NUI Galway - Economic Science

Course Overview/Contact:

The Higher Diploma in Economic Science is an intensive and challenging two-semester taught programme in core economic theory and methods. In addition, a variety of specialist options are provided. It is mainly intended for those aiming for entry to a Master’s degree programme but who have not yet studied economics in sufficient depth for direct entry. It is attractive to those with scientific and engineering backgrounds, as well as humanities, business and social sciences graduates.

Career Opportunities:

Successful graduates, who typically go on to take a Master’s in Economics degree, build a variety of careers in private and public sectors, ranging from analyst work in financial services and health sectors, to public sector and consulting roles in economic analysis.

Such companies as: Sustainable Energy Ireland; and in government departments and agencies, financial services companies—including consulting.

Programme Content:

You will take one of two streams, depending on the level of economics you have previously encountered. Both streams include courses in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, as well as statistical/econometric or mathematical methods in economics. You will also have a choice from a range of elective modules, usually including the History of Economic Thought, the Economics of Money and Banking/Financial Economics, the Economics of Health, Environmental Economics, Irish Economic History, Public Economics, and Development Economics (the precise electives available may vary from year to year). In this way, you can build on your core knowledge and develop specialist interests, in many cases aligned with your intended area of focus within economics.

Students work on a supervised research paper in economics over two semesters (ending in May), providing a further opportunity to focus on areas of particular interest aligned with their career ambitions.

Entry Requirements & Assessment:

An honours primary degree either with some economics modules or modules of a quantitative/mathematical/statistical nature.

Assessment is typically by way of a combination of end-of-semester written examinations and continuous assessment components, in particular, term papers and project work.

Find out More

Dr Aidan Kane
T: +353 91 492 530
E: aidan.kane@nuigalway.ie