MSc Economics

Taught by eminent leaders in the economics field, 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 has a strong mathematical focus. You’ll study the core elements of economic theory and econometrics, both micro and macro. By the end of the programme, you’ll have the analytical and problem-solving skills to understand and tackle complex economic issues.

This programme opens the doors to a variety of interesting and stimulating careers in government, central banking, international organisations, economic consultancies and the private sector, as well as PhD study at leading universities.

Note: Students who haven’t previously studied economic theory and quantitative techniques but have strong quantitative skills may consider applying to our two-year MSc Economics.

• 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

GRE is required for applicants without a UK undergraduate degree in economics. This must be no more than five years old on 1 October 2025, and must include full and percentile test 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 candidates to score at least 161 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 is not English, the verbal test will be more demanding and we view your score on that basis.

More information about GRE/GMAT

LSE is home to one of the top economics departments in the world, with expertise across the full spectrum of mainstream economics.

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 economic policy at a national and international level and 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
• 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.

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.

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

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others.

Summative assessment may be conducted during the course and/or by final examination at the end of the course. You have the advantage of being assessed both after the end of the first term (Winter Term Week 0 January exams) and after the end of the second term (Spring Term main exam 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.