Master of Applied Economics

The Master of Applied Economics at UNSW combines economic theory with practical, data-driven problem solving through core quantitative subjects, prescribed electives and a dedicated Economics Practicum. Students can apply their accumulated economics knowledge to a real-world project for a local or overseas enterprise, developing practical business, analytical and leadership capabilities. UNSW also provides access to Stata and RStudio, supporting statistical analysis, data management, regression and quantitative work within the Business School.

Students can build practical experience through these program-specific opportunities:

• Economics Practicum: A 12-UOC practicum comprising Economics Practicum and Reflections on Practicum through the Economist’s Lens, allowing students to apply economics knowledge to a real-world enterprise project.
• Real-World Projects: Students work to deliver social and economic value to a local or overseas enterprise, with placements potentially facilitated by UNSW or sourced by the student subject to academic approval.
• Stata: Eligible UNSW Business School postgraduate students in the School of Economics can access Stata through myAccess for data analysis, statistical modelling, regression, data management and graphics.
• RStudio: UNSW provides RStudio through myAccess to eligible postgraduate coursework students, supporting hands-on statistical and data analysis.
• Quantitative Training: Quantitative Methods for Business develops quantitative capabilities that students can apply throughout the program's economics and data-focused coursework.
• Applied Economics Electives: Students can undertake areas such as Financial Econometrics, Advanced Microeconomic Analysis, and Politics and Economics, allowing them to develop specialised analytical skills aligned with their interests.
• Career Accelerator: UNSW Business School provides students with access to internships, mentoring and alumni, networking and events, and global opportunities through its Career Accelerator program.
• Business Research Environment: The UNSW Business School research environment includes BizLab, research databases and data resources supporting work across economics, finance, accounting and business. 

The Master of Applied Economics prepares graduates to use economic analysis, quantitative methods and data-driven problem-solving across finance, consulting, government, policy and corporate environments. Its applied focus and Economics Practicum provide a pathway into professional roles such as Economist, Economic Consultant, Data Analyst, and Policy Analyst, with UNSW highlighting demand across data, consulting and policy-related careers.

• Career Support: UNSW Business School’s Career Accelerator provides work experiences and professional development opportunities, while UNSW connects students with industry, alumni networks, mentoring and employer opportunities.
• Employment Demand: UNSW cites SEEK Australia 2026 projections of approximately 23.2% growth for Data Analysts, 32.3% for Management Consultants and 8.7% for Policy Analysts over the next five years.
• Salary Information: UNSW does not publish a program-specific graduate salary figure for the Master of Applied Economics on its official program page. A UNSW economic-impact study reported an average annual wage of $113,700 for employed UNSW graduates; this figure covers UNSW graduates generally and should not be treated as the salary specifically for Applied Economics graduates.
• Industry Partnerships: UNSW Business School reports research partnerships with organisations including the World Bank, Australian Bureau of Statistics and Commonwealth Bank, while the Centre for Applied Economic Research develops links with government and industry to translate economic research into policy and real-world impact.
• Applied Industry Experience: The program includes an Economics Practicum and Reflections on Practicum through the Economist’s Lens, allowing students to apply economic knowledge and analytical skills to practical contexts.
• Research & Policy Connections: UNSW’s Centre for Applied Economic Research (CAER) focuses on applied economic research relevant to policy issues and works to foster links between academics, government and business communities.
• Accreditation Value: UNSW’s official Master of Applied Economics information does not state a separate professional accreditation for this degree. The qualification instead provides advanced economics training and a professional pathway into economics, policy, consulting, finance and data-focused roles.
• University Reputation: UNSW states that it is ranked among the world’s top 20 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027, while UNSW Business School is ranked #1 in Sydney for Business & Management in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
• Graduation Outcomes: Graduates can move into financial institutions, consulting firms, government agencies and corporate organisations, with potential roles including Economic Researcher, Financial Analyst, Investment Analyst, Management Consultant and Market Research Analyst.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Master of Applied Economics, students can pursue further postgraduate research in economics and related fields, including a PhD in Economics for an academic or advanced research career. UNSW’s School of Economics provides doctoral research pathways and has research strengths spanning economic theory, applied economics and econometrics; students can also pursue specialised postgraduate study aligned with areas such as financial economics, public policy, behavioural economics, international economics and quantitative methods.