WHO SHOULD APPLY?
The programme is suitable for those who wish to pursue further studies in economics and related disciplines or seek professional positions in private and public sectors that require solid knowledge in economics and analytical skills.
PROGRAMME
INTRODUCTION-OBJECTIVES
The objective of the M.Sc. in Economics programme is to provide rigorous training in economics and enable students to conduct analyses of economic issues. The programme is suitable for those who wish to pursue further studies in economics and related disciplines or seek professional positions in private and public sectors that require solid knowledge in economics and analytical skills.
Endows Students
with advanced knowledge in economic science including microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and many applied fields so as to lay a solid foundation for pursuing Ph.D. degree studies and doing research work.
Cultivates Skills
in quantitative analyses involving the application of econometric tools to analysing data sets, deriving estimates, testing hypotheses and making forecasts.
Equips Graduates
with economics knowledge and econometrics skills to make economic analysis, especially analysing the Chinese Economy and other Asian economies, so as to excel in professional positions of diverse organizations, such as financial institutions, government departments and consultancies.
A reputable university with a beautiful campus in the mountains, located 30 minutes from a global financial capital. I chose CUHK to develop international business skills, diversify my network and obtain a unique experience only possible from studying abroad. The M.Sc. Economics Programme provided the greatest opportunity to further my career. CUHK was a positive and defining decision in my life.
MR. HOCKING SEAN ALEXANDER
Financial Center Manager
Bank of America (USA)
M.Sc. 2019 Graduate
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Duration of Study
1 Year Full-time Programme
Teaching starts in August and end in May normally. Most classes are scheduled on weekdays during daytime in CUHK campus
Coursework Requirement
Students are required to complete a minimum of 27 units for graduation, which consists of 15 units from the required courses and 12 units from the elective courses.
Required Courses*
Total: 15 units
This course provides an exposition of advanced microeconomic theory. Topics include preference and utility, consumer demand, production, expected utility theory, risk aversion, and general equilibrium.
This course covers state-of-art core materials of modern growth theories at the entry graduate level. The course is designed to equip students with the ability to understand economic growth through the lens of modern growth theories. The course focuses on long-run macroeconomic dynamics and discusses the driving forces behind economic growth. Throughout the course, several growth-related topics will be covered including (1) growth and development (level) accounting, (2) basic models of factor accumulation and technological change, (3) connections between stage of growth and structural change and finally (4) role of technology and money in economic growth.
This course reviews some of the mathematical methods most widely used in modern economic analysis. We shall cover the following topics: linear algebra, elementary real analysis, multivariable differential calculus, theory of optimization with constraints, dynamical systems in discrete and continuous times, and dynamic optimization. It is assumed that the students are familiar with basic calculus and elementary linear algebra.
Econometrics applies statistical theories to economics. This course is an introductory course in economic theory at the graduate level. It covers large sample theory, estimation methods, and hypotheses testing, with applications to microeconomics, macroeconomics and labour economics.
This course is designed to enhance students’ exposure to and understanding of a wide variety of real world economic and financial issues in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the world to strengthen their ability to analyze policy issues.Distinguished economists, business leaders, and/or government officials will be invited to deliver lectures on a wide range of leading economic and financial issues in the global economy. Through these lectures, students are trained to strengthen their capability of conducting innovative analyses of these issues with significant policy implications.Students are required to write research papers for the course. The papers demonstrate students’ own analyses and understanding of the course content.
Elective Courses*
Total: 12 units
This is a graduate level course in applied econometrics. This course is intended to deal with model estimation, specification, and inference with various econometric models. Modelling and estimating appropriate econometric models using given data sets are major characteristics of our class, so we will emphasize the interplay between econometric theory and applications. This course will consider model selection problems, data transformations, heteroskedasticity, serial and spatial dependence, endogeneity, panel data model, binary response model, sample selection, survival analysis, quantile regression, and so on. Students are advised to take ECON5121 before taking this course.
This is an advance course on game theory. We will cover topics in strategic games, extensive games of complete or incomplete information, epistemic foundations of game theory, repeated games, bargaining theory, coalitional games and matching theory. We will also discuss various applications of game theory in economics.
