BSc Mathematics and/with Economics
Options for Third Year Students in 2013/4
Introduction
This document is intended for current second year students in the BSc Mathematics and/with
Economics Degrees. It is assumed that you have taken the ‘standard’ four units in the first year
(Economics B, Mathematical Methods, Introduction to Abstract Mathematics, and Elementary
Statistical Theory) and a fairly ‘normal’ list of options in the second year. If this is not the case,
then some of the information in this document may not be the most appropriate, and you should
contact your Academic Adviser or the Departmental Tutor.
When and how
You will be asked to make preliminary option choices for the 3rd year of the degree towards the
end of this Lent Term. In order to help you with this, the Department organises an options
choice meeting in Week 7; an invitation will be sent by e-mail. Your Academic Adviser will
also invite you to discuss your options in a meeting in Weeks 8/9.
It is possible to change your mind later, for instance after you receive your exam results in the
summer. If you are unsure about the choices you’ve made, discuss the situation and your options
with your Academic Adviser. Your option choices always need to be approved by your
Academic Adviser before they become official.
If you want to do courses outside the standard options, you also need the approval of the
Departmental Tutor. You should discuss your ideas first with your Academic Adviser though. If
you wish to change degrees between the BSc Mathematics and Economics and the BSc
Mathematics with Economics, you should also talk to your Adviser. Such a change will be
permitted, but you need to apply formally to change degree.
Note that the selection must be done via “LSE for You” from week 9.
Sources of information
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The major and official source of information is the LSE Calendar, see
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/undergraduate.htm There you can find the degree
structure, course descriptions, and all kind of further regulations.
The Calendar can give some idea about the contents of the different courses. More extensive
information is available via Departmental web-sites or Moodle.
Your Academic Adviser can tell you more about certain courses (certainly the courses given
by the Mathematics Department).
If you want to obtain in-depth information about individual courses, then the lecturer
responsible for that course is often the best source. You should be able to talk to her/him
during an office hour.
And finally, your fellow students, in particular those that are currently 3rd year students in
the Department, can tell you their experiences. Be aware that their stories will be coloured
by their personal interests and background. Also, courses can change from year to year,
teachers change, etc. So don’t just ask what they think of certain courses, but also why they
think that way.
How to decide
There are many reasons why somebody can decide to choose specific options. And most of these
reasons are personal. Here are some points you should think about and which should give you
some guidance what options to go for.

Personal interest.
Most, if not all, of your options should reflect your personal interests. Make a list for
yourself about what areas in Mathematics, Economics, and maybe Statistics and Finance you
like, and what areas you don’t like. Also, think about the parts in the courses you’ve done so
far that you liked more, or less. Then try to match your interests with the courses available.

Your future career.
If you have some ideas about a career path after the degree, then that should be a very
important influence on your choices. Here are some very general remarks.
 If you are considering a career in a “business-like” environment, including consultancy,
different kinds of banking, etc., the general rule is to choose a broad selection from the
different topics in Mathematics, Economics and Statistics. A financial course in addition
may be a good idea here as well. Future employers are usually not that interested in
which topics you have done exactly, but like to see that you have good knowledge of
quantitative subjects (which is surely guaranteed in this degree) combined with courses
that show your wider interests and knowledge.
 If you are thinking about doing an MSc (or even a PhD) after this degree, then your
course choice should show some relation to the graduate degree you are planning to do.
Here are some suggestions.
o Those thinking about an MSc in an Economics direction should aim to include as
many Economics options as possible. Both Macroeconomic Principles and
Principles of Econometrics are advisable.
o If you are considering an MSc in a more Financial topic, then you should include
at least one course in Finance, of which Principles of Finance is very suitable.
Also, a further course in Statistics, or Principles of Econometrics, shows that you
will have sufficient background in those areas.
o Some of you may be thinking about an MSc in a more pure Mathematics
direction. If so, you should try to do as many Mathematics courses as possible, so
the BSc Mathematics with Economics is likely to be more appropriate for you.
You may be interested in the MSc in Applicable Mathematics, or the MSc in
Financial Mathematics, offered by the Department.

And finally, there will be plenty of you that don’t have a good idea what they want to do
after their graduation. For those, we can only advise you to make a broad selection,
including some Mathematics, Economics and possibly Finance or Statistics courses, and to
choose courses according to your interests and possibly your strengths.
Third Year Options for
BSc Mathematics and Economics
Third Year Options
In what follows it is assumed that you have done the ‘normal’ options in the 2nd year, hence no
special outside options.

