The full Economics course at Cambridge lasts three years. The first year provides a broad introduction to both pure and applied economics and to economic issues in history, and politics. The second year builds on the work of the first year courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, and provides a selection of optional courses – including mathematical economics, development and labour. The final year provides a much greater range of options chosen from areas such as economic theory, public economics, banking and finance, industrial organisation, development, advanced econometrics, sociology, and economic history.

Two recent Fellows of the College have been awarded Nobel Prizes in Economics: Professor Amartya Sen, former Master of the College, was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1998 for his contributions to the theory of social choice and his studies of the economics of poverty; and past fellow Sir James Mirrlees who was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1996 for his work on optimal taxation and asymmetric information.

The teaching Fellows in the College are Professor Oliver Linton who works on econometric theory with particular application to financial markets; Professor Debo Bhattacharya, an econometrician specializing in micro-econometrics and empirical microeconomics, Professor Tiago Cavalcanti, a macroeconomist working particularly in areas of development and economic growth; Dr Rupert Gatti, a microeconomist who works on game theory, industrial organization and the economics of digital and online markets; and Professor Chris Rauh whose research interests are include labour economics and political economy.

Much of the teaching in the first and second years is done in College but for the specialised options in the final year we may arrange for you to be supervised elsewhere. With an annual intake of between 14 and 16 the total number of undergraduates reading Economics in Trinity is about 45 and the College usually has about a dozen research students in the subject. This supplies the varied and supportive peer group essential for lively and successful studies. The Trinity College Economics Society arranges meetings for visiting speakers.

Undergraduates in Economics at Trinity come from many countries and a range of school backgrounds. Candidates are expected to have studied Mathematics to A-level (or equivalent), but there are no other formal requirements. It is not necessary to have studied Economics previously and we realise that some schools do not offer the opportunity to study economics. Some experience writing essays would be helpful. However, the ability to think and to evaluate evidence is what counts and there are many combinations of both arts and science subjects that would be acceptable.