• What made you choose this course at Trinity?  

I chose Trinity for my Msc. In Economics as I believed it would provide a new challenge and alternative perspectives. I have many peers who had completed the program in the past and all had said that while it is challenging, it is incredibly rewarding and interesting. All of these factors, along with Trinity’s historical standing, high-quality seminar series and varied modules made it the ideal candidate for my postgraduate studies. 

• What have you enjoyed most about the course so far?  

On an academic standpoint – the supportive attitudes of the faculty were extremely helpful. There were many times I had attended different office hours, and each time they were more than happy to help. The assessment components in the Hilary Term for several modules revolved around group projects and presentations, all of which were handled well and promoted engagement not only between students but also student and faculty. From a non-academic point of view, I do think the bond and strive for excellence among my fellow classmates, alongside the experiences we are shared through study or otherwise is invaluable. 

• How has the course challenged or changed the way you think?  

In the Michaelmas Term, the fundamentals of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics theory were covered at an advanced level. While the concepts were familiar, the standard of understanding required pushed me and others beyond our undergraduate grounding. The rigorous approach, while challenging, is rewarding for those who are looking to pursue a PhD or a career in economic research. The emphasis placed on empirical research, challenging and learning for our peers in the literature changed how I think of economics beyond constrained textbook models. 

• What would you say to someone considering applying?  

When considering applying, take a look at the module options to see if there are any that interest you. I would also place importance on checking out the faculty and their associated research as when it comes to the dissertation it is paramount to work on a topic that interests you. To have a member of faculty who shares this interest and promotes it will make the masters experience that bit more rewarding. Building from this, make note of the different seminar series from the past to see the wide variety and high calibre of academics from around the world that Trinity attracts. 

The course is rigorous but the modules are designed to ensure that we are well versed with the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced topics. The small class size and weekly tutorials with PhD students meant that we could get any questions we had answered easily.

I'm now working in development research in India, thanks to the training I received during the MSc at TCD. I would recommend the programme to anyone with a quantitative background who wants to get a PhD in economics or wants to work in economic research/consulting/policy."

The flexible environment allowed me to attain a high quality masters degree which gave a quantitative foundation in advanced economics, while supplementing this with rich applied studies in the second term. The content learned has been of great use in my day to day work environment, while the applied dissertation allowed me to get the skills necessary to advance to further study in the form of a PhD."

James Wales

Class of 2019

The programme started with a mathematics and statistics boot camp which provided the foundation for the MSc. The course consists of modules in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics.

The weekly problem sets are provided to challenge you and help you grasp the fundamentals of each module. Similarly, the more applied problem sets in the econometrics classes help you apply your theoretical knowledge using real world data. The problem sets are challenging but the small class size creates an atmosphere for team work and knowledge sharing.

While the Michaelmas Term focuses on the fundamentals of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics the Hilary Term focuses more on current research in each field. The emphasis on current and notable economic papers in the Hilary Term prepares you when conducting your own research during the dissertation period.

Studying at Trinity College was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The course was demanding, but studying on Trinity’s ancient campus was truly unique. The international aspect of the university left me with friends from all around the world. I would highly recommend the MSc to anyone looking to further their study in economics or related fields."

Clíona Ní Mhógáin

Class of 2018

The first half of the degree builds a strong foundation of theory. In the second half of the degree you build a specialist knowledge on various topics and are pushed to focus on your own research interests. Courses in econometrics and research methods taught throughout the year allow you to develop your quantitative skills and investigate issues for your own research.

The MSc in Economics ensured that I had a well-rounded and seamless understanding of the main theories and concepts in both microeconomics and macroeconomics, while also allowing me the flexibility to pursue the areas of economics I was most interested in. One of the unique features of this degree is the strong emphasis on quantitative skills and research methods.

There is a substantial emphasis on econometrics and the instructors ensure that you leave with unparalleled skills in this area.  The strength of my analytical skills is largely attributable to my choice of masters and has been tested in my career in property economics research.

The MSc is an incredibly challenging but rewarding year. If you want to excel you really do need to dedicate yourself to this degree for the year and collaborate with your classmates."

Xidong Guo

Class of 2017

Through the inspiring taught modules, I learnt solid theoretical and empirical techniques. I also faced many challenging problem sets; however, we received careful guidance from tutorials given by PhD students. My master dissertation was supervised professionally, and while drafting it I had the chance to present my work in front of peers and faculty members.

