Master of Economics

Master of Economics

Duration: 2 Years

Start Date: 

Cost: KES 187, 500 | (1st year KES 101,500,  2nd year KES 86,000)

Mode of Delivery: Blended online delivery: approximately 80% asynchronous and 20% synchronous learner support

Application Due: Open

Fee Structure and Payment

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Overview

The Master of Economics is a flexible, fully online postgraduate programme designed to develop highly skilled and innovative economists who can generate and apply advanced economic knowledge to real development, policy, business and research challenges. The Programme blends advanced economic theory, quantitative methods, econometrics, research methodology, policy analysis and specialised applied economics. It prepares learners to interpret complex economic data, design evidence-based interventions, undertake applied research and communicate findings to decision-makers in Kenya, Africa and global contexts. Learners may pursue a named specialisation pathway or complete electives across different areas leading to the Master of Economics award, subject to Programme regulations.

Career Prospects

Graduates may pursue or advance careers in areas such as:

  • Economic policy analysis, planning and advisory services;
  • Macroeconomic modelling, forecasting and data analysis;
  • Public finance, fiscal policy and regulatory analysis;
  • Development economics, poverty analysis and programme evaluation;
  • Financial economics, investment analysis and market research;
  • International trade, regional integration and global finance;
  • Climate, environment, energy, transport, agricultural and health economics;
  • Monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment and policy research;
  • Academia, research institutions, think tanks, consultancy and development organisations.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the general postgraduate admission criteria and any of the following Programme requirements:

  • A Second-Class Honours, Upper Division in Economics or a closely related discipline from the Open University of Kenya or another accredited university.
  • Second Class Honours, Lower Division in Economics or a closely related discipline, plus either a relevant postgraduate diploma or at least two years of professional or academic experience in economics, finance or related fields.
  • Equivalent qualifications approved by Senate.
  • Additional qualifications may be considered by Senate through Recognition of Prior Learning, relevant experience or demonstrated competencies. 

Regulations on Credit Transfer

Credit transfer may be considered for equivalent level coursework completed at accredited institutions and programmes recognised by Senate. Credit transfer may be permitted up to a maximum of 49% of the core course units for similar programmes at the same level, subject to Senate approval.

A course considered for transfer must have been completed and passed at the required level. Thesis/research project components are not transferable.

Programme Structure

The Programme follows a two-year pathway comprising coursework, examinations, specialisation electives and a research thesis. Learners complete eight core courses during Year One, three specialisation/elective courses during Year Two and a research thesis component covering proposal writing, data analysis and report writing.

 

Stage

Focus

Credits

Year 1, Semester 1

Core courses: Advanced Microeconomics Theory, Quantitative Techniques, Corporate Finance and Investment, Behavioural Economics

12

Year 1, Semester 2

Core courses: Advanced Macroeconomic Theory, Economic Research Methodology, Econometrics, Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

12

Year 2, Semester 1

Three elective courses from a selected specialisation pathway; research thesis proposal writing

21

Year 2, Semester 2

Research thesis: data analysis, report writing and defence processes

—

Total

Minimum 12 courses, 45 credit hours and 675 instructional hours

45

Specialisation Pathways

The Programme offers eleven specialisation pathways designed to respond to emerging labour-market, development and policy needs:

 

S/N

Specialisation

Indicative Focus Areas

1

Agricultural Economics

Agricultural production, markets, food systems, agribusiness and value chains

2

Energy Economics

Energy markets, production, renewable energy, planning, policy and regulation

3

Transport Economics

Transport theory, infrastructure investment, planning, policy and sustainable transportation

4

Health Economics

Health financing, health systems, pharmaceutical economics and public health economics

5

International Economics

International trade theory, trade in goods and services, globalization, development and international finance

6

Environmental and Climate Change Economics

Green and circular economy, resource economics, environmental management and climate resilience

7

Development Economics

Development theory, poverty, inequality, institutions, governance, population and migration

8

Behavioural Economics

Institutional behaviour, nudges, incentives, experiments, game theory and behavioural finance

9

Computational Economics

Computational methods, microeconometrics, macroeconometrics and machine learning economics

10

Financial Economics

Finance theory, financial modelling, investment analysis, portfolio management and financial markets

11

Public Policy Economics

Policy analysis and design, econometrics for policy evaluation, public sector economics and policy simulation

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Programme, learners will be able to:

  • Analyse economic thought, trends and policies using theoretical frameworks and empirical data while observing ethical standards and professional integrity.
  • Apply advanced economic tools to solve complex economic problems with accountability and social responsibility.
  • Evaluate research methodologies, project designs and policy interventions for validity, effectiveness and relevance.
  • Produce innovative economic research or specialised policy recommendations that advance knowledge and practice in economics.