Paper 9 is an Economics Option related to mathematics
EC301 Advanced Economic Analysis (if EC210 is taken under paper 7),
EC302 Political Economy (if EC210 was taken under paper 7),
EC309 Econometric Theory (if EC221 is taken under paper 7),
EC310 Behavioural Economics (if EC202 is taken under paper 5).
EC313 Industrial Economics,
EC319 Economic Theory and its Applications,
EC321 Monetary Economics (if EC210 is taken under paper 7),

Paper 10 is a Mathematics Option. You need to choose two half-units of Mathematics from
the list below but at most one of MA2**. Please note that if you want to do Mathematics of
Finance and Valuation (MA310), then you will also need to take Probability for Finance
(MA313), as this is a required pre-requisite. If you want to take Algebra and its Applications
(MA315), then you will also need to take Algebra and Number Theory (MA211), as this is a
required pre-requisite. The terms indicated below are provisional.
MA208 Optimisation Theory
MA209 Differential Equations
MA210 Discrete Mathematics
MA211 Algebra and Number Theory
MA301 Game Theory I
MA303 Chaos in Dynamical Systems
MA305 Optimisation in Function Spaces
MA310 Mathematics of Finance and Valuation
MA313 Probability for Finance
MA314 Algorithms in Java
MA315 Algebra and its Applications
MA316 Graph Theory
MA317 Complex Analysis

(LT); (if not taken in year 2)
(LT); (if not taken in year 2)
(LT); (if not taken in year 2)
(MT); (if not taken in year 2)
(MT);
(MT);
(LT);
(LT); (MA313 is a pre-requisite)
(MT);
(MT);
(LT); (MA211 is a pre-requisite)
(LT);
(MT):
For Paper 11 you need to choose one unit in Mathematics or Economics. The choices you
have depends on what you have taken under Paper 7 in the 2nd year. If you did Principles of
Finance in the 2nd year, then for Paper 11 you need to take one of
Macroeconomic Principles;
Principles of Econometrics.
If you have already taken one of the two above in your 2nd year, then for Paper 11 you need
to choose one unit from the following options:
Macroeconomic Principles (if not taken in year 2);
Principles of Econometrics (if not taken in year 2);
Game Theory (not to be taken with MA301);
Principles of Finance;
Quantitative Finance;
Probability, Distribution Theory and Inference;
Behavioural Economics (if EC202 is taken under paper 5).
or Another 3rd year paper in Mathematics or Economics, with the approval of the
Departmental Tutor.
Note: Game Theory is a full-unit course; the first half is identical to the half-unit course
Game Theory I under Paper 10. Obviously you can either do a half-unit or the full-unit.

Paper 12 is intended as a more or less free choice, you can choose almost any course
available at the LSE (within reason, and with departmental approval). For those who want to
do more Mathematics or Economics, they can choose more from Papers 10 or 11 or MA318
History of Mathematics in Finance and Economics.
Papers not acceptable are AC100, PH101 and IS143 – this is not meant to be a complete
list, as suitability of other courses requires departmental approval.
Apart from these options, it may be possible to do another course available from within the LSE
(or even from one of the other Colleges of the University of London).
If an alternative choice fits within the overall philosophy of the Mathematics and Economics
Degree, you will normally be permitted to take it, but you will need permission from both your
Academic Adviser and the Departmental Tutor. It’s a good idea to discuss your ideas with your
Academic Adviser first, before you take any further action in this direction.
Third Year Options for
BSc Mathematics with Economics
Third Year Options
In what follows it is assumed that you have done the ‘normal’ options in the 2nd year, hence no
special outside options.

Paper 9, Macroeconomic Principles or Principles of Econometrics or Economic Theory and
its Applications

For Papers 10 and 11 you need to choose two units of Mathematics or Statistics. No more
than one MA2** course and no more than two of the listed statistics courses can be taken.
Exactly which courses are available can change from year to year. Please note that if you
want to do Mathematics of Finance and Valuation (MA310), then you will also need to take
Probability for Finance (MA313), as this is a required pre-requisite and if you want to take
Algebra and its Applications (MA315), then you will also need to take Algebra and Number
Theory (MA211), as this is a required pre-requisite.

