Master of Arts in Economics

Master of Arts in Economics

Ashoka University’s Master’s programme in Economics has been developed to provide students the opportunity to be trained in modern Economics by highly qualified economists. Our approach to Economics is a comprehensive one. We believe in teaching students both how to ask and address questions that are informed by economic theory as well as how to substantiate their arguments with rigorous data analysis. The coursework in the programme has been designed with the latest research in mind and draws on some of today’s most exciting research fields. At the end of the programme, students are expected to have state-of-the-art quantitative skills valued both in academia and in the corporate world.

Ashoka’s intellectually vibrant campus provides students an opportunity to engage in cross-disciplinary learning and be informed by the views of leading political scientists, sociologists, psychologists, historians, mathematicians and computer scientists, amongst others. The campus is an ideal space where students can grow—intellectually as well as professionally. Within a very short period, Ashoka has been recognized as a leading innovator in Indian higher education. The Master’s programme in Economics provides students an opportunity to leverage Ashoka’s growing stature and expanding networks to shape their future careers, whether it be in academia or beyond.

General Overview of the Programme

General Overview of the Programme

The Department of Economics in Ashoka University is one of the leading economics departments in the country. It is known for the quality of its research and teaching. The Masters programme of the department, set up in 2017, is a comprehensive programme focusing on the entire range of theoretical, applied, and empirical fields in the discipline of economics.

Faculty members teaching in the programme range from senior professors internationally renowned as leaders in their fields to young upcoming assistant professors working at the cutting edge of research.

A key feature of the programme is the opportunity it offers to students to be involved in research under faculty supervision. With its strong focus on the quantitative and analytical aspects of economics, the department prepares students for careers ranging from research, public policy, the non-governmental sector as well as the corporate sector.

Ratul Lahkar, Professor of Economics, Head of the Department, Economics, Ashoka University

 

The Technical Training of the Programme

The Masters programme in Economics at Ashoka teaches students both the theoretical fundamentals of economics and the applications of those concepts to real-world problems.

The course work is designed to train students across a set of technical subjects in the first year like microeconomics, macroeconomics, game theory, statistics, econometrics and computer programming. The programme lays utmost importance on applications of the core economic concepts using exploratory data analyses and rigorous econometric tools.

They undertake independent projects in the first-year programming course and learn how to use data mining techniques to collect data and then determine underlying patterns. Early exposure to these applications helps students to appreciate the relevance of the economic principles through hands-on exercises. The second-year provides a range of courses in which the students can then choose to specialize in.

Thus, the course work aims to shape students into well rounded economic postgraduates who can undertake the three key pillars of problem-solving – diagnose, deliberate and design solutions – through the knowledge and applications of economic tools.

Kanika Mahajan, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Ashoka University

 

Brief Overview of the Curriculum

The MA Economics at Ashoka is unique in the country in terms of the breadth of economics electives that it offers.

One of the highlights is the exposure that Ashoka offers into fields like Behavioral and Experimental Economics. Two electives are offered in the area, one focusing on the research in Behavioral Economics, and the other introducing experimental methods that have been widely adopted by economists around the world to develop new insights.

These electives are aimed at giving a glimpse of the state of the art research in the field. They involve research projects where the students get hands-on experience of designing and running a laboratory experiment on an original research idea. Such electives broaden students’ vision of Economics as a field of study, help them connect the textbook principles to their surroundings and make them independent thinkers.

Swagata Bhattacharjee, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Ashoka University

 

Expectations from MA Economics Students

Our MA Economics programme has been designed to produce the next generation of leading economists from our region. We take in students with exceptional quantitative and analytical skills, and most importantly those with the motivation and intellectual curiosity to engage with the important questions in the discipline.

The two year journey is a transformative experience where students are provided a balanced training in both theory (math models) and data analysis (statistics/ econometrics), where they learn to ask, analyze, and answer questions in the domain of economics.

Finally, it should be noted that while it is common for our students to take up industry or corporate jobs, the focus of a master’s programme in Economics is very different from an MBA programme and the two shouldn’t be confused.

Arghya Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Ashoka University

Testimonials by Alumni

‘The MA Economics programme at Ashoka University was a truly transformational experience. The rigorous coursework, outstanding faculty and regular department seminars, broadened my understanding and appreciation of economics and its applications in the real-world. The small class size and close-knit community fostered a rich learning experience and enabled me to develop lasting relationships with both my batch-mates as well as professors. Today, I find that the key skills that have helped me in my current role, were in fact ones that I had honed during my two years at Ashoka, such as dealing with ambiguity through structured problem solving, working in diverse teams and under tight deadlines, and communicating in a coherent manner. Moreover, since graduating, the broader Ashoka alumni network has been really helpful from both a personal and professional standpoint, with its active, engaging and supportive community’.

Aditya Gulwadi (MA Economics 2017-2019) currently works as a Research Associate at Euromonitor International in Bangalore, as a part of their market research consulting practice. Since joining, he has had the opportunity to work on several global projects with multinational corporates and government departments in the consumer goods space.

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‘Choosing to come to Ashoka for my Masters turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. The MA Economics programme was rigorous and extremely demanding. Thanks to the supportive faculty, I was fortunate to gain valuable experience and a vast amount of knowledge in a diverse set of economic areas. The research-intensive coursework helped me gain more self-confidence and enhanced my in-depth understanding of economic theories. It helped me develop original ideas and prepared me for a career in research’.

