Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Entry requirements

For Masters in Economics programmes you will need:

• The equivalent of a UK upper second-class single or joint honours degree in Economics, Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science or Engineering.

• If your degree is in another subject, you will also require good grades in two Mathematics/ Statistics/Econometrics modules.

• Applicants with relevant Economics-related work experience may be considered even if they narrowly miss the academic requirements.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics is one of three specialist Masters in Economics programmes available at Durham. It offers the chance to explore the economic aspects of key environmental challenges, from climate change to resource management. The programme develops skills in analysing and designing strategies for sustainable use of natural resources, preparing graduates for careers in policy, consultancy, and research.

The programme is delivered by the Department of Economics, renowned internationally for its research and teaching excellence and is one of four departments at Durham University Business School. The Business School is one of the an elite group of institutions accredited by all three major business education accrediting bodies: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

Your programme consists of a set of core modules and optional modules. The dissertation forms the concluding part of your programme and involves an in-depth investigation in the area of your own research.

Course structure

Year 1 modules

Core modules:

Advanced Macroeconomics

features selected topics from contemporary business cycle theory and quantitative analysis of macroeconomic policy.

Advanced Microeconomics

enhances your knowledge and analytical skills in areas such as consumer theory, producer theory, decision-making under risk and uncertainty, incentives and strategic behaviour, general equilibrium and information economics.

Econometric Analysis

provides the foundational econometrics skills necessary to pursue empirical research in the areas of economics and finance.

Environmental and Climate Economics

provides advanced knowledge and critical understanding of the economic aspects of environmental problems, with a particular focus on climate change and the specialist economic tools used to analyse and solve those problems.

Natural Resource Economics

examines issues related to natural resource management, including an introduction to the constraints, and provides an in-depth analysis of ecological systems over time, population models, renewable and non-renewable resources, as well as fisheries and forests.

Dissertation

The MSc Environmental and Natural Resource Economics dissertation involves an in-depth investigation in the areas of your own research. Supervised by a faculty member, you will transform your ideas into a coherent piece of rigorous scholarly analysis. There is also the opportunity to undertake your dissertation abroad at a partner university (see below for 'Dissertation Abroad').

Optional modules:

In recent years optional modules have included:

• Behavioural Economics
• Data Analytics
• Development Economics
• Experimental Economics
• Game Theory
• Industrial Organisation
• International Trade and Finance
• Machine Learning
• Microeconometrics
• Money and Banking
• Time-Series Analysis
• Language module offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Studies

Note: the list of optional modules is indicative and may change in the academic year 2026/2027.

Information for international students

If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

Fees and funding

For further information see the course listing.