It is typically for applicants who haven’t taken sufficiently advanced economics courses during their undergraduate degree, or those who haven’t specialised in economics but have a technical background, such as a good degree in science or maths.
The Pre-sessional Summer Programme covers microeconomics and macroeconomics to an intermediate level. It is delivered every August; students who successfully meet the required level can proceed onto the MSc in September. There is also a subsequent Basic Statistics Course held in early September, although this is not formally examined.
In 2025, the first part of the programme, a self-study Maths course, will start on Monday 30th June and run throughout July. The on-campus component of the programme will run from Monday 28th July to Monday 25th August.
During the admissions process, you may be asked to provide evidence of meeting the English language requirements (available through the following link: English language entry requirements); the deadline for this is Friday 13th June.
Self-study for the summer programme
You must prepare in advance by undertaking a self-study course in Mathematics. Your first exam will take place on the first day of the Summer Programme and will count 20% towards your Progression to the MSc. This four-week self-study course should take about 5 – 20 hours per week depending on your academic background.
Self-study course in Mathematics
Arrival and Welcome
We will hold a Welcome Event and induction before the start of the Summer Programme, on Sunday 27th July. This will be an opportunity to meet your fellow students, as well as staff and students who have previously attended the Summer Programme and progressed to the MSc.
The Summer Programme starts with a Mathematics exam; this will take place on Monday 28th July.
The first lecture will take place at 2pm on Monday 28th.
Recommended Resources
We recommend that you access the textbooks for the course. The 2025 list will be provided in advance of the programme.
You should have a non-programmable calculator to use for the Mathematics exam.
Course materials
You can download the course materials from previous years. Please note there are likely to be amendments for 2025.
Intermediate Macroeconomics and Intermediate Microeconomics Course Materials
Programme information
The programme handbook outlines what is expected of you and the academic and pastoral support that is available. The handbook will be provided to you prior to the Induction.
Progression to MSc
You are probably taking the Summer Programme in order to meet a condition of your MSc offer, the exact details of which can be found in your offer.
The Mathematics exam that you sit on the first day of the programme will count 20% towards your Progression to the MSc, and each intermediate course will count for 40%. Students must achieve an average of 65% across the three courses to progress.
Your Summer Programme exam marks will be confirmed at the Summer Programme exam board in early September 2025.
We will inform you of your results, and whether or not you have successfully progressed to the MSc, following the exam board.