Ilisa Goenka (MA Economics 2017-2019) currently works as Research Associate at the Centre of Advanced Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL), a research institution promoted by the Reserve Bank of India.

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‘Joining the first batch of MA Economics at Ashoka University sure came with it’s own set of anxiety and anticipation, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences. The exceptional faculty supported my transition into a skilled professional with in-depth knowledge of economics. The coursework incorporated a vast set of topics from newest to historic, along with key technical skills. One of the major takeaways from the programme is a strong research practice. But we have also developed critical aptitude and life skills to shine in every field of choice’. 

Rashi Seksaria (MA Economics 2017-2019) states that her time at Ashoka University has played a major role in her current position as a Consultant at Fractal Analytics, a leading Management Consulting company in the AI space.

Application Form and Timeline

Application Forms for the academic session commencing August 2022 will open in December, 2021.

MA in Economics – Admissions Timeline (August 2022 Intake)

Application Forms Open	1st December, 2021
Application Submission Deadline	31st March, 2022
Entrance Examination	1st May, 2022
Interview	May, 2022
Decision Notification	3rd June, 2022

Admissions Process (August 2021)

Candidates who are interested in applying for the MA in Economics programme are required to fill in an application form online through the website. An applicant cannot submit more than one form in one admissions cycle.

There is no fee to start an application, however, there is a non-refundable fee of INR 1,000 that is charged at the time of submitting the application form.

Once the application form is submitted, there are two stages in the admissions process:

Stage 1: All candidates are required to appear for an online Entrance Examination

Stage 2: If the candidate passes the entrance examination, they will be invited for an online Interview Round. The Interview Round is to gauge the candidate’s suitability for the programme and to Ashoka University’s academic rigour

Applicants are responsible for ensuring access to good internet connectivity for both of the process. Please note that only those candidates who pass the entrance examination and clear the interview round will receive a firm Offer of Admission.

Fee Structure (August 2021)

The Fee Structure of the MA in Economics programme starting in August 2022 has the following components:

Component	First Year (AY 2022-2023)	Second Year (AY 2023-2024)
Tuition Fee	502,000	512,000
Residence Cost (Opt-In)	Option 1 (Standard) 90,000 Option 2 (Exception) 1,70,000	Option 1 (Standard) 94,500 Option 2 (Exception) 1,79,00
Total	6,72,000 / 5,92,000	6,91,000 / 6,06,500

*Ashoka University provides Residence and Meal facilities for MA Students, on an optional basis. If you opt-in for Residence as provided by Ashoka University, please note the following details:

• Option 1 is the standard off-campus residence provided by Ashoka University for MA Students who opt-in for residence and meals
• Option 2 is an on-campus residence within the Ashoka University campus for MA Students, wherein permission is granted by the Office of Student Affairs as an exception and on a case by case basis
• The annual minimum Meal Cost is INR 35,000 for students who opt-in for residence provided by Ashoka University. Meal consumption over INR 35,000 will be charged on actuals.

MA Students can choose to not opt-in for residence and meals provided by Ashoka University. MA Students who choose to not opt-in for residence can avail of meals on campus through the coupon system and/or pay on purchase from all vendors

Refund Policy

In view of the financial hardships being faced by parents due to lockdowns and related factors, a full refund of fees will be made on account of all cancellations of admissions of students up to October 31, 2021 for the academic session 2021- 2022 as a special case. It is made clear that the entire fee, including all charges, will be refunded (i.e. there will be zero cancellation charges) on account of cancellations up to October 31, 2021. Thereafter, on cancellation/withdrawal of admissions up to December 31, 2021, the entire fee collected from a student will be refunded in full after deducting not more than Rs. 1000/- as processing fee details on Withdrawal of Admission as per University Grants Commission Guidelines July 2021.

Please click to view Ashoka University’s Refund Policy for the session commencing in August 2021. [Kindly note that this policy is no longer valid because of the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission. Please read the text given above to access the current policy].

Please note that Ashoka University does not advertise or promote itself in newspapers, magazines or through any third party channel. The process for admission to Ashoka University is very transparent and does not engage the services of any third party to make calls or message from, for, or on behalf of Ashoka University. Applicants should therefore protect themselves against any such persons who may approach them on the pretext of assisting them to get admission.

Financial Aid

Candidates who receive an Offer of Admission from the Office of Admissions and the Department of Economics, will be given the option to apply for financial aid at this stage.

The financial aid application process will be accessible to you only if you receive a firm Offer of Admission to the programme, and forms will be open for a period of 5 days from the day you receive the offer.

If you intend to apply for financial aid, we request you and your Parent(s)/Guardian(s) to visit www.ashoka.edu.in/financialaid, download a copy of the Financial Aid Form, and familiarise yourself with the process. Please collect all the relevant documents and necessary information ahead of time to ensure a seamless application process within the given deadline.

To know more about our Financial Aid Application Form, Process and Policies, click here.

Contact Information

For Application Related Queries:

Ashoka University Admissions Office

Days: Monday – Friday

Timings: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Email address: economics@ashoka.edu.in

Address: No. 2, Green Avenue Street, Pocket D-3, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi – 110070