• The appropriate theoretical and conceptual foundations to examine issues in economic policy evaluation and planning
• The necessary analytical skills to contribute to economic and social planning in a wide variety of fields
• The necessary applied skills to undertake the evaluation of public policy programmes and plans.

You may also already be in employment but want to move on, to change your current direction, to meet new challenges. Because you can complete this programme on a part-time basis over two years, as well as on a full-time basis over one year, you may be interested in acquiring this qualification to enable you to further your career.

The M.A./Master of Economic Science can also be a stepping stone to a PhD programme - some of our graduates have undertaken PhD studies in universities nationally and internationally.

In addition, you select three options from the following list:

Environmental Economics, Local and Rural Development, Health and Social Care, Transition Economics, International Macroeconomics, Public Sector Economics, Economics of Innovation, Cost Benefit Analysis and Evaluation, Advanced Macroeconomic Theory, Advanced Microeconomic Theory, Advanced Econometrics.

All of these options may not be available in a particualr year.

You also complete a three-month internship and a minor dissertation.

Check out the Current Students section of the web site for details on these courses.

You are expected to complete a minor dissertation during your internship, on a topic approved by the Programme Board, which is usually linked to the research interests of your supervisor and the work of the placement agency. The internship allows you to develop important career links with regional, national and international organisations and institutions.

The internship is a great opportunity to open doors to future employment.

John McNamara, M.Econ.Sc. (2004), B.A.

Apply online for the M.A./M.Econ Science: Economic Policy Evaluation and Planning using the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC) web site using the appropriate PAC code (GYC07 for full-time programme, GYC08 for part-time programme), by the last Friday in April. See PAC website or NUI Galway Postgraduate Admissions Office for further details.

The Programme Board evaluates each applicant’s academic record to date at the time of application and assesses the applicant’s level of motivation as per the Statement of Intent submitted with the online application. Applicants may also be invited to attend for interview.

Offers to successful applicants are issued in July. To secure a
place on the programme, successful applicants must accept their
offer online (via PAC) by the date stipulated, and pay a non-refundable deposit to NUI Galway. This amount is allowable against the course fee.

Students on the programme will have the opportunity to give tutorials to undergraduate students in economics for which they will be paid a standard rate.

Students from developing countries can apply for funding from the Irish Government Aid Fellowship Programme administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, 76-78 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

On the full-time programme, there are twenty-five places available for EU citizens and five places for non-EU citizens. On the part-time programme, there are five places available for EU citizens and five places for non-EU citizens.

The programme begins in the first week in September each year.

Examinations are held at the end of each semester, in December and May. Students submit the minor thesis, no more than 10,000 words, before a date in the Summer determined by the Programme Board.