Current Postgraduate Students
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Student placement & reactions
Graduates in Economics & Finance from St Andrews have included:
- Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP MSP
- First Minister of Scotland, formerly Research Economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland, Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), MP for Banff & Buchan.
- Professor Sir Alan Peacock
- formerly Professor of Economics, Edinburgh, York and Buckingham, Chief Economic Advisor DTI, and Head of the UN Advisory Mission to Russia on Social Protection.
- Professor Ian Wooton
- formerly professor at the University of Western Ontario, then Bonar-Macfie Professor of Economics, University of Glasgow, and now Professor of Economics at Strathclyde University, specialising in international economics.
- Professor Grant Baird
- formerly Chief Economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland, then Chief Executive, Scotland Europa (Brussels), and Executive Director, Scottish Financial Enterprise.
- Professor Sheila Dow
- formerly Senior Economist, Department of Finance, Government of Manitoba, former Director, Postgraduate Programmes in Banking and Finance, and Professor in Economics, Stirling University.
Student Comments on Postgraduate Provision within the School
"Initially I chose the University of St Andrews because it offered an MSc in International Strategy and Economics which best suited my interests and career plans. When I arrived I discovered the incredible architecture, beautiful scenery and friendly atmosphere of the city. I have really enjoyed my life and study in St Andrews and I appreciated the Chevening Scholarship, jointly funded by the British council, Soros Foundation and the University of St Andrews, which made possible my postgraduate study.
The MSc in ISE is an internationally oriented programme and it attracts students from all over the world. The course benfited from the widely different academic, social and cultural backgrounds of the students. I have learnt a lot both from academic staff and from my fellow students, because teamwork plays an important role in all modules. For me, the MSc in ISE served as a good platform to continue my studies at the doctorate level."
"Now working for a medium sized investment company, it is great to see many of the transaction cost and resource based theories of the firm, which I encountered during my MPhil thesis, to be of pertinent real world application."
"The MSc experience for me has been really fantastic! The most attractive part of it, among many other qualities, was the suitability of the course structure. Writing short and group essays, as well as conducting group presentations, has enabled me to boost my analytical, research, presentation, and especially team working skills, which are of great use in the real business world. The students in the MSc were from different countries, and studying and socializing with them made the MSc experience truly international. Tremendous support from the professors and academic staff of the MSc enabled me not only to excel in my studies, but also to achieve my long-term career goals."
"The ISE is indeed a challenging programme for many reasons. The most important one I would like to mention is on an interpersonal level. The lecturers are very supportive, while at the same time being challenging. They offer advice and help, and demand sometimes the most impossible things. But it was exactly these demands which trained me in the art of thoughtful discussion and negotiation. I would argue that these skills, as well as the knowledge I have acquired, were the key elements for future employment prospects. The ability to communicate my position, and to use given resources in the most effective manner and proper language, has helped me start on a marvellous career path. The help from Professor Reid's course &lquot;Thinking Strategically&rquot; did the rest!
"I am grateful for both the difficult and the good times. They taught me to be tenacious and prepared me well for future business challenges, to which I happily look forward."
"I first studied Economics and Management at Oxford and wanted to continue my studies with a broad-based Masters programme. St Andrews offered the M.Litt in Management, Economics and Politics (later to become the MSc in ISE programme) and the university itself is highly regarded. In addition, my father is an alumnus. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded my PhD studies here on the macro-economic basis of the South Sea Bubble, and I then gained a Teaching Fellowship here which lasted for four years. The ESRC then granted me a Post-doctoral Research Fellowship to be held at St Andrews."
Student Comments on Undergraduate Provision within the School
"St Andrews strikes a good balance between the demand for mathematical rigor and arts-focused discussion and research. During the course of my degree, I had the opportunity to study abroad at UCLA broadening and deepening my education. I would recommend investing in your educational capital here at St Andrews."
"In applying to study Economics at St Andrews, I was choosing a subject that I had never taken before. Although this was somewhat unnerving, I need not have worried, as the course is taught from first principles and the staff are very supportive and approachable. The enthusiasm and passion of the staff is evident in lectures and tutorials, making a degree in Economics both stimulating and extremely enjoyable.
I found the structure of the course sufficiently flexible in that it has enabled me to pursue my own interests around the core modules. The School offers a great variety of optional modules and I have been able to develop my interest in macroeconomics through classes in 'European Integration' and 'International Trade and Globalisation'.
Over the four years I have discovered that Economics is an integral part of the world we live in and is highly applicable to a range of careers. Studying Economics has equipped me with a breadth of skills and competencies that will prove invaluable when I reluctantly leave St Andrews and begin a graduate position at one of the 'Big Four' accountancy firms."
"Studying Economics at St Andrews was both an honour and a challenge. Being taught by some of the most accomplished economists in the world was a privilege and, even though daunting at first, the quality of their teaching made the transition from further into higher education as trouble-free as possible. Quite simply, St Andrews has been the best four years of my life."
