MA Economics (with or without finance specialization option)
Unlock your possibilities.
Join a welcoming and collaborative campus community and learn from internationally-recognized researchers in the Master of Arts (MA) in Economics program at the University of Guelph. This advanced program will extend your economics and finance knowledge beyond the undergraduate level and prepare you for a variety of roles within the public and private sectors, as well as further education at the PhD level. The program offers a finance specialization for students who wish to focus their studies towards finance-based economics.
Complete your degree one of two ways
Course-based option: Gain a strong foundation of knowledge through core coursework and explore different topics through electives. Complete your degree in as little as eight months.
Major research project option: Gain a strong foundation of knowledge through core coursework while exploring your research interests through an MRP. Complete your degree in one year. View past MA Economics research projects to see what other students have done.
Economics specialization
Advancing your knowledge in core economic theory and quantitative methods will prepare you to work in public policy and conduct economic research that will help solve any economic and business problem. Our MA program offers a strong introduction into advanced theoretical coursework and the flexibility to investigate your interests through elective courses.
Course based
You will take a minimum of four credits that include economics core courses and electives.
Three economics core courses (1.5 credits): Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory and Econometrics.
Five additional courses (2.5 credits), with at least two having a substantial research component totaling 50% or more of the total course grade.
Major research project
You will take a minimum of four credits that include economics core courses, electives and the MRP.
Three courses (1.5 credits) making up the economics core component: Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory and Econometrics.
Developing extensive financial knowledge and excellent quantitative research skills will enable you to become an expert analyst, understand market trends and risk, and manage financial portfolios. Our MA program features courses in asset pricing, portfolio management and financial econometrics.
Course based
You will take a minimum of four credits that include economics core courses, finance core courses and electives.
Three courses (1.5 credits) making up the economics core component: Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory and Econometrics.
Three courses (1.5 credits) making up the finance core component: Financial Economics, Empirical Finance and Financial Econometrics, Security Analysis and Portfolio Management.
Two additional courses (1 credit). You are encouraged to take International Finance and/or Money and Banking.
Major research project
You will take a minimum of four credits that include economics core courses, finance core courses and your MRP.
Three courses (1.5 credits) making up the economics core component: Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory and Econometrics.
Three courses (1.5 credits) making up the finance core component: Financial Economics, Empirical Finance and Financial Econometrics, Security Analysis and Portfolio Management.
"I most enjoyed the interest the professors took in the students’ learning and the connections they provided. On several occasions I was able to have one-on-one conversations with top-level industry executives, access only provided through the relationships the faculty have."
Kristian Adomait, MA '15 Manager - Funds, Insurance & Real Estate at KPMG
"The support and guidance of my advisors was extremely helpful. Their encouragement, comments and advice helped me grow as a researcher. Also the experience as a sessional lecturer at the University of Guelph was very important. It gave me the opportunity to understand how challenging and rewarding teaching can be."
Diana Alessandrini, MA and PhD Economics alumnus. Assistant Professor, St. Francis Xavier University
Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:
The university requires that students have the equivalent of an honours degree at the baccalaureate level. Admission to the MA program requires that students have a solid background in economic theory and econometrics from a recognized undergraduate program. Normally, the Department requires a 'B+' average as a minimum.
Students whose background is not in economics but who are otherwise outstanding should consult the Department of Economics and Finance at the Lang School. Applicants whose background in economics is difficult to evaluate may be granted admission as a provisional graduate student for one semester. If, at the end of the semester, the Department is satisfied with the student's progress, it will recommend to the Assistant Vice-President (Graduate Studies) that the student be transferred to regular graduate student status.
Program offices should be consulted for admission deadlines.
The application deadline is February 1.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Rene Kirkegaard
Graduate Coordinator
rkirkega@uoguelph.ca
(519) 824-4120 x53551
Complete the online application form through the OUAC portal (this will take about an hour – save your application regularly to avoid losing your work) by listing your demographic information, academic experience, work experience and referee information.
Application Fee: Your application will not be submitted until you have paid the application fee.
Following the completion of your online application, you will receive an email from the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies staff with login information for the University of Guelph’s WebAdvisor portal. Please note that access to WebAdvisor will be granted within a few business days, but may take up to 5 days during peak periods.
