M.Sc. Economics holds a unique position among the degrees offered by BITS Pilani. One of the five dual degree programmes, M.Sc. Economics is unique because it is not traditionally considered a science subject. Coupling it with a B.E. degree opens up broad, interesting, and often sparsely connected future prospects. It also helps build an intuition for key financial management skills required in life beyond college. The cut-off for this programme is generally the highest among the M.Sc. degrees, and is also higher than those of a few B.E. programmes.
WHAT AN ECONOMIST DOES
Economists have experience working with statistical models and handling financial assets. This makes them a vital part of all industries and sectors. Consulting, data science, risk management, and research are common avenues where Economics is employed. An Economics degree builds the right foundations for pursuing any of these high-demand avenues, given the exponential rise in opportunities at companies of all sizes and types.
WHAT YOU STUDY AT BITS TO BECOME ONE
For the majority of students taking the degree, Economics courses will be unlike subjects they have studied before. Consequently, the BITS coursework has been structured to introduce basic principles and the theoretical framework of Economics in the second year. This is achieved through courses such as Principles of Economics, Fundamentals of Finance and Accounts, Mathematical and Statistical Methods, and Economic Environment of Business. Econometric Methods relays advanced statistical techniques, while the Micro and Macro Economics courses provide a detailed expansion of most essential economic processes. In the third year, specialized courses such as International Economics, Money Banking and Financial Markets, Applied Econometrics, and Public Finance Theory and Policy are offered. Both economics and finance courses are included in the curriculum, providing theoretical and analytical training. Notably, the nature of the course allows for research and external study that directly augments the training received within the curriculum.
WHAT YOU CAN DO AFTER GRADUATING
As with all M.Sc. courses, the Economics degree opens up a direct path to higher avenues of study such as a Ph.D. alongside job opportunities that the B.E. degree offers. Research in Economics has rich prospects involving unsolved econometric problems and policy formulation. There are direct placements in the finance sector—companies with Finance departments such as Goldman Sachs have job requirements uniquely suited to the Economics stream. One may also enter government finance departments or PSUs such as the RBI or the Indian Engineering Services.