Postgraduate taught 

Data Analytics for Economics & Finance MSc

Dissertation DAEF Industry Pathway ECON5122P

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: Adam Smith Business School
  • Credits: 60
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Summer
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

The industry pathway involves students being placed within an organization (central bank, research institute, government) in the form of an internship that will last around 2 months. They will have to engage to research activities related to that organization and summarize their findings in the form of a 6,000-12,000 word dissertation (report).

Timetable

Industry Pathway: Approximately 8 weeks industry placement followed by a portfolio writing up period (approx. 1 month).

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

A 6,000-12,000 word dissertation (report).

Course Aims

1. To allow students to explore a topic of interest in some depth.

2. To enable students to share ideas and experience in developing research proposals and methods.

3. To develop students' oral presentational skills by facilitating group presentations and discussions.

4. To enable students to develop and deploy library and internet skills in literature search and data source identification.

5. To develop students' IT skills including manipulation and presentation of statistical data.

6. To help students develop a clear understanding of various econometric techniques that should be used to analyse different economic, financial, political and social datasets.

7. To analyse actual economic data so as to produce a statistically adequate model;

8. To check the validity of the statistical assumptions underlying the model, using the sample data and revising the model specification as needed;

9. To use the model to obtain reasonably valid statistical test of economic theory and to address a research question.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

In completing their dissertation, students should be able to demonstrate an ability to:

1. Manage and facilitate a substantial, focused piece of research using research methods and analytical techniques that are appropriate to their programme of study within a real business/industry environment.

2. Identify and formulate hypotheses to be tested or problems to be addressed deriving from their analysis of the literature, and confront these hypotheses by mobilising relevant evidence and analysing it using statistical methods.

3. Evaluate findings and draw out their implications.

4. Present a substantial piece of written work that is clearly motivated and structured, and conforms to the requirements specified in the course documentation with regard to the quality of written work and to presentational features such as length, layout, citations and bibliography.

5. Accept negative feedback and respond in a positive and constructive manner.

6. Manage relationships with key organisational stakeholders.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.