PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION – POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

KEY FACTS

Programme name MSc Business Economics

Award MSc
School School of Arts and Social Sciences
Department or equivalent Economics
Programme code PSBUEC
Type of study Full Time
Total UK credits 180
Total ECTS 90
Partner (partnership
programmes only)
Type of partnership

PROGRAMME SUMMARY

The globalisation of the world economy and the increase in competition among businesses have
created a need for highly skilled economists able to work in complex business environments. The
standard tools of economic analysis are no longer sufficient for corporate executives, for whom
applied strategic business and financial techniques are becoming essential.

This programme is designed to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired at undergraduate
level and apply them to real-world economic and business problems. Economics graduates will
have the opportunity to extend their previous education by focusing more on business and
economic policy issues.

There is a high demand for economics postgraduates who, by developing specialised skills areas
on this course, have the ability to apply economic analysis and quantitative skills to business and
economic policy issues. There are some excellent employment prospects for such economists in
economic and management consultancy, multinationals, government agencies and in business
and finance, especially in the City of London.

Overall, this programme aims to allow you to become highly competent applied economists with
an ability to understand the various dimensions of business and policy problems and to be able to
contribute to solving such problems.

Aims

 To enable you with previous exposure to economics at the undergraduate level to enhance
their employability through the acquisition of appropriate marketable skills.
 To enable you to understand how economics can be used as a tool to examine and solve real
world business and policy problems.
 To enable you to act with confidence as skilled economists in roles such as management
consultancy, multinationals, the world of finance, the civil service or in a general management
role.
 To acquire a set of applied economics skills that build upon those learnt in a typical economics
undergraduate programme.
 To develop expertise in business economics/international business economics and to develop
an awareness of the impact of and interactions between globalisation, business, regulation,
finance and economics.
 To develop the ability of students to undertake an independent detailed piece of applied
research by producing a major dissertation on an approved topic.

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Postgraduate Certificate
The student obtaining a Postgraduate Certificate will have a basic knowledge of the main subjects
in the area of Business Economics having successfully passed at least three modules (60 credits)
of the program. The student should be able to have an understanding of the main challenges in
this field.

Postgraduate Diploma
The student obtaining a Postgraduate Diploma will have understood the core subjects in the area
of Business Economics having successfully passed at least six modules (120 credits) of the
program. The student will have a basic knowledge of the analytical, quantitative and modeling
skills required to work as a professional economist able to work in Business, the government
sector, consultancy, a multinational company and financial institutions etc.

MSc
Following a successful completion of the MSc in Business Economics, the student will have, on
top of the above, expanded her/his expertise by demonstrating her/his ability to identify a
knowledge gap in the area of Business Economics. You will be able to, critically summarize the
related literature, and by using the analytical and/or quantitative tools learned through the degree
originally contribute to the knowledge of the field of Business Economics and be able to apply
economics to a wide variety of business and policy problems.

WHAT WILL I BE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE?

On successful completion of this programme, you will be expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding:

 Demonstrate how economic analysis can be applied to solve business and policy problems.
 Understand the influence of interactions between economics, finance, government policy and
business operations both nationally and internationally.
 Explain the operation of financial markets and financial instruments and how they can be used
for risk management by business.
 Demonstrate knowledge and application of quantitative data and statistical techniques for
economic and business decision making.

Skills:
 Critically assess the nature and the operation of the global economy and financial markets
with particular reference to trade and finance.
 Work in groups and teams.
 Apply statistical techniques to economic and business problems and interpret the results.
 Critically evaluate economic theories and their applicability to business decision-making.
 Present and communicate findings to an audience.
 Undertake independent economic research.
 Analyse financial and business investment decisions from an economic perspective and how
to evaluate them.
 Run and interpret regressions and other statistical concepts and use statistical software
packages.
 Effectively use available learning resources, including the internet.
 Apply a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis to economic and
business analysis.
 Identify the linkages between the economics and developments in finance and financial
markets.
 Undertake assigned research and produce a report.

HOW WILL I LEARN?

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The programme is designed to be flexible in the range of teaching methods used. Each module
will be delivered through a mixture of lectures, class discussion/seminars, student presentations,
analysis of case studies and interactive computer based exercises particularly in relation to the
quantitative elements of the course. Lectures are used to introduce you to key theories, concepts
and knowledge, which is then discussed in seminar groups or classes. You are encouraged to
engage in discussion and reflect on issues raised by the lectures, to expand further specific topics
and develop communication and analytical skills. Computer laboratory teaching provides you with
practical experience of using software packages to develop statistical and econometric skills that
are formatively assessed by computer-based exercises. Group work involves your presentations
as well as group-based problem solving.

