MSc
Economics and Finance

Key Information


Campus

Brayford Pool

Start Date

September 2025

Typical Offer

See More

Academic Year

Course Overview

MSc Economics and Finance at Lincoln aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in many of the key concepts, modelling approaches, and research methods deployed in current mainstream economics thinking, which also have important applications within finance.

Intended for graduates in economics-related subject areas who are looking for an advanced programme to enhance their career or explore further research opportunities, the course aims to fuse quantitative methods and advanced economic theory with relevant finance topics.

The course can provide students with the opportunity to analyse the current dynamic environment within the context of appropriate contemporary theory and research. With appropriate levels of sophistication, they can develop the tools and frameworks to analyse issues. Through this process, students can acquire skills that will better enable them to explore and analyse new issues as they emerge.

The aim is to prepare graduates for a career as an economist in fields such as the investment banking industry, international or government organisations, and research roles. By featuring strong research and enquiry skills, it also aims to help those wanting to progress to a PhD.

Why Choose Lincoln

Access to industry-standard Bloomberg Terminal

Combine advanced study with research

Develop digitally based transferable skills

Real-world experience of the Stock Exchange

Complete a dissertation in a specialist area

Hear from expert industry speakers

A student working on a tablet

How You Study

The MSc in Economics and Finance is a one-year master's course combining advanced study and research. Not only is there an opportunity to acquire a deeper understanding of economic theory but also it places particular emphasis on economic coverage of financial themes.

The course features two economic theory modules, two finance, and two econometrics modules. Each candidate will take eight modules and write a dissertation. The dissertation will give students the chance to work with one of the department's experienced lecturers on a selected topic and apply their knowledge to a specific problem.

Skills and models embedded in this programme include: international trade; flexible and fixed exchange rates; assets and exchange rates; output, exchange rates, and macroeconomic policies in the short run; closed economic equilibrium; consumer theory; consumption dynamics; investment; real-business-cycle models; game theory; and information economics.

The quantitative methods provided in econometrics include: instrumental variables and two stage least squares; method of moment estimation; simultaneous equations models; forecasting; and panel data modelling.

Modules


† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

Applied Econometrics for Economics and Finance 2025-26ECO9206MLevel 72025-26This module aims to illustrate the further techniques of empirical investigation in economics by using real-world empirical applications in the fields related to economics and finance. The topics covered will reflect the development of contemporary applied econometrics. It can also advance students’ analytical skills of using econometrics software and packages that are essential for students who wish to pursue a professional career in economics, finance or related disciplines.CoreApplied Economic Issues 2025-26ECO9214MLevel 72025-26In the spirit of student as producer, the aim of this module is to inculcate the student in the enquiry process with the production of a short piece of original research being the outcome. Students will be applying a certain range of methods and tools that they might be expected to undertake as practitioners. To add a further real-world dimension, this is to be undertaken collaboratively.CoreDissertation and Research Design for Finance 2025-26FIN9105MLevel 72025-26The dissertation provides the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to reflect critically on the aspects relating to their Master's programme. The vehicle will be the researching and writing of a dissertation, based on the methods delivered in the pre-requisite QM modules. The dissertation is the capstone of the Master's learning process and allows the student to demonstrate mastery in scholarship of a programme related topic that they have selected in amalgamation with supervisory tutors.CoreEconometrics for Economics and Finance 2025-26ECO9210MLevel 72025-26This module builds upon the principles and methods of statistics and introduces classical econometric modelling by using cross-sectional and panel data. It also aims to equip students with analytical skills of using econometrics software and packages that are essential for students who wish to pursue a professional career in economics, finance or related disciplines. Real-world data will be used in this module to facilitate learning and to develop problem-solving skills.CoreFinancial Technology 2025-26ECO9209MLevel 72025-26This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the major areas of Financial Technology, the ability to understand blockchain technology, and why so many firms are implementing the technology, as well to reflect on the history, behaviour, and impact cryptocurrencies have had on the financial sector. Students will gain a broad appreciation of recent developments in FinTech, including money and payment, digital finance, alternative finance and, importantly, FinTech regulation.CoreInternational Macroeconomics and Finance 2025-26FIN9026MLevel 72025-26This module equips students with an in-depth and applied-oriented understanding of theoretical and empirical problems addressed in the field known as International Finance (also known as International Macroeconomics / Open Macroeconomics) and to bring students up to the research frontier in International Finance. It draws heavily on financial modelling and financial econometrics.CoreMonetary Economics 2025-26ECO9222MLevel 72025-26The module aims to develop understanding of why monetary policy matters, what central banks can do to improve the financial markets and economic performance through the use of conventional and unconventional monetary policy instruments and when monetary policy decisions may be impotent. It also aims to help students to gain skills of economic analysis to the conduct monetary policy under uncertainties considering recent the global financial crisis.CoreTopics in Macroeconomic Theory 2025-26ECO9215MLevel 72025-26The module covers the fundamental models in the economic growth and key macroeconomic issues in the field of modern macroeconomics. The emphasis will be on learning theoretical concepts and analytical techniques, as an aide to understanding contemporary macroeconomic problems. The deterministic growth models will be used to shed light on the often mysterious process of economic growth at both world and country levels, as well as on income and growth differences across countries.CoreTopics in Microeconomics 2025-26ECO9217MLevel 72025-26This module presents the techniques necessary to analyse microeconomic problems on an advanced level. During this module students will study how and under what conditions markets and market-clearing prices achieve an efficient allocation of resources, the distributional properties of the market equilibrium and the role of the government, and problems of asymmetric information. The module provides the foundation for advanced modules in International Trade, Industrial Organisation, Behavioural Economics as well as for the micro-foundations of macroeconomic models.Core

