Course overview
- Description
This degree is designed to equip its graduates with advanced economic skills and knowledge. Students are required to complete advanced studies in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. Options exist to undertake a research dissertation and/or to specialise in areas such as applied economics, environmental economics, health economics, and financial economics. Successful completion of the degree demonstrates competence in interpreting frontier research and applying advanced data analysis techniques.
Graduates from the M.Ec acquire technical knowledge which is in high demand in a variety of industries. Graduates will be equipped to pursue a career as a professional economist in either the private, public, or not-for-profit sector as economic analysts and/or policy advisers in consulting, regulation, business analytics, and finance areas.
- Course title
- Master of Economics (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
- Award abbreviation
- MEc
- Course code
- 42670
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- UWA Business School
- CRICOS code
- 003091A
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Articulation
- The Master of Economics has the following exit awards: 42330 Graduate Diploma in Economics (48 points) (48 points), 42290 42290 Graduate Certificate in Health Economics and Analysis (24 points) (24 points)
- Credit points required
- 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 1.5 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the School
- Maximum course duration
- 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Girish Bahal
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
Example Study Plans
- 42670 Master of Economic (96 point - 2 year) Coursework and Dissertation [docx]
- 42670 Master of Economics (72 point 1.5 year) - Coursework and Dissertation S2, 2025 [docx]
- 42670 Master of Economics (72 point 1.5 year) Coursework only S2, 2025 [docx]
- 42670 Master of Economics (96 point 2 year) - Coursework only S2, 2025 [docx]
See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
SP-ECOAP Applied Economics
SP-ECOEN Environmental Economics
SP-ECOFE Financial Economics
SP-ECOHE Health Economics
SP-ECORD Research Dissertation
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Students in the course by coursework only take the following:
All units in Core A (18 points)
All units from one specialisation Groups B, F - H (24 points)
All units from an additional specialisation or options Groups B, F - H (30 points)
Students in the course by coursework and dissertation take the following:
All units in Core A (18 points)
All units in Core D (24 points)
Remaining units from an additional specialisation or options Groups B, F - H (30 points)
Take all units (18 points):
Group A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ECON4402 | Microeconomic Theory |
| lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week |
| S1 | ECON4413 | Applied Advanced Econometrics |
| lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week |
| S1 | ECON4418 | Macroeconomic Theory |
| lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week |
Applied Economics specialisation
Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points:
Note: Students specialising in Applied Economics must take 4 units to the value of 24 credit points from this group. This may include one of the work integrated learning units from the option set at group C below.
Group B
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | BUSN5003 | Data Storytelling |
| Up to three hours per week. |
| S2 | ECON4408 | Advanced Development Economics |
| lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week |
| S2 | ECON4503 | Advanced Economic Analysis | workshops: 3 hours per week on a face-to-face basis. Note: Workshops will not be recorded and attendance is strongly recommended. | |
| S2 | ECON5519 | Public Economics |
| lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week |
| N/A | ECON5520 | Text-to-Data Applications and Novel Data Sources |
| seminars: 3 hours per week for 12 weeks |
| S2 | ECON5521 | Economic Policy and Communication | None | seminars: 3 hours per week |
| S1 | ECON5580 | Running Randomised Experiments | None | up to 3 contact hours per week |
Students may take one (and only one) of the following three units as part of the requirements for the Applied Economics specialisation.
Group C
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | PARL5599 | WA Parliamentary Research Program |
| 150 hours of study |
| NS, S1, S2 | SVLG5001 | McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship |
| Internship experience: approximately 100 hours; McCusker Centre attendance: approximately 8 hours |
| NS, S1, S2 | WILG5001 | Work Integrated Learning Internship Program |
| Industry experience: 100 hours Online sessions with Unit Coordinator: 1-2 hours |
Environmental Economics specialisation
Students specialising in Environmental Economics must take 4 units to the value of 24 credit points from this group.
