MSc Economics

Taught by eminent scholars in the full range of economics fields, this one-year master’s degree attracts high-calibre students from across the globe. It's aimed mainly at those with a strong undergraduate degree in economics and a solid quantitative background.

The programme balances the academic rigour of a strong mathematical focus with exposure to industry and research-relevant applied methods and techniques, thus preparing students for a broad range of careers in industry, as well as for further academic research. The flexibility to select from a range of optional field courses, including the opportunity to write a research paper, allows you to tailor aspects of your studies to your academic interests and career aspirations.

You’ll take core courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics and econometrics, as well as one field option, creating a solid foundation of economic theory and methods. You’ll also take the Applied Economics core course, which explores how economists go about answering real-world questions and develop tangible, practical skills relevant to professional work, predoctoral positions and PhD study. By the end of the programme, you’ll have developed analytical and applied skills, needed to understand and tackle complex economic issues.

Our graduates pursue careers in areas including government, central banking, international organisations, economic consultancies and the private sector, as well as further academic study.

• Chapters 1–14 Simon and Blume, Mathematics for Economists, Norton, 1994
• Chapters 1–5 and 9–13 of E T Dowling, Schaum’s Outline of Theory and Problems of Mathematical Methods for Business and Economics, McGraw Hill, 1993
• Chiang and K Wainwright, Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, McGraw-Hill, 2005
• R J Larson, M L Marx, Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and its Applications, 4th edn, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 2006
• J H Stock and M W Watson, Introduction to Econometrics, 3th edn, Chapters 17 and 18, Pearson, 2011
• J Wooldridge, Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach, 5th edn, Chapters 2, 3 and 4, South-Western Cengage Learning, 2012

GRE/GMAT requirement

If you don’t hold a UK undergraduate degree in economics, we require you to take the GRE. Your test must be no more than five years old on 1 October 2027 and must include your full and percentile scores for all three sections.

We don't require a specific mark, but the test gives us an indication of aptitude for economics. Typically, we expect a score of at least 164 in the quantitative section of the test. A higher score will count in your favour, but other information, such as examination results and references will also matter in the overall evaluation.

We recognise that if your first language isn't English, the verbal test will be more demanding and we view your score on that basis.

More information about GRE/GMAT

In Autumn Term, you’ll take three half-unit core courses: EC4A1 Microeconomics, EC4B1 Macroeconomics and EC4C1 Econometrics. These courses provide foundations in economic theory and econometric methods.

In Winter Term, you’ll take the half-unit core course EC4P1 Applied Economics, which will help you develop skills to apply your economics knowledge in industry, policymaking or research settings.

Alongside your core courses, you can tailor the MSc Economics to your academic and professional interests by choosing from a range of optional courses.

If you’re interested in pursuing a PhD in Economics, you can choose advanced courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics or econometrics in Winter Term and/or write a Research Paper. If you’re interested in careers in areas such as consulting, finance, central banking, government or international organisations, you can choose optional courses relevant to your interests.

In total, you’ll select four half-unit optional courses to the value of two units, corresponding to 50 per cent of the degree. A maximum of two half units, corresponding to 25 per cent of the degree, can be taken from outside economics, for example courses offered by the Department of Finance or Department of Geography and Environment.

Please note: 10-month master’s programmes don't comply with the Bologna Process, which may affect the extent to which your qualification is "recognised". Read more about the LSE master’s degrees and the Bologna Process.

LSE is home to one of the top economics departments in the world, with expertise across the full spectrum of mainstream economics. We're ranked 6th in the world for the study of economics and econometrics, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

Our academics and researchers are working at the frontiers of developments in the field and our research has a global impact. Over the past 50 years, this research has influenced almost every major intellectual development within the discipline.

As a department, our academics advise governments and central banks, aid agencies, and private-sector organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world. Our research insights help tackle global challenges such as economic instability, inequality and climate change, often catalysing profound policy shifts.

Past and present faculty members have shaped, and continue to shape, economic policy at a national and international level, whilst our teaching staff have included a former Bank of England governor and Chief Economist to the World Bank. We count nine Nobel Prize winners among our current and former staff and students.

Within the department, we offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as doctoral training in economics. Our alumni find high-earning and rewarding roles in government, international institutions, business and finance.

Learn more about our programmes and research.

Department of Economics

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose (see below for a list of questions)
• two academic references
• CV
• GRE/GMAT.