In modern economic research, computers enhance our capacity of solving complex problems. Computation is particularly important in fields involving massive data. The objective of this course is to introduce graduate students to computational approaches to solving economic models, with an emphasis on dynamic programming and simulation-based econometric methods. We will formulate economic problems in computationally tractable form and use techniques of numerical analysis to solve them. Substantive applications will cover a wide range of problems including labor, industrial organization, macroeconomics, and international trade.
Using the Chinese economy as a context, the course is designed to guide and train students to think courageously, creatively, and critically. Students are required to find “puzzles” in the contemporary Chinese economy, to develop economic issues of general relevance from these “puzzles”, to frame these issues into theoretical or empirical questions, and finally to draft papers based on these questions. The course relies heavily on class discussion. Students are required to present at each stage of their thinking process. Students are advised to take ECON5011, 5021 and 5121 before taking this course.
This course is a graduate-level survey of monetary and financial economics with an emphasis on macroeconomic elements. The major focus will be on models and theories of money and financial intermediation but relevant empirical literature will be incorporated as well. The topics that will be covered include standard methods of introducing money into the neoclassical growth framework, overlapping generations models, and search theoretical foundations for money.
The aim of this course is to provide students with a foundation to pursue further research in the theory of financial economics. This course requires a sound understanding of microeconomic theory and an understanding and appreciation of finance problems as prerequisites. It is presumed that students are already familiar with the material at the level of Copeland and Weston (1988). It should be emphasized that research in finance requires a rigorous training in both microeconomic theory and econometrics.
This course offers theoretical, empirical and current topics in international trade. Attention is given on applications of basic trade theory to real-world economic problems. The major topics include: neoclassical trade theory of pattern of trade and gains from trade, strategic trade theory under imperfectly competitive markets, labour migration and capital mobility, market distortions and commercial policies, dynamic trade theory and economic growth, regionalism and economic integration, international debts, economic crises, etc.
This course is a graduate-level course of international finance. It will cover some recent topics on current account dynamics, real business cycle, exchange rate and international monetary policy. We will be focusing on the basic implications of the theory and empirical support for the theories. In addition, we will be discussing the experience of currency and capital market crises and the evolution of global imbalances in the last decade.
This course explores the framework and analytical methods that are commonly used in applied economic research, drawing most examples from development economics, growth analysis, and labor economics. The main objective is to examine how analytical tools of economics can be applied in studying simple models of individual, household, and market behaviors. Conceptual and empirical research will receive approximately the same class time. Special applications are made to the Chinese and East Asian economies.
The course provides a theoretical and empirical foundation for the analysis of labor market. Topics to be covered include: labor supply and demand, minimum wages, migration, human capital and education production, labor market incentives, efficiency wage, and skill investment. Students should preferably have finished graduate level Microeconomic theory and Econometric Theory and Application before taking this course.
Topics covered in this course include game theory (dynamic games, games with imperfect and incomplete information, bargaining, coalition, signaling games), contract theory, incentive schemes, business integration and strategic alliances, research and development, intellectual property rights and protection, optimal regulation, deregulation, privatisation, and case studies.
This course addresses the economic theory and empirics of corporate finance and governance. The goal is to help students understand major research issues in the field and develop their skills to apply theory to corporate finance practices. It focuses on important topics such as capital structure, ownership structure, capital budgeting and corporate governance institutions. The course extensively uses the tools of game theory, information economics and microeconometrics. Students are recommended to take ECON 5011 and ECON 5121 before taking this course.
In many countries, health care spending grows much faster than GDP. Countries like the Unites States spend about 20 percent of its GDP on health care. As one of the most important “goods”, how health care is financed and delivered has large welfare implications. In this course, we will apply methods and reasoning from microeconomics to the health care sector. In particular, we will investigate different aspects of the health care system and assess how various policies affect the functioning of the health care system.
*All courses carry 3 units.
The availability of elective courses varies from year to year. Subject to the approval of the Division Head, up to 3 units of these 12 elective units can be taken from the Economics undergraduate courses or other related courses at the University.
Graduation Requirements
- Students must complete the prescribed coursework and achieve a cumulative overall GPA of at least 2.0 in order to graduate.
- Students have to attend seminars organized by the Department of Economics.
CAREER SUPPORT
We have set up a Career Unit for our programme to support students at every stage of the career development process. To prepare students for a competitive global economy, the Career Unit organizes various learning and development workshops, company visits and one-on-one counselling services, with the aim of enhancing students’ career readiness. Examples include workshops on writing impressive resumes, job interview skills, job market trend, Bloomberg training, professional business and dining etiquette and personal grooming. We offer up-to-date information and support on internships and graduate jobs. In the process, students learn how to clearly identify and articulate their career goals and develop a successful, targeted job search strategy.
In addition to academic guidance, CUHK M.Sc. in Economics provides comprehensive career services including career consultation, regular updates on the job vacancy, tailoring our CVs and help with interview techniques. The customized arrangement and professional support benefit us at all stages of job-hunting. Overall, I really appreciate the learning experience in M.Sc. in Economics, which motivates me to constantly improve myself and to create value for others.
MS. HE YULEI, RACHEL
Associate-Account Relationship
Haitong International Securities Group Ltd.
M.Sc. 2018 Graduate
Studying in the M.Sc. programme in Economics is the most rewarding memory in my life. The programme offers me an unparalleled opportunity to learn from prominent scholars and make lifelong friends. The curriculum enriches my technical understanding in different fields with in-depth knowledge. For example, applying critical thinking skills to analyze workplace issues help prepare myself to fulfill my career goal. It is a worthwhile journey and I cannot wait to make a difference in my career and the society.
MS. WANG YIFEI, EUPHEMIA
Fixed Income Analyst
Debt Capital Markets
China Industrial Securities International
Financial Group Ltd.
M.Sc. 2019 Graduate
CAREER SERVICE
Click the below video to find out more our diversified services.
10 KEY CAREER SERVICES
CAREER PROSPECTS
DEVELOPING YOUR GLOBAL & ASIA CAREER
The career prospects of our graduates are excellent. With their specialized understanding of economic science and quantitative skills, they are amongst the most desired employees in the job market, particularly in the banking and finance sector. Our recent graduates have accepted positions as bank management trainees, investment banking executives, finance analysts and securities traders. Others have been offered positions in accounting, real estate and marketing sectors. Some of the highlights are as follows:
- AME Mineral Economics (Asia)
- Bank of China
- Bank of Communication
- CBRE (HK)
- China CITIC Bank International
- China Construction Bank (Asia)
- China Development Bank
- China Galaxy Securities
- China Investment Securities
- China Merchants Securities
- China Securities International
- Chiyu Bank
- Daiwa Capital Markets
- Deloitte
- Ernst & Young
- FWD Limited
- Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited
- Haitong International Securities Group Limited
- Hang Seng Bank
- ICBC International Holdings Limited
- Industrial Bank
- Johnson Controls Asia Holdings
- J.P. Morgan Chase
- PwC
- Resonance Asset Management
- Standard Chartered Bank
- The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC)
- UBS (HK)
- Bank of Jiangsu
- Changjiang Securities
- China Construction Bank
- China Fortune Land Development
- China Investment Securities
- China Merchants Bank
- China Securities Depository and Clearing
- Dacheng Fund Management
- Everbright Securities
- GF Securities
- Guosen Securities
- Ping An Securities
- Sealand Securities
- Shenzhen GEM Capital Management
- Tencent
- Agricultural Development Bank of China
- China International Capital Corporation
- China Minsheng Bank
- China Mobile
- China Reform Holdings Corporation
- China Securities (International)
- Deloitte
- Ernst & Young
- Minsheng Securities
- PwC
- Accenture (China)
- China Foreign Exchange Trade System
- DBS Bank (China)
- Deloitte
- Fubon Bank (China)
- KPMG
- Mizuho Bank (China)
- Shanghai Clearing House
- Shanghai Industrial Financial Leasing
- The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC)
- The People’s Bank of China, Shanghai Headquarters
- Bank of Ningbo
- Bank of China
- China Development Bank
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are awarded to applicants with outstanding qualifications upon admission and to students who have exhibited distinguished academic performance upon graduation.
