Rooted in theory, analytical skills and their application to contemporary challenges in society

Ahmedabad University seeks to re-imagine a place of learning in the global academy.  It is rooted in the ambitious, creative character of the University, and is inspired by the cultural history of Ahmedabad, which was chosen by UNESCO as India’s first World Heritage City. Situated in the The Amrut Mody School of Management, the MA Programme in Economics brings together the economics of business, finance, and development, quantitative skills, technology, and an analytical rigour for understanding society at large. 
 

The two-year Master of Arts programme in Economics (MA in Economics) is a one-of-its-kind graduate programme in India. The programme is academically rigorous, with a focus on interdisciplinarity and practical exposure.

• Academic Rigour
  
  The programme is grounded in theoretical and quantitative analysis in the field of Economics. It emphasises on the development of analytical skills and practical exposure through internships, and aims to build sensitivity among the students towards contemporary economic and social issues. It also focuses on enabling them to understand the emerging drivers of economic activity, both at local and global levels.
   
• Exposure to the World
  
  The programme engages a unique pedagogy with project-based learning and a stint as an intern in the corporate, financial or development sector as per the inclination of the student. The Masters dissertation with a hands-on approach will help the students to identify, understand and resolve a real life problem in the industry or development sector.
   
• Interdisciplinarity
  
  Recognising the importance of an interdisciplinary approach, this programme encourages and provides scope to study subjects outside the realm of Economics. The programme benefits from its position within a multidisciplinary university with diverse faculty in liberal arts, management, natural and mathematical sciences, and computer sciences which creates an rich and diverse learning evironment.

The Curriculum

The MA in Economics curriculum offers a diversified set of courses, which optimally combines core courses, specialised electives and courses relating to economic data analysis. These courses collectively provide the much needed theoretical precision, analytical competency and domain knowledge required for a modern day economist. The courses are also supplemented with training in the use of advanced Excel, graphics, as well as various econometric and statistical software packages.

The array of the coursework consists of the following components:

• The required core courses include advanced level microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, economic growth and development, Indian economy, public finance and policy, and basic mathematics and statistics.
• The specialisation electives, to be taken in semesters three and four, comprise of courses in financial economics, financial derivatives and risk management, development economics, behavioural finance, game theory, economics of information, gender economics, natural resource economics, cultural economics, and new institutional economics.
• Courses in quantitative analysis include probability and statistical inference, time series econometrics, panel data econometrics, financial econometrics, model building and simulations, big data analysis, high frequency data analysis and business analytics.
• Summer/winter internship, in alignment with the aptitude and specialisation preference of the students, in banks and financial institutions, corporate bodies, government departments, policy think tanks and non-governmental organisations.
• A Masters dissertation, on a specific research topic either in the area of specialisation or focusing on an interdisciplinary issue chosen by each student, to be carried out under the supervision of a faculty member.

Ahmedabad University Masters in Economics Graduate

A two-year stint at the programme will equip the graduating students for the professional world. They will be ready with analytical skills to understand the complex modern world and test solutions to the challenges it poses. The graduates from this programme may opt for professions in academia, corporate sector, consulting, public policy and governance, and non-governmental organisations.

Salient Features of the Programme

• A 72-credits programme that allows students to progress in the curriculum based on personal capabilities.
• A personalised Masters programme that includes flexibility to design a course structure involving core and elective courses in Economics, as well as elective courses from other areas across the University in accordance with career perceptions.
• Built-in flexibility to specialise within Economics or undertake a general Masters degree in Economics.
• An opportunity to pursue summer internship which is included in total credits.
• A dissertation that encourages identification, understanding and resolution of real life challenges.