We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
Gain the fundamental tools of a professional economist with our MSc Economics degree, including how to assess a wide range of theoretical, empirical and policy-related issues.
Led by experts from the 色狗导航’s Department of Economics, you’ll benefit from interactive, applied learning across a number of key areas. These include:
You will also have the opportunity to specialise your degree – aligning it to future career aspirations or interests – by choosing from our range of optional modules.
The modules you’ll study throughout your degree are aligned with our , keeping you abreast of the latest developments within the field of economics. This learning is complemented and enhanced by guest speakers from outside the University.
Choose economics at the 色狗导航
We are one of the few universities to offer an optional Capstone Project module, designed to give you hands-on, real-world experience. Working in small groups and overseen by a faculty member, you will contribute to your degree by completing a project on behalf of an external organisation, such as:
Past projects have included: impact assessment of policy and business options, cost benefit analysis and advice to a local economic partnership on how to develop a strategy in response to the UK Govt’s new Industrial Strategy White Paper.
As part of your degree you'll work on a research dissertation. It's an opportunity for you to carry out independent research supervised in a specific topic or issue, and to contribute new insights to the current scholarly debate.鈥痀ou dissertation will be supervised by an expert in your area.
100% of our research impact has been classed ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions – Business and Management Studies, and Anthropology and Development Studies). Our research has real-world applications and has informed policy decisions by governments, major multinational organisations, and agencies鈥痵uch as鈥痶he United Nations and the World Bank.
At Reading, our economists are addressing some of the key issues of the twenty-first century, such as the environmental impact of economic growth:
Elsewhere, our innovative research into leisure and sport is providing vital economic insights:
Our classes are small to allow for active participation. You will typically spend six to eight hours a week in lectures and supported classroom seminars, studying alongside academics, industry professionals and postgraduate colleagues. Our lecturers include economists and other real-life practitioners who actively put economic principles into practice.
Supporting your studies
The Department of Economics can support your study in a number of ways:
