AIMS

The main objective of this course is to train researchers who are highly specialised in the study and analysis of economics, capable of successfully undertaking a doctoral thesis in the field of applied economics.

Master’s graduates will learn how to apply academically rigorous analysis to the economic problems they aim to study and to understand the methodologies used when carrying out this analysis, so that they are able to apply the conceptual framework acquired to the particular situations under study. Students should also be able to identify economic problems in any given situation, to discuss alternative solutions, to choose solutions that best meet their objectives and to assess the results achieved.

Students will take compulsory subjects of a general nature, providing them with a solid methodological and knowledge-based foundation in applied economics, including both national and international aspects. The optional subjects offer researchers the opportunity to study in greater depth several of the most significant current Spanish economic sectors; the tourism sector, the housing and construction market, natural resources, the labour market and competitiveness and tax-related factors.

The course programme will provide Master’s graduates with a solid training, enabling them to undertake highly specialised academic research, which they will always carry out: a) with respect for fundamental rights and based on sexual equality, b) with respect for and promoting human rights and the principles of universal accessibility and design for all, c) in accordance with the principles inherent to a culture of peace and democratic values.

• Structure of the Master’s Degree: credits and subjects
• Distribution of subjects by year/semester
• General course programme

MASTER’S DEGREE COURSE - CREDITS AND SUBJECTS

DISTRIBUTION OF SUBJECTS BY YEAR/SEMESTERSEMESTER

GENERAL COURSE PROGRAMME

The proposed course programme for the Master's Degree in Applied Economics is divided up into units containing groups of disciplinary-related subjects. This helps coordinate the content and skills acquired by students throughout the course.

The programme consists of 4 units. Two of these are compulsory ("Research & economic analysis techniques" worth 10 credits and the "Master's final project" worth another 10 credits). The third unit contains 5 compulsory subjects and 1 optional subject ("Economic globalisation & company internationalisation”) and the final optional unit (“Productive sectors”) contains 5 subjects worth 5 credits each. Students must choose 3 subjects from the aforementioned 5 and the optional "Economic globalisation & company internationalisation".

These 4 units have been designed to offer students coherent thematic blocks, enabling them to acquire the learning they need in the field of applied economics research.

Below is a brief description of the different units.

• The Research & economic analysis techniques unit consists of two subjects: “Applied economic analysis techniques I” (5 credits) and “Applied economic analysis techniques II” (5 credits). This unit aims to provide students with specialised training in the use of basic economic analysis tools, enabling them to develop a high level of skill in using the most relevant tools when carrying out the academic projects included in the different programme units. Relevant econometric methodologies will be used in these subjects to analyse economic data in different formats in order to show students how the methodologies are used in practice to construct research models. Support will be available for students working on their master’s final project and they will be given sufficient training to define the content of future doctoral theses.
•  The Economic globalisation & company internationalisation unit contains five compulsory subjects: “International economic relations”, “Economic development & welfare”, “Competitiveness & internationalisation”, “Economy, knowledge & new technologies – the global context”, “The financial system" and an optional subject entitled "Fiscal federalism". All subjects are worth 5 credits.  The compulsory subjects aim to provide students with a detailed knowledge of world economics, of how the increasingly global economic environment in which companies operate has developed, the reasons for economic development and the fundamental factors behind underdevelopment.  The optional subject offers students the opportunity to study regional, national and international tax systems in greater detail, including both government and business-based systems.

• The Productive sectors unit contains 6 optional subjects: “Tourism economics”, “Housing & real estate economics”, “The economics of natural resources”, “Labour market economics”, “Long-term competitiveness factors” and "Health Economy". All of these subjects are worth 5 credits each and they offer students the opportunity to study in greater detail the main lines of research in the field of applied economics in relation to all these sectors.

• Finally, the Master’s final project completes acquisition of the envisaged skills, leaving students suitably trained to carry out future research projects in the field of applied economics and to successfully complete a doctoral thesis.

Students must take all compulsory subjects ("International economic relations", "Economic development & welfare", "Competitiveness & internationalisation", "Economy, knowledge & new technologies – the global context", "The financial system", "Applied economic analysis techniques I" and "Applied economic analysis techniques II", which are worth a total of 35 credits over 2 semesters and students must choose 3 of the 6 optional subjects on offer (“Tourism economics”, “Housing & real estate economics”, “The economics of natural resources”, “Labour market economics”, “Long-term competitiveness factors” and “Fiscal federalism”), which are worth a total of 15 credits.  Finally, students must undertake a Master’s final project, which is worth another 10 credits.

