A specialisation is a focused collection of courses within a programme that allows you to gain deep, targeted knowledge in a specific sub-field. Normally these courses make up more than 50 percent of a qualification, some of which lead to registration within a certain field. They may be interdisciplinary, professionally oriented, or designed to meet accreditation requirements. Specialisations often restrict elective choice in favour of a clearly defined study plan.

Completed specialisations will appear on your academic transcript.

Please see the main programme link below for further details.

During your studies you will develop frameworks and methods for analysing social and economic issues. You will gain an understanding of strategic decision-making and an ability to view issues within a national or international context. The emphasis is on developing your competence in economic analysis and applying this to real-world issues.
Our students enjoy research-informed teaching from academics at the leading edge of their discipline. Graduate students receive a rigorous training in current economic methodology and undertake their own research at the frontiers of the field.
Our staff have PhDs from some of the best universities in the world and are among the top-ranked researchers in New Zealand. They are active nationally and internationally at conferences and in publishing their research.

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy

When you undertake your doctorate in Economics at the University of Auckland Business School, you’ll join a community of internationally recognised researchers. You’ll have opportunities to publish your research and present it at international conferences. You may also be actively involved in our research centres and groups, including the Centre for Applied Research in Economics (CARE), the Retirement Policy and Research Centre (RPRC), the Energy Centre and the NZ APEC Study Centre.

We welcome research proposals in topics relating to our key research specialisations:
- Industrial organisation, regulation, energy, transport and environmental economics
- Macroeconomics and finance
- Microeconomics and experimental economics
- Labour markets, education, health and public policy
- International trade and development economics