MA Financial Economics

Choose Kingston’s Financial Economics MA

The Financial Economics MA offers an opportunity to develop the key analytical skills necessary for carrying out research on contemporary issues in financial economics. Students master the tools used for the financing of individual companies – derivatives, investment appraisal and risk management, and also study in depth financial issues affecting the broader economic environment – crises and bubbles in the international economy and financial innovation. Expertise in an applied area of financial economics is highly valued for employment in banks, insurance companies and other financial sector institutions, for firms dealing with the reporting and evaluation of financial information, and domestic and international regulatory agencies focusing on the financial sector.

The Financial Economics MA aims to:

• develop your knowledge of a range of key analytical skills relevant to study and research into the workings of the financial sector.
• develop a mastery of fundamental principles of macroeconomic and microeconomic theory.
• enable you to develop an understanding of the use of applied tools in econometrics and economic policy.
• provide you with an opportunity to develop a deep familiarity with major issues in economic history and economic thought since the early modern period.

Our masters courses specifically address the typical requirements of those employed as economists in business or government – clear, lucid communication rather than highly technical analysis.

What will you study?

The Financial Economics MA will enable you to master the core range of economic analysis, key analytical skills and empirical background necessary to pursue advanced level research into contemporary issues in financial economics. You will receive thorough grounding in macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis, applied econometrics, a range of approaches for dealing with economic policy issues, and the long term historical and conceptual context of the contemporary issues and debates taking place in economics as a general discipline.

In the Financial Economics module you will acquire advanced knowledge of both the microeconomic aspects of the discipline (eg corporate finance) and the broader macroeconomic issues surrounding financial innovation and systemic instability.

The Financial Economics MA is one of a suite of MA degrees in economics at Kingston University that are focused on giving graduates the ability to analyse real-world problems and generate solutions to these. You will develop the ability to make a critical evaluation of economic policies and the theories and research that underpin them and gain the ability to write and communicate on economic topics at an advanced level, within your chosen area of specialisation.

All MA economics courses share modules dealing with core aspects of macroeconomic and microeconomic theory, applied econometrics and economic policy at an advanced level. Comprehension and evaluation of a range of contrasting economic models will form an important part of your study, but in addition you will develop skills in using economic models and in applying economic analysis to formulating, implementing and criticising policy. You will be encouraged to develop theoretical and applied economic knowledge and understanding within your specific sphere of interest.

The dissertation is the culmination of the degree, and will provide you with the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate mastery of the financial economics specialisation; you will produce in depth research into a contemporary issue concerning a microeconomic or macroeconomic aspect of financial economics and work with a member of the Department of Economics specialising in and research active in the field of finance.

Research areas

The Department of Economics is actively involved in research on questions of deep current concern, including macroeconomic instability, employment policy, financial regulation, and issues surrounding government intervention. Students will benefit from the active involvement of members of the Department in research projects for international economic organisations and think tanks.

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