Economics for Business and Policy
MSc
Funded places available
If you meet all eligibility requirements you will automatically be considered for one of the fully funded places.
Introduction
This course will develop your knowledge and analytical skills for a successful career as a business and policy analyst in the public, private or non-profit sectors. You’ll learn about interactions between international institutions, governments and households and develop an appreciation of the insights that economic analysis can bring to business and policy.
You’ll develop skills in decision making and critical analysis. The course also develops your skills in evaluating business performance, management styles, official statistics, public, social and macroeconomic policies and their effect on businesses and households. The course is aimed at students from a variety of backgrounds, including those with no previous training in this area.
The course offers excellent links with industry and policy think tanks built on our strong engagement with businesses, past and current research projects as well as our ties with the Behavioural Science Centre, Centre for Sustainable Practice and Living (CSPL) and The Centre for Constitutional Change.
We work with organisations across the business landscape, from Wood Mackenzie and ScottishPower through to Zero Waste Scotland and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. You’ll get to know the markets and environments these organisations work in through a mix of site visits, guest lectures and your consultancy project developed with public, private and non-profit sector organisations.
Research led—our strong links with industry and think tanks makes our economist postgraduates among the most employable.
Real world thinking—this programme focuses on applying economic thinking to real world business and policy challenges.
Upgrade your skills—The programme is suitable for current private, public and non-profit sectors employees who want to give their career prospects a major boost.
Build on existing qualifications—gives business, management, psychology and sociology undergraduates further expertise in areas such as data, business and public and social policy analytics.
Course objectives
The course reflects the applied research and consulting projects of our teaching staff, so you get access to the latest thinking on the most relevant developments in business and policy. These include fiscal policy, unemployment, family, environment, public health, and ageing.
The course has particular emphasis on:
- Current debates at macro and micro level. For example, the impact of Brexit on business, how can we prevent recessions, and how the national living wage can affect businesses and welfare.
- Situations in which markets do not function properly, and justifications for public intervention.
- The role and function of the firm and its relationship with employees and society as a whole.
- Good working knowledge of techniques that support robust business and management analysis, performance and decision making.
What makes us different?
Developing Leaders of the Future
Our postgraduate education goes beyond textbooks and lecture rooms by also focussing on personal and professional development.
Our unique Flying Start leadership programme equips students with the transferrable skills essential to building a successful career.
Top 25 in the UK for Business and Management Research
98% of Stirling postgraduate students go on to get a job or are in further study within six months of graduating
Business Engagement
The University of Stirling Management School equips students to flourish as effective managers in the workplace through enhanced self-awareness, critical thinking, leadership and team-working skills.
Employability
At the University of Stirling Management School, we are committed to ensuring that every single one of our students realise their potential.
The graduate job market has never been more competitive, and greater focus is now being placed on finding graduates who can demonstrate a wide array of skills, competences and experiences.
World-class library and teaching facilities
Studying for a degree means learning in different ways; managing your own time; conducting research; mastering new computer skills. We have the facilities and advice on hand to help you do all this - and do it well.
Life at Stirling
Of the many reasons students come to Stirling, such as academic reputation and research standards, one factor is always cited: the outstanding beauty of the University's Stirling campus. View our online films to get a picture of what it's like to live and study on our beautiful campus.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
Academic requirements
You’ll need a minimum of a second class honours degree or an equivalent qualification. However, you can still apply if you don’t have these formal qualifications, but bring significant and relevant work experience.
INTO University of Stirling offers a Graduate Diploma for students who don’t meet the required criteria for this course. If you successfully complete the Graduate Diploma in Business, Finance and Sport and meet the required progression grades, you will be guaranteed entry onto this Master's degree.
International students
The University of Stirling welcomes students from around the world. Find out what studying here could be like for you.
English language requirements
English language requirements
If English isn’t your first language, you must have one of these qualifications:
- IELTS: 6.0 with 5.5 minimum in each skill
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Grade C or above
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): Grade C or above
- Pearson Test of English (Academic): 54 with 51 in each component
- IBT TOEFL: 80 with no subtest less than 17
More information on English language requirements.
If you don’t meet the requirements, you might be able to attend one of our English courses before your main course begins.
More on English courses and how to register.
If you don’t meet the required score you may be able to register for one of our pre-sessional English courses. To register you must hold a conditional offer for your course and have an IELTS score 0.5 or 1.0 below the required standard. View our range of pre-sessional courses.
Flexible Learning
If you are interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email graduate.admissions@stir.ac.uk to discuss your course of study.
Fees and costs
| 2018/19 | Overseas | £15,250 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | Home/EU | £7,900 |
Fees for all new applicants to postgraduate taught courses are held at the level set upon entry.
Please note there is an additional charge should you choose to attend a graduation ceremony. View more information
Cost of Living
Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling
Payment options
Find information on paying fees by instalments
Scholarships & funding
SAAS Postgraduate Loans
The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) is now offering a generous loan scheme to assist eligible Scottish and EU-domiciled students pursuing a Masters at the University of Stirling during 2018/19. Find out more about SAAS Postgraduate Loans
Stirling Management School Postgraduate Scholarships
Stirling Management School invests in academically talented students, helping them to further their education with one of our degree courses. There are various categories of funding available to support the cost of your studies.
More on postgraduate scholarships
Other Scholarships and funding
You may qualify for University funding as well as funding from government bodies, the European Commission, funding trusts, research councils, industry and employers. View the University Scholarship Finder
Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan
This course is currently approved for PTFL (Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan) funding from SAAS.
Structure and teaching
Structure and content
The course reflects the applied research and consulting projects of our teaching staff, so you get access to the latest thinking on the most relevant developments in business and policy. These include fiscal policy, unemployment, family, environment, public health, and ageing.
Begin your new course in the best possible way, with our unique Flying Start Leadership programme.
This programme is exclusively for new students about to start one of our postgraduate courses. You’ll take part in activities, workshops and information sessions to help you prepare for the year ahead, and make the most of your time at Stirling.
Take part in the Flying Start Leadership programme and you will:
- Discover more about the exciting period of learning ahead
- Understand what is expected of you in your course
- Get to know the teaching and support staff
- Learn more about a diverse range of approaches to learning
- Work as part of a successful team
Activities range from practical skills – like effective public speaking – to developing ways to work under pressure in difficult situations and manage conflict. It’s also a chance to discover all that the University and the vibrant city of Stirling have to offer, and to make new friends.
Other learning activities to prepare you for study in the UK can be found at Prepare for Success, an interactive web learning tool for international students who are coming to the UK to study.
Delivery and assessment
You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures, masterclasses, small group sessions, and class presentations on policy and business issues. You’ll be asked to actively participate in a selection of Divisional seminars and workshops. Emphasis will be given to teamwork.
Assessment takes the form of an exam and coursework in each module. We give particular emphasis to presentations and policy or business report writing.
Modules
Modules
Semester 1
Semester 2 compulsory modules
Semester 2 elective modules
Choose any two from:
- Project Management
- Managing in Emerging Economies
- Innovation management
- Business consulting
- Managing change
Semester 3
Recommended reading
A comprehensive reading list will be available here in the near future.
Modes of study
Full time
Why Stirling?
REF2014
In REF2014 Stirling was placed 6th in Scotland and 45th in the UK with almost three quarters of research activity rated either world-leading or internationally excellent.
International Students
The University of Stirling welcomes students from around the world. Find out what studying here could be like for you .
Strengths
Our global reputation
We are ranked among the best universities in the world. Stirling is listed in the Times Higher Education’s ‘Top 200 most international universities in the world’ (2016 Edition), ‘150-under-50’ (2016 Edition), ‘Top 3 Universities for Graduate Employment in the UK’ (HESA, 2016 Edition), and Top 25 UK institutions for Business and Management in the last national audit (REF 2014).
Leading scholars in business and policy
You’ll engage with academics who have conducted outstanding research in the field of business and policy. This research feeds directly into the course material.
Unique, practical learning
Students will be immersed in the practical aspects of business and policy analysis, acquiring skills, knowledge and expertise by engaging with real-world organisations. These include large companies, small and medium enterprises, the public sector and NGOs.
Real-world experience
You’ll work on consultancy-style projects with external clients and engage with influential networks, such as Healthy Ageing in Scotland (HAGIS), the Behavioural Science Centre (BSC), Centre for Sustainable Practice and Living (CSPL) and The Centre for Constitutional Change .
Ideal atmosphere for a sustainable experience
The University of Stirling has one of the most beautiful and green campuses in the world and aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 38% by 2020. It’s also, ‘one of the safest in Britain’, according to The Complete University Ranking, 2017.
Networking opportunities
Many of our postgraduate students come from overseas. Studying at Stirling offers an excellent opportunity to establish your own global network of contacts at the outset of your career.
Careers and employability
Career opportunities
Economists are already among the most employable postgraduates and here at Stirling we take employability very seriously being ranked as the top University in Scotland for graduate employability, and in the top three in the UK. You will benefit from the excellent links with industry and policy think tanks offering a truly research-led course.
This new MSc is different to others as it places great emphasis on applying economic thinking to real world business and policy challenges.
The course is aimed at those who already work in both private, public and non-profit sectors and wish to upgrade their analytics skills for a successful career as a business, policy, energy analysts or official.
It is also aimed at those who want to build on their existing degree in business and management, but also psychology and sociology, by obtaining further expertise in areas such as data, business and public and social policy analytics (including health care, environment, energy).
Employability video
Business engagement video
Employability
The MSc will prepare students for a broad range of roles, including:
- Business analysts with large organisations in energy, transport, and healthcare sectors
- Officials in regulatory agencies
- Market and data analysts for multinational companies, charities, news and media
- Economists in investment banking and other bank departments
- Officials in international organisations such as the European Union, UNIDO, UNEP
- Economic, investment and management consultancies
- Analysts and Managers in non-profit organisations
- Local government and development agency officials
- Commercial Analysts and Financial Advisers
- Environment and Energy Analysts
- Health managers
- Business and corporate managers
- Research officers in think tanks
- Academic posts, such as research assistants/fellows and lecturers in university and research institutes