In addition, you will be given formal research training via a compulsory 10 hours research
methods course to prepare them for the undertaking of a piece of independent research on an
approved topic. Relevant modules in the School's Graduate programme in Advanced Social
Research Methods will also be available to you, as appropriate to identified need.

WHAT TYPES OF ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK CAN I EXPECT?

Assessment and Assessment Criteria

(1) Individual coursework essays on some modules you will be required to undertake a individual
written piece of coursework in the form of an essay or a piece of analysis based upon a case
study.

(2) Group coursework in some modules the coursework set will require you to work in teams with
each student expected to contribute to production of an overall report/piece of an analysis. A team
will normally consist of between of 3 to 5 persons. In some modules you will be required to
present your collective work to the class.

(3) Presentations - in some modules part of the overall assessment will be through the use of
formal presentations either individually or in groups to the rest of the class on a particular topic.
The presentations will be assessed by the module leader and formal feedback given to you on
both your presentation and the related work.

(4) Computer-based exercises - for some modules you will be set exercises that require you to
use statistical software, spreadsheets and presentation packages. In the course of their research
they will most probably have to access specialized databanks such as DataStream and Extel.

(5) Research – you will be required to undertake an individual piece of applied research into
either a project in business economics or international business economics. The dissertation
supervisors will assess the dissertations in conjunction with a second reader.

(6) Examinations - all taught modules apart from ECM162 Research Methods are examined by
means of a 3-hour examination worth 70% of the module mark.

Assessment Criteria are descriptions, based on the intended learning outcomes, of the skills,
knowledge or attitudes that you need to demonstrate in order to complete an assessment
successfully, providing a mechanism by which the quality of an assessment can be measured.
Grade- Related Criteria are descriptions of the level of skills, knowledge or attributes that you
need to demonstrate in order achieve a certain grade or mark in an assessment, providing a
mechanism by which the quality of an assessment can be measured and placed within the overall
set of marks. Assessment Criteria and Grade-Related Criteria will be made available to you to
support you in completing assessments. These may be provided in programme handbooks,
module specifications, on the virtual learning environment or attached to a specific assessment
task.

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Feedback on assessment

Feedback will be provided in line with our Assessment and Feedback Policy. In particular, you will
normally be provided with feedback within three weeks of the submission deadline or assessment
date. This would normally include a provisional grade or mark. For end of module examinations or
an equivalent significant task (e.g. an end of module project), feedback will normally be provided
within four weeks. The timescale for feedback on final year projects or dissertations may be
longer. The full policy can be found at:
https://www.city.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/68921/assessment_and_feedback_policy.pdf

Assessment Regulations

In order to pass your Programme, you should complete successfully or be exempted from the
relevant modules and assessments and will therefore acquire the required number of credits.

Please insert a statement on how the programme will be weighted.

The Pass mark for each module is 50%. Please insert a statement saying whether some or all
modules require students to achieve a minimum mark in the different assessment components
within those modules and, if so, what the rule is/whether the details will be found in the module
specification.

If you fail an assessment component or a module, the following will apply:

1. Compensation: where you fail up to a total of 15 credits at first or resit attempt, you may be
allowed compensation if:
 Compensation is permitted for the module involved (see the module specification), and
 It can be demonstrated that you have satisfied all the Learning Outcomes of the modules
in the Programme, and
 A minimum overall mark of no more than 10 percentage points below the module pass
mark has been achieved in the module to be compensated, and
 An aggregate mark of 50% has been achieved overall.

If you receive a compensated pass in a module you shall be awarded the credit for that module.
The original component marks shall be retained in the record of marks and the greater of the
original module mark and the minimum pass mark for the module shall be used for the purpose of
calculation towards the Award.

2. Resit: you will normally be offered one resit attempt. However, if you did not participate in the
first assessment and have no extenuating circumstances, you may not be offered a resit.

If you are successful in the resit, you shall be awarded the credit for that module. The mark used
for the purpose of calculation towards your Award shall be calculated from the original marks for
the component(s) that you passed at first attempt and the minimum pass mark for the
component(s) for which you took a resit.

If you do not satisfy your resit by the date specified you will not progress and the Assessment
Board shall require that you withdraw from the Programme.

If you fail to meet the requirements for the Programme, but satisfy the requirements for a lower-
level Award, then a lower qualification may be awarded as per the table below. If you fail to meet
the requirements for the Programme and are not eligible for the award of a lower level
qualification, the Assessment Board shall require that you withdraw from the Programme.

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If you would like to know more about the way in which assessment works at City, please see the
full version of the Assessment Regulations at:
http://www.city.ac.uk/__data/assets/word_doc/0003/69249/s19.doc

WHAT AWARD CAN I GET?

Master’s Degree:

HE Credits Weighting Class % required

Level (%)
Dissertation OR 7 45 25 With Distinction 70
Literature
Survey and
additional
elective module
Taught 7 135 75 With Merit 60

Postgraduate Diploma:

HE Credits Weighting Class % required

Level (%)
Taught 7 120 100 With Distinction 70
Postgraduate Certificate:

HE Credits Weighting Class % required

Level (%)
Taught 7 60 100 With Distinction 70

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

Taught component

You are required to take either:

2 x 30 and 5 x 15 credits taught modules plus a 45-credit Economics Research Project
Or

2 x 30 and 6 x 15 credits taught modules plus a 30 credit Economic Literature survey

You will take the following modules:

1) Three Core Modules

2) One Core Elective Module, a choice between Econometrics OR Quantitative Methods
3) Three or four Elective Modules
4) Economics Research Project or Economic Literature survey

Module Title SITS Module Core/ Compensation Level

Code Credits Elective Yes/No
Financial Markets ECM300 30 C N 7
Business Economics ECM151 15 C N 7
Research Methods ECM162 15 C N 7
Quantitative Methods ECM303 30 CE N 7
Econometrics ECM308 30 CE N 7

International Business ECM167 15 E Y 7

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 Economics
Economics of Regulation and ECM159 15 E Y 7
Competition
Health Economics ECM165 15 E Y 7
International Macroeconomics ECM158 15 E Y 7
Economics and Business ECM160 15 E Y 7
Strategy
E-Commerce ECM161 15 E Y 7
Corporate Finance ECM152 15 E Y 7
The Economics of Micro- ECM153 15 E Y 7
Finance
Asset Pricing ECM171 15 E Y 7
History of Economic Thought ECM156 15 E Y 7

Dissertation component

Module Title SITS Code Module Core/ Compensation Level

Credits Elective Yes/No
Economics Literature ECM307 30 C N 7
Survey
Economics Research ECM306 45 C N 7
Project

TO WHAT KIND OF CAREER MIGHT I GO ON?

Information on possible career paths, alumni destinations etc

If you would like more information on the Careers support available at City, please go to:
http://www.city.ac.uk/careers/for-students-and-recent-graduates.

HOW DO I ENTER THE PROGRAMME?

You should have a:

*2:1 or high 2.2 from a UK university or its foreign equivalent in Economics or Finance.

OR a 2.1 (or foreign equivalent) in Business Studies, Accounting, Management with at least
introductory economics and statistics and mathematical methods. . If you have a good
2.2 (or foreign equivalent), you might be considered on a case-by-case basis.

OR a 2.1 or high 2.2. (or foreign equivalent) undergraduate degree in a quantitative

discipline (such as mathematics, engineering, computer science or a natural science).

OR a very good 2.1 degree in arts, social science, or humanities related subjects, such
as Law, History, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science or Journalism with clear
motivation to study for the degree to which application is made.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

For students whose first language is not English, the following qualifications will meet the English
language requirement for entry to a postgraduate course of study:

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* A first degree from a UK university or from the CNAA.
* A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City as providing adequate evidence of
proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions in Australia or the USA.
* GCE O-level/GCSE English language or English literature, grade C minimum.
* Cambridge ESOL CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) at grade C or above.
* An overall score of 6.5 in the English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum of 6.0
for each subtest.
* Satisfactory standard in the verbal section of the Princeton Test (GMAT).
* US SAT with 500 in verbal performance.
* Warwick English Language Test (WELT) with pass grades of BBC minimum.
* Other evidence of proficiency in the English language which satisfies the board of studies
concerned.

OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS
Equivalent qualifications from an overseas university will be considered.

IT SKILLS
All students are expected to be computer literate.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The Programme is committed to equal opportunities. The admissions decision will rest on the
qualifications, needs and aspirations of the applicant.

APL/AP(E)L Requirements

AP(E)L: Students may apply for AP(E)L for a minimum of one module and a maximum of
25% of the overall credits for the programme (taught modules only).

Exemptions are not awarded for programmes/qualifications that were awarded five years ago
or longer, prior to the enrolment date for the intended programme of study at City.
Programmes/qualifications which were awarded over five years ago may be considered
towards AP(E)L requests if the candidate can provide supporting evidence which gives an
account of ways in which learning achieved through the programme/qualification has been
applied actively and updated within the past five years.

Former students of City who have been withdrawn from a programme due to academic failure
are not normally permitted to AP(E)L any awarded credits back onto the same programme
within the School.

Version: 2.0
Version date: April 2016
For use from: 2016-2017