Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content Skip to side navigation

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.

Quick facts

*One year programme
*4x to 6x 400-level papers (depending on degree) plus research dissertation
*Entry in Semester 1 or Semester 2
*Entry requirement: B average in third year papers (incl. Econ 375 and 377)

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, PGDipCom and PGDipSci).
    These are primarily taught-course programmes taken over two semesters (full-time).
  • Honours degrees (BA(Hons), BCom(Hons) and BSc(Hons)).
    These combine a taught component with a compulsory research dissertation taken over two semesters (full-time).
  • Masters' degrees (MEcon, MA, 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 of $32,544 NZD and covers tuition fees for three years. We are currently accepting applications for this scholarship and applications close on 5 October 2024. 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 email the following information to economics@otago.ac.nz with the words “Macandrew-Stout Scholarship” in the subject line, no later than 5 October:

  • Your CV
  • A copy of your final academic transcripts (in English). This is likely to be your Masters 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

Postgraduate research videos

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

Back to top