The Crawford Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Economics is a two-year research-intensive program that applies the discipline of economics to matters of public policy. As Australia’s national university, the ANU is home to the country’s leading group of economists concerned with economic policy. In applications as diverse as international trade and finance, economic development, agriculture, natural resources, and the environment, ANU economists are national and world leaders. Their interests encompass policy issues in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region, and other countries of the world.
An important feature of the Crawford Economics MPhil is that it contains a coursework component tailored to budding researchers in the economic analysis of public policy.
This information is for prospective MPhil candidates. See the Crawford MPhil page and the ANU Programs and Courses page for further information.
Step 1: Check your eligibility
To be admitted to the Master of Philosophy in Economics program you are required to have achieved:
(a) a degree of bachelor in economics or a closely related discipline, with an overall grade of distinction or higher, from an Australian university; or
(b) another qualification that the Delegated Authority is satisfied is equivalent or superior to a degree mentioned in paragraph (a); or
(c) a combination of qualifications and professional experience that the Delegated Authority is satisfied is equivalent or superior to a degree mentioned in paragraph (a).
You may be granted admission if you can demonstrate that you have a background equivalent to these qualifications, as assessed by the Economics HDR Convenor.
Candidates are assumed to have a background in mathematical economics at least at the level of ECON6012 Optimisation for Economics and Financial Economics or IDEC8015 Mathematical Methods in Applied Economics and in econometrics at least at the level of EMET8005 Econometric Methods and Modelling or IDEC8017 Econometric Techniques. Candidates can otherwise complete these courses as part of their program, but these will not be counted toward the Part A coursework requirement.
Applicants wishing to undertake an MPhil whose first language is not English are required to have an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a score of no less than 6.0 in each individual band. All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students.
Where relevant, it is possible for students to apply for credit for some of the Part A courses in line with the Research Awards Rule 2021.
Inquiries regarding the admission requirements and possible course credit may be addressed to the Economics HDR Convenor.
Step 2: Look for two possible supervisors
Applicants must have a primary supervisor from ACDE and a second supervisor from ACDE or elsewhere in Crawford School.
Please look through the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics (ACDE) academics list for potential supervisors.
Step 3: Write the thesis proposal (up to 8 pages)
Title
A precise and informative description of the project.
Abstract
A summary of the proposed research that includes the key research question or hypothesis, the rationale for the research, the region under study, and the method to be employed in the research.
Aims and significance
A clearly focused statement of the overall purpose of the proposed research (i.e. why is it important?).
Research questions and/or hypotheses
The questions that the proposed research will address and/or the hypotheses that will be tested.
Literature review
Provide a preliminary review of the work that has been carried out in the field and the potential contributions of your research. Demonstrate that you are aware of the wider literature and that your proposed research engages with ongoing debates.
Methodology
The proposal should set out initial ideas for the proposed methods. You should discuss how these methods are appropriate for the proposed project and indicate the likely feasibility of the proposed methods. Also please explain what type of data will be required and how they are proposed to be collected.
Timetable
An indication of how the research will be carried out over the duration of a full-time candidature of up to 2 years.
Resources
An indication of the funding that will be required over the course of the candidature (such as for fieldwork) as well any special materials or training that may be necessary for the successful completion of the project.
Institutional fit
A statement on why the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics is suitable for your project.
References
A list of references cited in the proposal.
Step 4: Submit an expression of interest to potential supervisors
Before submitting an application for admission, you must submit an expression of interest by emailing the following documents to two potential supervisors:
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Academic transcripts
- IELTS/TOEFL results (if applicable)
- Thesis proposal
Step 5: Make a formal application to ANU
Once two supervisors who meet ACDE criteria have signed off on your proposal and confirmed by emailing their willingness to supervise you, you may then submit an online application. Also, be sure to include contact details of a minimum of three referees, two of whom must be academic. Your application will be assessed by Crawford’s HDR Committee within four- to- six weeks of submission. Please contact the ACDE’s HDR Convenor and/or cap.hdr@anu.edu.eu for further information.