Group E
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ECON4410 | Environmental and Resource Economics |
| lectures: 2 hours; tutorials: 1 hour; labs: 1 hour (4 hours/week for 12 weeks) |
| S1, S2 | ECON5410 | Valuing Environmental and Natural Resources |
| Total learning hours including contact hours, personal study, and assessment are 150hrs The structured activities across 12 weeks include approximately: 18 hours of online recorded lecture content, and 18 hours of computer based practical examples The balance of activities varies with each topic module |
| S2 | ECON5511 | Climate, Energy and Water Economics | lectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week for 10 weeks | |
| S1, S2 | SCIE4040 | Data Analysis with R for Agricultural and Environmental Science | None | 150 hours. The structured activities include approximately 1 hour of online recorded lecture content and approximately 2 hours of computer practical examples to complete each week for 12 weeks. |
| S1 | SCIE4510 | Applied Cost Benefit Analysis | None | 150 hours Lectures: 2 x 45-minute online lectures per week for 12 weeks Workshops: 1 x 1-hour online workshops per week for 12 weeks Self-directed learning: 10 hours per week for 12 weeks |
Financial Economics specialisation
Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points:
Note - students with a B.Ec(Fin.Ec) are not permitted to take this specialisation.
Group F
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ECON5506 | The Economics of Financial Markets | lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week | |
| N/A | ECON5517 | Public Finance |
| seminars: 3 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | FINA5521 | Quantitative Methods in Finance | lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week | |
| S1, S2 | FINA5533 | Finance Essentials |
| lectures: 3 hours per week (maximum students per class: 45) |
| S2 | FINA5557 | Sustainable Finance and Sustainability Reporting | None | 3 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | FINA5632 | Investments | lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week |
Health Economics specialisation
Take all units (18 points):
Group G
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ECON5518 | Economics of Global Health and Policy |
| seminars: 3 hours per week |
| S2 | ECON5570 | Health Analytics |
| seminars: up to 3 hours per week for 12 weeks |
| S2 | PUBH5752 | Health Systems and Economics | None | lectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week |
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Note: Students specialising in Health Economics must take all 3 units from group G and any 1 unit from group H.
Group H
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | PUBH5749 | Foundations of Public Health | None | lectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week |
| NS | PUBH5801 | Economic Evaluation of Health Care |
| 1 week full-time |
Research Dissertation specialisation
Take all units (24 points):
Note: Students doing the Research Dissertation specialisation must complete all 4 units in this group D and all units from group A. See, also, rule 15.(1).
Group D
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | ECON5881 | Master's Dissertation (Economics) Part 1 |
| |
| S1, S2 | ECON5882 | Master's Dissertation (Economics) Part 2 |
| |
| S1, S2 | ECON5883 | Master's Dissertation (Economics) Part 3 | ||
| S1, S2 | ECON5884 | Master's Dissertation (Economics) Part 4 |
|
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) Bachelor degree with a major in economics or an equivalent qualification and a UWA weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 65 per cent in Level 3 economics units plus evidence of having completed an intermediate (level 2) econometric / statistics unit and an intermediate mathematics for economists unit;
or
(b) be enrolled in the Combined Bachelor Master (CBM) degree (Bachelor of Economics and Master of Economics degree)
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) This course has the following exit awards:
- 42330 Graduate Diploma in Economics (48 points)
- 42290 42290 Graduate Certificate in Health Economics and Analysis (24 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Economics course before completing it, but completes units to the value of 48 points towards the Master of Economics, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Economics.
(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of Economics course before completing it, who has completed 24 points from the Health Economics specialisation (consisting of 18 points of core units and 6 points of option units), may apply to the School to be awarded the 42290 Graduate Certificate in Health Economics and Analysis.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which includes conversion units to a value of 24 points, course core units and specialisation units. The course comprises the following specialisations :
- SP-ECOAP Applied Economics
- SP-ECOEN Environmental Economics
- SP-ECOFE Financial Economics
- SP-ECOHE Health Economics
- SP-ECORD Research Dissertation
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
(3) Students who have completed the relevant conversion units or equivalent, as advised by the School, are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—
(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';
(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';
(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Time limit
14.(1) The time limit is five calendar years from the date of first enrolment in the course, not including periods of suspension of candidature.
(2) The time limit for a student who has previously completed the requirements for the Graduate Diploma in Economics, or equivalent as recognised by the University, is five years from the year in which the first unit was credited towards the master's course.
(3) In exceptional circumstances, the University may extend the time limit by one or two semesters.
Eligibility for dissertation specialisation
15.(1) Students wishing to undertake the Master of Economics by coursework and dissertation must achieve a UWA weighted average mark of at least 75 in Level 3 core economics units in their undergraduate degree or a WAM of 75 in their first 24 points of coursework which must include ECON4402 Microeconomic Theory and ECON4413 Applied Advanced Econometrics. Offer of a place on the research specialisation is also conditional on appropriate supervision being available. Students who are not offered a place in the research specialisation are still eligible for the Master of Economics (coursework).