2.5-Term Pathway - Pre-Master's in Social Sciences - Continue to Master of Science - Financial and Business Economics

If students hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet the entry requirements for a master’s, a Pre-Master’s can help them gain a place on a postgraduate degree. For progression to the 1st year of a postgraduate degree at the University of Essex. Course length is determined mainly by students' English language level (UKVI IELTS score).

Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. If their course is longer than 2 terms, students will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

Careers in business and finance often require an economic approach. The University of Essex MSc Financial and Business Economics allows students to study the economic principles that are at the heart of finance and business, and to develop an awareness of their applications.

Students investigate topics including: topics in corporate finance, how to raise funds to maintain the activity of a firm, asset pricing algebra, defining debt and equity, and Modigliani-Miller ireelevance theorems.

Essex is top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and they have particular strengths in the areas of: game theory and strategic interactions, theoretical and applied econometrics, and labour economics. The quality of Essex's work is reflected in their stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies.

After completing the masters, students may wish to extend their knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay for further study. Alternatively, the course also prepares students for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level.

In this course students will develop key employability skills including statistical analysis, mathematical techniques, research, analytical reasoning and modelling. Recent graduates have gone on to work for a range of high-profile organisations: PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC), Ernst and Young, and EXL Service.

More generally, graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations.