Graduate Testimonials
Mark Ryan, Class of 2008
“While studying for my primary degree in Engineering, the meaning of the expression 'money makes the world go around' became evident and I concluded that engineering and economics would be a very interesting combination and comprehensive basis for a broad range of careers. With this objective, I investigated possibilities after completing my Engineering degree and applied, and was accepted, for the MSc programme in Economics at TCD.”
“Ultimately, the most important skill that I learned from the course was the way to think like an economist: to be able to look at large complex questions and break them down into smaller manageable problems. The course itself was intense and required a lot of hard work but was geared towards the broader objective of cultivating the skill set to be better economic researchers, and it is a skill set that is applicable in all areas – not just economics or academia. After completing thecourse, I went to work as a Research Assistant in the Monetary Policy Research division of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, before moving to London to work in the Risk Management division of a large Investment Bank. In each job I have found that an ability to sift through the detail to understand the core questions in large projects, which I developed in the Economics MSc course in TCD, has been invaluable in addressing the issues which have arisen in my working experiences to date.”
Qi Li, Class of 2006
“The MSc in Economics was the most important stage of my study in Ireland. I think that it is designed to provide students, like me, with a detailed understanding and skills set in modern economics. On completion of the course, I found myself equipped to undertake further academic work and begin my PhD course.”
“...I found econometrics very useful. It introduced fundamental approaches to econometric modelling techniques and also econometric analysis software used for econometric analyses, estimation, and forecasting.”
“...Now I am becoming a lecturer in a university in China. Thanks to the background in economic theory and quantitative techniques I acquired in the MSc stage, I know what is useful for students’ further career; which part is hard to understand; or which part is interesting. With the understanding of core element of economics and econometrics, I obtained the ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems, including original research topics.”
Reeta Suonpera, Class of 2006
“I completed the programme in 2006 and now work as an economist with Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC). A good master’s degree is absolutely essential for a career as an economist and is pretty much expected by employers. I’ve no doubt that having a postgraduate qualification was instrumental for putting me on my current career path.”
“The Trinity MSc gives a solid technical grounding in micro, macro and econometrics, but you were also pushed to think about the real world behind the equations. It is a demanding programme, but that is after all what you look for in a master's programme. And most importantly, the international recognition of a Trinity MSc opens up a range of careers options, both in Ireland and abroad.”
Theodore Talbot, Class of 2007
“TCD was, for me, a serendipitous choice. I had been toying with the idea of following my Bachelor’s in Economics, Politics, and Finance from McGill University in Canada with a law degree, but applied to Trinity because I wanted to improve my technical economics skills. It turned out to be a great decision. The M.Sc. offered me personal attention from senior faculty, a challenging curriculum (with content comparable to that of the LSE M.Res or the Oxford M.Phil), and a focus on technical skills, all in a one-year course that balanced learning modern economic tools with the chance to apply them. I’m now working for the Overseas Development Institute in the South Pacific, but plan on returning to Trinity to complete my Ph.D. in economics. Trinity's Department of Economics provided a focused, rewarding program with small class sizes and huge returns to the time I invested in developing my economic intuition.”
Denis Tkachenko, Class of 2006
“I am a graduate of the MSc Economics class of 2005/2006. I am currently a third year economics PhD student at Boston University. Having a bit of perspective now, I can say that doing the MSc has been instrumental in my ability to survive within the PhD program. One of the main benefits, in my opinion, was being exposed to many mathematical, theoretical and econometric tools before they all come crashing down on you in a more advanced treatment in the first year of PhD. Having some head start on those greatly reduces the amount of stress and raises success rates at exams. Another benefit is getting used to hard work. Eventually they will work you even harder, but it is much easier to do the transition in incremental steps. As an added bonus, depending on the school of your choice, you can waive some program requirements (in my case I waived 2 classes). But most important of all, I think the MSc is a great way to see whether academia is the right choice for you without much commitment involved. During only one year a student gets a taste of intense coursework, research and teaching. If you will like it – then a PhD might be a good choice and your chances of getting accepted into a good school will be higher with a master degree, if you won’t – hey, at least you end up with useful skills and a degree that will enhance your job market value.”