Upload the necessary application documents to WebAdvisor. All documents, including references, transcripts and an English proficiency test (if applicable) must be received by the application deadline.
Monitor your email and WebAdvisor for your admissions decision. You will receive email notification when your admissions decision has been posted to WebAdvisor.
Completed online application form.
Unofficial transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended.
Two Referee Assessment Forms from individuals familiar with your academic work. Reference forms are completed online by the referee directly; you do not need to upload a reference letter.
Statement of Research. This is a 1-2 page document outlining your research interests and discussing how this program is a good fit. When writing the statement of research, applicants are encouraged to investigate faculty research interests and publications to find whether there is alignment. Admissions priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate strong synergies with faculty in their statement of research.
A GRE/GMAT is not required
A current copy of your CV or resume.
Proof of English Proficiency if English is not your first language. Please upload a copy of your results and use school code 0892 to send an official copy to the University.
Note: when uploading documents to WebAdvisor, you will have 5 minutes to replace an uploaded document if you wish to (ie. if you’ve uploaded the wrong document). Once the document link is inactive, you must contact the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (gradapps@uoguelph.ca) to replace a document.
Faculty research explores the following topics:
Economics and Finance faculty at Guelph have a long-established reputation for delivering quality education and research. Our faculty are some of the world's most cited and highly regarded researchers within economics and finance. We rank in the top 5% of the world for research output in economics, according to Research Papers in Economics (RePEc).
Mike Hoy
Expertise: Microeconomics, welfare economics
The MA requires the completion of a minimum of 4.0 course credits. Most one-semester courses have 0.5 course credits. With approval from the Department, up to 1 credit of the required 4 credits can be taken outside the Department of Economics and Finance. However, students may, with approval, take additional courses from other Departments provided that their program includes at least six-course equivalents (3.0 credits) from the Department of Economics and Finance. The minimum duration of the program is 2 semesters of full-time study as a regular graduate student. There are two options to the MA in Economics: (i) by course work, and (ii) by course work and major research paper.
Course work and Major Research Project
A minimum of 4.0 credits is required, including:
The Economics Core (1.5 credits)
ECON*6020 [0.50] Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON*6500 [0.50] Microeconomic Theory MA
ECON*6140 [0.50] Econometrics I
or
ECON*6180 [0.50] Econometric Methods
Three additional courses (1.5 credits)
ECON*6940 [1.00] Research Project
COURSE WORK
A minimum of 4.0 credits is required, including:
The Economics Core (1.5 credits)
ECON*6020 [0.50] Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON*6500 [0.50] Microeconomic Theory MA
ECON*6140 [0.50] Econometrics I
or
ECON*6180 [0.50] Econometric Methods
Five additional courses (2.5 credits). At least two courses must have substantial research components (50% or more of the total course grade).
Course work and Major Research Project in the field of Financial Economics
The Economics Core (1.5 credits)
ECON*6020 [0.50] Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON*6500 [0.50] Microeconomic Theory MA
ECON*6140 [0.50] Econometrics I
or
ECON*6180 [0.50] Econometric Methods
The Finance Core (1.5 credits)
FIN*6000 [0.50] Asset Pricing
FIN*6200 [0.50] Empirical Finance and Financial Econometrics
FIN*6300 [0.50] Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
ECON*6940 [1.00] Research Project
Course work in the field of Financial Economics
A minimum of 4.0 credits is required, including:
The Economics Core (1.5 credits)
ECON*6020 [0.50] Macroeconomic Theory I
ECON*6500 [0.50] Microeconomic Theory MA
ECON*6140 [0.50] Econometrics I
or
ECON*6180 [0.50] Econometric Methods
The Finance Core (1.5 credits)
FIN*6000 [0.50] Asset Pricing
FIN*6200 [0.50] Empirical Finance and Financial Econometrics
FIN*6300 [0.50] Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
Note that all courses in the finance core have substantial research components (50% or more of the total course grade).
Two additional courses (1.0 credits). Students are encouraged to take:
FIN*6400 [0.50] International Finance
ECON*6490 [0.50] Money and Banking
Electives are chosen by the graduate student with the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator and his/her advisory committee. Any Social Science Graduate level course may be substituted for the Elective.