MSc Economics and Finance

MSc Economics and Finance

The MSc in Economics and Finance programme advances knowledge in economic and finance to produce highly skilled professionals who can analyse, understand and explain the complex economic and financial issues, that constantly arise in this globalized world. The programme aims at producing highly skilled professionals who can analyse, understand and explain the complex economic and financial issues that constantly arise in this globalized world.  This programme is intended to [1] develop the understanding of economics and finance that is key to solving the economic and financial problems faced by the world; [2] enhance students’ skills to analyse, understand and explain the complex economic and financial issues that arise in this globalized world; and  [3] develop competencies in financial analysis and financial modelling in the changing world economy.

At the end of the programme, students should be able to understand key fundamental concepts in economics and finance. Students should also be able to apply and use various economic and financial tools to solving real world economic and financial problems. Students should also be able to analyse economic and financial data, identify problems with them and offer possible solutions. Additionally, students should be equipped with the skills to analyse, understand and explain the complex economic and financial issues that arise in this globalized world. The programme will develop competencies in core courses in economics and finance at the advanced (graduate) level plus a host of relevant elective courses including public finance, portfolio analysis and management, monetary economics and financial system, corporate finance, international money and finance, financial derivatives and risk management, risk management in financial institutions, investment banking and wealth management, among others.

 

Admission Requirements

The MSc Economics and Finance is an advanced degree programme in the Economic Sciences focusing on training both Ghanaian and Foreign nationals for industry both at home and abroad. The entry requirements for admission to the programme for both Ghanaians and foreign nationals are as follows:

(i). Applicants must hold a good Bachelor’s degree, preferably second class lower or better from a recognised institution in the following disciplines: BA/BSc Economics, BA/BSc Economics (with Finance, Management, Accounting, Mathematics, Statistics, Geography, Law, Sociology, Social Work, Political Science, Psychology, History etc.), Bachelor of Business Administration, BA/BSc Banking and Finance, Accounting, Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Management, Human Resource Management, BSc Mathematics/Statistics/Engineering/Physics/Actuarial Science/Environmental Science/Land Economy/Natural Resource Management; BA/BSc Geography/Geography and Resource Development/Geography and Rural Development/Geography and Regional Planning; and related disciplines.

(ii). Applicants without Bachelor’s degree in the above disciplines must have a Master’s degree from a recognised tertiary institution in any of the disciplines listed in (i) above.

(iii). Applicants with a degree in any unlisted programme will have their applications assessed independently.

(iv). Ghanaian applicants must have completed their national service at the time of enrolment.

 

Graduation Requirements

(i). Subject Requirements: Assessment of individual taught courses in the MSc Economics and Finance programme will be based on written examinations (both continuous assessment (40%) and end of semester examinations (60%)). The student must pass all required courses. The pass mark for each taught course is 50%.

(ii). Credit Requirements: The student must register and obtain credit hours not less than 36.

(iii). Other equivalent requirements: Achieve a minimum cumulative weighted average mark of 55%.

iv). Any additional requirements for graduation: Candidates must pass the MSc Economics and Finance Thesis (to be examined by internal examiners). The pass mark for the thesis is 55%. Additionally, the candidate must pass oral examination (before an oral examination committee).

Duration

The full duration of the programme will be one-year, comprising two semesters of coursework (August – December; Semester I and January – May; Semester II) and a period for internship and dissertation write up (June – August).

Lecture Hours (Weekends)

• Saturdays: 8am - 4pm
• Sundays: 8am - 4pm

Date of Commencement

The programme will begin in the 2023-2024 academic year.

Fees

The programme is fee paying. Total fees for both Ghanaian and Foreign nationals are determined by the University annually. 

 

Components of the programme

(a) Core course(s):

1. EFI 551: Microeconomics
2. EFI 553: Macroeconomics
3. EFI 555: Quantitative Methods in Economics and Finance
4. EFI 557: Corporate Finance
5. EF 559: Monetary Economics and Financial System
6. EFI 561: Portfolio Analysis and Management
7. EFI 552: Applied Econometrics
8. EFI 554: International Money and Finance
9. EFI 556: Risk Management in Financial Institutions
10. EFI 558: Financial modelling
11. EFI 580: Research Methods in Economics and Finance

(b) Elective course(s):

1. EFI 560: Behavioural Finance
2. EFI 562: Public Finance
3. EFI 564: Managerial and Decision Economics
4. EFI 566: Financial Derivatives and Risk Management
5. EFI 568: Investment Banking and Wealth Management
6. EFI 570: Treasury Management

(c) Research component:

        EFI 590: Thesis

Students enrolled in the MSc Economics and Finance programme will be required to write their thesis between June and August. This will have a total of 0 credit. The length of the thesis should be in the range of 6,000 – 8,000 words.

(d) Practical training, Industrial attachment, Internship, Clinical experience, etc:

One novelty of the MSc Economics and Finance programme is the internship component designed specifically for those students who are not formally employed. Such students will be required to undertake an internship with relevant organisations/institutions as part of the requirements for graduation. The minimum required duration of the internship will be one month, and a fee will be charged for this. To ensure efficiency of the internship programme students will be required to submit internship evaluation report endorsed by the head of the organisation/institutions where the internship was undertaken to the Department.

 

Semester-by-semester structure:

Year 1, Semester 1

Microeconomics

Macroeconomics

Quantitative Methods in Economics and Finance

Corporate Finance

Monetary Economics and Financial System

Portfolio Analysis and Management

 

Year 1, Semester 2

Applied Econometrics

International Money and Finance

Risk Management in Financial Institutions

Financial Modelling

Research Methods in Economics and Finance

Plus one (1) elective course to be selected from the following:

Behavioural Finance

Public Finance

Managerial and Decision Economics

Financial Derivatives and Risk Management

Investment Banking and Wealth Management

Treasury Management

 

Research component

Thesis

 

Mode of Application

1. First of all, candidates must purchase an eVoucher by paying an application fee at the following banks: GCB, Ecobank or uniBank.
2. Upon payment of the application fee, candidates will receive an eVoucher containing an application number and PIN that will grant access to the online admissions portal.
3. Candidates should then proceed to online admissions website: https://apps.knust.edu.gh/admissions/ and begin the application process.
4. Once the process has been completed, candidates must print out 3 copies of the completed application form from the portal and submit them (by post) to the School of Graduate Studies along with all relevant documents (Photocopies of Certificates, Recommendation Letters, and (Transcript for those attending KNUST for the first time)) to the following address:

The Secretary
School of Graduate Studies
KNUST
Kumasi-Ghana

 

Only candidates who successfully gain admission will be notified subsequently.

All International Applicants must apply online. International applicants who are admitted will be required to pay an application fee of USD 200.00 before registration.

You may contact the Department of Economics for further details on 0322497532\0322062100