Economics

Explore a constantly evolving and globally relevant field.

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UNSW Business School on campus

What is economics? 

Economics is a field that changes constantly and adapts to the modern world, while holding on to scientific objectivity. It offers techniques and an analytical basis for understanding and evaluating incentives and decision making by individuals, businesses and governments.  A primary goal of economics is to determine how to improve efficiency and living standards. 

Why study economics at UNSW? 

Studying economics will equip you with the analytical tools and critical thinking skills to understand and make an impact on some of our greatest global challenges. UNSW offers diverse economics specialisations and courses across a number of different degrees, allowing you to tailor your expertise to the areas that interest you. These include:  

  • Economic Policy and Society 
    Understand economic theory and analysis. Learn how it is applied in the real-world through business, government and policy.  
  • Macroeconomics and Financial Markets 
    Macroeconomics is the study of how governments manage economies to improve lives and create growth. Financial economics explores financial markets and risk management. Learn how these influential forces interact. 
  • Data Analytics and Econometrics 
    Learn economic methods for organising, modelling, and analysing large and complex data.  
  • Business Economics 
    Use economic theory and quantitative methods to understand and analyse the financial, organisational and market-related issues faced by businesses.
  • Behavioural Economics 
    Apply insights about human decision-making and individual choices to business and policy scenarios.
  • Economics and Finance  
    Study how individuals, firms, financial institutions and government interact in financial markets. Analyse economic decision making in the context of real-world events through this Master of Commerce specialisation. 
  • Applied Economics 
    Prepare to become a professional economist. Gain advanced knowledge and practical skills in economics, as well as research and communications skills through the Master of Applied Economics.  

Your career opportunities

Economists have diverse careers which influence unemployment and inflation, economic growth and development, income inequality, industrial organisation, public policy design and implementation, and management of the environment. 

Studying Economics will make you adaptable and capable of taking on diverse roles including:

  • Business analyst
  • Economic consultant
  • Economic researcher
  • Financial analyst
  • Graduate economist
  • Investment analyst
  • Management consultant
  • Policy advisor
  • Statistical analyst
  • Superannuation advisor

Study with us

What our graduates say

“I wanted a deeper understanding of how the world works so I could contribute to solving some of the world’s key challenges. This inspired me to study the forces that shape our economy.” 

- James Humpherson, Head of Operations, Humanitix