See further information on supporting documents and check if you're exempt from taking the GRE/GMAT.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Statement of Academic Purpose

In your Statement of Academic Purpose, you should only answer the following questions.

You don't need to include an introductory paragraph. Please write no more than 200 words for each question, clearly explaining your motivation for applying to the programme.

1. What are your reasons for applying to the MSc programme(s) you've chosen?
2. What is your favourite topic/model/paper in economics and what do you like about it?
3. What are your career goals (eg, academic, industry, consulting, etc)?
4. Are there any significant issues relevant to your application that merit further explanation, eg, time off from studies for medical or other reasons, displacement, long-term caring responsibilities, taking time off to reassess study/work paths? Please elaborate, or state “NONE”.
5. Are there any exceptional circumstances you'd like to bring to the attention of the Selection Committee that have impacted your academic record? Please elaborate, or state “NONE”.

Choosing the right programme and the application process

When making your programme choices, select the programme that best aligns with your academic interests and future aspirations:

1. If you haven't previously studied the level of economic theory and quantitative techniques required for the MSc Economics, but have strong quantitative skills, you may wish to consider applying for the MSc Economics (two-year programme).
2. If you're aiming for a career as an economist in the public, private or international sectors, or in finance or technology, while retaining the flexibility to pursue a PhD in the future, this programme, MSc Economics, may be the more appropriate choice.
3. If you have a firm intention to pursue a PhD, we advise you to consider the MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics.

You should not apply to both this programme, MSc Economics, and the MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics. Your application may still be considered for both programmes even if you only apply to one of them.

If your application for this programme, MSc Economics, is unsuccessful, you may conclude it's also unsuitable for the MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics.

Please note that academic selectors may, where appropriate, offer you a place on a programme other than the one you originally applied for, if they consider it to be a better fit for you.

When assessing your application, selectors consider both your programme preference and your aptitude, as evidenced in your application documents.

If you're successful, you may receive an offer for your chosen programme, an alternative programme, or may even be invited to choose between the two.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

Tuition fee deposit

If you’re made an offer, we’ll ask you to pay a tuition fee deposit, normally 10 per cent of the published tuition fee. Paying the deposit by the specified deadline will secure your place on the programme, subject to meeting the other conditions of your offer.

Your payment deadline will usually be the earlier of six weeks after the date of your offer or 20 days before the formal start date of the programme.

Tuition fee deposits are generally non-refundable, although refunds may be available in the circumstances set out in LSE’s Tuition Fee Policy for your year of entry. Your offer letter and other correspondence from the School will also provide information about how to pay and the circumstances in which a payment deadline extension or exemption from the deposit requirement may be considered.

Find out more about tuition fee deposits.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

Tuition fee deposit

If you’re made an offer, we’ll ask you to pay a tuition fee deposit, normally 10 per cent of the published tuition fee. Paying the deposit by the specified deadline will secure your place on the programme, subject to meeting the other conditions of your offer.

Your payment deadline will usually be the earlier of six weeks after the date of your offer or 20 days before the formal start date of the programme.

Tuition fee deposits are generally non-refundable, although refunds may be available in the circumstances set out in LSE’s Tuition Fee Policy for your year of entry. Your offer letter and other correspondence from the School will also provide information about how to pay and the circumstances in which a payment deadline extension or exemption from the deposit requirement may be considered.

Find out more about tuition fee deposits.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework. You’ll receive feedback on this work, but it doesn’t count towards your course mark or degree award. Formative coursework is developmental in nature — it's designed to help you prepare for summative assessment, which does count towards your course mark and degree award.

Summative assessment may be conducted during the course (eg, projects or continuous assessment) and/or by final examination at the end of the course. Autumn Term core courses are assessed during the January examination period (Winter Term, Week 0). Examinations for option courses take place after the end of Winter Term, during the Spring Term examination period.

An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Our former students are employed as economists in a wide range of national and international organisations in government, international institutions, business and finance. In recent years, our graduates have gained employment in organisations such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, NERA Economic Consulting, PwC, Deloitte, Compass Lexecon, McKinsey, IMF, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Bundesbank, Bank of England, and HM Treasury.

Approximately one third of students proceed to PhD programmes at LSE or other leading universities. In recent years, our MSc in Economics students have been placed at MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Columbia, Yale, NYU, Northwestern, Penn, MIT Sloan, UCLA, Wisconsin-Madison, Cornell and many other top PhD programmes around the world.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.