The MSc Economic History provides a historical and interdisciplinary perspective on important economic problems such as the causes of long-run economic development, the expansion of businesses and financial markets, the role of the government in the economy and the origins of globalization.
You will be able to choose from a wide range of elective courses in economic history, allowing you to compile a programme according to your interests and career goals. You will also complete a dissertation on an approved topic of your choice.
Economic history combines the skills of the economist and statistician with those of the historian, political scientist and sociologist. The programme provides a broad training in social science research methods and their application to historical study, including the role of theory, evaluation, analysis and explanation, quantitative techniques and computing, the use of sources and presentational skills.
Teaching and Learning
The degree is a twelve month programme, consisting of one compulsory half-unit, a compulsory dissertation (half or full unit), and optional courses to the value of two and a half or three units selected from the prescribed list, which must include at least one of our advanced survey courses on modern or pre-modern economic history.
Student Profile
The programme is addressed at those who have studied history, economics or any related discipline or social science at the first degree level.
You will leave the programme with a portfolio of highly transferable skills that can be applied across a wide variety of employment sectors. This rigorous academic training is designed to be especially valuable to those who intend to pursue careers in the public service, finance, industry, commerce, education, the media or law.
Handbook
The MSc Economic History Handbook is available here.
Programme Structure
Full-year programme. Students must take compulsory courses to the value of 1.5 units, and either optional courses to the value of two units and a half-unit dissertation, or optional courses to the value of 1.5 units and a full unit dissertation.
(H= Half unit)
(N/A = not available)
Course videos can be found here.
Paper 1
EH401 Historical Analysis of Economic Change (H)
Paper 2: Choose from
EH482 The Origins of the World Economy: Europe and Asia, 1000-1800 or
EH483 The Development and Integration of the World Economy in the 19th and 20th centuries
Paper 3 and 4
EH498 Dissertation (H) and courses to the value of two full units from the papers listed below*
EH499 Research Dissertation and courses to the value of 1.5 units from the papers listed below:
EH402 Quantitative Analysis in Economic History I(H)
EH404 India and the World Economy (H)
EH409 Chinese Economic History: Culture, Institutions and Economic Growth (H)
EH413 African Economic Development in Historical Perspective (H)
EH421 Economic History of Colonialism (H)
EH423 Japan and Korea as Developing Economies (H) (n/a 22-23)
EH426L Quantitative Analysis in Economic History II (H)
EH426M Quantitative Analysis in Economic History II (H) (n/a 22-23)
EH427 Topics in Quantitative Analysis in Economic History (H)
EH428 History of Economics: Making Political Economy into a Social Science (H) (n/a 22-23)
EH429 History of Economics: Ideas, Policy and Performativity (H)
EH430 Monetary and Financial History
EH431 Women in Economic History (H) New in 22-23
EH432 Economic History and Geography: Advanced Topics and Methods (H) New in 22-23 (guide to be avilable shortly)
EH436 Economic History of the Early Modern New World (The Americas) (H) (n/a 22-23)
EH446 Economic Development of East and Southeast Asia
EH452 Latin American Development and Economic History (H) (n/a 22-23)
EH454 Human Health in History (n/a 22-23)
EH457 Living Standards since the Industrial Revolution: The British Experience c.1750-2000 (H)
EH463 The Long-Run Analysis of Firms and Industries (H)
EH476 The Economic History of War (n/a 22-23)
EH482 The Origins of the World Economy: Europe and Asia, 1000-1800 (if not taken under paper 2)
EH483 The Development and Integration of the World Economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries (if not taken under paper 2)
EH486 Shipping and Sea Power in Asian Waters, c1600-1860 (H) (n/a 22-23)
LL4CB Modern Legal History: Private Law and the Economy 1750-1950 (H) (n/a 20-21)
EC465 Economic Growth, Development, and Capitalism in Historical Perspective‡
* With the approval of their academic adviser, students may request to take EH499 (Dissertation: MSc Economic History) and courses to the value of 1.5 units from the papers 3 and 4 options list, instead of taking EH498.
‡ Any student wishing to take EC465 must successfully complete EC400