Master's Programmes (2023 and 2024)

889 One-year Master's, coursework option

Admission requirements

An honours degree with Economics as the major component with an average mark of 60%. A minimum of 60% in the intensive statistics course that precedes the formal programme.

A Mathematics mark in the National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) of at least 60% or have passed a university-accredited mathematical module approved by the Department of Economics.

Selection

Selection of students in accordance with the University's official selection policy may be unavoidable due to the limited number of students that can be accommodated on the programme.

Duration

12 months. Programme must be completed within 3 years of date of first registration. If not, the compulsory modules need to be redone.

Credits

A minimum of 180 credits of which 60 credits must be earned through a research assignment and 120 credits earned from fields of study as determined by the Department. A maximum of 20 credits may be earned from a related and approved field of study.

Assessment

Examinations are written at the end of the first semester in June and at the end of the second semester in November. Examination results are supplemented by the assessment of coursework, including a relatively large number of essays and the research assignment. 

Medium of instruction

English.

Closing date for application

Applications for a specific year must be received by the end of October of the previous year (South African citizens). For international students the closing date is the end of September of the previous year.

Commencement of programme

Early January.

Programme content

Compulsory modules (credits in parentheses):

Research Assignment (60)

Macroeconomics (20)

Microeconomics (20)

Econometrics (20) (preceded by a 3 week intensive statistics course)

Mathematical  Methods for Economics (14) must be taken if a similar module was not passed as part of an honours programme and will extend the programme with six months. This is because this module is preceded by an intensive three-week mathematics course which runs concurrently with the intensive three-week statistics course which feeds into the Econometrics module.

Electives (at least 60 credits):

If Mathematical Methods for Economics is taken, at least 50 elective credits must be taken. All the modules are not necessarily presented every year.

 All elective modules count for 10 credits, except those indicated with **, which count for 20 credits.

*For admission to this module, a student needs to obtain at least 60% in the Time Series component of the compulsory Econometrics module. Financial Economics or any second year Finance/Investment Management module is strongly recommended.

Students can opt for General Economics as field of study, or specialise in Economics of Education or in Development Economics. All options involve advanced study in macro- and microeconomic theory, applied economics and policy analysis. In addition, special attention is given to research methodology and research skills, including econometric analysis.

The Economics of Education option requires students to do the modules Economics of Education I and II. The minor dissertation will focus on an applied policy issue in regard to the economics of education in the South African or African context.

The Development Economics option requires students to do the modules Development Economics and Advanced Development Economics. The minor dissertation will be devoted to an applied policy issue in regard to development economics in the South African or African context.