Moreover, weekly seminars at Trinity Research in Social Sciences (TRiSS) presented by well-known external scholars in diverse research fields inspired my research interest in further study of economics. This excellent program also offered us training sessions in Statistics, Mathematics, Stata, GIS software, etc. These skills are invaluable and fundamental for my current PhD research.

This program was challenging; however, help and encouragement were always there. I found our faculty members approachable and available to answer all my academic questions. Also, they provided me with many precious suggestions for my research and career path. I had an intense academic year, but when I look back at it, I will always be grateful to this experience."

Seraphim Dempsey

Class of 2016

Following the MSc, I spent two years as a Research Assistant in the ESRI, a year in Revenue with IGEES, and am now a PhD student based at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research. The MSc undoubtedly prepared me for these next steps. It ensured not only that I was equipped with the quantitative tools necessary for economic analysis, but also fostered more general skills which have proven to be indispensable in a wide variety of work settings.

In terms of the course content, the weekly problem sets (microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics) were extremely challenging and pushed us to work together to formulate solutions. This allowed us to think about questions from a variety of different perspectives, simultaneously learning from one another and developing team problem-solving skills.

While the lectures were quite theoretical, the econometric lab sessions provided an opportunity of using this knowledge in a more applied setting. Each semester we demonstrated our knowledge of key econometric concepts by locating data (e.g. time series, panel) and carrying out a research project using Stata.

These research projects served as useful warm-up exercises for the final dissertation and ensured that we understood the practical implications of a specific econometric concept. The weekly economic seminars also played an important role in exposing us to the more current methodologies and questions being posed in economic research. In addition, we were required to write four “referee” reports based on these seminars, which helped to develop our critical thinking skills and provided a preliminary insight into the academic peer-review process."

Rishi Ahuja

Class of 2016

I especially enjoyed the "Research Topics" course which gave me exposure to other academics and their research to help broaden our perspective on the discipline. Trinity professors treat you as colleagues and are willing to work with you to advance your research interests. After completing the MSc I worked with my faculty advisor, Ronan Lyons, to publish my dissertation in Oxford Economics Papers exploring discrimination against same-sex couples on Airbnb in Dublin.

The faculty at Trinity encourage you to fully engage with the field of Economics and contribute as a scholar and researcher while you learn the fundamentals over the course of the year. Regardless of whether you intend to go into academia or industry, the MSc will serve you well.

After the MSc, I worked in consumer financial protection with the U.S. government for two years focussing on fintech before joining a fintech lending startup in India. My grounding in Economics has served me well across these settings and I continue to see the benefits of the program in my career. Finally, living in Dublin and learning on the historic Trinity campus is a truly unique experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience as an MSc student."

Brian Higgins

Class of 2015

I did both, spending two years in economic consulting and am now in the PhD program at Stanford University – what I learned in the masters at Trinity has helped throughout. The classes covered the frontier of economic tools and research, and were both rigorous and challenging. Combined with the research component – seminars, paper reviews and a dissertation – the masters prepared me well for independent research in consulting and the PhD program.

Trinity is a wonderful place to study and I learned almost as much outside the classroom as inside. Many hours were spent working through problem sets and research ideas with an international group of classmates, many of whom I’m still friends with today.

And I had the opportunity – though not a part of the official syllabus – to teach tutorials to undergraduates and work with faculty during a summer research assistantship. Trinity also has a vibrant clubs and society scene and during the masters I was on the Food and Drink society’s committee -  the highlight of which was our annual ball, Feast!

Overall, the masters at Trinity provided a great starting point for my career and I think it is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to work in economics."

Katharina Bergant

Class of 2015

The MSc. lays out a solid foundation for analytical work in the field of Economics – not just for academic work for a PhD, but also for jobs in policy institutions or the private sector. It offers the right balance of theoretical courses and practical applications of analytical economic methods.

The theoretical concepts taught in Micro and Macro Economics helped me to grasp the intuition behind economic relationships. More applied classes, such as Econometrics, taught me how to use this knowledge in empirical projects. These skills did not only help me to successfully complete my PhD thesis, I also continue to apply them every day in my job at the International Monetary Fund.

Apart from the academic aspects, I also really enjoyed the setting of the MSc. in Economics. First of all, Trinity College is a vibrant university in the middle of the city with countless opportunities to meet interesting people and pursue hobbies and interests. Secondly, I appreciated the small class size. This enabled me to get to know each professor and their respective areas of research.

I can say that I finished the MSc. knowing which field I wanted to work in which would not have been possible if the faculty had not taken the time to support and advice me."