Eligibility

We look for applicants to have a very strong grounding in economics or other quantitative subjects.

Entry into the MSc programme is competitive. For the MSc Economics, MSc Economics (Econometrics) and MSc Economics (Finance) degrees combined we receive about 850 applications.

Please be advised that the programme is very intensive and challenging. It involves a lot of contact hours each week (21 -26 contact hours per week in semester 1), includes many assessments (problem sets, exams in December, February, and May, econometrics group project, dissertation), and is based on a mathematical treatment of economics, which requires strong quantitative skills. Please see below for samples of lectures and exams for the course Microeconomics 1.

Exam sample

Exam sample with solutions

Lecture sample - envelope theorem

Courses and grades

To be eligible for the MSc Economics you need a strong grounding in Economics at the undergraduate level. Students who have high grades (a very high 2:1 or first) in mathematics, statistics, actuarial science or other mathematics disciplines will also be considered.

A successful application requires high grades (usually a strong 2:1) in university-level courses that cover most of the following:

• introductory integration
• probability theory
• linear algebra
• statistics
• multivariate multi-constraint optimisation
• With regards to microeconomics and macroeconomics, we look for mathematical treatment of firms and consumers, and the first and second welfare theorems in microeconomics, growth theory for macroeconomics (with an introduction to general equilibrium models if possible)

If you contact us for informal feedback about your eligibility we will expect you to show us that you have covered the topics above.

Graduate admissions tests

Results from a graduate admissions test (such as the GRE or GMAT) are not strictly required, but we highly recommend that you provide them, especially if you obtained your previous university degree from a non-UK institution. Most important to us is that you have good quantitative skills, as demonstrated by a quantitative reasoning result in the 80^th percentile or higher.

Pre-Sessional

Certain applicants who require additional preparation will be given an offer that is conditional on first attending and attaining the required grade in the  Pre-Sessional in the weeks before the programme begins.

Pre-Sessional

International students

A 2:1 degree is roughly the equivalent to a B+, but this varies from country to country.

For example, a 2:1 is roughly equivalent to 85% in China or 60% in India or a GPA of 3.4 in the US.

Applicants from overseas are encouraged to check the information by country available from Edinburgh Global.

Entry requirement guidance by country

English language requirements

For students from non-English speaking countries, there is an English language requirement. You do not need to have met this requirement when you make your application but we will request documentation once we have decided to make you an offer.

You must achieve the following minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL-iBT) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Minimum Academic IELTS score: total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in reading and listening, and 6.0 in all other sections)

Minimum TOEFL-iBT score: total 100 (at least 20 in speaking and writing, and 23 in listening and reading)

Further information about English language requirements and support is available from the University of Edinburgh's International Applicants webpage:

English language requirements for postgraduate entry