Postgraduate Economics pre-sessional course
Year of entry: 2024/25
Take a flexible distance-learning course to prepare for your Masters or develop your professional skills.
Apply theoretical concepts and analysis to real-world economic problems, supported by academics from the Department of Economics and Related Studies.
Why take a pre-sessional course in economics?
Our pre-sessional course in Microeconomics and Quantitative Methods will equip you with the basic principles of microeconomic theory and applied statistical analysis. As a summer course, it's excellent preparation for studying economics at a postgraduate level. The course combines one week of distance learning with a two week residential programme to help provide you with the knowledge and skills required for studying at the University of York.
If you've applied to one of our taught Masters degrees, we may ask you to complete this course as a condition of your offer. It will give you everything you'll need to continue your studies. We also welcome external applicants with relevant professional qualifications pursuing continued professional development.
Dates
- The course takes place from 26 August to 12 September 2025.
- Applications close at 17:00 BST on 12 August 2025.
- First week online, second and third weeks in person.
If your offer of study is conditional on taking our pre-sessional course, we'll send you a link to register for it along with your offer letter. You will receive an unconditional offer following your registration, which you can accept when you have completed the course.
If you’re a recent graduate and unsure whether you need to take our pre-sessional course, please contact us at econ-pg-enquiries@york.ac.uk.
Fees
- Economics Pre-sessional Course Fee - (1 Week Distance Learning, 2 Week Residential): £1,000.
- Accommodation fees for the Pre-sessional course are not included in the course fee above.
Related links
The course
Our Pre-sessional course aims to give you a solid foundation in economics, preparing you for studying one of our Masters degrees. Primarily aimed at students that do not have an economics background, this course covers key topics in Mathematics, Statistics, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.
Our course is split between one week of distance learning study and two weeks of residential study. This allows you to benefit from both the flexibility of online lectures and seminars as well as face to face group discussions and tutorials. Through your residential study, you will meet key departmental staff helping you to feel part of our community before starting your Masters degree.
The course material is equivalent to the second year of our BSc Economics.
What you'll study
You’ll study a range of topics, examples of which may include:
- Basic Mathematical Concepts
- Functions
- Equations
- Differential Calculus
- Constrained Optimisation
- Descriptive Statistics
- Discrete Random Variables
- Continuous Random Variables
- Estimation
- Hypothesis Testing
- Correlation and Regression
- STATA
- Fundamental Concepts
- Demand and Supply
- Consumer Behaviour
- The Theory of the Firm
- Competition
- Monopoly & Oligopoly
- Basic Definitions
- Aggregate Supply and Aggregate Demand
- Economic Growth
Completing your course
If you complete the coursework to a high standard, you’ll be given a certificate of attendance, with a certificate of completion issued when you pass.
Successful completion of this course enables you to accept your offer to study one of our taught Masters degrees.
Support
You’ll be supported by a personal supervisor, who will follow your progress online. You'll also have access to online discussion boards, which are a great place to interact with other students and share knowledge.
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Entry requirements
To take this course, you must have:
- an undergraduate degree in Economics or a related subject,
or - an undergraduate degree in a subject with strong quantitative and analytical elements,
or - a relevant professional qualification.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your ability.
Check English language requirements
Applying
If your offer of study is conditional on the completion of our pre-sessional course, you will be able to apply for it in the You@York portal.