MSc in Microeconomics
Course Overview
The MSc in Microeconomics at the London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a one-year UK master's for economists moving into lead-analyst and senior consulting roles — a lead pricing economist at a UK utility, a case-team economist at Frontier-tier consultancies, or a step-up analyst at a UK regulator. Sitting in the Accounting, Finance & Economics faculty, the course covers advanced applied micro theory, econometrics at working level, market design, applied competition and behavioural economics as practised on live UK cases.
The MSc runs one year full-time (two years part-time via online or distance routes). Students complete a substantial dissertation supervised by a working senior economist, run a sponsor consulting project with a UK client, and attend practitioner-led case seminars each term. Delivery is on-campus in central London, fully online with cohort calls scheduled across UK and APAC time zones, and by distance learning.
Key Features
- Curriculum reviewed against Government Economic Service (GES) senior-economist standards and Society of Business Economists chartered competencies.
- Three study modes — central London campus, fully online with UK/APAC cohort calls, or distance learning.
- Sponsor consulting project with a UK client — regulator, utility, retailer or consultancy.
- Working practice with R, Stata and Python for applied econometrics.
- Dissertation supervised by a working senior economist.
- Executive-application coaching in the final term.
What You Will Learn
The MSc organises applied micro around the working questions senior economists actually own: which model to specify, which identification strategy to defend, which case to build, and which brief to write when a regulator or client needs a decision.
- Advanced applied econometrics — panel data, IV, DiD, RDD, machine learning for causal inference.
- Market design — auctions, matching, mechanism design in UK spectrum-auction case studies.
- Applied game theory — repeated games, signalling, cheap talk in commercial settings.
- Merger analysis at senior level — SSNIP, GUPPI, diversion ratios, unilateral effects.
- Regulatory economics — RIIO-3, price controls, cost-of-capital estimation.
- Applied behavioural economics — RCT design, nudge trials at scale.
- Cost-benefit analysis under HM Treasury Green Book at case level.
- Structured econometric project management — question, method, evidence, robustness.
- Applied dissertation research on an original applied microeconomics question.
Who This Course Is For
- Working economists moving into lead-analyst or case-team economist seats.
- Regulator analysts moving into senior policy roles.
- Case-team consultants preparing for principal-track promotion.
- Overseas-trained economists converting to UK regulatory and CMA case practice.
- Data scientists and quantitative analysts moving into applied economics.
Career Pathways
Graduates typically progress into lead economist and senior analyst roles across UK economics consultancies, regulators, utilities and think tanks. The MSc supports applications but does not by itself guarantee job offers or visa outcomes.
- Lead Applied Economist
- Case-Team Economist (senior)
- Senior Regulatory Economist
- Applied Research Economist
- Head of Pricing (small team)
- Senior Policy Economist
The MSc is a strong signal for GES senior applications, Society of Business Economists Chartered membership and PhD-track progression at UK universities.
Entry Requirements
- A UK 2:2 honours degree in a relevant discipline (economics, mathematics, statistics, engineering, econometrics), or an equivalent international qualification. Applicants with three years of substantive applied-economics experience may apply on a portfolio route.
- GCSE English Language at grade 5/C (or equivalent) for domestic applicants; international applicants meet the language rule below.
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- A short statement of intent (600 words) explaining research or applied interests, plus two references (one academic, one workplace or professional-body); regression comfort is essential.
Why Study at LSIBM
The London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a specialist business-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. Postgraduate cohorts run in small tutor-visible groups, are shaped by working senior practitioners (partner-level at a Big Four firm, Fellow-level at CIM or CIPD, CFA charter-holders in investment routes) and close with a substantial dissertation, sponsor consulting project or applied capstone defended in front of a working panel.
London puts the City, Canary Wharf, Whitehall, Companies House, the FCA, the Bank of England, the West End and the major consulting, banking and multinational headquarters within a short tube ride of every classroom. LSIBM postgraduates attend a fortnightly senior-practitioner clinic and a structured executive-application coaching programme in the final term.
Apply for the MSc in Microeconomics
Step into the senior track with the MSc in Microeconomics. Click Enrol Now and admissions will reply within one working day with intake dates, dissertation supervisor allocation guidance and the current fee schedule. LSIBM postgraduates are supported by dedicated executive-application coaching in the final term.