• Entry Requirements and Selection Criteria
• Admission profile
• Admission and Assessment Criteria
• Pre-enrolment and Enrolment
• Number of Places

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA 

According to the Regulations of the University of Alicante, the following requirements must be complied to have access to official taught Master’s degrees:

1. To be in possession of a SPANISH OFFICIAL GRADUATE DEGREE CERTIFICATE or other issued by an institution of higher education  within the EHEA (European Higher Education) that enables the holder to have access  to Master’s degrees in the issuing.
2. To be in possession of an officially approved  FOREIGN HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE CERTIFICATE that had been recognised as equal to the degree that allows access to the requested studies.
3. To be in possession of a UNIVERSITY DEGREE CERTIFICATE obtained in a University or Higher Education Institution of COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE EHEA, without the prior approval of their studies. In this case, the following should be considered:

• Non- recognised degree certificates shall require a technical report showing an equivalence statement issued by the University of Alicante (ContinUA – Continuing Education Centre), for which the corresponding fee should be paid.
• Access through this way does under no circumstances imply prior official approval of the holder’s degree certificate, nor its recognition for purposes other than studying a master's degree.

ADMISSION PROFILE

The Master’s Degree in Applied Economics is aimed at graduates and Diploma holders in Economics or Business Administration and Management, or university graduates in economic, social and legal disciplines who wish to acquire specialised training in applied economics research.

ADMISSION AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

 Should demand exceed the number of places available, specific admission criteria will be applied based on the following scale:

PRE-ENROLMENT AND ENROLMENT 

PRE-ENROLMENT +info

Students who intend to study for an officially recognised Master’s Degree at the UA should complete pre-enrolment in accordance with the guidelines and deadlines specified annually.

Frequently asked questions

ENROLMENT +info

Following publication of the final list of those admitted to the course, an email containing a user password will be sent to successful applicants, enabling them to enrol via the Campus Virtual in accordance with the guidelines and deadlines specified annually.

In the registration process, the documents issued abroad must be official, duly notorised and translated. Further information:

• http://sga.ua.es/en/academic-regulations/legalizacion/legalization-of-documents.html

NUMBER OF PLACES

Focus

Research.

 Degree course specialisation profile

This master’s degree will train researchers in modern economic analysis, enabling them to apply their research skills to complex economic problems.  Master’s graduates must have a solid training and be able to adapt to the demands of rigorous academic work. Students must also have a humanist background, enabling them to tackle issues such as the allocation of scarce resources, efficiency and productivity problems, social solidarity and distributive justice.

The following general profiles are associated with this degree course:

1. Teaching & Research

2. Planning & Research Services

3. International Organisations

4. Economic Consultancy

Possible openings include the private and public sectors (research services for companies or banks, consultancy firms, different territorial levels of government) and international organisations (OECD, IMF, the World Bank and European Union institutions).

TIMESCALE FOR IMPLEMENTATION

• Timescale for implementatio
• Procedure
• Discontinued Programmes

1. Timescale for implementation of the Master’s Degree course

2. Procedure for equivalence recognition, where appropriate, between the current and the new course programme.

3. Studies being phased out and replaced by the proposed degree course:

The first course (“teaching period”) of the department's old Doctorate Programme (“Current and Historic Economic Problems”) was discontinued in the 2009-2010 academic year and the second course (“research period”) will be discontinued in the 2010-2011 academic year, coinciding with the launch of the master. Thus, the department’s old Doctorate Programme will be phased out prior to implementation of the Master’s Degree.

Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) of the Title

• Structure of the Centre for Quality
  • Comission of Internal Quality Guarantee
  • Other Commissions  
• Handbook SGIC
• Procedures
  • Strategic (PE)
  • Key (PC)
  • Support (PA)
  • Measurement (PM)

• Management of the SGIC (Access to ASTUA)

Follow-up of the Title

• Self-reports UA
• External reports AVAP 
• Other reports
• Improvement Plans
• Progress and Learning Outcomes