Economic Policy (M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip (exit only))

Course Description

The MSc in Economic Policy provides students with a comprehensive grounding in the contemporary aspects of economic policy design and implementation and will equip them with the ability to engage confidently in evidence-based economic policy making.  It equips students with the knowledge and understanding required to thrive in policy related careers.

This is a jointly delivered programme between the Department of Economics at Trinity College Dublin and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).    It is aimed students who do not have a background in economics or who wish to refresh their economics knowledge through a policy angle.  This programme will enable graduates to engage with international and national economic research with relevance for Irish policy formation.  It will cover a range of key policy areas including, but not limited to, health economics, housing, climate change, banking, regulation, behavioural economics, taxation and welfare.

This degree will provide you with a unique understanding of the complex challenges of contemporary governance, providing a real-world context to the policy-making skills you will develop

This is the only masters programme in Ireland which has been specifically designed for those working in the public sector and/or policy design and evaluation who do not have a background in Economics to allow them to better engage with international and national economic research with relevance for Irish policy formation.  The combination of expertise from TCD’s Economics Department and the policy focussed research at the ESRI provides a unique programme which combines technical and evaluation expertise applied to Irish policy challenges.

Course structure
The M.Sc. in Economic Policy is a two-year part‐time programme. The programme will have one intake every two years starting in January 2022.  The course comprises 12 modules, six of which are compulsory modules and will focus on core concepts and skills.  The other six modules are focused on key policy areas and students will select three of these.  Students will carry out a dissertation in their second year relating to a relevant policy area.

The Course Modules are:
•    Micro Economic Policy
•    Macro Economic Policy
•    Quantitative Methods for Economics I and II
•    Research Methods for Economics
•    Applied policy evaluation
•    Regulation and Banking
•    Behavioural Economics
•    Urban and Housing Economics
•    Health Economics
•    Energy, Environment and Climate Change
•    Taxation and welfare
•    Research Dissertation