Student Assessment

Learners will be assessed through content-embedded quizzes, continuous assessment tests and tasks, end-of-semester examinations, essays and research papers, project-based assessments, oral presentations and defences, portfolio assessment, peer assessment and self-assessment.

Assessment Area

Description

Continuous Assessment

Coursework, assignments, practical activities, quizzes, research papers, portfolio tasks and continuous assessment tests: 50%

End-of-Course Examination

End-of-semester examination or approved final project assessment: 50%

Pass Mark

The pass mark in any course is 50%.

Academic Integrity

Assignments, research papers and projects are subject to plagiarism checks, originality declarations and work authentication processes.

Programme Courses

Semester

Code

Course Title

Credits

Semester 1

 

ECO 801

Advanced Microeconomics Theory

3

ECO 803

Quantitative Techniques

3

ECO 805

Corporate Finance and Investment

3

ECO 807

Behavioural Economics

3

Semester 2

ECO 802

Advanced Macroeconomic Theory

3

ECO 804

Economic Research Methodology

3

ECO 806

Econometrics

3

ECO 808

Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

3

Semester

Code

Course Title

Credits

Semester 1

Electives

Three courses from a selected specialisation pathway

6

ECO 800

Research Thesis – Proposal Writing and Supervisor Allocation

15

Semester 2

ECO 800

Research Thesis – Data Analysis and Report Writing

Learners select specialisation/elective courses from the approved specialisation pathways, subject to Programme regulations and course availability.

S/N

Pathway

Approved Course Options

1

Agricultural Economics

EAG 801 Agricultural Production Economics;

EAG 803 Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy;

EAG 805 Food Systems and Nutrition Economics;

EAG 807 Agribusiness and Value Chain Analysis

2

Energy Economics

EEE 801 Energy Markets and Pricing;

EEE 803 Energy Production and Consumption;

EEE 805 Renewable Energy and Green Transition;

EEE 807 Energy Planning, Policy and Regulation

3

Transport Economics

ETR 801 Transport Economics Theory;

ETR 803 Transport Infrastructure and Investments;

ETR 805 Transport Planning, Policy and Regulation;

ETR 807 Green and Sustainable Transportation

4

Health Economics

EHE 801 Health Economics and Financing;

EHE 803 Health Systems, Planning, Policy and Regulation;

EHE 805 Pharmaceutical Economics and Innovation;

EHE 807 Public Health Economics

5

International Economics

EIF 801 International Trade Theory and Policy;

EIF 803 Trade in Goods and Services;

EIF 805 Trade Globalization and Development;

EIF 807 International Finance

6

Environment and Climate Change Economics

EEN 801 Green and Circular Economy;

EEN 803 Environmental and Resources Economics;

EEN 805 Environmental Planning and Management;

EEN 807 Climate Adaptation, Mitigation and Resilience

7

Development Economics

EDE 801 Economic Development Theories and Practice;

EDE 803 Poverty, Inequality and Human Capital Development;

EDE 805 Institutions, Governance and Development;

EDE 807 Population, Migration and Development Planning

8

Behavioural Economics

EBE 801 Institutional and Behavioural Economics;

EBE 803 Nudges, Incentives and Public Policy;

EBE 805 Experimental Methods and Game Theory;

EBE 807 Behavioural Finance and Markets

9

Computational Economics

ECE 801 Computational Methods and Techniques;

ECE 803 Microeconometrics;

ECE 805 Macroeconometrics;

ECE 807 Machine Learning Economics

10

Financial Economics

EFI 801 Theory of Finance;

EFI 803 Financial Modelling and Planning;

EFI 805 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management;

EFI 807 Financial Markets and Institutions

11

Public Policy Economics

EPP 801 Public Policy Analysis and Design;

EPP 803 Applied Econometrics for Policy Evaluation;

EPP 805 Economics of Public Sector and Governance;

EPP 807 Policy Simulation and Strategic Decision Making

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