environmental economics and several key policy applications of these concepts, tools, and methods. You will learn the foundations that cut across environmental issues and be exposed to some in-depth assessments of specific sectors where governments make complex decisions to address the market failures at the origin of environmental concerns.
Many environmental policy discussions are plagued by conceptual shortcuts, a lack of data, or inappropriate data analysis. The course will help you master the tools and methods relevant to solving market failures in environmental contexts and apply them to provide rigorous foundations to ground your views on current environmental issues. While the course emphasises public interventions (as is traditional in environmental economics), it also discusses the private sector's and individuals' potential contributions.
This module equips you with the latest skills in data science, financial econometrics and quantitative finance to analyse and model asset price dynamics using techniques at the research frontier in these areas, including the work with high-frequency data, relevant for the job market (especially in Quants) and the MSc dissertation streams.
It will teach you important features of financial time series, key modelling approaches in the field, how to use high-frequency data to construct the latest volatility estimators and the most appropriate methods for forecasting price volatility and risk. It will also give you practical experience of analysing market prices, constructing volatility estimators and designing forecasting analyses through empirical projects implemented with MatLab.
The module focuses on the microeconomics of health and healthcare, covering a range of theoretical and empirical topics. The objective of the module is to provide you with a comprehensive set of economic tools to critically appraise fundamental issues in the economics of health and global health systems. Topics covered include the demand and supply of health and healthcare, the economics of infectious diseases and addiction, health inequalities, the organisation of the healthcare industry, and the role of public policy in improving the demand and supply of health over the life cycle.
The module will cover evidence from both developed and developing countries. The emphasis will be on key economic concepts that health economists use to analyse health and healthcare markets. We do not assume any prior knowledge - apart from undergraduate-level microeconomics and econometrics. By the end of the module, you will be able to understand the economic principles behind the supply and demand of medical care, the components of the main healthcare systems around the world, and the challenges faced by healthcare policies. You will also be able to understand the main findings and basic methodology of research papers in health economics.
This module examines major topics in the field of Industrial Organisation. It focuses mainly on the theory of the firm and the industry, with an emphasis on oligopoly theory complemented by empirical applications of the theory. While it emphasises oligopolies, competitive and monopolistic markets will be considered. The latter market structures are useful as benchmarks against which to compare the predicted outcome of oligopoly markets.
We focus on areas related to the structure, behaviour, and performance of firms and markets, with a special interest in firms' strategic behaviour in price and non-price competition. The types of behaviour or conduct include oligopoly pricing and production, strategic entry deterrence, location strategies, product differentiation, networks, auctions, bond markets, and research and development. The effects of firms' conduct on economic welfare and feedback effects on market structure are examined.
The knowledge you will derive from the course is useful for further study of firms and markets as well as the effects of regulatory and legal systems (such as antitrust law or competitive policies) upon firms, and how firms operate under regulatory and legal regimes. The knowledge is also useful in further study of the internal operation of firms. All these topics are generally covered in the field of Industrial Organisation. Topics covered in this field are useful not only for academic consideration but also in private enterprises, including financial and legal institutions, Federal and state regulatory agencies, and in international trade.
This module studies the practical operation of banking institutions. The aim is a thorough understanding of the financial environment in which we all live, including the banks’ role in the payments system and in transmitting monetary and fiscal policy. These matters are of particular relevance today given the current problems of poor economic growth, higher inflation, interest rates and government debt following the Covid pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine.
The course starts with an analysis of banks' behaviour and their balance sheets, including capital structure, lending decisions and attitudes to risk, as guided by the central bank’s choice of official interest rates and ‘quantitative easing’. This is followed by a discussion of the origins and nature of the financial crisis of 2008 and the significant developments in banking regulation that have resulted.
The final part studies banking and monetary policy in the international context, including the balance of payments and exchange rates. It focuses particularly on problems in the Eurozone and the operation of the Eurosystem of central banks.
Throughout this module, the treatment will generally be non-technical and based on observing institutional practices and their implications.
Modern labour markets are considerably affected by large-scale shocks such as natural disasters, conflicts within and between nations and criminal behaviour. Labour markets are also affected by Government policies such as family policies and policies to support low-paid and unemployed workers. This module explores these themes in the context of imperfect labour markets where firms have product market power. Relevant theories and empirical evidence are brought to bear to examine selected issues in the operations of labour markets.
In the first part of the module, we examine the effects of various Government policies on modern labour markets. Policies studied might include childcare subsidies and the setting of minimum wage levels. We draw on relevant theory to generate testable predictions. We then show how empirical studies from various country settings deliver results about policy effects. We reflect on how these results might help policymakers improve their policy designs. We also examine the effects of organisational policies to improve worker productivity, especially performance-pay incentive schemes.
In the second part of the module, we show how natural disasters, crime, and conflicts each affect particular labour markets. We also show how in several cases crime and conflict are rooted in labour market problems. Again, we draw on contemporary evidence with particular emphasis on natural experiments.
Government interventions in the economy are ubiquitous, ranging from direct and indirect provision of goods and services to regulations and standards. In this module, we explore two key questions.
The first question concerns how and when governments should intervene. The most obvious reason is that governments enter the economy to correct market failures and restore efficiency. This is particularly relevant in cases where goods generate positive externalities, such as education or culture, or negative externalities, such as pollution. However, restoring efficiency in the market often results in creating new distortions by taxing individuals and companies. Optimal policies need to take both costs and problems such as tax evasion and tax avoidance into account. Another reason for government intervention is to address perceived economic inequalities resulting from free market outcomes. To look at this question, we need to understand how to formalise and measure preference for redistribution.
The second question we explore is where government decisions originate from in practice and what limitations exist on the implementation of optimal policies. This requires an examination of the incentives of voters and politicians. We also investigate the influence of media, special interests, and lobbying in politics.
Overall, this module combines classic economic models and contemporary empirical techniques to offer a comprehensive view of different economic approaches to the role of collective action. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in studying public policy and working in government, academia, international organisations, or regulated industries.
Fees and funding
Location | Full Time (per year) | Part Time (per year) |
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Home | £15,650 | n/a |
International | £26,250 | n/a |
Additional fees and funding information accordion
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2024, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2025 have not yet been set.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.
For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
Scholarships and bursaries
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.
Scheme | Based on | Amount |
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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.
Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.
Important Information
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.