What You Need to Know

We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.

How you are assessed

A variety of assessment methods are used during this course, including essays, examinations, coursework, project and oral presentations. These assessments are designed to develop the skills needed for a career as an economist, a policy advisor, or an academic.

Bloomberg Terminal

Students can use our Bloomberg Terminal, which is designed to help industry professionals make better-informed investment decisions by offering the latest market news along with historical data and an international network to communicate securely and reliably. Bloomberg offers a practical resource for students to reinforce the theories they learn in lectures, and enable them to become familiar with the tools used by today’s financial services professionals.

An academic working with a student in the Bloomberg lab

Student Managed Investment Fund

Lincoln International Business School offers the Student Managed Investment Fund (LSMIF), which is an investment fund created, operated, and maintained by students within the school, with everything running within the real-world environment of finance.

One of only a handful of its kind in the UK, students will be managing real money with the objective of making positive returns while managing risk. Industry veteran and long-time lecturer Hao Quach can help support the students throughout, utilising his years of experience in all aspects of investment banking and 20 years teaching in many countries.

Trading Simulation Event

Students on the programme are given the opportunity to practise real-life trading at a simulation event. During the event, delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading, you get the chance to understand and experience different roles and practices within the trading sector, such as buyers, investors, asset managers, and hedge funds.

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How to Apply

Postgraduate Application Support

Applying for a postgraduate programme at Lincoln is easy. Find out more about the application process and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page. Here, you'll also be able to find out more about the entry requirements we accept and how to contact us for dedicated support during the process.

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Entry Requirements 2025-26

United Kingdom

This is a specialist MSc programme. Courses in this category attract entrants who have a background in the subject or a related subject area, acquired through previous study. A 2:2 honours degree or equivalent in Economics or a related subject with a strong quantitative element, such as Finance, are required.

Candidates may be invited for interview to provide effective information and guidance or for non-standard entry.

Students are expected to attend additional sessions that may occur before the programme begins. Please contact the Programme Leader for details.

International

Non UK Qualifications:

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/

EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/.


If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions Team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk

Course Fees

You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below.

Course Fees

The University offers a range of merit-based, subject-specific, and country-focused scholarships for UK and international students. To help support students from outside of the UK, we offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.

Funding Your Study

Postgraduate Funding Options

Find out more about the optional available to support your postgraduate study, from Master's Loans to scholarship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.

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Career Development

This course can provide the skills needed for those wanting to work as a professional banker, or in a financial institution, business, commerce, international agencies, and other similar organisations. It is also suitable for students wanting to progress to a PhD.

Academic Contact

For more information about this course, please contact the Programme Leader.

Dr Aleksandar Vasilev
avasilev@lincoln.ac.uk

Working in Partnership

Lincoln International Business School works with students and organisations to enhance the contribution of business to society. For students, that means developing their business skills and knowledge to improve their career readiness.The University of Lincoln is a member of AACSB, a global nonprofit association connecting educators, students, and businesses to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders.

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Postgraduate Events

To get a real feel for what it is like to study at the University of Lincoln, we hold a number of dedicated postgraduate events and activities throughout the year for you to take part in.

A group of students sat around a table, working together on a project
The University intends to provide its courses as outlined in these pages, although the University may make changes in accordance with the Student Admissions Terms and Conditions.