Economics Master's Apprenticeship Programme

EMAP is no longer levy-funded

EMAP is not currently funded through the government apprenticeship levy

From 1 January 2026, government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships changed. For most people aged over 21, Level 7 apprenticeship training is no longer eligible for government funding through the apprenticeship levy.

As a result, EMAP is currently an employer-funded programme and is not levy funded.

The programme fee is £11,000 per apprentice. Your employer will need to agree to fund your place on the programme. You will remain employed and continue to receive your salary while studying.

Potential National Insurance saving for eligible apprentices

Employers may also benefit from the 0% rate of secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions for eligible apprentices under the age of 25, subject to the relevant HMRC conditions. This exemption applies to eligible apprentices regardless of whether their apprenticeship training is government-funded or privately funded.

This means that, for an eligible apprentice under 25, the employer may be able to make savings on employer National Insurance contributions while investing in their development through EMAP.

Employers should confirm eligibility with their payroll or HR team and HMRC.

EMAP is designed for people who are already working in an economics-related role and have the support of their employer to undertake the apprenticeship.

You must:

• be employed in a role that provides opportunities to develop and apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the Senior Professional Economist apprenticeship
• have your employer's support to undertake the programme
• meet Queen Mary's academic entry requirements
• successfully complete the admissions and apprenticeship eligibility process.

If you're not currently working in an economics-related role, EMAP may not be the right route for you. You can explore other postgraduate study options at Queen Mary through our MSc Economics programme.

Your employer will have its own internal process for agreeing who can undertake EMAP. Once your employer has put you forward, Queen Mary will assess your academic and professional suitability for the programme.

You must meet one of the following entry routes to be considered.

Route 1: Economics or quantitative degree

You will normally need:

• a 2:1 or above in an Economics degree; or
• a 2:1 or above in a joint or mixed degree with at least 50% Economics; or
• a 2:1 or above in a quantitative subject such as Mathematics or Statistics.

You must also be working in a role where you undertake a substantial amount of economic work as part of your day-to-day responsibilities.

If your academic background is borderline for the programme, for example if you have a joint-honours Economics degree, you may be asked to complete and pass a pre-sessional Mathematics and Statistics course.

Route 2: Relevant professional experience

If your undergraduate degree is in another subject, you may still be considered if you have:

• a 2:1 or above at undergraduate level;
• at least three years' relevant professional experience in a role involving substantial economic work; and
• significant knowledge and experience of technical economic issues, including mathematics and econometrics.

Applicants through this route will need to attend and pass a suitability interview before the formal admissions process begins, as well as successfully completing the pre-sessional Mathematics and Statistics course.

Additional requirements

All applicants must provide evidence of GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics and English Language or English Literature at grade C/4 or above.

If you hold an overseas qualification, you will need to provide evidence that it is equivalent to the required UK qualification and grade. This can be demonstrated through a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability.

Applicants who already hold a standalone master's degree in Economics or a related subject are not eligible for EMAP.

Meeting the entry requirements does not guarantee admission. The final decision on your eligibility for EMAP rests with Queen Mary's academic and admissions teams.

Modules

EMAP combines advanced economic theory and quantitative methods with practical application.

Core areas of study include:

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Quantitative skills
• Economic appraisal

You'll also have the opportunity to choose from a range of elective modules, allowing you to develop expertise in areas that are particularly relevant to your interests and career.

Elective areas can include Applied Microeconomics, Big Data and Machine Learning, Econometrics for Time Series and Forecasting, Economics of Health (and Education), Environmental Economics, International Economics, Public Economics, Behavioural Economics, Economics of Central Banking, Competition Policy and the Economics of Regulation, Advanced Macro, Spatial Economics, Economics of Inequality and Development Economics. (This list is not exhaustive and is subject to alterations).

The programme is designed to help you develop the analytical, quantitative and professional skills needed to apply economic thinking to complex real-world problems.

How is the programme taught?

Each module on EMAP is delivered online (a combination of synchronous an asynchronous learning to allow for flexibility) over a standard 20-week semester, aside from one 'Campus Week' every 6 months.

Campus Week will include:

• Face-to-face sessions on module content
• Face-to-face work and final presentation of group projects
• Guest lectures from senior economists in government and industry

Apprentices will also meet with a Senior Tutor every 3 months to discuss their progress on the programme and the evidence they have uploaded to their e-portfolio.

Assessment

Each module will include a mixture of short formative assessments to monitor progress and a larger (group) project toward the end of each semester. There will also be an end point assessment (EPA) in semester 5, comprising of a mixture of a professional interview, an individual project, and an exam.

EMAP is an employment-based programme, so you must have the support of an employer who is willing to fund your place.

If you're already employed, speak to your line manager or learning and development team about whether EMAP could form part of your professional development.

If you're looking for an economics role, many of our apprentices are employed within the UK Civil Service, so you may wish to explore opportunities through the Government Economic Service.

You can also search for apprenticeship vacancies through the official government apprenticeship service.

For more information about how to apply, contact us at sef-apprenticeships@qmul.ac.uk.