In the last 7 years, more than $3.7 million in scholarships have been awarded to 200 recipients. Outstanding students have the chance to receive one or more scholarships amounting to half of the total tuition fees.
The M.Sc. in Economics in CUHK is definitely one of the most rewarding school years I have ever had. A well-designed curriculum in the programme including both theoretical research and practical statistical programming tutorials have enriched my understanding in different uses and fields of economics.
Besides, the programme is incredibly generous in offering me more than HK$100,000 scholarship which offers me the opportunity to continue to strive for my dreams and reminds me of my educational endeavours. Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the inspirational teaching staff I have met here. I look forward to giving back what I have learnt from them to the society in the future.
MS. KO YEE ON, KOYI
Highest GPA Award Recipient
M.Sc. 2018 Graduate
I thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience provided by the M.Sc. Economics Programme. In particular, I have found the statistical elements extremely useful and versatile; the review of research papers showed different aspects of further academic research. I am very grateful that the range of courses and insightful seminars have equipped me with the skills and confidence to switch my career to economics and finance.
DR. CHUNG YING KIT, JACK
Best Performance Award Recipient
M.Sc. 2018 Graduate
STUDENT PROFILE
FIRST DEGREE UNIVERSITIES HIGHLIGHTS
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- City University of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Baptist University
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Lingnan University
- The University of Hong Kong
- Beihang University
- Beijing Normal University
- Central University of Finance and Economics
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen)
- Chongqing University
- Dalian University of Technology
- East China Normal University
- Fudan University
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Huazhong University of Science & Technology
- Hunan University
- Jilin University
- Jinan University
- Lanzhou University
- Nanjing Agricultural University
- Nanjing University
- Nankai University
- Northwest University
- Peking University
- Renmin University of China
- Shandong University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
- Sichuan University
- Soochow University
- South China University of Technology
- Southeast University
- Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
- Sun Yat-sen University
- Tianjin University
- Tongji University
- Tsinghua University
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- University of International Business and Economics
- Wuhan University
- Xi’an Jiaotong University
- Xiamen University
- Zhejiang University
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
- Macau University of Science and Technology
- University of Macau
- Singapore Management University
- Meiji University
- Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific Univer
- Chulalongkorn University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Kansas State University
- Miami University
- Michigan State University
- New York University
- The Ohio State University
- Pennsylvania State University
- Pepperdine University
- Syracuse University
- The University of Arizona
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, San Diego
- University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- University of Michigan
- University of Minnesota
- University of Southern California
- University of Washington
- University of Wisconsin La Cross
- Simon Fraser University
- University of Alberta
- The University of British Columbia
- University of Toronto
- University of Victoria
- University of Waterloo
- The University of Western Ontario
- York University
- Lancaster University
- University of Birmingham
- University of Durham
- University of East Anglia
- University of Exeter
- The University of Manchester
- University of Oxford
- The University of Reading
- The University of Warwick
- Heidelberg University
- Symbiosis International University
- Monash University
- The University of Melbourne
- The University of New South Wales
- The University of Queensland
- The University of Auckland
- Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
- Kyung Hee University
ABOUT OUR STUDENT LIFE
Various activities which support job hunting and facilitate student learning outside the classroom are recognised throughout the year.
Asian Meeting of the Econometric Society
Alumni Sharing by Ms. ZHANG Xin
Alumni Meets
Orientation Day
Career Workshops
Alumni Networking Event
International Symposium on Contemporary Labor Economics
Personal and Career Development Workshops
Visit to Cathay Pacific City and Legislative Council
Alumni Sharing by Ms. QIAN Jingyi, Vivian
Career Talks
Photo Day
Visit to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. and Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Alumni Sharing by Mr. YU Sze Ngai, Dick
Graduation Dinner
Alumni Sharing by Mr. WANG Yishu
Alumni Sharing Sessions
Public Lectures by Industry Experts
Alumni Sharing by Mr. CAO Chi
Visit to Hongkong International Terminals
ADMISSIONS2021/ 22
Applicants should submit applications through the online admission system from 01 September 2020. No application will be considered until all required application documents are received.
Application Deadline:
The tuition fee for the entire programme (total: 27 units) for students admitted in 2021/2022 is HK$220,000 (provisional). Students are required to pay the tuition fee in two equal installments.
