School of Economics
Our undergraduate and postgraduate economics programs consistently rank in the top five for Australia*. We have a long and proud history of research strengths and teaching excellence and are one of the most highly ranked centres for research in economics globally.
Our academics and researchers are leaders in their fields. Their broad expertise promotes a deep understanding of the key concepts of economics and a focus on contemporary issues.
Our alumni are highly sought after and have included a former Prime Minister, several NSW premiers, and leaders in the World and Reserve Banks. Our graduates have also held influential positions in the Treasury and other policy departments, international agencies such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), financial institutions and non-government organisations.
Our study offering
Undergraduate courses
The Bachelor of Economics introduces you to a diverse, fascinating discipline that addresses a range of big issues in modern life and plays a central role in shaping the broad framework of society at every level. It provides undergraduate training in theoretical and applied aspects of modern economics, econometrics and financial economics.
- Bachelor of Economics
- Bachelor of Economics (Dual Degree: Sciences Po, France)
- Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
- Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws
Majors and minors
Below is a list of our economics majors and minors, available to students in the Bachelor of Economics (except where indicated) and numerous other undergraduate courses - click on the links for further details.
Econometrics
Economic Policy*
*Not available to Bachelor of Economics students
Economics
Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics major
- Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics minor
Financial Economics
Honours
Honours is an additional year (full time) of study following completion of a three-year bachelor’s degree. It provides an opportunity to develop research skills in your undergraduate major by undertaking advanced coursework and conducting a supervised but independent research project. An Honours year adds greater depth to your undergraduate studies and is a pathway to postgraduate research courses such as the PhD.
If you have completed your bachelor’s degree (with the required academic grades) with a major in economics or econometrics at the University of Sydney (or equivalent qualification), you can undertake Honours in economics or econometrics through one of the following courses.
Undergraduate diploma
- Diploma of Arts (major/minor in Economic Policy)
This part-time course allows holders of a bachelor’s degree in another discipline to complete a major or minor in Economic Policy.
Non-degree study
Non-degree study allows you to take undergraduate units of study (subjects) without committing to a full award course (e.g., bachelor’s). Successfully completed units may be credited towards a relevant award course at a later date.
Cross-institutional study
If you are enrolled in an undergraduate award course at another Australian institution you can take units of study (subjects) with us for credit towards your course (subject to the approval of your home institution).
Postgraduate coursework programs
Whether you’re an economics graduate or have no background in economics, the Master of Economics will provide you with the skills to apply economic methods and knowledge to practical, contemporary problems in business and government. The duration of the course depends on your background in economics.
If you have a strong background in economics and/or mathematics and are looking to receive advanced training or a pathway to higher degree by research study (e.g., PhD), the Master of Economic Analysis is the ideal choice.
If you don't have time to commit to a master's or prefer to 'test the waters' first, you can take a shorter program of study in the above areas through a graduate certificate or graduate diploma.
- Graduate Certificate in Economics
- Graduate Diploma in Economics
- Graduate Certificate in Economic Analysis
- Graduate Diploma in Economic Analysis
Economics specialisations
Economics is available as a specialisation in the following courses:
- Master of Commerce
- Master of Commerce (Extension)
- Master of International Relations
- Master of International Security
- Master of Public Policy
Economic Policy is available as a specialisation in the Master of Public Policy.
Non-award study
Non-award study allows you to take postgraduate units of study (subjects) without committing to a full award course (e.g., master’s). Successfully completed units may be credited towards a relevant award course at a later date.
Cross-institutional study
If you are enrolled in a postgraduate award course at another Australian institution you can take units of study (subjects) with us for credit towards your course (subject to the approval of your home institution).
Our people
- Professor Garry Barrett, Head of School
- Dr Anastasia Burkovskaya, Deputy Head of School (Education)
- Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark, Deputy Head of School (Research)
- Dr Christian Gillitzer, Undergraduate Coordinator
- Dr Katrien Stevens, Postgraduate Coursework Coordinator
- Professor Stefanie Schurer, Honours Coordinator
- Postgraduate Research (HDR) Coordinator: econ.hdrenq@sydney.edu.au
- Dr Shauna Phillips, Bachelor of Advanced Studies Coordinator
- Dr Jiemai Wu, Thesis Coordinator (Honours and MEcA)
- Associate Professor Stella Huangfu, Master of Economic Analysis Coordinator
- Ms Janelle Kenchington, School Manager
- Associate Professor Vitali Alekseev
- Emeritus Professor Tony Aspromourgos
- Adjunct Professor Adrian Blundell-Wignall
- Visiting Professor Colin Cameron
- Dr Ashley Cooper Craig
- Professor Stephen Donald
- Dr Ryan Doody
- Adjunct Professor Malcolm Edey
- Dr Peter Exterkate
- Dr Dennis Claudy Feher
- Dr Mario Fiorini
- Professor Jennifer Hunt
- Dr Victor Igreja
- Professor Greg Warren Kaplan
- Dr Nancy Kong
- Dr Elizabeth Nolan
- Professor Pär Österholm
- Emeritus Professor Adrian Pagan
- Associate Professor Russell Ross
- Dr Kevin Schnepel
- Dr Abhijit Sengupta
- Dr Yi Sun
- Professor Mara Thiene
- Professor Donald Weatherburn
- Professor Justin Wolfers
- Honorary Associate Professor Donald Wright
- Dr Di Zeng
Visiting academics
January
