Chennai: As many as 20 of 57 students pursuing a BA Economics (honours) degree at Madras School of Economics (MSE) have secured admissions in top international schools such as the London School of Economics, Barcelona School of Economics, Columbia University, and the National University of Singapore for the academic year 2026-27.
Strong Curriculum and Quantitative Training
Students said the strong curriculum and quantitative training received at the undergraduate (UG) level helped them bag admissions to reputable economics colleges. Mashika Mathur, a third-year BA student, was accepted at three institutions, including the London School of Economics, National University of Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
"I wasn't among the conventional toppers. The exposure to mathematical concepts and projects, building apps such as a Python-based evaluation system, and deep engagement with data helped me secure admissions to master's programmes offered by top schools," Mashika told TOI.
Hariharasudhan Selvaraj, another third-year student, has bagged admission to applied economics at the National University of Singapore with a 50% scholarship. "The course focuses on quantitative aspects, which is unique to MSE. The college also offered me teaching assistantship where I taught my juniors. My interaction with professors, who are active researchers, also motivated me to write research papers," Hariharasudhan told TOI.
Previous Batch Performance
From the first BA Economics batch last year, 11 of 51 students joined international economics schools. This consistent success underscores the quality of the programme.
Programme Features and Faculty
"The UG programme has adopted some of the best practices followed by US and European universities. It has a combination of economic theory with strong quantitative treatment. Students also learn about big data, AI, and real-world issues in both government and private sectors," said N R Bhanumurthy, director of MSE. "The institute has some of the best faculty in areas such as economics, mathematics, and finance, which helps produce quality students," he added.
Admission Details
MSE has converted the BA Economics programme into a five-year integrated MA degree with exit options in the third year as BA Economics with honours, and in the fourth year as BA Economics with honours and research degrees. Admission to this degree and other MA programmes is based on an entrance test. Candidates can apply till May 11 for this test.
