About us

The Department of Economics at the University of Glasgow continues a distinguished record in economics that dates back to Adam Smith (1723-1790), widely renowned as the father of modern economics and a Professor at the University 300 years after its foundation in 1451.

Today we excel in research and teaching in a variety of topics including international finance, macroeconomics, financial economics, development economics, econometrics, microeconomics, regional economics and industrial economics at various levels.  RAE 2008 places the Department top in Scotland on the basis of GPA and research income and ranks all research as being of international quality: 75% is considered to be world-leading and internationally excellent.  The Department is also ranked in the top 5% worldwide in the fields of central banking, efficiency & productivity, european economics, international finance and monetary economics and the top 20% in Economics research (RePEc).  Almost 1,000 students are enrolled in Economics undergraduate courses; 168 postgraduates are participating in 22 one-year MSc programmes offered by the Centre for Development Studies and the Centre for Economic and Financial Studies; and, 42 students are currently undertaking PhD research.

Our staff have been research collaborators in and consultants to a number of international and government organisations around the world and private sector institutions, including the IMF, World Bank, United Nations (UNCTAD, UNDP and UNFAO), United Nations University - World Institute for Development Economics Research, Commonwealth Secretariat, numerous central banks (including the European Central Bank), HM Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) of the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Government, the European Commission, government agencies in developing countries and numerous London-based private sector financial institutions.

Economics graduates consistently enjoy successful careers and the destinations of our graduates have been varied both in terms of profession and location.  Among our high profile graduates are Barbara Barungi (Strategic and Regional Programme Adviser at the United Nations), Donald Kaberuka (Chairman of the African Development Bank), Joseph Lelang (Secretary, Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Papua New Guinea government), Jim Malley (Professor of Economics, Glasgow), Anton Muscatelli (Principal of the University of Glasgow), Abdul Rashid Naeem (Associate Professor/Chairman of Economics, Allama Iqbal University, Pakistan), Judith Robertson (Head of Oxfam Scotland), T.G. Srinivasan (Senior Economist, World Bank), John Struthers (Professor of Economics, University of the West of Scotland) and many others.

Staff and students enjoy a stimulating environment offered by a modern University located in a historic setting.  The University of Glasgow has celebrated its 550th anniversary (2001).  In 2007, it won second place in the Times Higher Awards for Best International Student Support; and third place in the Times Higher Awards for Best Student Experience.  Both the Department and University are ranked in the top 20 UK universities by the Independent newspaper's 2009 Complete University Guide, the Times' 2009 Good University Guide and the Guardian's 2009 University Guide.  The city of Glasgow, dating back to the sixth century, is large and cosmopolitan.  Spectacular Victorian architecture is set alongside modern development in commerce and infrastructure.  Glasgow was the Cultural Capital of Europe in 1990, the European City of Architecture in 1999 and the European Capital of Sport in 2003.  In 2008, the Lonely Planet travel guide listed Glasgow as one of the top ten cities in the world.  In 2014, it will host the Commonwealth Games.