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Economics MSc

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  • Level of study:
    Masters
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
  • Start date:
    September 2026
  • Duration:
    One year full-time / two years with a work placement
  • Attendance:
    Full-time, Placement year
  • Course delivery:
    On-campus (City Campus)
Students working on the Bloomberg terminals in the Nottingham Business School Business Lab on the City Campus at Nottingham Trent University
Information for 2026/27

About this course

Our MSc Economics degree has been designed to give you an in-depth understanding of economic concepts, principles and techniques by focusing on the application of economics to contemporary real-world issues.

You will be encouraged to think like an economist through the application of economic ideas and methods drawn from a range of alternative perspectives. The emphasis of this degree is on the application of versatile tools, techniques and methods of thought which are distinctively associated with professional economists.

You will have the opportunity to work hands-on with economic tools and techniques, including the use of our state-of the-art Business Lab - a real-time trading environment. You will learn how to access economic phenomena, using theory and evidence to draw insights into the underlying causes and importantly their impact on people, businesses and the wider society.

In your third semester, you’ll choose an experiential project. With the opportunity to use your skills in a real-world setting, you can choose from completing a consultancy experience project or a business research project.

What you’ll gain from this degree:

  • apply advanced economic concepts and techniques to analyse problems in scare resource allocation.
  • synthesise and critique a range of economic ideas and methods relating to issues and problems in the allocation of scarce resources.
  • be able to apply advanced economic concepts and techniques to evaluate international trade and investment flows.
  • learn how to synthesise and critique a range of methods employed in evaluating prospective investments in goods and services.
  • evaluate the rigour and validity of published research and assess its relevance to the practice of economics.
  • make recommendations for organisational practice based on theoretical insights through a process of experiential or applied learning.
  • develop a critical understanding of the role of the economics discipline in the global context.

  • Industry standard facilities

    Gain hands-on experience with economic tools and techniques, including the use of our state-of the-art Business Lab - a real-time trading environment.

  • Stay ahead with AI

    We explore and apply AI across all programmes, ensuring you graduate confident and ready for the future of work.

  • Study in the heart of Nottingham

    One of the UK's top 10 student cities (QS Best Student Cities 2026)

  • Rated highly by out students

    100% of MSc Economics postgraduate students are satisfied with the quality of their course (PTES 2024).

At NBS you can create a personalised learning experience, giving you a unique Masters degree that equips you with the skills you'll need, for the career you want. Each of the modules will be delivered over a four week period, with teaching delivered in three weeks and the fourth week left clear for assessment work. This enables you to focus on one subject at a time, whilst allowing time for preparation and assessment work.

Study economics in a globally recognised business school

You’ll study this course at Nottingham Business School – part of the 1% of business schools worldwide to hold the Triple Crown of accreditation from EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. For you, this means a postgraduate degree that meets internationally recognised standards and is respected by employers across sectors and markets.

We’re also recognised by the United Nations as a PRME Champion, meaning ethics, responsibility and sustainability are embedded across the curriculum. That perspective shapes how economics is taught here, helping you develop the professional judgement, strategic awareness and ethical confidence required to progress in a complex global business environment.

  • EQUIS logo
  • AACSB-Logo
  • AMBA logo
  • PRME Champions Logo

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

In your final semester you will take on a major project, giving you a fantastic opportunity to use the theories and knowledge you have gained to produce a challenging, meaningful piece of work.

Choose one project from:

As an MSc Economics student, you will benefit from a membership with the Society of Professional Economists. The Society of Professional Economists (SPE) is the leading organisation serving professional economists in the UK. The SPE has more than 650 members, drawn from all areas of the profession including finance and commerce, industry, government departments, private sector consultants, business schools and universities.

By becoming a member you will gain access to a wide network of professional economists, providing an excellent means of establishing contact with other leading economists in your own field and in other areas. This network is not confined to the UK; the Society has overseas members and links with similar associations in other countries in Western Europe and in North America.

