Economics (JH) at Trinity College Dublin

Any society has to address the problem of how and what to produce for its material survival, and how the goods and services that are produced should be distributed among its population. Economists explore how people and institutions behave and function when producing, exchanging and using goods and services. Economists’ main motivation is to find mechanisms that encourage efficiency in the production and use of material goods and resources, while at the same time producing a pattern of income distribution that society finds acceptable.

Economics: The course for you?

Economics will appeal to students with a wide range of interests. If you are interested in current economic affairs or in understanding how public policies could lower unemployment or assist the developing world, then you will find studying economics both stimulating and rewarding. Economics is also a strong platform for careers in business and finance. Students who enjoy abstract thinking, and are evaluating courses such as engineering or physics, should also consider economics as a degree option.

Economics at Trinity

In the 2019 QS rankings Trinity was ranked in the top 150 universities in the world for Economics and Econometrics. The Department places considerable emphasis on providing a supportive and stimulating teaching environment for all students. In addition to lectures, which are given by highly qualified academic staff with international reputations, the Department facilitates learning through approachable staff, small tutorial groups, student presentations, and time set aside each week by all staff and teaching assistants to meet students on a one-to-one basis. Furthermore, students gain valuable experience and exposure to economics through involvement in societies and debates and in the annual publication of the ‘Student Economic Review.’

Pathways

The pathways available are Single Honors, Major with Minor and Joint Honors.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

Economics students develop exceptional logical reasoning and analytical skills which are highly sought after by employers in a range of fields including business, finance, journalism, law, politics, the public service and academia.

The following are just a few examples of the diverse organisations where economics graduates work: Dublin Web Summit, Abbott, Goldman Sachs, Google, Credit Suisse, Citigroup, JP Morgan, Accenture, Morgan Stanley, Irish Life, Wolfhound Press, Maersk, Central Bank of Ireland and KPMG.

About a quarter of economics graduates go on to postgraduate study, both at Trinity and at other leading universities around the world such as Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge and the London School of Economics.