MA (Hons) Economics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Aberdeen

Program Overview

This degree immerses you in how economies work on both a micro- and macro-scale, giving you both foundational knowledge and applied skills to make sense of everything from business decisions to global policy. It’s suited to anyone who enjoys mathematics, enjoys thinking about how societies allocate resources and wants to build strong analytical and communication skills for diverse careers.

Curriculum structure:

Year 1: You’ll begin with modules like The Economics of Business & Society and The Global Economy, which introduce you to market principles, how firms and societies interact, and the broad forces shaping national and global economies. At the same time you’ll get professional skills training and fundamentals of quantitative methods to start thinking like an economist.

Year 2: In the second year you’ll move into intermediate topics and build on your maths and statistics skills; you’ll study courses such as Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, and begin to apply econometric tools to real data, preparing you to interpret economic models and outcomes.

Year 3 (Honours): The final year gives you chance to specialise via option modules, dive deeper into economic theory, policy analysis and possibly complete an honours project/dissertation. For example you might engage with advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics and empirical work to hone your independent research.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

You’ll work with datasets, collaborate on projects, and learn in a way that mirrors how economists operate in practice — with dedicated support, specialist facilities and an environment that bridges university and employer. Here are some of the standout features:

Access to the Bloomberg Terminal in the Business School, letting you work with live financial/investment data and get hands-on experience with tools used by major financial service companies.
Small-group tutorials, workshops and seminar sessions where you’ll present, debate and apply economic theory to contemporary policy and market challenges — this develops your teamwork, communication and analytical skills.
Field learning opportunities via the Economics Society which arranges trips to international institutions (for example to the European Central Bank or the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development in Brussels/Paris).
Full access to the Sir Duncan Rice Library with 1,200 study spaces and advanced digital resources and computing labs to support your research and data work.
A highly international learning environment with over 40 nationalities represented in the Business School, meaning you’ll bring multiple perspectives into your projects and build a global network

Progression & Future Opportunities

The University’s dedicated Careers and Employability Service (CareerAhead) supports you with career coaching, CV/LinkedIn workshops, mock interviews and employer-on-campus events.
According to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024, 97.9% of Business School graduates were in employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.
Employment data for Economics/Finance graduates from Aberdeen: after 15 months average earnings ~ £26,000, with a typical range £25,000–£33,000. After 5 years average ~ £33,500, range ~£28,000–£40,000.
University–industry partnerships: Aberdeen works with organisations such as Santander Universities, Curtin University, University of Calgary, and welcomes employer engagement via its Programme Advisory Boards.
Long-term accreditation value: The Business School holds EQUIS accreditation and strong reputation – translating into recognised credentials globally.
Graduation outcomes: The majority of your cohort will enter highly skilled employment, with a strong portion moving into professional or managerial roles within three years.

Additional Information & Requirements

GCSE or equivalent: English (grade C/4) and Mathematics (grade C/4) required for entry to MA Economics.
A-level: BBC
Scottish Highers: Standard entry AABB; minimum BBB; adjusted offer BB in some cases.
International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall, including (e.g.) 5, 5, 5 at Higher Level.
English language requirement for non-native speakers: IELTS Academic overall 6.0, with minimum 5.5 in Listening, Reading, Speaking, and 6.0 in Writing.
TOEFL iBT requirement: Overall 78 (Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 21).
India: At Standard XII a minimum percentage of 75% overall. Additionally, a minimum percentage of 80% in English at Standard XII or our normal English language requirements.
American: Entry to the Master of Arts (MA) requires a minimum 3.0 unweighted High School GPA plus ONE of the following: SAT 1250+, ACT 26+, three relevant AP exams with scores of 3+, or (pre-2020) three relevant SAT Subject Tests with scores of 600+ each.