“Financial Economics takes all the valuable lessons from Economics but applies them to the world of Finance as well as exploring the shortcomings of economic theory with a focus on practitioner insights. Most of all, Financial Economics is extremely useful for careers in Finance as it provides a broad foundation to build from after studies. ”
- Dundee, Scotland
Entry requirements
The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.
For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.
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- Standard entry grades:
- AAAAB
- Minimum entry grades:
- AABB
- Gateway entry grades:
- Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.
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- Standard entry grades:
- AAA
- Minimum entry grades:
- ABB
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- Standard entry grades:
- 38 (HL 6,6,6)
- Minimum entry grades:
- 36 (HL 6,5,5)
General entry requirements
All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
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SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing science
- Geography
- Lifeskills Mathematics (A grade)
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
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GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing Science
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
Other qualifications
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.
More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.
Do I need to have studied this subject before?
No previous knowledge of this subject is required, but advanced school mathematics is an advantage, and an ability to learn mathematical skills is essential.
Alternative study options
Students interested in this course may also be interested in the following:
BSc
Financial Economics is available as both a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Arts (MA) degree. The content of the subjects is the same irrespective of Faculty. Students who have a background in the arts or who wish to study Financial Economics alongside Art subjects at St Andrews should apply for the MA. Two particularly useful joint combinations for future careers are 'Financial Economics and Management' and 'Financial Economics and Mathematics'. For those interested in studying Financial Economics alongside Science subjects, the BSc in Financial Economics may be of interest instead. The entry requirements are the same for all single Honours Economics degrees, and the chance of receiving an offer is the same for each of these degrees.
Study abroad
Financial economics students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.
International applicants
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The MA (Hons) in Financial Economics is a four-year course run by the School of Economics and Finance.
In the first two years, you will acquire a solid foundation in general knowledge of economics. This includes an introduction to the principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics; an insight into quantitative techniques; and developing an understanding of economic relationships and the techniques necessary for their analysis.
Alongside financial economics, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
At Honours level students may select modules from a range of options on specific topics. These provide an analytical understanding of key aspects of finance, economics and government policy formation.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.
Modules
In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in financial economics alongside modules in at least one other subject.
Typically, you will take a total of three modules per semester each year.
Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:
- Macroeconomics: introduces the study of economics at the national and global level.
- Mathematics for Economists: covers calculus and algebra to provide indispensable mathematical tools for modern economists.
- Microeconomics: explores the basics of the market system and consumer and producer behaviour.
Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:
- Intermediate Macroeconomics: explores theories of the determinants of long-run economic growth and theories of the causes of short-run “business-cycle” fluctuations.
- Intermediate Microeconomics: deepens the general understanding of microeconomics gained in first year.
- Statistics for Economists: introduces statistical methods and regression analysis.
If you decide to take financial economics in your third and fourth years, you must take four compulsory modules:
- Econometrics: introduces the application of statistics to study economic data.
- Financial Economics: Asset Pricing: provides a critical understanding of essential components of modern finance theory and a rigorous grounding in analytical economic models about the determination of risks and returns in financial markets.
- Financial Economics: Corporate Finance: investigates the problem of how a collection of corporate liabilities is affected in value by corporate actions.
- Financial Economics: Portfolio Management: develops knowledge and understanding of key issues in asset allocation and portfolio composition and management at an intermediate level.
In addition, you may choose from a wide variety of advanced options. Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered at St Andrews in recent years:
- Behavioural Economics: Individual Decisions and Welfare
- Development and Finance
- Economic Fluctuations
- Economics of the Environment
- European Macroeconomics
- Game Theory
- Health Economics
- Incentives, Contracts and Markets
- Innovation Economics
- International Trade
- Mathematical Economics
- Monetary and Financial History
- Practical Financial Modelling.
In fourth year, students may also undertake a dissertation or research project on a topic of their choice. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.
The compulsory modules listed here must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules appropriate to the programme for the current academic year can be found in the programme requirements.
Teaching
First and second year modules generally involve a series of lectures (200 to 350 students), laboratories and small-group tutorials (15 to 20 students) designed to facilitate effective interaction.
At Honours level, modules are taught through lectures (10 to 140 students), laboratories and smaller group tutorials (10 to 20 students). Students typically attend six hours of lectures and one to two tutorials or labs a week.
When not attending lectures, tutorials and laboratories, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research in the library
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations.
Progress is monitored through tutorial assignments, and assessment is by a combination of graded work and examinations. Almost all of the modules are assessed by at least 50% written exams with the balance of assessment made up by coursework.
Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand.
Coursework takes the form of essays, along with other kinds of assessed work including oral presentations and class tests.
The School aims to provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
You will be taught by a research-led teaching team with expertise and knowledge of financial economics. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of tutorials under the supervision of the module leader.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
Fees
Scotland
£1,820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
£9,250
Channel Islands, Isle of Man
£9,250
EU and overseas
£30,160
More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.
Accommodation fees
Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.
Joint Honours degrees
You can also take Financial Economics as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.
| Course name | UCAS code |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Economics | CL11 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computer Science and Economics | GL41 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Economics and Geography | 2A72 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Economics and Management | LNC2 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Economics and Mathematics | GLC1 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Economics and Psychology | LC18 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Economics and Statistics | GL31 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Economics and Sustainable Development | F893 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Financial Economics and Management | NL23 |
| Bachelor of Science (Honours) Financial Economics and Mathematics | L114 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Economics | LVD1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and Economics | LT16 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and Economics (With Integrated Year Abroad) | TV68 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Biblical Studies and Economics | LV16 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Economics | CH04 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Economics (With Integrated Year Abroad) | CW04 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and English | LQ13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Film Studies | LP13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Geography | LL17 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and German | LR12 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRC2 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and International Relations | LL12 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Italian | LR13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRC3 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Management | NL21 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Mathematics | GL11 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Medieval History | LVC1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Middle East Studies | TL61 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Modern History | LV11 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Persian | L1T6 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Philosophy | LV15 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Psychology | CL81 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Russian | LR17 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRC7 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Social Anthropology | LL16 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Spanish | LR14 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRC4 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Statistics | GLH1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Sustainable Development | F892 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Financial Economics and Management | NL22 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Financial Economics and Mathematics | L113 |
Additional joint degree options are available for students who take the BSc in Financial Economics.
"With" degrees
You can take Financial Economics as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in Financial Economics:
- Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with German (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code L1RF
- Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with German - UCAS code L1R2
- Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code L1RR
- Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Russian - UCAS code L1RT
- Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Social Anthropology - UCAS code L1L6
- Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code L1RL
- Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with Spanish - UCAS code L1RK
"With" degrees taken with German, Russian, Spanish are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.
Careers
Graduates with a degree in financial economics have some highly sought-after skills and pursue careers in a wide variety of fields. A degree in financial economics will greatly enhance your analytic and decision-making abilities. You will significantly improve your quantitative abilities and greatly enhance other transferable skills highly valued by employers.
Popular career destinations among recent graduates include:
- economic consulting
- management consulting
- accountancy
- business intelligence analysis
- broadcasting and journalism
- risk management
- research analysis
- financial services analysis.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
What to do next
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.
Undergraduate visiting days
We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2439
- bschool@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- Department of Economics (Business School)
Castlecliffe
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AR
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