Heriot-Watt University

The course

UCAS code
LN13
Duration
4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time
Find out how to apply More about this subject area

Contact

Overview

The MA in Economics and Finance does not require prior knowledge of the core disciplines of economics and finance. Study begins at an introductory level and the degree has a flexible structure to enable students to tailor their studies so that they can pursue their own interests. As a result, graduates are able to embark upon successful careers, especially in banking, finance, the civil service and a wide range of management roles, and also pursue further study in economics and related disciplines.

Accreditation

Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner

Heriot-Watt University is accredited as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner, recognising us as a leader in experiential learning in the area of finance. 

Detailed course information

Course content

Detailed course guide

Year 1

Semester 1

  • Management in a Global Context
  • Introductory Economics
  • Introduction to Accounting

Semester 2

  • Enterprise and its Business Environment
  • The Economy
  • Introduction to Finance
  • Elective

Year 2

Semester 1

  • Intermediate Economics 1: Theory & Techniques (30 credits)
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Financial Markets Theory

Semester 2

  • Intermediate Economics 2
  • Corporate Financial Theory
  • Statistical Techniques
  • Elective

Year 3

Semester 1

  • Introductory Econometrics
  • Advanced Economics 1

Semester 2

  • Econometrics Project
  • Advanced Economics 2

Across both semesters

  • One Finance option
  • Three electives

Year 4

Semester 1

  • Advanced Economic Policy 1

Semester 2

  • Advanced Economic Policy 2

Across both semesters

  • Three Finance options
  • One Economics option
  • Two options from Accountancy & Finance, Economics or Business Management

Employability

Work and study

This is what our MA (Hons) Economics and Finance students are doing six months after graduating:

  • 40% are working
  • 15% are studying
  • 30% are working and studying.

Managerial/professional position

  • 85% of those working are in a professional/managerial position six months after graduating.

Salary

  • The average salary of students six months after graduating: £29000
  • The average UK salary of students six months after graduating from a similar course: £25000

Jobs

These are the most common jobs students go into six months after graduating:

  • Business and public service associate professionals
  • Business, research and administrative professionals
  • Managers, directors and senior officials
  • Administrative occupations   
  • Sales occupations
  • Elementary occupations

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AAAB (over two sittings)
  • A-Levels BBB
  • Int. Baccalaureate 29 points
  • BTEC DDM (Accountancy, Business, Economics, Finance preferred)
  • HNC B in graded unit (Accounting or Business preferred)

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC
  • A-Levels BCC

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

  • live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
  • are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements

Year 2

  • Advanced Highers BB (AAAB at Higher to include Maths or AAAB plus Maths Higher C)
  • A-Levels ABB (at least one of the following preferred: Accounting, Business or Economics and AS Level Maths C)
  • Int. Baccalaureate 34 points (including Maths or Economics at Higher Level 5)
  • HND BB in graded units (Accounting or Business required)

Additional information

English language requirements

  • If English is not your first language, you have to show that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please see our English language requirements.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2019 entry (by residency status)
Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales*** International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £14,640

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries (not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales).

*** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales starting undergraduate degree courses in 2020

In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

Merit Awards for international students starting undergraduate degree courses in 2019

If you are an international fee-paying, self-funded applicant and have achieved, or are on course to achieve, the minimum entry requirements for the programme you wish to study you may be eligible for:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.