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    MSc
    2024 start September 

    Financial Economics

    Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences

    Specialise in financial economics and managing assets. With our flexible course you can choose other finance or economic modules.
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    Course description

    This course enables you to specialise in financial economics and managing assets while giving you the option to choose other finance or economic modules.

    It will prepare you for a career in financial corporations and government bodies involved with stock markets.

    Modules

    A selection of modules are available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.

    Core modules:

    Microeconomic Analysis

    Microeconomics is concerned with the behaviour of individuals, households and firms, and their interactions. This module aims to develop the skills you will require to analyse microeconomic problems and theories and to provide an introduction to advanced microeconomics. You will use mathematical and quantitative analysis to analyse topics such as consumer theory, risk and uncertainty, and intertemporal choice. In addition, this module will further develop your skills of critical evaluation and appraisal in the context of advanced microeconomic theory.

    15 credits
    Macroeconomic Analysis

    Macroeconomics concerns the behaviour of the economy as a whole. In this module you will develop a coherent framework for understanding macroeconomics building on microeconomic foundations. The module will analyse the source of business cycle fluctuations, the aims of monetary policy in advanced economies, including the design of optimal monetary policy. It will also provide an advanced understanding of fiscal policy and debt dynamics. You will be introduced to the concept of financial frictions in the context of the last financial crisis, and gain an understanding of the aims and challenges faced by monetary policy makers.

    15 credits
    Econometric Methods

    This module will develop your core econometrics skills. The first half of the module provides a grounding in key econometric techniques covering elements such as the classical linear regression model, hypothesis testing and problems of non-spherical disturbances. More advanced topics are then introduced in the second half of the module. Specifically you will focus upon topics in microeconometrics: including modelling discrete binary variables; censoring and sample selection, and then topics in macroeconometrics including: economic forecasting; stationarity; and cointegration. You will also develop a knowledge of using econometric software Stata.

    15 credits
    Modern Finance

    This module will introduce you to some of the key concepts and methods in modern finance. This is an analytical module, which reflects the quantitative nature of the subject and in which each topic is developed from first principles. The module will cover the theoretical foundations of investor choice and portfolio selection based on utility theory, using these to provide a rigorous foundation for the Capital Asset Pricing Model. You will then examine some of the empirical issues that arise in the practical use of the theory.

    15 credits

    The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

    Open days

    An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.

    Find out what makes us special at our next online open day on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

    You may also be able to pre-book a department visit as part of a campus tour.Open days and campus tours

    Duration

    1 year full-time

    Department

    Department of Economics

    We have an international reputation for practical and real-world economics.

    You'll be taught by some of the top economic experts in their field and you'll receive the latest cutting-edge teaching from people who care passionately about their subject.

    Our staff advise government departments in the UK such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Education, as well as advisory bodies such as the Low Pay Commission. Their research helps shape government policies and aims to improve people's lives. This research also informs what you will be taught in your modules.

    Our graduates are in demand by some of the country's top economics employers such as the Bank of England, PwC, IBM and HM Treasury.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in economics or a related subject with a strong emphasis on macroeconomics, microeconomics, mathematics and statistics.

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.

    Pathway programme for international students

    If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.

    Apply

    You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

    Apply now

    Contact

    economics-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk
    +44 114 222 3456

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.