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Comparative Economics and Policy MA

London, Bloomsbury

Our programme is an applied, policy-oriented programme reflecting SSEES's leading-edge expertise in comparative economics. The programme is centred around the economics and economic policy of emerging markets, viewed through the prism of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, but relevant to the emerging economies and societies of South and South-East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa as well as Latin America.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£21,200
£10,600
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£32,100
£16,050
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

Applications open

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Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants are usually expected to have studied macroeconomics, microeconomics and quantitative methods/statistics in their degree. All applicants must submit either GMAT or GRE score as part of the application. There is no minimum score required, but this will be used as part of our assessment alongside the rest of your application.

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Our programme focuses on the development experiences of the 28 nations that have emerged from the former Soviet bloc in Europe and Asia. You will analyse the impact of institutional reforms on diverse outcomes, including economic performance, socio-economic development, financial integration, democratisation, innovation and entrepreneurship, and internationalisation.

Further details on the programme and structure can be found in the Programme Handbook

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students who wish to develop the skills necessary for further research or a career in this field. Graduates have gone on to work in think tanks, political parties, national, European and international organisations, the media and NGOs as economic and political analysts.
Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies (SSEES) is one of the largest national centres in the UK for the study of central, Eastern and south-east Europe and Russia.

SSEES' location on the edge of Bloomsbury offers you access to the British Library, British Museum, University of London Library and other similar research centres, which are all close by.

Our unique specialist library and central London location provide an ideal environment for research, while our close contacts with employers, policymakers, embassies and alumni afford excellent opportunities for networking and career development.

The School hosts the Centre for Comparative Studies of Emerging Economies, a dedicated research centre that hosts regular seminars, workshops and working papers in economics and business.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The MA opens up a range of opportunities and we expect that graduates from this programme will go on to work in think tanks, political parties, national, European and international private and public sector organisations and in media and non-governmental organisations as economic and political analysts. Similarly, we expect others will go on to doctoral studies. Internship opportunities and excellent links with other universities in the region as well as range of leading events and research seminars complement your studies. 

Employability

With their specialist knowledge and language skills, SSEES Master's graduates can be found in business, finance, the media, international agencies, charities, diplomacy, international security organisations, the law, and academia.

Teaching and learning

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, presentations, laboratory sessions and workshops. You will be assessed by a variety of methods: unseen examinations, long essays, course work and the research dissertation.

Each 15-credit module is equivalent to 150 hours of study and a 30 credit module equivalent to 300 hours of study. Contact hours may vary depending on module choices, but full-time students will approximately have 8-10 hours of contact hours each week during term time. 

Modules

You undertake modules to the value of 180 credits in total, 120 of which are taught courses. 

The taught modules comprise compulsory methods, a module in International Macroeconomic Policy, at least one module from a list of core policy papers and further modules from a list of available electives. 

In addition you must undertake a free-standing dissertation  and Dissertation Preparation Module.

Further details on the programme and structure can be found in the Programme Handbook

Compulsory modules







Optional modules















Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Comparative Economics and Policy.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

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All open days and events

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Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: UCL SSEES

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Our Graduate Open Events are a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about UCL, the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) and our programmes. SSEES is one of the world's leading institutions for the study of the region. Our postgraduate programmes cover our four key areas; Economics and Business; Politics and Sociology; History and Languages and Culture and provide students with flexibility in their choice of modules.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £21,200 £10,600
Tuition fees (2023/24) £32,100 £16,050

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Fee deposits for this programme are as follows: Overseas full time students £4,000; Overseas part time students £2,000.

There are no additional programme-specific costs.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Comparative Economics and Policy at graduate level
  • why you want to study Comparative Economics and Policy at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

    • Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

    Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

    Choose your programme

    Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

    Year of entry: 2023-2024

    Apply for this course

    Got questions? Get in touch

    SSEES - School of Slavonic and East European Studies Department
    SSEES - School of Slavonic and East European Studies Department

    tjmsmaa@ucl.ac.uk

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