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Birkbeck, University of London

Postgraduate Certificate , Economics

Course Description

Providing a basis for a variety of careers in business, government and academia, this course is designed to equip you with tools and techniques for investigating important economic issues. It provides a grounding in mathematical and econometric techniques:

  • looking at the foundations of microeconomics and macroeconomics and their application to new economic problems
  • familiarising you with advanced concepts and techniques used in economic analysis, and enabling you to access and evaluate current research output in academic journals and in the public and commercial domain
  • providing you with the ability to use methods of 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
  • requiring you to combine your theoretical and quantitative understanding in an original piece of applied work.

This course is demanding and challenging. We expect you to be competent in intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics, multivariable calculus, linear algebra and statistics and to understand the basic concepts in economics, so we can focus on developing your ability to do original applied work using advanced methods. You will learn to express original ideas in academic papers and to test them with the use of econometrics (covering linear and dynamic linear regression models, a wide variety of hypothesis tests and techniques for estimating systems of equations). Techniques will be illustrated with economic examples, such as models with rational expectations, as well as consumption, production and money demand functions.

Prospective students without the necessary prerequisites should apply for our Graduate Diploma in Economics, as it prepares you for the MSc.

Course Content

Core modules reinforce economic theory with practical application. They include preliminary courses in mathematical and statistical techniques, which take place in September and have to be passed in order to progress to the programme.

Options provide specialised modules with current themes. Option module availability varies across years.

CORE MODULES

  • Econometrics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Microeconomics
  • Quantitative Techniques

OPTION MODULES

  • Advanced Econometrics
  • Advanced Economic Theory I
  • Corporate Finance
  • Industrial Economics I
  • International Economics I
  • Monetary Economics

MSC ECONOMICS DISSERTATION

  • Dissertation MSc Economics

 

Entry Requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.

We will review every postgraduate application to Birkbeck on its individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place and allow enough time for the application and enrolment process. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

COURSE SPECIFIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A second-class honours degree, or its equivalent, in either a directly relevant or a highly quantitative subject, or the Birkbeck Graduate Diploma in Economics.

Non-EU students are encouraged to submit GRE or GMAT results. In some cases, the admissions tutor may request these results in order to make a decision on your application. In that case, you should upload your score report to the online application system as if it were an additional transcript page.

Relevant practical work experience also taken into consideration.

Demonstrable qualities, such as good time management and the ability to cope under pressure, are vital.

INTERNATIONAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement for international students is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or an equivalent international qualification.

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. Some courses may require higher scores, particularly in the following subject areas:

  • arts management
  • cultural studies
  • development studies
  • film and media
  • geography
  • history
  • law
  • organizational psychology
  • psychology.

Please carefully check the Course-Specific Entry Requirements on your chosen programme for details of higher English language entry requirements.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses, foundation programmes and language support services to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

If you are not from the European Economic Area (EEA) and/or Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration.
  • Courses of less than six months' duration.
  • Pre-sessional English language courses.

International students who require a Tier 4 visa should apply for our full-time courses (with the exception of modular enrolment certificates of higher education and graduate certificates), as these qualify for Tier 4 sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Tier 4 visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

Assessment Methods

Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

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