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Email academic.registry@tcd.ieAny society has to address the problem of how and what to produce for its material survival, and how the goods and services that are produced should be distributed among its population. Economists explore how people and institutions behave and function when producing, exchanging and using goods and services. Economists’ main motivation is to find mechanisms that encourage efficiency in the production and use of material goods and resources, while at the same time producing a pattern of income distribution that society finds acceptable.
Economics will appeal to students with a wide range of interests. If you are interested in current economic affairs or in understanding how public policies could lower unemployment or assist the developing world, then you will find studying economics both stimulating and rewarding. Economics is also a strong platform for careers in business and finance. Students who enjoy abstract thinking, and are evaluating courses such as engineering or physics, should also consider economics as a degree option.
In the 2020 QS rankings Trinity was ranked in the top 150 universities in the world for Economics and Econometrics. The Department of Economics, in the school of Social Sciences and Philosophy, places considerable emphasis on providing a supportive and stimulating teaching environment for all students. In addition to lectures, which are given by highly qualified academic staff with international reputations, the Department facilitates learning through approachable staff, small tutorial groups, student presentations, and time set aside each week by all staff and teaching assistants to meet students on a one-to-one basis. Furthermore, students gain valuable experience and exposure to economics through involvement in societies and debates and in the annual publication of the ‘Student Economic Review.’
Economics students develop exceptional logical reasoning and analytical skills which are highly sought after by employers in a range of fields including business, finance, journalism, law, politics, the public service and academia.
The following are just a few examples of the diverse organisations where economics graduates work: Dublin Web Summit, Abbott, Goldman Sachs, Google, Credit Suisse, Citigroup, JP Morgan, Accenture, Morgan Stanley, Irish Life, Wolfhound Press, Maersk, Central Bank of Ireland and KPMG.
About a quarter of economics graduates go on to postgraduate study, both at Trinity and at other leading universities around the world such as Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge and the London School of Economics.
Most of the teaching takes place at lecture level and is complemented by tutorials (small group teaching). In the first two years, teaching emphasises the understanding of the basic principles of economics and the acquisition of the quantitative and analytical skills necessary for more in-depth study. The student will also receive instruction on how the modern economy works both from an Irish and a global perspective. In third and fourth year, there are very few compulsory modules. Students are therefore able to construct their own programme from a wide range of options.
All modules in the first three years are assessed by a combination of continuous assessment (tests or essays) and the formal end-of-semester examinations. Fewer modules are required in the fourth and final year so as to facilitate time for more independent work.
Project work is a very important component of almost all modules within the final year; this project work allows students to achieve a very high level of expertise in a number of specific areas and is very beneficial to students when setting out on their career paths. In addition, students specialising exclusively in economics in fourth year complete a Capstone project on a chosen topic.
Introduction to Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, Introduction to Economic Policy and a selection of optional modules.
Intermediate Economics, Economy of Ireland, Mathematical and Statistical Methods.
Some of the modules which may be available to study are:
Economic Analysis; Money and Banking; European Economy; Economics of Less Developed Countries; Investment Analysis; Economics of Policy Issues; Industrial Economics: Competition, Strategy and Policy; Mathematical Economics; Econometrics; Economic Theory; World Economy; Development Economics; Economics of Financial Markets; International Economics; Economic and Legal Aspects of Competition Policy; Applied Economics; History of Economic Thought and Policy; Topics in Political Economy.
A combination of final examinations and continual assessments (e.g. essays, projects, term tests).
There are QQI/FET routes available for this course. Please see www.cao.ie for details.
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Students have the opportunity to spend some time in their third year studying in distinguished partner institutions in Australia, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands for either an academic year or for half an academic year; the majority of outgoing students go abroad for half an academic year. Further information on the year abroad programme, and a list of partner universities, can be found at: www.tcd.ie/Economics/undergraduate/current/study-abroad
| Leaving Certificate | O4/H6 | Mathematics |
| GCSE: | Grade B | Mathematics |
International Baccalaureate: SL Grade 5 Mathematics
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To apply to this course, click on the relevant Apply Link below
Read the information about how to apply, then apply directly to CAO.
Read the information about how to apply for Advanced Entry, then select the link below to apply.
“Studying economics has given me the opportunity to learn about an incredibly broad spectrum of issues, from government policy down to how individuals make decisions on a day-to-day basis. It helps immensely with developing your ability to think critically, analyse information, and understand more about what is going on in the world today. Studying economics delivers an excellent college experience.”
“I chose to study Mathematics and Economics at Trinity, hoping to strike a balance between theory and application. The course more than delivered; in years one and two, the degree offered an incredibly wide theoretical base which allowed students to discover where their interests really lie. In the final two years, I was then able to begin selecting more specialist modules, focusing on areas of interest such as Statistics, Data Science, Game Theory and Spatial Economics.
To me, the greatest competitive advantage of the course was the focus on writing novel research papers across my third and fourth years, providing a huge head start in academic research while pushing us to ask novel questions, tie together economic theory and empirical research at an early stage and focus on being creative in our approach. Supporting this, the professors (particularly those in the Economics department) were unrivalled in their commitment to students.”
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