Where you can study
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
Specialise in Economics for your Graduate Diploma in Arts at Massey
The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Economics) is a bridging tool for graduates in other subjects to get the equivalent of a major in economics. You can then apply for a postgraduate qualification in economics if you wish.
Get skills for your personal and professional development
There's much more to economics than you might think. With a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Economics) at Massey, you’ll investigate how businesses decide what to produce and how many people to employ. You’ll explore how people decide what to consume. You’ll also learn about big-picture world economics.
Economics is concerned with how to allocate scarce resources to competing ends. You’ll get a good understanding of the implications of the choices made.
A Graduate Diploma in Arts (Economics) from Massey will help you in your own decision-making and in understanding developments in the economy and society in general. It offers ways of thinking about the world that let you make the best of what you have and improve on it.
Take a flexible approach to your degree
Massey's economics qualification gives you flexibility in the subjects you study. You’ll gain a strong grounding in the core elements of micro and macro-economics and then build on it by choosing from a selection of other subjects within economics.
Further study
You can apply for a postgraduate qualification in economics after successfully completing this qualification.
A Graduate Diploma in Arts in Economics is a good fit if you:
- are interested in the effects the economy has on our everyday life, culture and environment
- want a strong grounding in economics to take into the workplace
- want a career that helps to make the world a better place.
Planning information
Full time study comprises eight 15-credit courses for a total of 120 credits in one year. We recommend you aim for 60 credits per semester.
Prerequisite courses
Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
The GradDipArts (Economics) schedule includes some courses which have specific 100-level courses required as prerequisites which must be passed before enrolling in a 200-level course. Meeting prerequisite requirements may require you to study courses in addition to those specified for the GradDipArts.
Check the requirements for your courses before you enrol.
Please note: No 100-level credits can be included in the GradDipArts. Any 100-level prerequisite course that you need to pass before you start the Graduate Diploma in Arts should be taken under the Certificate of Proficiency Undergraduate.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Courses you can enrol in
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Compulsory courses
Course code: 178200 Macroeconomics 15 credits
The development and application of macroeconomic models to globally-oriented economies, and the assessment of real-world policy problems from a practical perspective.
View full course detailsCourse code: 178201 Microeconomics 15 credits
The development and application of models of consumer optimisation, producer behaviour, and competition in markets.
View full course detailsCourse code: 178352 Survey of International Economics 15 credits
This capstone course conducts application-rich and current economic studies of the real and financial transactions between nations and analyses practical problems in the changing world economy.
View full course detailsSubject courses
Course code: 178300 Macroeconomic Policy and Applications 15 credits
This course incorporates financial markets into macroeconomic models and analyses government policies that address current macroeconomic events.
View full course detailsCourse code: 178301 Microeconomic Theory and Applications 15 credits
The modelling of microeconomic decision-making, with application to real-world issues.
View full course detailsCourse code: 178360 Environmental Economics 15 credits
An introduction to the application of economic analysis, to environmental and climate change related issues and policies.
View full course detailsCourse code: 178370 Development Economics 15 credits
An examination of major development problems and issues, both domestic and international, from a combined economic theory, empirical and policy-oriented perspective.
View full course detailsElective subject courses
Course code: 178250 Contemporary Economic Issues 15 credits
A study of selected economic and socio-economic topics in a contemporary framework.
View full course detailsCourse code: 178280 Regression and Predictive Analysis 15 credits
An introduction to regression and predictive analysis, using real world data to provide actionable insights that aid organisational decision-making processes.
View full course detailsCourse code: 178380 Applied Econometrics 15 credits
Specification and estimation of econometric models for policy analysis and forecasting. Treatment of common problems encountered in economic and financial data analysis.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
To enter the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Economics) you will have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
You will need to provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
This qualification is classified as NZQF Level 7 and requires the same English language standard as most undergraduate bachelor degrees, diplomas and certificates.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Can't meet the entry requirements?
If you need to do a course before you start your qualification, there may be options for you in Summer School.
Fees and scholarships
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
- Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
- View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student portal
Fees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Our graduates are sought-after by major public and private sector employers. When you complete your graduate diploma, you could join our graduates working in prestigious organisations in New Zealand and around the world.
The skills and knowledge of trained economists are highly valued by the public and private sector, large and small firms, large international agencies, schools and universities, economic policy-makers and social organisations.
You might work as any of the following:
- agricultural economist
- business analyst
- economic consultant
- energy research officer
- environmental economist
- health economist
- international economist
- micro-economics analyst.
The Treasury, the Reserve Bank and the World Bank all recruit economics graduates. But your Graduate Diploma in Arts (Economics) can also be the gateway to employment in many other areas, such as management, planning, politics, education, finance and banking, journalism or the media.
International students
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
Accreditations and rankings
QS Ranking - Economics and Econometrics
Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 350 universities for economics and econometrics.
ShanghaiRanking – Business Administration
Massey University is ranked #1 in New Zealand for business administration by ShanghaiRanking.
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Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz