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

MA (Hons) Economics and Finance at Edinburgh Business School will give you the skills to investigate, analyse and answer global economic questions as well as specialist understanding in financial theories and practice. 

This degree 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 market analyst, stockbroker, portfolio manager, performance analyst, and civil service, as well as a wide range of management roles. Graduates also pursue further study in economics and related disciplines at Masters and PhD level.

Your learning will be underpinned by the knowledge of highly respected economists who design and teach our courses with a real-world focus that stems directly from their global research into economic issues. 

Finance courses are taught by academics and experienced practitioners and you will have the opportunity to make use of the university’s state-of-the-art Bloomberg Finance Lab to gain employable, practical finance skills. 
 

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. 

Go Global

This course is currently only delivered at our Edinburgh Campus and there are no current opportunities to study at exchange partner institutions.

However, other Go Global opportunities may be available. Please contact goglobal@hw.ac.uk for more information.

Course content

Detailed course guide

Year 1

Semester 1 (All Year 1 students at the School take the same subjects)

  • Management in a Global Context
  • Introduction to Accounting and Finance
  • Introduction to Economics
  • Introduction to Marketing

Semester 2 (All Year 1 students at the School take the same subjects)

  • Academic Skills
  • Becoming a Professional
  • Discovering Business

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

Managerial/professional position

  • 80% of those working are in a professional/managerial position six months after graduating.

Salary

  • The average salary of students six months after graduating: £24000
  • The average UK salary of students six months after graduating from a similar course: £22000

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

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AABB (over two sittings)
  • A-Levels BBC
  • 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)
  • BTEC DDD

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 2020 entry (by residency status)
Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales*** International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £15,080

* 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).

4 years for the price of 3

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, study with us and save £9,250 over your 4-year degree.

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:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.