Economics and Statistics MA (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Economics

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

LG13

Award

MA (Hons)

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Multiple campuses

Start date

September 2026

School

School of Economics

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study abroad

Available

Placement

No

Open days and events

About the degree programme

Statistical techniques are an important tool if you are interested in economic theory (for example, risk management and finance) or applied economic analysis (econometrics).

This joint programme will provide you with a thorough and rigorous understanding of statistical principles. This complements the basic grounding in statistical techniques provided within our economics programme.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years.

A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.

This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.

How long it takes to complete our degree programmes

How a joint degree programme works

A joint programme allows you to gain a well-rounded learning experience. You will have more exposure to different disciplines, allowing you to expand your knowledge and expertise.

Teaching on joint programmes is split across the two subject areas, and teaching will take place in locations associated with both subjects.

You will gain a different perspective through studying more than one subject and have a wider skill set that is highly attractive to future employers.

Programme rankings

  • Ranked in the UK's top 10 universities for economics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
  • 5th in the UK for Mathematics and Statistics (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 by Subject)
  • 5th in the UK for Mathematics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Programme benefits

  • Our economics staff make up one of the leading groups of economic theorists in Europe. We are the base for the Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics.
  • The School of Economics receives consistently high ratings for academic standards, teaching and learning resources.
  • You will join a vibrant learning community, home to active and engaged student societies like the Economics Society and the Edinburgh University Trading and Investment Club.
  • Mathematics teaching at Edinburgh fosters interactive engagement that promotes long-term understanding. Teaching is enhanced by technology, including voting systems and online quizzes, and we actively encourage collaborative learning.
  • Employability skills are embedded in the curriculum.
  • The School of Mathematics has expertise in a variety of research areas, allowing you to tailor your degree to your area of mathematical interest.

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Economics and Statistics

View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Economics and Statistics.

Tuition fees for this programme

Additional costs

Textbooks are required, which cost about £100.

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

What you will study

You will study:

  • Economics 1
  • Introduction to Mathematics at University
  • Introduction to Mathematical Analysis
  • Linear Algebra 1

These courses are designed to build on your knowledge of mathematics from school, introducing you to more rigorous ways of mathematical thinking required at university level.

They cover a wide range of mathematics, including some applications of mathematics, so you can make informed choices at honours level.

You will also take one optional course. 

We offer optional mathematics courses, for example:

  • Introduction to Data Science where you will learn to collect and explore data, before using models and predictions to make rigorous conclusions.
  • Fundamentals of Algebra and Calculus an online, introductory course that provides extra preparation in key topics from advanced high school level mathematics and further supports your transition to university.

Courses may be subject to change.

Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

In Year 2, you will take a number of compulsory mathematics courses that will extend your knowledge of analysis and calculus and generalize what you have seen in linear algebra. They also introduce you to probability and statistics.

  • Economics 2
  • Linear Algebra 2
  • Elementary Probability and Statistics
  • Further Analysis and Several Variable Calculus

You will also take one option course.

Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

You will study:

  • Topics in Microeconomics
  • Essentials of Econometrics
  • Statistical Methodology
  • Stochastic Modelling
  • Statistical Computing

Plus either of the following:

  • Applications of Econometrics
  • Topics in Macroeconomics

You will also study one of the following: 

  • Theory of Statistical Inference
  • Multivariate Data Analysis
  • Statistical Learning
  • Applied Statistics

You will choose one honours option course from economics, or two from statistics.

Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

You will complete an economics honours dissertation or a project in mathematics.

You will also study:

  • two economics honours option courses
  • two mathematics option courses

You will have a wide range of option courses to choose from, influenced by the varied research specialisms in each school. 

The School of Mathematics offers a large selection of topics, such as:

  • pure and applied mathematics
  • statistics
  • operational research
  • financial mathematics
  • mathematical biology
  • mathematical education

You will be able to tailor your programme to meet your specific statistical (and mathematical) interests.

Current mathematics courses include:

  • General Topology
  • Essentials in Analysis and Probability
  • Entrepreneurship in the Mathematical Sciences
Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Study abroad

The School of Economics exchange programme offers opportunities to study in:

  • USA
  • Europe

The University's exchange programmes are spread all over the world.

What are my options for going abroad?

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Courses are taught through a combination of:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • tutorials
  • workshops
  • web-based learning 
Mathematics teaching
Lectures

In Year 1, lectures are usually interactive. Lecturers use online voting systems and encourage small-group discussions to improve your understanding of core material. 

These lectures are linked to your subject reading, so you will be familiar with the content before you attend.

Lectures in later years follow a more 'traditional' lecturing style but occasionally include the voting system or other innovative teaching methods.

Workshops

Lectures are supported by small-group workshops.

These sessions give you the opportunity to apply the concepts you have learned in lectures, and to develop your understanding.

