Applications & Eligibility Criteria
MSc Application Deadlines
MSc Applications for September 2012 entry
We do not have a fixed deadline and we generally accept applications up to the end of June for overseas applicants and August for EU/UK applicants. As soon as the programmes are full or we cease accepting new applications we will indicate this on our website. Demand for places our programmes is high and places are allocated to suitably qualified applicants on a first come first served basis. Please read through the eligibility requirements below before making your application.
PhD Applications
Applicants who already hold an MSc Economics equivalent to the one offered by the SGPE (see MSc course information on the MSc Economics WebPage) should apply directly to the SGPE University of their choice.
Eligibility Criteria for MSc Economics
To be eligible for the MSc, we look for applicants to have a very strong grounding in Economics or other quantitative subjects. More specifically, we look for high grades in university level courses covering introductory integration, probability theory, and linear algebra. We also look for courses that have covered statistics, and multivariate multi-constraint optimisation. With regards to micro and macro economics we look for mathematical treatment of firms and consumers, the first and second welfare theorems in microeconomics growth theory for macroeconomics (with if possible a introduction to general equilibrium models).
Applicants who are interested in our MSc but who lack this background should look at the page for the SGPE summer school.
A “2:1” is roughly the equivalent to a B+ or 80%, but this varies from country to country so applicants from overseas are encouraged to check the information by country on the International Office website.
Anyone who is considering applying but is unsure if they have the appropriate qualifications is invited to email the Programme Office with a scanned transcript of their grades an outline AND information on the main texts used in their most advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics courses, and we will be happy to offer some informal feedback.
For students from non-English speaking countries there is an English-language requirement. However you do not need to have met this requirement at the time of making your application. Our Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL-iBT) is 92 (with scores no lower than Listening 21, Reading 22, Speaking 23 and Writing 21) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 is required (with nothing lower than 6.0). We do not accept or require GREs or GMATs. For more information on language requirements see the following webpage: http://www.hss.ed.ac.uk/Postgraduate/prospective/englang.htm
Making an Application to MSc Economics
Please note that there is currently a backlog of applications so it is surrently taking 4-6 weeks to process applications.
The University of Edinburgh operates an online application process for all postgraduate programmes. We advise applicants to apply early to the programmes. We normally take 2-4 weeks to process application - but at peak times in the spring and summer it may take us 6-8 weeks. Please note, We do NOT charge an application fee.
Providing full documentation will help us to assess your case as quickly and efficiently as possible. We may need to contact you by email during the application process so please use a valid and working email address in your online application and check it regularly after applying.
To apply for the MSc in Economics or Economics (Finance) click on this link:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees?id=272&cw_xml=details.php
and under the heading ‘Application’, click Apply
The following MUST be supplied with your application, without these details we will not be able to process your application:
1. Academic Transcripts and where relevant English translations
For ALL applicants, we require official transcripts for ALL years of your undergraduate studies to date, and if you have graduated, a degree certificate. If you have not yet graduated then you may still apply without the degree certificate as long as your transcript is up to date.
If your original transcripts and degree certificates are in a language other than English, we also require certified translations of your transcript and degree certificate.
2. Contact details of referees
You do not need to supply the references themselves at the time fo making your application, but you must supply contact details of referees.
Additional information that will be helpful, and may be requested before we can complete assessment of you application:
Please give us brief details (main topics studied and textbooks used) of any maths, statistics and economics courses you have taken. You should enter this information in the box marked Relevant Knowledge/Training Skills.
The following information is not required at the time of submitting your application, but may be required as a condition of your offer:
Language certificates
If your first language is not English we will require an English language certificate (please see eligibility requirement detailed above), but you do not need to supply this at the time of making your application.
Degree certificate
If you have not yet gradauted from your studies you do not need to supply your degree certificate as part of your application, though we will need to see it before we can make any offer unconditional.
Providing full documentation will help us to assess your case as quickly and efficiently as possible. We may need to contact you by email during the application process so please use a valid and working email address in your online application and check it regularly after applying.
If you need further information, please contact the SGPE Admissions Team at:
Email: sgpe.admissions@ed.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)131 651 1764
Address: SGPE Admissions
School of Economics
Room 1.09 , 31 Buccleuch Place
Edinburgh EH8 9JT
United Kingdom