THE UNIVERSITY OF READING SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
MSc PROGRAMMES
in the
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
2003-4
THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS: EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AND IN POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION
The Department of Economics is a member of the School of Business and, together with the Department of Management, was awarded a 5 rating (on a scale of 1 to 5*) in the latest official assessment for the excellent quality of its research. The Department covers most areas of applied microeconomics and macroeconomics with an emphasis on international business, international finance, international trade and development, contemporary European economic issues and urban and regional economics.
Within these broad fields, individual research work includes cross-cutting themes such as entrepreneurship, the economics of regulation, technological change and innovation.
Reflecting the excellent reputation of the Department, members of staff have carried out advisory work for the World Bank, the U.N., the European Commission, the Bank of England, and a wide variety of U.K. Government ministries. Staff also serve on a number of national and international advisory committees, on the Boards of professional societies and associations.
The extensive post-graduate programme of taught modules and research supervision draws directly on a wealth of knowledge and expertise, both in the Department of Economics and in the Department of Management. The MSc programme in the Department of Economics currently attracts over 100 students from all over the world and this enables us to offer a wide range of course modules (currently 45) on the eight MSc degree programmes.
At the same time, we are careful to ensure that all students have adequate opportunities for advice and discussions with individual members of staff. All students have a personal tutor to provide advice and support, module convenors organise seminar discussions, and are available at pre-arranged times to give individual advice, while individual supervisors are appointed for students writing dissertations. In this way, we hope to combine the benefits of size with attention to the needs of individual postgraduate students.
THE UNIVERSITY:
HIGH QUALITY TEACHING
IN A VERY PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT
The University was founded as an extension of Oxford University in 1892 and received its Royal Charter as an independent institution in 1926. The Department is located in the main Whiteknights campus of the University. This is a magnificent 300-acre park, once part of the medieval manorial estate of Erleigh Whiteknights and landscaped with extensive lawns, trees and lakes in the 18th century, providing a beautiful setting in which to study.
The majority of students, including postgraduates, live in the thirteen Halls of Residence, most of which are located around the northern perimeter of the park and in the residential streets nearby. Other students live in private bedsitting rooms, flats or houses in the town.
The Halls of Residence vary in age, size and character, but all are within easy reach of Whiteknights, and provide a range of study, domestic and social facilities, while some Halls have a limited number of ensuite facilities. Most Halls provide a choice of either fully catered meals in a central dining room or kitchens where students can prepare their own meals. All students have a key to their own room, and to the outside door if needed. All the Halls are within reasonable walking distance of shops, a bank, a post office and a bus route into the town. Car parking spaces are limited at some of the Halls.
Each Hall has a Warden, who is a member of the academic staff. Other members of the university also live in Hall and, like the Warden, are able to give help and advice to students.
The large, purpose-built, Library is the focus of the campus and contains nearly one million books. A wide range of information sources, both on CD-ROM and over the Internet, are available and the Library subscribes to over four thousand academic journals and periodicals.
Extensive Computing facilities operate throughout the University and, in addition, the School of Business runs its own library and computer room.
The University has some excellent resources for sport, all the major facilities for which are on its main campus. For those seeking casual and recreational sport, the University Wolfenden Sports Centre offers the full range of indoor sports and activities ranging from aerobics to yoga classes. These resources are complemented by the purpose built Students’ Union which provides facilities to allow students to relax and socialise. In addition to organising hundreds of clubs and societies, the Students’ Union offers bars, shops, various catering outlets and a wide variety of entertainments to suit all tastes.
The University Health Service provides a comprehensive medical service for students. Its modern, purpose-built Health Centre has in-patient and nursing facilities. Students who are taken ill during the term may be admitted to the Health Centre and cared for until they are well.
The University takes pride in the help and advice which it provides for its undergraduate and postgraduate students. This is primarily provided through a personal tutor, who is a member of the academic staff of the department in which you spend most time during the course and whose duty it is to provide impartial advice and assistance and where necessary, to represent your interests throughout your stay at the University. This is complemented by the Counselling Service staffed by professional counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists. You can go and discuss with them in complete confidence any problems which might be troubling you, such as difficulties with study, examination anxieties, family problems and loneliness, or simply talk informally about how you are getting on.
The Careers Service provides a wide range of facilities including one-to-one discussions with careers staff, computer-based guidance and information systems, extensive library facilities, a website and substantial termly programmes of events. These provide insights into self-assessment, a range of opportunities and how to implement choices. The Careers Advisory Service works closely with recruiters; many employers organise presentations and interviews on campus.
READING: THE BEST OF TOWN LIFE
Reading is a large, thriving and bustling town in the heart of the Thames Valley and offers all of the attractions of a city with the peace of some of England's finest countryside. It is not a place that rests on its history: while it boasts the remains of one of England's largest and richest abbeys, the burial place of Henry I and a heritage dating back to Roman times, it accommodates its modernity with ease. The growth of new buildings reflects how many companies see Reading as a town of the future as much as the present.
The recently completed Oracle in the centre of the town is one of the country’s largest shopping and leisure complexes, and features over 80 shops, with all the top names. Situated at the heart of the Oracle is The Riverside, a vibrant promenade stretching along both sides of the river, featuring a wide range of restaurants and bars, as well as the 10-screen Warner Village Cinema, and an art gallery. In the Hexagon complex, you will find top-quality entertainment all the year round (and one month can boast appearances by a top rock band, a Mozart opera, acts by the nation's favourite entertainers, as well as top-class films), while several other theatres and venues ensure a whole spectrum of film, music and performance. Surrounding these complexes are a very wide selection of wine bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops to cater for all tastes.