You will work with five to six other students, with a tutor on hand to support you and answer questions.

Interactive Learning

Our teaching fosters interactive engagement that promotes long-term understanding. Teaching is enhanced by technology, including voting systems and online quizzes, and we actively encourage collaborative learning.

Assessment

You will be assessed by exams and coursework, including:

  • problem sets
  • essays
  • project reports
  • presentations

In Year 4 you will complete an honours dissertation.

Mathematics assessments

Mathematics courses are mostly assessed through exams.

In your first and second year, these exams are primarily 'open book' exams, where you can use your textbook and notes. This allows you to concentrate on understanding and using the ideas and concepts involved, rather than memorising procedures.

In later years there is a mixture of open and closed book exams, depending on the course.

Most mathematics courses have regular assessments throughout the year, both written and online, so you can get feedback on your progress. These typically count for a small part of your course grade.

Later in the degree there are some courses available which are entirely assessed by coursework. This is usually in the form of:

  • reports
  • posters
  • projects
  • presentations

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a school adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.

Academic support and guidance

Peer-Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS)

The peer-assisted learning scheme aims to help first-year students transition into higher education, develop their learning and study strategies as well as to provide opportunities to socialise.

School of Mathematics Support

You will also have access to broad-ranging support within the School of Mathematics, including:

  • drop-in Year 1 mathematics support
  • option to take part in our peer-assisted learning scheme, MathPALS
  • Mathematics Student Services team
  • Student Development team

Our academic staff

The School of Mathematics has expertise in a variety of research areas, allowing you to tailor your degree to your area of mathematical interest. To find out more about our research and its applications, take a look at our Researchers on Record video series.

Researchers on Record (YouTube)

Where you will study

Study location

It is worth noting that as these two subjects are based on different campuses, you will likely need to travel between campuses for classes.

For economics courses, teaching takes place in the Central Area.

The School of Mathematics is based in the James Clerk Maxwell Building at the King's Buildings campus. Your mathematics teaching will take place at the King's Buildings campus throughout your degree.

Academic facilities

You will have access to the University's libraries and computer labs.

Mathematics facilities

Undergraduate students in the School of Mathematics have access to dedicated study spaces, MathsBase and MathsHub.

MathsBase is a drop-in study space staffed by tutors on weekdays during the semester.

MathsHub is a suite of rooms in the James Clerk Maxwell Building for the sole use of undergraduate Mathematicians as a study space.

Career paths

This programme is suitable if you are interested in pursuing a relatively technical career in areas such as finance and insurance (including actuarial work). It may also appeal if you would like to proceed to graduate study of economics.

Our graduates are highly regarded by employers. Studying a joint honours degree enables you to develop a wider range of transferable skills, and opens up more varied employment opportunities. 

Many of our graduates have entered the finance sector. Some large financial firms actively recruit Edinburgh graduates. 

The skills you will develop through the study of both subjects will equip you for a broad range of careers, including but not limited to:

  • accountancy
  • business
  • management and consultancy
  • working for aid agencies
  • not-for-profit organisations
  • government departments
  • software engineering
  • logistics
  • education

Development opportunities 

There are many opportunities within the University for you to develop additional skills and enhance your CV. You can:

  • become a Student Ambassador to enthuse prospective students
  • work with the wider community as a member of the Mathematics Outreach Team
  • apply for a mathematics project scholarship to work with a University lecturer during the summer

Employability support

The School of Mathematics regularly invites alumni back to the school to share their experiences with students and to showcase the varied careers available to graduates with a maths background.

Working in partnership with the Careers Service, academics, alumni and the business community, the Student Development Team provides activities, events and resources focused on developing skills, engaging with opportunities and building networks:

  • applications support (for example, CV writing, interview preparation, how to network)
  • specific career advice (for example, Insights into Actuarial careers, how to apply for PhDs)
  • interactions with recruiting organisations & alumni (for example, annual Careers Showcase and presentations with employers)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.

With the Careers Service, you can:

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

Further study is also a popular option. You can progress from this programme into masters or PhD level study in economics or mathematics, or apply your mathematical training to postgraduate study in another subject.

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

Guidance on applying through UCAS

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

How we select applicants

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Find out more about applying through UCAS  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa  

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Find contact details for an education agent

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

You will join a vibrant learning community home to active and engaged student societies like the Economics Society and the Edinburgh University Trading and Investment Club, which holds the UK’s biggest student-run investment portfolio. Our societies run events and activities throughout the year.

MathSoc is the University’s Mathematics Society. It is the society to join if you’re looking for an enjoyable mix of both academic and social events. MathSoc holds events throughout the year including quizzes, bitesize lectures and collaborative events with the School of Maths.

Learn more about MathSoc

Societies

Sports clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

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