Third Year The final year contains a common core, based on further study of economic theory emphasising its applications to practical issues, and a wide range of optional papers. The common core, which is examined by three papers on Economic Principles and Problems, aims both to extend your knowledge of economic theory and to train you to apply this theory to practical issues. In addition to these three compulsory papers, you will have the opportunity to study selected areas of economics, econometrics, economic history or sociology in much greater depth. This is done either by taking additional written papers, or by opting to submit a dissertation. It is possible to combine Economics with another subject, either by spending the first year in Cambridge taking Part I Economics and then transferring to another subject such as Law or Social and Political Sciences, or by studying another subject, such as Mathematics, for one year before transferring to Part II Economics.
Several students make such changes each year.
Career and Research Opportunities Students who complete the Economics Tripos successfully are extremely well qualified for a wide range of jobs and further courses. If you are interested in further academic study, there are a large number of Masters degree courses in Cambridge and elsewhere in the UK, both in general Economics and in various specialised sub-disciplines, for which the wide range of skills acquired in the Economics Tripos provides a valuable foundation. In my case this would involve studying optional papers in Banking, Money and Finance, Public Economics and the Inter-War Depression in addition to the three core theory papers. College life has been superb. I've made some great friends and had the chance to participate in a wide range of sporting and social activities.