Welcome to MSc Economics 2006/2007 CHUCK BLACKORBY MSc Course Leader

Today (October 2nd) Check out MSc webpages in Econ PG computer lab S2.81b – Orientate yourself –see map on MSc webpages –Figure out location of PG Office (S2.133), noticeboard, pigeon-holes Introduce yourself to fellow students. Find the bar … Introductory Meeting –14.00 in Lecture Theatre S0. 21 –Important information relevant to decisions you need to make Departmental reception –S2.79 at –Free drinks

Introductory Meeting Immediate things to do Identify key people Course structure Pastoral support system Other learning opportunities –Research workshops and seminars –IT and Library –Life-skills These slides contain lots of information –Download the free MS PowerPoint viewer from –Download the free Adobe pdf viewer from

You should have Registered with IT Services – –Say YES to the “ATHENS” option You will get a userid, password and address Which will enable you to register for your modules. Register for your modules –Use OMR (Online Module Registration) – and click on my.insitehttp://

Module Registration The University needs to know your modules choice –use OMR –via my.insitemy.insite –follow the onscreen instructions –and see helpsheet

Week 1 Sign up for Research Methods module workshops in IT and Library facilities –MSc Noticeboard (Social Studies, first floor) –by WEDS Week 2 Teaching starts –See MSc Timetable in Induction Pack

Important people: The most important person Mark Harrison Head of Department

Quite important people Chuck Blackorby MSc Economics Course Leader Sayantan Ghosal Director of Graduate Studies

Really very important people Kelly Robinson Ext Teaching Programmes Manager Mandy Eaton Ext Postgraduate Co-ordinator Patrick Gemmell Ext Computer Support Photo Currently Unavailable

Basic course structure See the Electronic Handbook for the gory detailsHandbook Note exceptions Term 1Term 2Term 3Summer Economic Analysis Micro Macro QMPre-Sessional Maths & Stats Econometrics A/B Options Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 ResearchResearch Methods Dissertation

Econometrics A or B ? Take B if you are familiar with (or are prepared to fill in any gaps on your own): –Ordinary Least Squares –Tests of significance (t & F), Tests of linear restrictions –Properties of N, t, chi-squared, and F distributions –Multicollinearity, Prediction –Autocorrelation, Durbin-Watson test –Heteroscedasticity, Weighted Least Squares –Dummy variables, Endogeneity Otherwise take A If in doubt, Mark StewartMark Stewart

Term 2 “Option” modules ? Advice session at end of Term 1 me to do something outside the mainstream me PROVISIONALLY choose THREE from: The Market for Labour International Trade Theory The Theory of Public Econ Game Theory Ind Econ: Horizontal Ind Econ: Vertical Micro Topics in Dev Macro Topics in Dev Microeconometrics Panel Data Econometrics Behavioural Economics: Theory & Applications International Monetary Economics Monetary Economics Economic History ONE WBS module from: Investment Management Derivative Securities International Financial Markets Stochastic Methods in Finance (T1) Current Issues in Applied Finance

Pastoral Support Personal tutors –Allocated to you next week –See your PT every term = PT “Day” Oct 11 and Feb 7 Adviser to women students Jennifer SMITH Adviser to Overseas students Sushama MURTY Photo currently unavailable

Institutional support The Student Union –Advice and Welfare Services factsheets on many subjects study skills, changing/leaving your course,….emergency contraception –Nightline service 9pm to 9am student-run listening service, Tel The University Health Centre –Make sure you are registered with a GP – before you get sick –NHS Direct and The University International Office –languages, social and financial support University Counselling Service –Senior Tutor's office Personal/emotional problems, disability etc Tel 23761

Teaching quality Our teaching is “research-led” –Top marks in recent “RAE” exercise –(with UCL, LSE and Essex) Top marks in a recent national “TQA” –Along with UCL and Essex But it doesn’t always go right –We want feedback Module assessment questionnaires End-of-year survey –If all else fails – see me! And you can help …………..

… Staff-Student Liaison We need student reps on GSSLC –4 MSc Economics, 2 Diploma, 2 PhD students –Ethnic/geographic/gender mix Please think about “standing” for this office –See and click on GSSLChttp://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/pg/ –Don’t be shy - nominate yourself or a friend – Mandy by Oct 9 a few words of background and a photo –Vote from Oct 11 to Oct 16 We will details to the “winners” First meeting Oct 25

My.economics Information gateway for students Communicate with staff Click on my.economics

Research workshops and seminars Research seminar –External (often international) speakers –Thursdays in S0.20 and join us for drinks in Common Room afterwards Specialist workshops –Mostly internal speakers –Most lunchtimes ( ) –S2.79

IT facilities PC facilities –S2.74, S2.82, and any open area on campus –and S2.81b – reserved for ecp xxx logins Connect from a campus residence – esidences/ esidences/ Learn how to connect from off-campus – Computer service point – servicepoint/ servicepoint/

IT Services See what IT Services offers – Help for the seriously IT-phobic –Tutor Support Service, IT Training Suite, Student Computer Centre – ing/ ing/ telephone to the Service Desk on ext , the ServiceDeskServiceDesk visit Tutors' Room between 10 am and 4 pm Monday to Thursday

Library The basics of library familiarisation is part of Research Methods module –Electronic journals –Bibliographic databases – Opening hours –Weekdays – –Weekends – –Different in vacations

Life Skills Warwick Skills Certificate –Short courses in IT, Communications Creativity, Personal development Career development, Academic skills Foreign language skills English Language skills Multimedia EASE – CELTEEASECELTE

Life after Warwick Jobs –Check out the Careers Service soon – PhD –Briefing in Research Methods lecture Careers Service can help with this too Staff have many connections elsewhere Discuss with your PT

And don’t forget ….. IT Services on-line registration Online Module Registration Research Methods –sign-up for workshops on MSc Noticeboard First lecture Week 2 Check out the on-line handbook for detailson-line handbook Free drinks in S2.79