Beyond your core curriculum and comprehensive career support, you'll have access to a vibrant CPD programme. This includes your Personal Development Week, Global Responsibility Week, and events and workshops including our Business Leaders’ Lecture Series. You'll also have the chance to participate in national and international business challenges, industry talks, field trips, and company visits. We encourage you to get involved in sports, clubs, societies, volunteering, and apply for roles like course rep or student ambassador. These opportunities are designed to enhance your experience, help you thrive in the job market, and support your personal growth.

If you opt for the two year route you can add a year’s work placement onto your course. It’s a great way to put your learning into practice and gain valuable real-world experience to help boost your career prospects once graduating.

Your placement year will last up to 48 weeks (minimum 36 weeks). If you are unable to take a full year's placement, but have completed the minimum 36 weeks you can qualify for a Placement Diploma in Industrial Experience.

Please note that placements are not guaranteed and you will need to work hard in securing one during your first semester. We have a dedicated Employability team who are here to help and support you during the placement process with CV writing, creating a LinkedIn page, interview tips, where to search for a placement etc. You can visit the Employability team’s page for further information.

Placements are only available for students beginning their studies in September.

Please contact us through Ask NTU if you have any questions about securing placements.

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Student experience

  • Fardia

    Farida Hammanjoda

    Economics student

    “Nottingham Business School provides the applied consultancy project, which is a key part of the program and this is what makes NBS unique from other business schools.”

    Read Farida's profile
  • Sangjat Dakok

    Sangjat Dakok

    Economics student

    “The MSc Economics degree exposed me to the use of software and its importance for economic planning and modelling purposes.”

    Read Sangjat's profile
  • Anshuman Das

    Anshuman Das

    Economics student

    “NTU stood out for its emphasis on combining rigorous economic theory with real-world data analysis, policy evaluation and professional skills, which closely matched my career ambitions.”

    Read Anshuman's profile

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How you're taught

At Nottingham Business School, postgraduate study turns advanced knowledge into confident action. Every course follows the same cycle. Learn a concept, apply it to a live problem, observe what happens, then reflect on how to do it better next time. It shapes how modules are built, how sessions run, and how you're assessed.

Put ideas into action

Learn by doing and be assessed on it too. Live projects and company visits put real organisations in front of you throughout your course. In Semester 3, you’ll take on a Consultancy Experience Project for a real business — a live brief you manage from scoping to delivery. Beyond the course structure, there's opportunities to compete in business competitions, hackathons and international collaborative projects and, on many courses, a placement opportunity in Year Two.

Assessment follows the same logic. There's a strong focus on authentic assessment throughout with reports, financial analyses, presentations and research projects that mirror what you'd actually produce in a role.

Make it your own

You'll be paired with an Academic Mentor from the start of your course, providing personalised support and guidance as you progress towards your academic and career goals. Alongside that, you’ll build a personalised development plan tailored to your goals, choose from a range of specialisations within your discipline, and the opportunity to connect with an industry mentor through our alumni network.

Semester 1 opens with off-site team building and leadership development — a deliberate reset before your course gets underway. From there, our careers team runs jobs fairs and ongoing support throughout the year. If you're building something of your own, NTU Enterprise provides dedicated support for postgraduate entrepreneurs.

Be ready for what's next

AI and technology skills are embedded throughout your course, alongside the other capabilities your sector will expect of you next. A dedicated Personal Development Week and an extensive Continuing Professional Development programme — covering skills, careers and employer presentations — run throughout the year, alongside Global Responsibility Week.

You'll also hear directly from the people setting the agenda: our Business Leaders Lecture Series and Podcast bring in leaders from organisations like Google, BBC, Rolls-Royce and Boots to share their insights and advice with you. Many of our courses carry professional body accreditations, with associated memberships and exemptions across marketing, finance, HR and project management.

Support for international students

In-sessional English language classes are available to all international students, at no extra cost. They focus on the language skills specific to your subject area — not generic English lessons, but support built around the way you'll actually need to read, write and present in a business context.

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Usually around 40 of those hours will be taught in interactive workshops. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Who will teach you?