For those who need a break from the pubs, cinemas and clubs, there are the Chiltern Hills and the Berkshire Downs in the surrounding countryside. Or if you are going further, the town is close to the M4, while fast trains will take you to London (22 minutes), Oxford, Birmingham or Bristol.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The University of Reading has a long history of welcoming students from other countries. They represent one-fifth of the student community of the University, and currently come from 124 different countries. The presence of students from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures has helped to create a stimulating international environment for all members of the University.
Reading maintains more than 550 formal academic links with universities around the world. Many of our staff have held senior posts abroad and have first-hand and recent knowledge of many countries.
The University of Reading has for many years made a substantial contribution to the education and training of people from overseas, many of whom returned to attain leading positions in their countries.
Information
Before leaving home students will be provided with comprehensive information about the University and studying in the UK.
Meet and greet
Arrangements can be made for students with special needs to be met on arrival at Heathrow or Gatwick Airports.
Welcome and Orientation
The International Welcome Programme is organised for all new international students to ensure that they settle quickly into life in Reading. It starts 10 days before teaching commences.
Centre for Applied Language Studies
The Centre provides a course in English for academic purposes for over 200 students from July to September each year. For those students who need further help with English alongside their academic courses, tutorial support and classes are provided (free of charge for students paying the full overseas fee) during the year by the In-sessional Language Support Programme, which is run by the Centre.
For more extensive language support, students may join the English Language & Study Skills course which runs from October to the end of March. This course offers intensive language and study preparation for postgraduate students beginning their studies in January or April of the academic year.
For further information contact the Course Administrator, Centre for Applied Language Studies, The University of Reading, PO Box 241, Reading RG6 6WB, Berkshire, U.K.
The normal requirement for entry is a minimum average score in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 7.0. The American Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) may be accepted with a score of 590, but this test does not include oral or continuous prose tests and the University therefore normally also requires applicants to take the additional TOEFL Test of Written English. We also accept the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency at Grade B.
Advice
The International Student Adviser and Study Adviser will assist with any problems which may be encountered.
Hospitality
Hospitality is arranged by the International Office for students from overseas who wish to enjoy a visit to a British home.
The International Office
The International Office is concerned with all the overseas activities and interests of the University. It organises the Welcome Programme for new international students, arranges programmes for academic and official visitors from abroad, promotes the University overseas, and services the University's International Committee.
STRUCTURE OF THE MSc PROGRAMMES
The MSc programmes can be taken EITHER as a nine month programme comprising nine 20-credit taught modules, with graduation in July, OR as a 12 month programme comprising seven, 20-credit taught modules and a 40-credit dissertation (submitted towards the beginning of September) with graduation in December. Students who intend to proceed to a Ph.D. are strongly advised to select the twelve month programme.
BUSINESS ECONOMICS AND POLICY
Qualifications for Entry
1) A good undergraduate degree which has included a good grounding in economics and a good knowledge of microeconomics.
2. A good standard of English; IELTS 7.0, or TOEFL 590 plus the additional TOEFL Test of Written English
Structure
Core Modules (80 credits)
ECM06 Business Strategies and Policies
ECM07 Policies Towards Business: National and International Antitrust Policy
ECM14 Entrepreneurship and Economic Theory
ECM15 Small Business Economics
9-month Degree - additional modules
Five, 20 credit modules,
excluding modules ECM03, ECM04, MMM02, MM022, MMM021.
12-month Degree - additional modules
1) Three, 20 credit modules,
excluding modules ECM03, ECM04, MMM021, MMM022, MMM025
2) A dissertation (40 credits) of not more than 12,000 words submitted by the first
week in September.
Note
Each module has pre-requisites (prior conditions) which must be met for entry and you must make sure that you fulfil these conditions if you wish to study a particular module in your degree programme. Please see our website for further details.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND FINANCE
Qualifications For Entry
1) A good undergraduate degree including economics and a good knowledge of microeconomics and calculus.
2) A good standard of English; IELTS 7.0, or TOEFL 590 plus the additional TOEFL Test of Written English
Structure
Core modules (120 credits)
ECM 20 Theoretical Approaches to the Multinational Enterprise
ECM 21 Global Strategy and Implications of Multinational Enterprise
ECM 22 Financial Markets
ECM 23 Financial Regulation
ECM 08 Corporate Finance
ECM 09 Financial Markets and Corporate Governance
9-month Degree - additional modules
Three, 20 credit modules, excluding M03, M04, MMM021, MMM022, MMM025
12-month Degree - additional modules
1) One, 20 credit module, excluding M03, M04, MMM021, MMM022, MMM025
2) A dissertation (40 credits) of not more than 12,000 words submitted by the first
week in September
Note
Each module has pre-requisites (prior conditions) which must be met for entry and you must make sure that you fulfil these conditions if you wish to study a particular module in your degree programme. Please see our website for further details.
INTERNATIONAL BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
Qualifications for Entry
1) A good undergraduate degree including economics courses and a good knowledge of microeconomics and calculus.
2) A good standard of English; IELTS 7.0, or TOEFL 590 plus the additional TOEFL Test of Written English
Structure
Core modules (120 credits)
ECM02 The Economics of Banking
ECM03 Banking and Financial Services
ECM08 Corporate Finance
ECM09 Financial Markets and Corporate Governance
ECM022 Financial Markets
ECM023 Financial Regulation
9-month Degree - additional modules
Three, 20 credit modules, excluding modules MM021, MM022, MM025
12-month Degree - additional modules