The Master of Commerce specialising in Applied Economics [CM031ECO08] is a two-year coursework and dissertation-based degree convened by Associate Professor Reza C Daniels. It aims to prepare students with the theoretical and expert-level knowledge required for research in Economics, including doctoral research. The coursework content of the first year of the master’s stream is similar to that of the Master of Commerce Economics. In the second year, students are required to complete additional compulsory courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and other electives. In addition, students are required to complete a compulsory 60 credit minor dissertation.

Entrance requirements:

• A mark of at least 65% in Honours level Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics respectively, with an overall average of at least 65% in an Honours degree in Economics (4th year) or international equivalent.
• Before admission to the degree a candidate shall have completed quantitative courses in Econometrics, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics at Honours level, or the equivalent.
• Applicants with degrees outside South Africa are encouraged (and in some cases may be required) to submit a GRE test score. A strong performance in the quantitative segment (above the 80th percentile) is expected.
• Students who have completed equivalent courses at the master’s level may apply for exemption, but not credit, from particular courses.

Duration:
Offered over two years full-time. The programme begins in January.

Prescribed curriculum:
The curriculum consists of a number of compulsory courses and optional courses. The courses may be completed during any stage of the degree. Students are advised to follow the Master of Commerce Economics stream during the first year. A candidate will ordinarily complete the prescribed courses in the first year, and will be expected to complete the dissertation within the following year. The qualification comprises 360 credits.

Compulsory courses

Elective courses (120 credits to be chosen from the following electives which all have 30 NQF Credits and are all HEQSF Level 9):

ECO5003F    Governance and Growth    
ECO5050S    International Finance    
ECO5052S    Natural Resource Economics    
ECO5057S    Labour Economics    
ECO5062S    Applied International Trade    
ECO5064S    Views of Institutional and Behavioural Economics   
ECO5069S    Applied Time Series Analysis  
ECO5070S    Microeconometrics  
ECO5073S    Problems of Globalisation
ECO5074F    Research and Policy Tools
ECO5075S    Macroeconomic Policy Analysis
ECO5076S    Development Microeconomics
ECO5077S    Empirical Industrial Organisation

Research component:

With permission of the Graduate Convenor, a Master’s in Economic Science student may be permitted to take up to two master’s courses (30 NQF credits) from another Department. Options may be added or withdrawn according to circumstances each year.
Optional courses may be added or withdrawn at the discretion of the School of Economics according to circumstances each year. Students should check with the Department prior to registration whether a particular option will be offered in that year. Please consult the School of Economics section of this handbook for descriptions of the compulsory and elective courses.

Assessment:
To qualify for the master’s degree, students must pass all courses including the research component to the value of 360 NQF credits. The dissertation is examined by way of a 60 credit minor dissertation (9 000-10 000 word journal article (style) (ECO5023W) to be submitted before the start of the next academic year in the following year (3rd).

For more information on the courses, please refer to the Commerce Postgraduate Handbook.