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Department of Economics

Teaching and Assessment

MSc economics student in class

Teaching and Assessment

Studying economics at Warwick will help you to deepen your knowledge, learn specific skills and undertake more advanced and detailed study.

Economics at Warwick

An MSc course can help in many ways whatever your career goals may be. It can help you to undertake more advanced and detailed study in the subject of your first degree. You can develop the skills and subject knowledge necessary for a research degree or deepen your knowledge and learn the specific skills necessary for your chosen career in the wider workplace. This can be either straight after your first degree or as part of a process of continuing professional development when you have been in the workplace for some time.

Teaching

Teaching is mainly carried out through lectures and seminars, with an average of 8-10 hours of lectures and 3 hours of classes per week in the autumn and spring terms.

You will also be expected to undertake your own independent study, which will include reading journals and books, completing assessments, revising for exams and undertaking research. In the summer term and summer vacation your independent study time will increase as you prepare for exams and complete your research dissertation.

Your dissertation work will normally be individually supervised on a one-to-one basis and we have an effective personal tutor system providing academic and pastoral support.

Objectives

To provide students who already possess a strong background in the subject with an advanced training in modern economics, as preparation for a career as a professional economist, which includes learning to use tools and techniques and applying them in a piece of supervised research.

On successful completion of one of the MSc programmes, you will have acquired:

  • The ability to identify, analyse and solve problems, including original research topics, by the application of advanced analytical and econometric concepts and techniques at the level of articles in leading journals in economics and finance.

  • Knowledge and understanding of contemporary theoretical and empirical debates and research outcomes in a variety of more specialised areas of economics and related disciplines.

Assessment and Feedback

For MSc students, assessment is through formal examinations, coursework and an individually supervised research dissertation.

Feedback is a vital part of the assessment process, as it helps you to reach your full potential by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your work and the actions needed to develop your understanding and enhance your performance.

Feedback is provided in a variety of ways, including:

  • grades and comments on marked work
  • solutions to problem sets
  • verbal feedback from tutors and peers in classes
  • advice and feedback hours with academic staff
  • personal tutor meetings