Tuition fee and other fees (e.g. application fee) are NOT refundable or transferable once paid.
Applicants shall:
a) have graduated from a recognized university and obtained a Bachelor’s degree, normally with honours not lower than Second Class or with an average grade of not lower than “B”;
b) fulfill the English Language Proficiency Requirement as stipulated by the Graduate School before being considered for admissions. To satisfy this requirement, applicants should;
- obtain a degree from a university in Hong Kong or taken a degree programme of which the medium of instruction was English (If the degree is not awarded by the universities in Hong Kong, applicants please provide an official document to show the medium of instruction. The CUHK Graduate School may also request applicants to provide additional supporting documents to prove their English proficiency); or
- possess a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations:
- Hong Kong Advanced Level Exam (AS Level)
- Hong Kong Higher Level Exam
- CUHK Matriculation Exam
- General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/ Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level); or
- achieve Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination; or
- obtain a recognized professional qualification, provided that the examination was conducted in English; or
- submit one of the following original score reports/ certificates for assessment:
- TOEFL (not lower than 550 paper-based and 79 internet-based) [Institution code: 0812; departmental code: 84]
- IELTS (Academic) (not lower than Band 6.5)
- GMAT (Verbal, not lower than 21) [GMAT code: R9H-T1-98]
c) provide favourable recommendations from academic referees.
Additional Information
Applicants:
- with a good background in Mathematics or Statistics are preferred;
- will be assessed on the basis of past academic record, work experience, references and language abilities;
- may be interviewed in person, by telephone or video conferencing.
Applicants should submit the following supporting documents together with a photocopy of the completed application form by post before the application deadline.
Please quote the “Application No.” generated by the online application system on your documents sending to our division.
Address: Room 928, 9/F, Department of Economics, Esther Lee Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin (Attn.: M.Sc. in Economics)
- If applicants apply for both the MSc in Economics Programme and the Dual Master’s Degree Programme offered by our department, please submit the reply slip (if applicable)
- Official Transcripts (with a complete record of courses attended and examination results) and grading scheme of all tertiary level studies*
- A copy of Degree Certificates (if applicable)
- Original score report showing the applicant has fulfilled the Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency Requirement (if applicable)^
- Confidential Recommendations from two referees#
- A copy of Identity Card or Passport
- Resume
Remarks
* i. CUHK qualifications (Bachelor’s or higher degrees):
- Photocopies of transcripts issued by CUHK are accepted (not applicable to CUHK (Shenzhen) qualifications).
- Applicants should first download the Transcript Submission Covering Sheet and attach it to the transcript copy. Please send the transcript copy to the relevant Graduate Division directly.
- The University reserves the right to require applicants to submit original transcripts.
* ii.Other qualifications:
- Photocopies will NOT be accepted. Applicants should download the Transcript Submission Covering Sheet and send it to the issuing universities to apply for official transcripts. Official transcripts should be sent directly to relevant Graduate Division in a sealed envelope from the issuing university.
- Certificates and transcripts, which are not in English or Chinese, should be accompanied by an official certified translation in English.
- Some universities may only issue electronic official transcripts to other institutions. In that event, official electronic transcripts should be sent to relevant Graduate Division directly from the issuing university.
- Applicants who obtained degrees from universities in Mainland China are required to provide an Online Verification Report (教育部學歷證書電子註冊備案表) issued by the CHESICC (學信網).
- The University may require applicants to provide verification reports of the qualification obtained. Applicants will be notified by the Graduate Division concerned/Graduate School separately.
- If you are currently in the final year of your study, you are required to submit the final official transcript before starting your postgraduate study at CUHK.
^TOEFL and IELTS are considered valid for two years from the test date. GMAT is considered valid for five years from the test date. Applicants must request the test organization to send their official score reports directly to the Graduate School. Student copy of score report will NOT be accepted.
# Hard copy of Confidential Recommendations must reach our office directly from the referees, or in sealed envelopes and send by the applicant with other supporting documents to our office. The referees can also choose to submit the Confidential Recommendations via internet.
Please visit the Graduate School homepage for further information on general qualifications for admission, application periods, application procedures et cetera.