Graduate Diploma - Economics

Essex pushes the frontiers of accepted wisdom, critically examining the decisions of individuals, the strategies of firms, and the policies of governments to understand and challenge the standard paradigms of economics.

For students whose first degree is in a subject other than economics, or their economics training does not provide sufficient technical experience for direct entry into the MSc courses, Essex offers a full-time, nine-month Diploma in Economics. If students obtain their Diploma with Merit or Distinction, they can then automatically register for one of the MSc courses, so over the two years students gain a thorough training in economics principles and practice at the Masters level. In Essex's Graduate Diploma Economics, they teach students the essentials of micro- and macroeconomics, and then students have the option to explore whichever topics in economics interest them the most, from international trade and health, to mathematical methods, to theories of monopolies. Essex's department is Top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% of our research rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and they have particular strengths in the areas of: game theory and strategic interactions, theoretical and applied econometrics, and labour economics. The quality of Essex's work is reflected in their stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies. After completing the masters, students may wish to extend their knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay for further study. Alternatively, the course also prepares students for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level. Recent MSc Economics graduates have gone on to work for a range of high-profile organizations: the Ministry of Finance, HM Treasury, the Work Foundation, Fitch Ratings, and Schroders Investment Management. More generally, graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organizations.