About the programme:

The Bachelor of Commerce Honours specialising in Economics [CH001ECO01] aims to expose graduates – who meet the acceptance criteria -  to a range of specialised topics and refine the skills needed to pursue successful research and professional careers. This is the ideal programme if you find economics exceptionally interesting and want a deeper understanding of the subject.

The first semester concentrates on theory and empirical techniques. Still, during the second semester, you really get to apply these concepts to real-world situations in the electives that cover development economics, environmental economics, international finance, economic challenges of Africa, the analysis of survey data, and policy analysis. You will be taught by senior staff members in the department, who are experienced and highly reputable academics that have also worked in the policy environment.

Apply online. Applications close on 30 September.

The provisional fees are listed in the Fees Handbook.

Programme Convenor: 

Dr Christine Makanza
Email: christine.makanza@uct.ac.za

Duration of the programme:

Offered over one year full-time. The programme begins in January.

Prescribed curriculum/programme structure:

The programme comprises four compulsory courses in the first semester, three elective courses in the second semester, and a research paper. The total credits for the standard programme are 136 NQF credits.

Compulsory courses (totalling 94 NQF credits)

Course CodeCourse NameNQF CreditsNQF Level
ECO4112FMathematics and Statistics for Economics168
ECO4021WResearch & Writing (Research Paper)308
ECO4006FMacroeconomics168
ECO4007FMicroeconomics168
ECO4016FEconometrics168

Three special topics in advanced economics selected from the following options for a total of 42 NQF credits.*

Course CodeCourse NameNQF CreditsNQF Level
ECO4051SDevelopment Economics148
ECO4052SEnvironmental Economics14 8
ECO4053SFinancial Economics148
ECO4013SInternational Finance148
ECO4020SEconomic Challenges of Africa148
ECO4032SEconomics of Industry, Regulation and Firms148
ECO4026SThe Economy and its Financial Markets148
ECO4027SAnalysis of Survey Data148
ECO4028SPolicy Analysis148
ECO4029SExperiments in Economics148
ECO4113SLabour Economics148
ECO4114SThe Economics of Conflict148
ECO4131SDigital Economics148
ECO4132SEconomics of Inequality: Causes, Consequences & policy148
ECO4200STime Series Econometrics148

* Business Science (Economics stream) students must take three options in addition to BUS4050W.

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