Postgraduate study in Economics

Study postgraduate Economics at Otago University and give yourself exciting career options

Learn from leading experts, committed to outstanding teaching and research. The Department offers a variety of postgraduate options – all combining rigorous academic standards with real-world, practical insights.

Each of our degree programmes is designed to develop the skills needed by professional economists working as high-level analysts in government agencies, large businesses, and consultancies. In addition, our Master degrees offer a path towards a PhD.

Our reputation for academic and research excellence attracts students and staff from throughout New Zealand and around the world.

Recent placements

Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ), United Nations, New Zealand Treasury, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), PWC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Landcare, Commerce Commission, StatsNZ, Pharmac, and others.

Postgraduate Economics programmes

Economics programmes available at the postgraduate level are:

• Postgraduate diplomas (PGDipArts, PGDipBus and PGDipSci)
  These are primarily taught-course programmes taken over two semesters (full-time)
• Masters' degrees (MA, MBus, MCom and MSc)
  These combine a taught component taken over two semesters (full-time), followed by a substantial research thesis. However, if you have a suitable background, the MA and MCom can be instead taken as a one-year research thesis-only programme.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  This is a research-only degree taken over at least two and a half years.

Macandrew-Stout PhD Scholarship

The Macandrew-Stout PhD Scholarship provides an annual stipend and covers tuition fees for three years.

Visit the Macandrew-Stout Scholarship page for more details

In the PDF file below is information on topics staff in the Department are interested in supervising. We invite you to choose a topic from this list, or to suggest your own topic.

MacAndrew-Stout PhD Scholarship possible topics (PDF)

To apply for this scholarship, please provide the following:

• Your CV
• A copy of your final academic transcripts (in English). This is likely to be your Master's transcript
• An indication of what topic you wish to study (as noted above, you may choose from the list in the PDF above or suggest your own topic).
  Note you do not need to submit a research proposal at this stage

Use “Macandrew-Stout Scholarship” in the subject line and send the above as attachments to your email. Send your email no later than 5 October.

Email economics@otago.ac.nz

Postgraduate research videos

The University of Otago has produced a number of short videos that showcase work by postgraduate students at Otago.

• Watch the research story of Economics postgraduate student Alvin Etang Ndip and his supervisor David Fielding
• Watch other postgraduate research videos from across the University