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Postgraduate Taught

MRes Economics (Pathway to PhD)

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code 1234
Duration 2 years full time
Entry year 2025
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Economics
Contact

Web: Enquire online
Phone (UK):
0300 555 6060
Phone (International):
+44 (0)1392 723044

Programme Director: Professor Surajeet Chakravarty

Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A good 2:1 (65%+) degree with honours in an Economics or related discipline.

Contextual offers

Overview

  • The MRes Economics (Pathway to PhD) is a two-year programme that provides the foundations for conducting modern research in economics. It is intended for anyone wishing to progress onto a PhD in economics or another related social science.
  • In the first year you will learn core economic models, econometric techniques and research methods.
  • In the second year you will specialise in modules covering advanced topics in the fields of econometric theory, empirical economics, microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory. The list of topics includes auctions, computational economics, education, fiscal policy, gender, health, human development, inequality, labour supply, machine learning, networks, sexual orientation, taxation, and voting.
  • By the end of the second year you will have acquired the tools to write an MRes dissertation. The MRes dissertation, which will be supervised by one member of our academic staff, will enable you to apply your research skills and develop an in-depth knowledge in your chosen field.
  • Following successful completion of your MRes you will then progress onto our three-year PhD Economics programme at University of Exeter. You will receive guidance from our internationally respected academic staff for progressing onto our PhD Economics programme.
Apply for Sept 2025 entry

Apply online

View 2024 Entry

Fast Track (current Exeter students)

Open days and visiting us

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Contact

Programme Director: Professor Sanchari Roy

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

A Day in the Life - Postgraduate at the University of Exeter.

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Business School of the Year

Times Higher Education Awards 2022

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Triple accredited Business School

AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

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Top 20 in the UK for world-leading research in Economics and Econometrics

Research Excellence Framework 2021

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More than 91% of our research outputs in Economics and Econometrics are internationally excellent

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Trophy icon

Business School of the Year

Times Higher Education Awards 2022

Rosette with tick in icon

Triple accredited Business School

AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

Top 20 icon

Top 20 in the UK for world-leading research in Economics and Econometrics

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Rosette icon

More than 91% of our research outputs in Economics and Econometrics are internationally excellent

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Entry requirements

A 2:1 degree with honours in Economics or related discipline. Evidence of mathematical/quantitative ability is required. Degrees in Mathematics, Engineering, Physics or Statistics are also considered.

We do consider all applications where there is evidence of exceptional performance in modules relevant to the programme of study.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their (quantitative reasoning) GRE scores.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

During the programme students will study 9 mandatory modules (including the MRes dissertation) and 2 (out of 3) sequences of optional modules totalling 240 credits. Each module other than the dissertation consists of 15 credits. The research dissertation amounts to 60 credits.

Students will also participate in the weekly graduate workshop and departmental seminar, where research is presented by graduate students and faculty members, respectively. In addition, they will also be encouraged to attend reading groups organised by faculty members in different relevant topics, from machine learning to price theory.

Modules

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
MRes Economics S1 term 1 modules
BEEM136 Research Methods I 15
BEEM137 Microeconomic Theory I 15
BEEM138 Macroeconomic Theory I 15
BEEM139 Econometric Theory I 15
MRes Economics S1 term 2 modules
BEEM140 Microeconomic Theory II 15
BEEM141 Macroeconomic Theory II 15
BEEM142 Econometric Theory II 15
BEEM143 Research Methods II 15

60 credits of compulsory modules and 60 credits of optional modules

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
BEEM150 Dissertation 60

Optional modules

CodeModule Credits
MRes Economics S2 term 1 modules
BEEM144 Topics in Microeconomic Theory I 15
BEEM145 Topics in Macroeconomic Theory I 15
BEEM146 Topics in Empirical Economics I 15
MRes Economics S2 term 2 modules
BEEM147 Topics in Microeconomic Theory II 15
BEEM148 Topics in Macroeconomic Theory II 15
BEEM149 Topics in Empirical Economics II 15

Fees

2025/26 entry

UK fees per year:

£6,900 full-time

International fees per year:

£15,900 full-time

Scholarships

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Teaching and research

Assessment

Assessments will be conducted via problem sets, midterm exams, final exams, presentations, and an MRes dissertation.

Supervision

Students will be assigned an academic tutor and a pastoral tutor from the first day of their MRes.  During the MRes period you will have the opportunity to meet and discuss your research interests with academic staff to help ensure you have the best possible match with your supervisor for your PhD.

Progression to PhD

Although the MRes Economics (Pathway to PhD) can be studied as a two-year standalone programme, it is intended as a pathway to PhD.

Progression on to the PhD is subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the PhD. This includes (1) successful completion of the MRes (achieving at least an average of 60% across all modules and at least 65% in the Dissertation) and (2) the identification of a member of academic staff in the Department of Economics who has agreed to be your PhD supervisor.

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After the programme

The MRes programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to carry out PhD level research and subject to meeting the entry criteria you will be able to progress onto our PhD Economics programme.

Upon completion of your PhD, you will be well equipped to conduct top-notch research and pursue careers in academia, government or consultancy.

Recent placements of our graduating students include assistant professorships and lectureships at places like Lancaster University, University of Manchester, Warwick University and Xiamen University. Others have taken post-doctoral positions at places like FAU-Erlangen-Nuremberg and University of Innsbruck.

Recent research conducted by our graduating students during their doctoral studies or immediately after finishing their doctoral studies has been published in top international Economics journals such as Experimental Economics, the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, and the Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control. For instance, one of our recent graduates, Lorenz Hartmann has a paper forthcoming in Econometrica: "Savage’s P3 is Redundant

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