MA Economics Collaborative Programme with the African Economic Research

Consortium - SH540
1. Context and Objectives

This is a high-calibre, 2-year part-time Masters programme in Economics offered by the

University of Mauritius in close collaboration with the African Economic Research Consortium
(AERC – website: www.aercafrica.org), a public, non-profit-making organization devoted to
advanced economic research and training, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Students will spend the first
year at the University of Mauritius, where they will take 4 core modules and sit for the
examinations. On successful completion of the core modules, students will travel to Nairobi
around late June to take 2 elective modules over one semester (3 months) at the Joint Facility for
Electives (JFE). Finally, they will return to the University of Mauritius to prepare their MA thesis
during the 4th semester.

All fees relating to the programme are payable to the University of Mauritius. However, the
AERC, as per past practice, will meet tuition costs for all students at the JFE, Nairobi. In
addition, the AERC will take care of the travel and accommodation costs for students not
sponsored by their employer. The JFE is a modern campus, complete with dorms, computer labs
and sports facilities, including a swimming pool, and is well secured. All meals are provided free
of charge in buffet style, catering for a variety of dietary preferences. The AERC provides health
coverage to all students and offers a modest stipend for incidental expenses.

This programme offers solid training in economics and is targeted to those who intend to work as
economists, teachers/lecturers or consultants in the private or public sector as well as those who
wish to pursue a PhD in economics. It provides an excellent opportunity for Mauritians to mix
with students of different cultures and interact with African and international professors.

The objectives of the MA Economics programme are:

 To provide advanced training in economic theory and methods to prepare individuals for key
positions of responsibility in policy analysis and economic management in Government as well
as in the private sector and institutions of higher learning.
 To prepare a select group of individuals for doctoral-level work through rigorous training in
theory, methods and applications.
 To develop the ability to identify problems and the capacity for decision-making, leading to
practical solutions.
 To enhance the individual’s capacity to meet emerging challenges within an organisation with a
view to increasing domestic and international competitiveness in a rapidly changing global
environment.

2. Learning Outcomes

On completion of the programme, students should be able to:

 Relate to advanced microeconomics and macroeconomics principles.

 Apply quantitative techniques and research methods.
 Formulate mathematical economic models and quantify model parameters from data.
 Use econometric and mathematical techniques.
 Evaluate existing economic models for theoretical and practical problem solving.
 Undertake applied work and research projects in economics.
1 © University of Mauritius 2015, 2019
  Analyse relevant literature in different areas namely international and financial economics,
public economics, development economics, labour and monetary economics, amongst others
and draw the connection between theory and empirical conditions.

3. Teaching and Learning Methods

As far as possible, a blended approach will be used. These might include among others: face to
face lectures, e-learning (moodle), problem based learning, case studies, document analysis,
practical lab sessions (where applicable), assignments, seminars, tutorials, open learning materials,
textbooks and independent study as well as collaborative learning.

4. Entry Requirements

General

Successful completion of an undergraduate degree with

(i) at least a Second Class or 50%, whichever is applicable or
(ii) a GPA not less than 2.5 out of 4 or equivalent, from a recognised higher education
institution.

Or alternative qualifications acceptable to the University of Mauritius

Programme Specific

At least a Second Class Honours Degree in Economics, or any other social science discipline of
which Economics is a major component, or alternative qualifications acceptable to the
Department of Economics and Statistics, from a recognised University.

General and Programme Requirements - Special Cases

The following may be deemed to have satisfied the general and programme requirements for
admission:

(i) Applicants who do not satisfy any of the requirements as per Regulations above but who
submit satisfactory evidence of having passed examinations which are deemed by the
Senate to be equivalent to any of those listed.

(ii) Applicants who do not satisfy any of the requirements as per Regulations above but who
in the opinion of Senate submit satisfactory evidence of the capacity and attainments
requisite to enable them to pursue the programme proposed.

(iii) Applicants who hold a full practising professional qualification obtained by

examination.

5. Programme Duration

Minimum: 2 years; Maximum: 4 years

2 © University of Mauritius 2013, 2015, 2019

6. Minimum LCCS Credits Required for Degree Award: 90

Core Electives Dissertation Total

Master Degree 48 24 18 90
Postgraduate Diploma 48 24 - 72
Postgraduate Certificate 48 _ _ 48

For Each Academic Year

Year LCCS Credits

1 48
2 42
Total 90

7. Assessment and Deadlines

Continuous and Written Assessment of Modules

All core modules will be taught over the course of two semesters, and examined at the University
of Mauritius at the end of the academic year. Upon successful completion of the core modules,
students will, in the month of July, travel to Nairobi to take two elective modules over one
semester in a centralised facility, called the Joint Facility for Electives (JFE). The continuous
assessment and written exams for the two electives will take place at the JFE.

