Contents

The programme is available on a full-time basis only, starting in September for 12 months. Students take three core modules in the first term and three elective modules in the second.

Teaching and learning

The programme will be delivered through a mixture of lectures, class discussions/seminars, student presentations, analysis of case studies and interactive computer based exercises, particularly in relation to the quantitative elements of the course. In addition, students will undertake a compulsory five-hour research methods course to prepare them for the undertaking of a piece of independent research on an approved topic.

AssessmentThe six taught modules (three core and three elective) will be assessed by means of written coursework, a piece of group work and/or formal presentation and a final examination.

Dissertation

All students are required to submit a dissertation of 10-12,000 words on an appropriate area of business economics.

Students opting for the MSc in International Business Economics must select the International Business Economics elective and write their dissertation in this field of study.

The dissertation topic will be agreed with the student's tutor on the basis of an outline indicating the topic and the aim of the dissertation, the methodology to be adopted and the data to be employed.

Module Outlines

Financial Markets (20 credits)

This core module is designed to introduce students to the world of finance and financial markets. The module will familiarise students with the key theoretical models relating to risk and return in financial markets. The module provides an introduction to the variety of financial instruments and how these instruments can be used by businesses both as a means of raising finance and for managing business risks.

Business Economics (20 credits)

This unit is a core unit in the MSc Business Economics and International Business Economics. It is designed to show how economic theory can be applied to business. Although strictly speaking it is not an economic theory unit, the underlying framework for case analysis will be the different theories that economists use to model behaviour in such environments. An understanding of basic microeconomics is necessary to attempt the unit, which will develop your analytical and reasoning skills.

Quantitative Methods in Business Economics (20 credits)

The module is designed to provide the necessary foundation in the essential statistical and quantitative techniques for the study of business economics. Students will also be made familiar with appropriate statistical software that can be used for business economics analysis.

Econometrics for Business Economics (20 credits)

The objective of the module is to provide an introduction to econometrics motivated by applications in Finance. It reinforces and extends the Quantitative Methods module taken in Period 1, covering a range of techniques widely used in modern applied econometric work, and demonstrates how these techniques are applied to specific areas of economic enquiry.

International Business Economics (20 credits)

This module aims to introduce students to the international economic and business environment in which modern day businesses and policy makers have to operate. In particular, students will be made familiar with the main issues governing the conduct of world trade, investment flows and multinational corporations. Students will also learn about the key international organisations whose rules regulate the conduct of the global economy.

Economics of Competition and Regulation (20 credits)

The aim of this module is to provide a grounding in the knowledge and understanding of the economic analysis that underpins competition policy and regulatory policy towards network utilities.

Economics and Business Strategy (20 credits)

This module aims to introduce students to the economics of business strategy. The module will show how economic analysis can assist firms in marketing decisions. The module will consider questions such as which is a good market? How can a firm outperform its rivals? Students will be made familiar with core strategic economic issues.



E-Commerce (20 credits)

The module is designed to familiarise students with the implications of electronic commerce and its influence on modern business. Pervasive computing spawned a 'Wild West' phase of e-commerce. The deflation of the dotcoms (which never accounted for more than 10% of e-commerce) heralded a more measured approach to ICT-mediated business. The module structure will employ an holistic framework - strategy, implementation, exploitation and innovation - to raise awareness of opportunities and threats in this emerging 'new look' economy.

Corporate Finance (20 credits)

This module is aim to introduce students to the key theorems that underpin modern corporate finance and their relevance to business capital structure and corporate governance. Students will also learn how corporate finance can be used to analyse the investment decision and evaluate the benefits and costs of mergers and takeovers.

Research Methods Training/Dissertation (60 credits)

The module is designed to provide the students with the necessary background to undertake a piece of individual research in the form of a dissertation in the field of either Business Economics or International Business Economics. Students will learn how to write a dissertation proposal, structure their dissertation and locate sources of information relevant to their proposed research.