The programme provides a rigorous training in economic analysis and empirical methods for those who plan to pursue a career as economic analysts, policy researchers and investment strategists in multinational corporations, investment or commercial banks, trade associations, government bodies and policy research institutes. The programme can also serve as a foundation for further academic work at the graduate level.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. An undergraduate degree in economics or related areas is not a pre-requisite. Students with a solid quantitative background and commitment to academic study are encouraged to apply.

Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is NOT English should also fulfill the following minimum English proficiency requirement^:

• a score of 79 (for tests taken prior to 21 January 2026) or 4 (for tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards) (Internet-based Test) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)@#; or 
• an overall band score of 6.0 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) @#; or 
• a score 490 in the Chinese Mainland's College English Test (CET-6); or
• other equivalent qualifications.

^Individual Colleges and Schools may stipulate a higher English proficiency requirement, or equivalent acceptable qualifications, as deemed appropriate for their disciplines. 

^@TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years. Applicants are required to provide their English test results obtained within the two years preceding the start of the University's application period. 'TOEFL iBT Home Edition', ‘TOEFL MyBest Score’, ‘IELTS Indicator’, ‘IELTS One Skill Retake’ and ‘IELTS Online’ are not acceptable. All TOEFL results must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) using CityUHK’s institution code 3401, while IELTS results must be sent via the IELTS Results Service e-delivery to 'City University of Hong Kong - Graduate School'.

^#Applicants with an IELTS overall band score of 6.0 or a TOEFL overall score of 4 will be required to pass an interview for English proficiency conducted by the concerned academic unit. Applicants with a comparable overall score of 79 or above shown on the TOEFL report may be exempt from the interview requirement. Interviews for other applicants may not be required. 

Please refer to the updated admissions website for information.

Core Courses

Students have to take the following 5 core courses (total 15 credit units):

• Advanced Econometrics
• Advanced Microeconomics
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Professional Seminars in Applied Economics
• Quantitative Methods in Economics

Electives

Students have to choose 4 electives (total 12 credit units) from the below list:

• Advanced International Trade
• China Economy
• Economic Growth and Development
• Experimental Economics
• International Finance
• Urban and Real Estate Economics
• Economics of the Labor Market and Policy Evaluations
• Industrial Organization
• Up to one 3-credit-unit free electives (any courses subject to the approval from programme leader and course offering department) 

Department of Economics and Finance