university of adelaide phd economics

School of Economics and Public Policy

Postgraduate

When you are ready to take that next step in your education, our Master's program provides a valuable postgraduate learning experience to ensure you excel in your chosen career.

Our coursework programs

Master of economics and resource policy.

• Graduate Diploma in Economics and Resource Policy
• Graduate Certificate in Economics and Resource Policy

Lead and develop economic and resource sustainability  

Experience the synergy of economics and resource policy like never before. This two-year program offers a unique blend of economic expertise with resource management acumen, empowering you to make smart, sustainable choices in a world hungry for change. Dive deep into the intricate world of economic study and examination, policy formulation, and resource allocation while honing your skills to ensure equitable access to vital resources, from clean air and water to sustainable energy. Be at the forefront of shaping policies that safeguard economic stability, protect our environment, and promote social equity. 

A shorter  Graduate Certificate  and  Graduate Diploma  option is also available to those seeking a shorter qualification.

Degree Structure

The Master of Economics and Resource Policy allows you to diversify your expertise by taking courses from all three areas, or you can focus on a specialisation in: • Economic Analysis • Global Food and Agribusiness • International Trade You can choose up to two specialisations. The program also provides a PhD pathway.

Where could it take you? 

Our graduates pursue a wide range of exciting careers and research trajectories. As an economic analyst, you might evaluate corporate strategies. As a policy analyst within government, you could spearhead the overhaul of regulatory frameworks. Opportunities also extend to stock markets, the expansive arena of food, agriculture and resource industries, and the dynamic domain of banking, financial services, and consulting. Your analytic and modelling skills might even be channelled towards devising strategies for resource allocation in aid agencies.

Interested in postgraduate research with us?

We have strong research record and offers a supportive and collegial learning environment that enables research students to receive individualised attention and interact closely with academic staff.

All higher degree research students are supervised to ensure the highest quality research outcome that is internationally competitive, including our own staff, supervisors from other Faculties within the University and experts from other universities in Australia and abroad.

Higher Degrees by Research

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Future Students

Studying postgraduate economics.

I'm interested in studying postgraduate economics - what do I need to know?

What postgraduate coursework programs do you offer in economics?

In addition to the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Economics we offer the:

• Master of Advanced Economics  - a direct pathway into the PhD in Economics and designed to challenge you by progressing your existing understanding of economics concepts. This program will give you comprehensive training in core research skills.
• Master of Applied Economics – a nested suite of programs that can develop you into a professional economist whether or not you're new to the subject. Options include the 6-month grad cert, 1-year grad dip, or 2-year masters program (1.5 years with approved prior learning).
• Master of Finance and Business Economics - multiply your expertise with a program including core courses in finance as well as economics. Choose the finance electives on offer to also gain grounding towards the globally recognised Chartered Financial Analyst qualification.

Click the program names above to drill down to detailed information about each of the programs including course structure, fees and entry requirements.

Can I undertake the programs part-time?

Local (domestic students)

Yes, you're able to undertake part-time studies. However, there's a limit on how long you can take to complete your degree. Maximum duration is:

• 3 years for

Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics Graduate Diploma in Applied Economics

• 6 years for

Master of Applied Economics Master of Advanced Economics Master of Finance and Business Economics

International students *

As a condition of your student visa you'll need to complete your degree within the duration of your confirmation of enrolment (CoE). In most cases you'll need to enrol in four courses in a normal semester, but circumstances that might let you enrol in less than four courses per normal semester include:

• undertaking study in Summer School
• being placed on a load restriction due to unsatisfactory academic progress
• having medical or special conditions (and you've discussed your situation with the International Student Centre).

You may also find the following articles helpful:

• What is a CoE and why do I need one?
• I am an international student. Do I need to enrol full-time in every semester?

* Note, this advice only applies to postgraduate Economics students.

Some coursework programs mention a dissertation - what's involved and is it compulsory?

• Master of Advanced Economics

The dissertation for this postgraduate program is compulsory (it's a core course), comprises 12 units and needs to be approximately 8,000-12,000 words long.

You’ll undertake an individual research project that exhibits original investigation, analysis and interpretation which you’ll write up under the guidance of an academic supervisor. You’ll be responsible for proposing the topic of the dissertation, though you can discuss your area of interest and a general idea for a topic with the program coordinator, who can help you narrow down the topic if necessary. The purpose of the dissertation is to encourage you to undertake independent economic research and to foster research-related skills that will benefit your future study and employment.

For a lot more about this dissertation visit its course outline ECON 7230 Economics Dissertation , which discusses in detail specific course requirements and the attributes you will have developed by the time it comes to graduate.

• Master of Applied Economics

The dissertation for this postgraduate program is optional (it’s an elective), comprises 6 units and needs to be approximately 4,000-7,000 words long. 

In other ways it’s similar to the dissertation above in that you’ll need to demonstrate original investigation, analysis and interpretation, its purpose likewise for you to undertake independent economic research.

For more on this dissertation visit its course outline ECON 7225 Master of Applied Economics Dissertation .

• Honours Degree of Bachelor of Economics

Technically an undergraduate program, its dissertation is compulsory, comprises 9 units and needs to be 8,000-12,000 words long.

Like the dissertations mentioned above it’s designed to provide you with the tools to undertake individual research. In the course of developing your thesis you’ll be expected to learn how to identify research questions, gain the ability to map economic theory into coherent explanations of real-world problems, and learn how to confront economic theory with real-world data.

For more on this dissertation visit its course outline ECON 4010 Honours Economics Thesis * or download the Honours handbook .

*Note, the School of Economics uses the terms ‘thesis’ and ‘dissertation’ interchangeably.

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Future Student Enquiries

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The University of Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia

More information

The Centre for Global Food and Resources

PhD in Global Food Studies

Are you interested in working at the cutting-edge of food research and agricultural innovation?

Our PhD program in Global Food Studies is a research-focused PhD with topics typically related to economics, business and policy issues affecting agricultural and food value chains, including smallholder producers in less developed countries to food consumers in Australia.

Admissions information   Current PhD students

Eka Puspitawati, PhD Graduate

"Joining the group of Global Food Studies gave me valuable experience in improving my capacity and knowledge in global food chains and management.

The John Allwright Fellowship funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) gave me the opportunity to explore the interesting research topic:  Contracts, and Marketing Decisions of Indonesian Potato Growers . This topic (which is my thesis title) examines potato producer motivations for establishing contracts with buyers, exploring the role of gender and the economics of market relationships and channel choice.

I’m very blessed and proud to be a part of the University of Adelaide. I found that participating in Global Food Studies gave me confidence towards my future. Many of the skills that I learned throughout my degree, such as writing, presenting, analysing, and conducting research have allowed me to easily adapt into my job as a lecturer at Bogor Agricultural University. Moreover, I had the opportunity to collaborate with an excellent supervisor team." 

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