Paper 12 is intended as a more or less free choice. It may also be possible to do another
course available from within the LSE (or even from one of the other Colleges of the
University of London). If an alternative choice fits within the overall philosophy of the
Mathematics with Economics Degree, you will normally be permitted to take it, but you will
need permission from both your Academic Adviser and the Departmental Tutor. It’s a good
idea to discuss your ideas with your Academic Adviser first, before you take any further
action in this direction.
Papers not acceptable are AC100, PH101 and IS143 – this is not meant to be a complete
list, as suitability of other courses requires departmental approval.
BSc Mathematics and Economics
Paper
See note
Year 1
1
2
3
4
Year 2
5
6
7
8
Year 3
9
10
11
12
Course number and title
LSE100
The LSE Course: Understanding the causes of things
EC102
MA100
ST102
MA103
Economics B
Mathematical Methods
Elementary Statistical Theory
Introduction to Abstract Mathematics
Either EC201 Microeconomic Principles I or EC202 Microeconomic Principles II
MA212
Further Mathematical Methods
EC210
Macroeconomic Principles or EC221 Principles of Econometrics or FM212 Principles of
Finance
MA203 Real Analysis (H) and one of MA208 Optimisation Theory (H) or MA209 Differential
Equations (H) or MA210 Discrete Mathematics (H) or MA211 Algebra and Number Theory (H)
One from:
EC301
Advanced Economic Analysis (if EC210 was taken under paper 7)
EC302
Political Economy (if EC210 was taken under paper 7)
Econometric Theory (if EC221 was taken under paper 7)
EC309
Behavioural Economics (if EC202 taken under paper 5)
EC310
Industrial Economics
EC313
EC319
Economic Theory and its Applications
Monetary Economics (if EC210 was taken under paper 7)
EC321
Courses to the value of one unit from the following, but at most one MA2** can be taken:
MA208
Optimisation Theory (H) (if not taken under 8)
Differential Equations (H) (if not taken under 8)
MA209
Discrete Mathematics (H) (if not taken under 8)
MA210
Algebra and Number Theory (H)
MA211
Game Theory I (H) (not to be taken with MA300 under 11 below)
MA301
MA303
Chaos in Dynamical Systems (H)
Optimisation in Function Spaces (H)
MA305
Mathematics of Finance and Valuation (H)
MA310
Probability for Finance (H)
MA313
Algorithms in Java (H)
MA314
Algebra and its Applications (H)
MA315
Graph Theory (H)
MA316
MA317
Complex Analysis (H)
If FM212 was taken as paper 7 then:
Either EC210 Macroeconomic Principles or EC221 Principles of Econometrics
If EC210 or EC221 was taken under paper 7 then one from:
EC210
Macroeconomic Principles
Principles of Econometrics
EC221
Advanced Economic Analysis (if not taken under paper 9)
EC301
Political Economy (if EC210 was taken under paper 7)
EC302
Econometric Theory (if not taken under paper 9)
EC309
Behavioural Economics (if EC202 taken under paper 5)
EC310
Industrial Economics (if not taken under paper 9)
EC313
Economic Theory and its Applications (if not taken under paper 9)
EC319
EC321
Monetary Economics
MA300
Game Theory (not to be taken with MA301 under 10 above)
FM212
Principles of Finance
FM320
Quantitative Finance
ST202
Probability, Distribution Theory and Inference
Another third year paper in Mathematics or Economics (MA3** or EC3**) with the approval of the
Departmental Tutor.
A further paper to the value of one unit from papers 10 and 11 but no more than one MA2** course can
be taken in year three or MA318 History of Mathematics in Finance and Economics. Any other paper
approved by the DT.
BSc Mathematics with Economics Regulations
Paper
Year 1
1
2
3
4
Year 2
5
6
7
8
Course number and title
The LSE Course: Understanding the causes of things
LSE100
EC102
MA100
ST102
MA103
Economics B
Mathematical Methods
Elementary Statistical Theory
Introduction to Abstract Mathematics
Either EC201 Microeconomic Principles I or EC202 Microeconomic Principles II
MA212
Further Mathematical Methods
MA203
Real Analysis (H)
Courses to the value of 1.5 units from:
MA208
Optimisation Theory (H)
MA209
Differential Equations (H)
MA210
Discrete Mathematics (H)
MA211
Algebra and Number Theory (H)
ST202
Probability, Distribution Theory and Inference
Year 3
9
EC210
Macroeconomic Principles or
Principles of Econometrics or
EC221
Economic Theory and its Applications
EC319
10 & 11 Courses to the value of two units from the following (no more than one MA2** course and no more than
two of the listed ST courses can be taken):
Optimisation Theory (H) (if not taken under 8)
MA208
Differential Equations (H) (if not taken under 8)
MA209
Discrete Mathematics (H) (if not taken under 8)
MA210
Algebra and Number Theory (H) (if not taken under 8)
MA211
Game Theory (not to be taken with MA301)
MA300
Game Theory I (H) (not to be taken with MA300)
MA301
Chaos in Dynamical Systems (H)
MA303
Optimisation in Function Spaces (H)
MA305
Mathematics of Finance and Valuation (H)
MA310
Probability for Finance (H)
MA313
Algorithms in Java (H)
MA314
Algebra and its Applications (H)
MA315
Graph Theory (H)
MA316
Complex Analysis (H)
MA317
History of Mathematics in Finance and Economics (H)
MA318
Regression and Generalised Linear Models (H)
ST300
Stochastic Processes (H)
ST302
Time Series and Forecasting (H)
ST304
ST308
Bayesian Inference (H)
12
Any other paper approved by the Dept Tutor.
Notes
LSE100 is taken by all students in the Lent Term of Year 1 and the Michaelmas Term of Year 2. The
course is compulsory but does not affect the final degree classification.