Yufan Du, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Jocelyn Martel, ESSEC Business School
Dr Susan Mendez, University of Melbourne
Dr Giorgia Menta, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)
Maria Hofbauer Pérez, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Dr Francisco Rosas, ORT University Uruguay
Professor Joachim Winter, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Tim Ruberg, University of Hohenheim
March
Professor Stefan Trautman, Heidelberg University
Professor Ariel Kalil, University of Chicago
Professor James Duffy, University of Oxford
Professor Moriah Bostion, Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. Professor of Economics and Chair of Economics, Lewis and Clark College
Professor Andreas Peichl, Ifo Institute
April
Associate Professor Benjamin Wong, Monash University
June
Professor Paul Glimcher, New York University
July
Professor Paul M. Kitney, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Dr Maximilian Longmuir, City University of New York
Professor Ippei Fujiwara, ANU
Associate Professor Inna Tsener, University of Balearic Islands
Professor Johannes Haushofer, National University of Singapore
August
Professor Moriah Bostian, Lewis & Clark College
September
Professor Abhijit Ramalingam, Appalachian State University
October
Dr Joeri Smits, Harvard Kennedy School
November
Professor Felix Weinhardt, European University Viadrina
Dr Harold Cuffe, Victoria University of Wellington
Professor Timothy Richards, Marvin and June Morrison Chair of Agribusiness, Arizona State University, January-June 2023
Assistant Professor Adam Martin, Norco College, January 2023
Associate Professor Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, Cornell University, January-July 2023
Professor Jocelyn Martel, ESSEC Business School, February 2023
Professor Kristina Strohmaier, University of Duisburg-Essen, February-March 2023
Assistant Professor Mirjam Stockburger, Justus Liebig University Giessen, February-March 2023
Professor Moriah Bostion, Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. Professor of Economics and Chair of Economics, Lewis and Clark College, March 2023
Associate Professor Nikki Shure, University College London Social Research Institute, March 2023
Associate Professor James Duffy, University of Oxford, March-April 2023
Assistant Professor Sibo Liu, Hong Kong Baptist University, May 2023
Professor Yifan Zhang, Chinese University of Hong Kong, May 2023
Professor Paul Raschky, Monash University, May 2023
Professor Colin Cameron, University of California, Davis, July-August 2023
Professor Paul Kitney, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, July-August 2023
Professor Pär Österholm, Örebro University, August-December 2023
Dr Ayden Higgins, University of Oxford, August 2023
Assistant Professor Zhihao Xu, Tsinghua University, August 2023
Dr Kentaro Tomoeda, University of Technology Sydney, September-December 2023
Professor Carol McAusland, University of British Columbia, November-December 2023
Professor Josh Graff Zivin, University of California San Diego, November 2023
Professor Jocelyn Martel, ESSEC Business School, February 2022
Professor Pascaline Dupas, The Kleinheinz Family Professor of International Studies, Stanford University, June 2022
Dr Silvia Griselda, Bocconi, July-August 2022
Associate Professor Julie Moschion, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, August-September 2022
Past events and public lectures
At the 2024 RC Mills Lecture, Professor Lorraine Dearden highlighted the need for early education investment to improve tertiary access. She emphasised the use of detailed data analysis to inform education policy reforms.
The School of Economics celebrated the tercentenary of the birth of Adam Smith by hosting 'Adam Smith at 300' on Friday 16 June 2023.
Emeritus Professor Tony Aspromourgos delivered the lecture to a crowd of alumni, students and guests.
Listen to the lecture: Adam Smith at 300
Watch the lecture: Adam Smith at 300
The School of Economics marked its Centenary on Wednesday 20 July 2022 with a celebratory dinner in the historic MacLaurin Hall. Australia’s first dedicated Faculty of Economics was established at the University of Sydney in 1920 and has since produced more than 20,000 graduates, including those who have gone on to be Prime Ministers, Premiers, Ministers of State, Chief Justice, Reserve Bank Governor, Secretary of Treasury, distinguished academics and leaders in business and finance.
Our celebration included a keynote presentation by alumnus Dr Steven Kennedy PSM, speeches by Professor Garry Barrett, Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AC and VC Professor Mark Scott AO.
The School of Economics was established from 1 January 2011 to serve as the primary institutional vehicle for Economics research and education within the University of Sydney. That year the school inaugurated an annual public lecture series – the Warren Hogan Memorial Lecture – devoted to the economic analysis of public policy issues. It commemorates Warren Pat Hogan (1929–2009), Professor of Economics in the University of Sydney, 1968–1998.
- 2023
- 2022
Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP
Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT
Watch the lecture: Economic Dynamism: A Global Perspective
- 2020
Dr Kerry Schott AO
Chair of the Australian Energy Board and Director of NBN
Watch the lecture: Economic policy amid disruption
- 2019
Hon Chris Bowen MP, Shadow Minister for Health
- 2018
The Hon John Winston Howard OM AC
Former Prime Minister of Australia
- 2017
Dr Guy Debelle
Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia
- 2016
Ms Annabel Spring (BEc Hons '92, LLB Hons '94)
Group Executive Wealth Management, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
- 2015
Dr Martin Parkinson
Secretary, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Commonwealth of Australia
- 2014
Mr Hugh Harley (BEc Hons '84, LLB Hons '86)
Financial Services Leader, Price Waterhouse Coopers
- 2013
Dr John Laker (BEc Hons ’72)
Chairman of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
- 2012
Charles Calomiris
Henry Kaufman Professor of Financial Institutions, Columbia University Graduate School of Business
- 2011
Mr Glenn Stevens (BEc Hons ’80)
Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia
*2023 QS World University Rankings for Economics & Econometrics
Social Sciences Building
Economics Review