MA (Hons) Economics and Finance
The course
- UCAS code
- LN13
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Delivery type
- Full-time
Contact
Got questions about this programme?
Contact our enquiries team.
Overview
Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University's MA (Hons) in Economics and Finance 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.
Global College pathway for this degree
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, have a look at Heriot-Watt Global College, where you can follow an accelerated pathway which will get you onto the second year of this degree.
Accreditation
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
Year 1
Semester 1
- Management in a Global Context
- Introduction to Accounting and Finance
- Academic Skills
- Introduction to Marketing
Semester 2
- The Economy
- Becoming a Professional
- Discovering Business
Year 2
Semester 1
- Intermediate Economics 1: Theory & Techniques
- Quantitative Methods 1
- Financial Markets Theory
Semester 2
- Intermediate Economics 2
- Fundamentals of Finance
- Statistical Techniques
- Elective
Year 3
Semester 1
- Introductory Econometrics
- Advanced Economics 1
Semester 2
- Econometrics Project
- Corporate Financial Theory
- Advanced Economics 2
Across both semesters
- One Finance option
- Three electives
Optional courses:
- Managing Corporate Value
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Management Accounting Techniques and Decisions
- International Bond and Currency Markets
- Financial Derivatives
- Taxation (Tax Law)
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
Optional courses:
- Diversity Management
- Digital Marketing
- Employment Relations
- Global Business Analysis 2: Global Trends and Risks
- Management Dissertation 1
- Management Dissertation 2
- International Law of Human Resource Management
- Global Business Analysis 1: International Markets and Strategy
- International Entrepreneurship
- International Business Law
- Leisure Marketing
- Changing Trends in Employment
- Managing Business Performance
- Marketing Sustainability
- Retail Marketing
- Marketing and Management SME's
- Team Performance Dynamics
- International Trade
- Strategy and Information Economics
- Labour Economics
- Economics Dissertation 2
- Economics Dissertation 1
- Development Economics 2
- Topics in World Economics History 1
- Macro Analysis and Policy
- A short history of economic thought over 2.500 years
- Economics of the European Union
- Econometric Methods
- Financial Intermediation
- Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
- Accounting History
- Professional and Critical Theory
- Banking
- Agency Theory and Corporate Governance
- Contemporary Issues in Finance
- Accounting and Finance Dissertation 1
- Accounting and Finance Dissertation 2
- Corporate Reporting
- International Accounting
- Managerial Accounting: Decision Making
- Public Sector Accounting
- Risk Management and Derivatives
- Equity Markets and Fund Management
Discover Uni course data
Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.
Employability
Work and study
This is what our MA (Hons) Economics and Finance students are doing 15 months after graduating:
- 80% are working
- 5% are studying
- 5% are working and studying.
Salary
- The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £30000
- The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £30000
Potential career paths
- Finance professionals
- Business and public service associate professionals
Entry requirements
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers AABB (over two sittings)
- A-Levels BBC - ABB
- 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 BBC - ABB
* 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
- Global College Successful completion of our Business with Accelerator Programme
Additional information
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
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
| Status* | Scotland | England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | International** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | Paid by SAAS | £9,250 | £19,744 |
* 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.
** 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above). Read more about the application process for EU nationals.
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
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
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 undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.