Honours in Economics
Overview
The growth in economic knowledge over the last decade makes it virtually impossible to train a professional economist within the confines of a three-year undergraduate degree. These days, many employers consider the specialist fourth year as the minimum qualification required for a professional economist.
We offer the largest and most successful Honours program in Economics in Australia. We are highly regarded for our undergraduate and graduate programs, our strong commitment to excellence in teaching, and the quality and quantity of our research output.
Our Honours graduates occupy senior positions in government, industry and commerce. Many have gone on to PhD programs at leading institutions in Australia and overseas.
Program structure
The Department of Economics offers more than 40 subjects from which Honours students can choose. You can specialise in a number of areas including: macroeconomics, microeconomics, finance, econometrics, labour economics, international trade, public policy, actuarial studies, and industrial organisation.
You are required to successfully complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year Honours, and must complete the following subjects:
- ECON40001 Advanced Microeconomics
- ECON40016 Economics Research Essay
- ECON40002 Advanced Macroeconomics
By the end of the Honours year students must have completed either ECOM30001 Basic Econometrics or ECOM30002 Econometrics, and at least one of:
- ECOM30003 Applied Microeconometric Modelling
- ECOM30004 Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
- ECOM40001 Microeconometrics
- ECOM40004 Financial Econometrics
- ECOM40006 Econometric Techniques
Students must also complete three three other subjects, normally Level-4 economics subjects. If the econometrics requirement has been satisfied in third year, students complete four other subjects instead.
Students may choose up to two Level-3 economics subjects (to include an econometrics subject) and one subject from another department within the University, with the Honours Convenor's approval.
Students who take ECON40015 Financial Economics cannot include ECON30024 Economics of Financial Markets in their final Honours year program.
Combined Honours program
Students may undertake a combined Honours program across two disciplines within the Faculty, such as Finance and Economics. Please visit the Combined Honours page for more information.
Research essays
Economics Honours theses are available on CD from the Baillieu Library Information Desk. You can also view all past honours theses through the Baillieu Library website.
Scholarships
The Faculty of Business and Economics offers a number of scholarships to Honours students. Please refer to our scholarships page for more information.