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 M.A. 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 (M.A. 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.
“Choosing to come to Ashoka for my Masters turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. The M.A. 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 (M.A. 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.
“Joining the first batch of M.A. 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 (M.A. 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.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring access to good internet connectivity for both of the processes. Please note that only those candidates who pass the entrance examination and clear the interview round will receive a firm Offer of Admission.