Course overview

The course prepares you for challenging business careers by developing those skills that employers seek in economics graduates. It is designed for graduates completing programmes in Economics, Accounting and Finance, but is also suitable for strong Business and Management graduates who wish to extend their economic understanding. The MSc in Business Economics develops your understanding of theories and techniques that economists use to solve business problems, particularly pricing decisions and product development and promotion. You will gain a deeper understanding of business strategy including investment, mergers and acquisitions. We will guide you in applying sophisticated forecasting techniques to help you understand and anticipate business trends, and with our guidance you will learn how to design and deliver research to the highest standards.

Bloomberg Suite

Students can access the same data, analytics and software used by city traders by using one of the terminals located in the University of Portsmouth’s Business School Bloomberg Suite. Bloomberg terminals, used by financial professionals daily to make fast-paced investment, trading and financial decisions will allow students to monitor and analyse real-time financial market data movements and trade virtually.

Created by the Mayor of New York, Mike Bloomberg, the system is used by over a quarter of million finance professionals globally. Our investment in this resource provides students with an essential business research tool and real-life financial experience helping them to enhance their employability skills in order to “hit the ground running” once they join the workforce.

Find out more

For further information please contact our Admissions Team (details above). We also hold regular postgraduate and part-time open eveningsat which you can see our facilities,enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapes. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self funding students.

Course content

The MSc Business Economics curriculum is designed to provide an excellent learning experience and forms the basis for lifelong learning throughout your career. On completion of this course you will be a creative and effective problem-solver, capable of applying logical and critical thinking to a range of business problems.

This course is comprised of four taught units that you will study between September and May. You will also receive instruction in research methods during this period. The curriculum is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops that emphasise the acquisition of skills and developing confidence in communicating your ideas. The programme concludes with a written research project on a topic of your choice.

The units you will study are:

Business Economics

Applying economics to decision making can greatly enhance business planning and help build successful strategies. This unit formulates problem-solving strategies for business problems using relevant quantitative and case study materials. Topics covered include:

• Pricing strategies;
• Creating and sustaining competitive advantage;
• Information and incentives;
• Regulation.

Applied Econometrics

Applied Econometrics ensures that students are familiar with essential econometric techniques and their applications, and can undertake econometric analysis, assess the properties and limitations of different econometric methods, and evaluate and interpret key results. Topics covered include:

• Unit root testing; co integration, vector error correction models;
• Estimation and forecasting using ARMA and ARIMA models;
• Modelling stochastic volatility; ARCH and GARCH models;
• AR(I)MA models with (G)ARCH errors, and their application to financial data.

Business Environment

This unit explores key facets of the modern day business environment, such as sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, and business ethics. I t considers the risks and challenges for commercial organisations posed by the external environment, and identifies strategies for their resolution. Topics covered include:

• Stakeholders, social capital & trust;
• Environmental and social impact assessment;
• Corporate social responsibility;
• Fair trade & ethical business;
• Crisis management strategies.

Decision Making and Resources

On completing this unit, students will have gained an appreciation of relevant analytical methods and diagnostic approaches for analysing corporate decision-making. There is a strong emphasis upon learning activities that involve individual and group-based problem-solving to engender the acquisition of skills. Topics covered include:

• Economics of insurance;
• Project appraisal in business;
• Labour market analysis;
• Competitive strategies for the information economy.

Research Methods and Dissertation

Students on all Economics postgraduate programmes complete a scheme of independent research. We offer comprehensive training via lectures and workshops throughout the year to develop skills commensurate with standards of good research practice. On completing this programme students will be ideally placed to develop their own research projects and work within professional research teams.

Dissertation

Your dissertation engages you in economic research using the skills and judgement you have developed during your course. We commence your research training when you join the Department, and help you develop a working proposal through to concentrating on your project after completing your taught units. You will be guided in this by a member of the Department through formal meetings and via our use of social media.

Part-time study

Part-time study (available for home/EU students) lets students take the same units but at a pace more suited to their circumstances.

Teaching and assessment

We are committed to best practice in teaching and learning. Several of us are involved in major collaborative projects to integrate new teaching technologies into economics classrooms. We maintain an ongoing programme of continuing professional development (CPD) that brings us into contact with scholars from other institutions and disciplines. This is reflected in approaches to learning, assessment and feedback that are varied and constructive, and help you to build the personal management and employability skills that are essential for fulfilling careers.

Career prospects

Career opportunities include business professionals, commercial, industrial and public sector managers, as well as many other jobs with responsibility for decision-making.

At Portsmouth Business School we have regular discussions with employers and professional bodies to help ensure that all our courses are relevant to their business and recruitment needs. Our Careers and Employment Service team will support you in developing the skills needed to pursue employment opportunities in your chosen career area.

Facilities and features

You will attend lectures in the purpose-built Richmond Building, where an attractive Postgraduate Centre is located. It offers a computer drop-in and resource centre containing a wireless network access area, as well as printing and photocopying facilities. The newly expanded University Library is only a short walk away. Open from 8am until midnight every day in term-time, it provides a variety of information to help with study and research. Besides the law collection with key primary sources, journals and texts, there is also a European Documentation Centre and collection of Parliamentary Papers. The library has also heavily invested in the purchase of electronic sources. There are over 10,000 electronic journals available, which can be accessed across campus, from home or wherever there is an internet connection.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Business Economics are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Portsmouth Business School
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk