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 (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
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
Salary
- The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £22500
- The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £23000
Jobs
These are the most common high skilled jobs students go into 15 months after graduating:
- Finance professionals
- Information Technology 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 Bachelors Degree Accelerator Foundation - Accounting, Economics and Business Management
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 Ireland** | International*** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | Paid by SAAS | £9,250 | £17,080 |
* 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.
** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) and Republic of Ireland 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).
*** '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 fee information
Students with Scotland fee status pay £910 for the placement year instead of the standard fees. Students with England, Northern Ireland, Wales or Overseas fee status pay £1300 for the placement year instead of the standard fees.
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.