Economics

MSc

  • Entry year 2024 or 2025
  • Duration Full time 1 year

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 11

    11th for Research Quality for Economics

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • Designed for Economics graduates interested in a wide range of careers involving Economics.

  • 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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Optional

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Fees and funding

Location Full Time (per year) Part Time (per year)
Home £15,650 n/a
International £26,250 n/a

General fees and funding information

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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.

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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.