Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
CHAPTER VII
pp. 564–565
DEGREES, DIPLOMAS, AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

The Ordinances contained in this Chapter are Ordinances of the General Board

In this section

DIPLOMA IN ECONOMICS

Amended by Notice (Reporter, 2012–13, p. 726)

Conditions of award.

1. The Diploma in Economics shall be awarded to a member of the University, qualified under Regulation 2, who has diligently attended the course of instruction prescribed by the Faculty Board of Economics, and who has satisfied the Examiners in the examination for the Diploma as defined in the following regulations; provided that he or she has kept three terms. For the purpose of this regulation graduates of the University may count previous residence in statu pupillari.

2. A candidate for the Diploma must be admitted as a Graduate Student by the Board of Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Economics. The Board shall assign to each candidate a date of commencement of candidature. Each candidate shall pursue in the University a course of study extending over one academical year under the direction of a Supervisor appointed by the Degree Committee, and shall comply with any special conditions that the Degree Committee and the Board may prescribe.

Supervisors’ reports.

3. Every Supervisor shall send to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies reports on the work of each candidate under her or his charge, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 8 of the general regulations for admission as a Graduate Student.

Payments to Supervisors.

4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation 11 of the general regulations for admission as a Graduate Student, the Board of Graduate Studies, after consultation with the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Economics, shall have power to determine the payments to be made to Supervisors who are not University officers in respect of candidates for the Diploma.

5. No one shall be a candidate in the same year both for the Diploma in Economics and for another University examination, and no one shall be a candidate for the Diploma in Economics on more than one occasion.

Scheme of examination.

6. The examination shall consist of three papers, as follows:

 Paper 1. Microeconomics.

 Paper 2. Macroeconomics.

 Paper 3. Econometrics.

Not later than the end of the Easter Term each year the Degree Committee shall announce, for the examination to be held in the academical year next following, the form of examination for each of Papers 1 and 2, which shall be either (a) a written paper of three hours’ duration, or (b) a written paper of three hours’ duration together with the submission of an essay, of not more than 3,000 words56 in length, dealing with a single topic within the field of the paper. The examination for Paper 3 shall consist of a written paper of three hours’ duration together with the submission of an account of an econometric project undertaken by the candidate.

Supplementary regulations.

7. The Degree Committee shall have power to issue supplementary regulations defining or limiting the scope of the papers, and to modify or alter such supplementary regulations as occasion may require.

Examiners and Assessors.

8. The Degree Committee shall nominate such number of Examiners and Assessors as they shall deem sufficient and shall nominate one of the Examiners to be Chairman. The Chairman shall send a written report on each candidate’s performance in the examination to the Secretary of the Degree Committee.

Award.

9. If the Degree Committee, after considering the report from the Chairman of Examiners, resolve that a candidate is entitled to a Diploma, their resolution to that effect shall be sent to the candidate and to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies. A candidate who in the opinion of the Degree Committee deserves special credit shall be entitled to a Diploma with distinction. The award of a Diploma shall be published by the Board of Graduate Studies.

Failure.

10. If the Degree Committee are of the opinion that a candidate’s performance in the examination is of insufficient merit to entitle her or him to the Diploma, their resolution to that effect shall be communicated to the candidate and to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies.

11. The Diploma shall be in the following form:

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT            having satisfied the preliminary conditions and having been admitted to the examination appointed by the University of Cambridge has been approved57

by the Examiners and has been awarded the Diploma in Economics.

Candidate's fees.

12. While studying in the University for the Diploma a candidate shall pay the appropriate University Composition Fee for each term of such study.

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS

Paper 1. Microeconomics

This paper offers a basic grounding in microeconomic analysis with applications to economic problems. The aim of the paper is to develop the theoretical framework, and to provide an opportunity to apply principles to practical problems.

Paper 2. Macroeconomics

This paper deals with the analysis of economies treated as complete systems and is concerned with problems of fluctuations in economic activity, employment and unemployment, inflation, economic growth, international economics and the balance of payments, the aggregate distribution of income and wealth. The paper covers analytic methods and models which provide a framework for the analysis of macroeconomic problems.

Paper 3. Econometrics

This paper deals with the statistical analysis of microeconomic and macroeconomic data as a basis for empirical studies in economics. The paper assumes a background knowledge of statistical methods as a descriptive and summarizing device and an elementary knowledge of probability theory and statistical inference.

The examination for Paper 3 consists of a written examination of three hours’ duration and the submission of an account of a project undertaken by the candidate. The written examination will contribute a weight of two- thirds, and the project a weight of one-third, towards the marks for this paper. In the written paper, candidates will be expected to answer questions on statistical and econometric methods and their applications. The project will be set by the Examiners and will enable candidates to apply their economic and statistical knowledge to an empirical problem.

Footnotes

  1. 56. One A4 page consisting largely of statistics or symbols shall be regarded as the equivalent of 250 words.a
  2. 57. Insert with Distinction if the candidate deserves special credit.a