Students are expected to return to the University of Mauritius to commence work on their thesis
or research paper, the successful completion of which may take between 6 to 12 months.

For the core modules taken at the University of Mauritius:

(i) Continuous assessment can be based on seminars and/or assignments and shall include at
least 1 class test.

(ii) The continuous assessment will count for 40 to 50% of the overall percentage mark of the
module(s). Examinations will count for 50 to 60% of the overall percentage mark of the
module(s).

(iii) No retake examinations will be organised. Instead, students will be allowed to carry
forward a maximum of three modules at any point in time and will be allowed to sit for
the examinations with the next cohort of students.

(iv) All modules carry their own credit value.

(v) All modules will be run after 2.00 p.m.

Electives Modules taken in Nairobi

For a student to pass a module, a minimum of 50% should be attained.

3 © University of Mauritius 2013, 2015, 2019

Submission Deadlines for Dissertation

 First Draft: End of July in the Final Year

 Final Copy: Last working day of August in the Final Year by 4 p.m. at latest

Three copies of the dissertation (two spiral-bound copies and one soft copy in a single PDF text file
on electronic storage media) should be submitted to the Faculty/Centre Registry and in addition, a
soft copy of the dissertation in a single PDF text file should be uploaded on the “‘Turnitin’
Platform” in the final assignment submission link indicated by the Programme/Project Coordinator.

Repeat and Termination of Registration

If the CPA of a student is < 40% for an academic year, s/he will have to repeat the entire
academic year, and retake modules as and when offered. However, s/he will not be required, if
s/he wishes, to retake modules for which Grade C or above has been obtained.

Students will be allowed to repeat only once over the entire duration of the Programme of
Studies.

Registration of a student will be terminated if

(i) the CPA < 40% at the end of an academic year and the student has already repeated one
year of study; or
(ii) the maximum duration allowed for completion of the Programme of Studies has been
exceeded.

4 © University of Mauritius 2013, 2015, 2019

 8. List of Modules

CODE MODULE NAME Contact Self Other LCCS

Hrs Study learning Credits
L + P+T
CORE MODULES

ECON 5013 Advanced Microeconomics 60 120 180 12

ECON 5022 Advanced Macroeconomics 60 120 180 12

ECON 5023 Quantitative Methods 60 120 180 12

ECON 5024 Research Methods and 60 120 180 12

Computer
Applications
ECON 6000 Dissertation 18
ELECTIVES (offered at the JFE Nairobi)
AERC 6001 Agricultural Economics 12

AERC 6002 Corporate Finance and Investment 12

AERC 6003 Econometrics Theory and Practice 12

AERC 6004 Environmental Economics 12
AERC 6005 Game Theory and 12
Information
Economics
AERC 6006 Health Economics 12
AERC 6007 Industrial Economics 12

AERC 6008 International Economics 12

AERC 6009 Labour Economics 12

AERC 6010 Managerial Economics 12

AERC 6011 Monetary Theory and Practice 12
AERC 6012 Public Sector Economics 12

Note: Contact hours for the electives vary from one elective to another. On average, they range from 7 to
8 hours a week over 14 weeks.

5 © University of Mauritius 2013, 2015, 2019

9. Programme Plan – MA Economics (Collaborative)

YEAR 1
CODE MODULE NAME Contact LCCS
Hrs Credits
L + P+T
CORE MODULES

ECON 5013 Advanced Microeconomics 30 12

ECON 5022 Advanced Macroeconomics 30 12
ECON 5023 Quantitative Methods 30 12
ECON 5024 Research Methods and Computer 30 12
Applications
SUB TOTAL 48

YEAR 2
CODE MODULE NAME Hrs/Wk LCCS
L + P+T Credits
ECON 6000 Dissertation 18
ELECTIVES Choose ANY 2 from the following 12 electives (Note: These electives are offered
at the JFE in Nairobi):
AERC 6001 Agricultural Economics 12

AERC 6002 Corporate Finance and Investment 12

AERC 6003 Econometrics Theory and Practice 12
AERC 6004 Environmental Economics 12
AERC 6005 Game Theory and Information 12
Economics
AERC 6006 Health Economics 12
AERC 6007 Industrial Economics 12
AERC 6008 International Economics 12
AERC 6009 Labour Economics 12
AERC 6010 Managerial Economics 12
AERC 6011 Monetary Theory and Practice 12
AERC 6012 Public Sector Economics 12

SUB TOTAL 42

TOTAL 90

6 © University of Mauritius 2013, 2015, 2019