Entry requirements

UK students

One year

  • You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.2 or above)*

Two years

  • You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above)*

International students

One year

  • You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.2 or above) in a related subject. See below*

Two years

  • You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above) in a related subject. See below*

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.
  • Full-time - £12,350 per year
  • Full-time with placement year - £12,350 + £1,905 for placement year

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. See which courses are eligible for scholarships.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Postgraduate loans

There is a government postgraduate loan scheme for Masters degrees. The loan contributes towards costs of study, and students can put it towards tuition fees, maintenance costs or other costs at their discretion. Find out more about postgraduate loans.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.
  • Full-time - £21,150
  • Full-time with placement year - £21,150 + £1,905 for placement year

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. See which courses are eligible for scholarships.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money, the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Each module includes a tailored resource list linking you directly to all of the books, articles, and other research materials you need, making it easy to access key resources anytime, anywhere. The NTU Library provides access to a wide range of books, eBooks, reports, and other materials, meaning the majority of what you need is available at no extra cost. You can purchase your own textbooks, and there are many options available, from well known book sellers, through to second hand copies from previous students.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Study tours and field trips - Economics

Your fee will include:

  • A day-long off-site programme at the start of the course, usually in the Peak District National Park. All travel, food and equipment are included.
  • Some social activities. Please note a small charge may be made to guarantee places at these activities.

Professional body membership and subscriptions - Economics

Your fee includes student membership of the Society of Professional Economists for the duration of your programme.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

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Cost of living in Nottingham
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Our student benefits and free services
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Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

At Nottingham Business School, we’re focused on your employability from the start of your postgraduate degree. We provide you with a learning experience that integrates theory and practice.

Graduates from this course have gone onto roles within the public, private and third sector, undertaking positions such as:

  • Consultant
  • Economic Researcher
  • Investor Relations Manager
  • Banking Supervisor
  • Financial Analyst

Employability Team

We have a dedicated Employability Team who not only help you during your time with us but also following graduation, they’ll continue to support you by providing several services that will help kick-start your career. They also offer a wide range of support - from one-to-one appointments with our specially trained consultants to arranging recruitment fairs and skill building workshops.

Other services they provide include:

  • Finding placements, internships and part-time work
  • Helping you to pursue self-employment
  • Advice on taking gap years and time out
  • Information and help on getting into volunteering
  • Providing advice on further study.

As a student you will have access to our virtual learning environment, where you will be able to get in touch with our Employability team for CV support, application, interview and job hunting advice, career ideas and employer videos.

You can visit the Employability Team on your local campus every day during term time. They are also open outside of term time too, except on University closure days. So drop in, say hello, and get help with quick enquiries or book an appointment with a careers consultant from your school.

If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course. Visit our careers and employability for more information.

  • Employability Promise

    Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

  • Assessed work-like experience

    We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

  • NTU Enterprise

    If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

You’ll mainly be studying in our brand-new Postgraduate Centre, at the heart of our vibrant City Campus. Designed to support collaborative study, there’s a range of accessible teaching spaces, state-of-the-art technology, breakout areas, quiet work booths and a communal café. You can access dedicated market research reporting platforms and digital resources (e.g. Mintel, Passport, SPSS, and Adobe Creative Cloud) and a room equipped with Bloomberg terminals, which enables you to delve into industry-leading data, news and analytics.

NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to keep occupied between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our superb Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets catering to every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and so much more!

If that’s not enough, just take a few steps off campus, and you’ll find yourself in the beating heart of Nottingham — one of the UK’s top 10 student cities, and one of the top 25 in all of Europe. It’s a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

Applying

UK students

Ready to join us? Apply through our NTU Applicant Portal.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

Don’t worry if you’re waiting for results – we recommend applying now, and then adding them to your Application Portal once they arrive.

Apply now

International students

Ready to join us? Apply through our NTU Applicant Portal.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply now

Personal statement guidance

When you apply to NTU, we’ll ask you to submit a personal statement – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

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