Part A - Compulsory coursework requirements
Crawford MPhil in Economics students are required to complete CRWF8900 Fostering Public Policy Research (0 units) and 30 units of economics coursework in the first 12 months of candidature or part-time equivalent. This includes the following three compulsory courses:
- IDEC8064 Advanced Applied Microeconomics
- IDEC8008 Open Economy Macroeconomics, Finance, and Development
- IDEC8924 Economics Seminars
And at least one advanced econometrics course from the below list:
- IDEC8023 Case Studies in Applied Econometrics
- IDEC8026 Quantitative Policy Impact Evaluation
- EMET6002 Applied Micro-econometrics
- EMET6010 Applied Macro and Financial Econometrics
- EMET6012 Business and Economic Forecasting
- EMET8014 Advanced Econometrics I
- EMET8008 Advanced Econometrics II
And up to one elective from:
- Graduate courses offered by the Crawford School of Public Policy.
- Graduate courses offered by the Research School of Economics.
- Graduate courses taught elsewhere at ANU – for example, in mathematics or finance – can be approved if suitable.
Suitable electives offered by the Crawford School of Public Policy:
- IDEC8000 Government, Markets and Global Change
- IDEC8010 Quantitative International Economics
- IDEC8012 Quantitative Methods for Monetary Policy Analysis
- IDEC8014 Quantitative Financial Economics
- IDEC8018 Agricultural and Resource Economics
- IDEC8020 Applied Economic Dynamics
- IDEC8021 The Chinese Economy
- IDEC8022 Economic Development
- IDEC8025 Empirical Public Finance
- IDEC8028 Microeconomics of Development
- IDEC8030 Issues in Applied Macroeconomics
- IDEC8034 Middle Eastern Economies
- IDEC8035 Islamic Economies in Practice
- IDEC8037 Pacific Economies and Politics
- IDEC8053 Environmental Economics
- IDEC8081 Economics of Incentives and Institutions
- IDEC8088 Cost-Benefit Analysis: Principles and Practice
- IDEC8089 Energy Economics
- IDEC8127 Modelling the Global Economy
- EMDV8080 International Climate Change Policy and Economics
- EMDV8081 Domestic Climate Change Policy and Economics
Suitable electives offered by the Research School of Economics:
- ECON6003 Economic Policy Issues
- ECON6009 International Monetary Economics
- ECON6016 International Economics
- ECON6034 Public Sector Economics
- ECON6037 Financial Economics
- ECON6038 Industrial Organisation
- ECON6041 Labour Economics and Industrial Relations
- ECON6053 Game Theory
- ECON6901 Advanced Topics in Poverty, Public Policy and Development
- ECON8014 Computational Methods in Economics
- ECON8021 Topics in Microeconomic Theory
- ECON8050 Economic Growth
- ECON8078 Organisational Economics
- ECON8080 Advanced Behavioral Economics
- ECON8180 Economic Analysis of the Digital Economy
Students should discuss their course choices with their Chair of Panel.
Note: With approval of their Chair of Panel, students have the option of substituting ECON8011 for IDEC8064 and/or ECON8022 for IDEC8008.
Part B – Supervised research and thesis
In part B of the program, each candidate is required to complete a thesis. The thesis commonly takes the form of two essays as well as a general introduction and conclusion. You should discuss your thesis format with your primary supervisor. Part B is typically commenced in the second semester of study concurrently with the completion of part A.
The final thesis should be no more than 60,000 words in length including footnotes and tables. The thesis will be examined by external examiners who are experts in the relevant field. The MPhil degree is awarded solely based on the examination of the research thesis.
Students are expected to give at least one seminar in each year. MPhil students are also expected to attend seminars regularly and be actively involved in providing constructive comments on the work of others. All MPhil candidates are required to meet a number of progress milestones as specified for all ANU higher degree by research (HDR) candidates. Additional information for HDR candidates is available here.