FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Why choose MSE BA (Honours) Economics?

Although our BA (H) Programme is relatively new with our first batch being the one of 2022-25, we are
not new to teaching and grooming budding Economists. We have had multiple batches of graduate
students before, so more reason to choose our programme over others, since we are an institution
specialising in the field of Economics.

This Programme will be rigorous, analytical, quantitative and data driven. It will equip the students with
the necessary skills to address a variety of social science questions. It will be a quintessential liberal arts
Programme without sacrificing the skills that any student of economics should possess.

Moreover, your peer group will be a talented bunch of culturally diverse students with varied backgrounds
and experiences. Interactions with these individuals will elevate your thought process and prove to be a
game-changer in your life.

2. What is the duration of the program?

Our coursework is for three years while many of our counterparts are offering four year long courses.
We'd like to assure you that this doesn't imply any skimping in terms of the quality of our course- it is
very quantitative in nature and offers a gateway to a lot of opportunities, be it in academia and higher
education (both in India or abroad) or be it in the industry. To elaborate more on this, the 4-year
framework is yet to be implemented rigorously throughout India and thus, to give students an early exit
option, we have decided to choose the 3-year course structure for now.

3. How to prepare for the MSE entrance exam?

The entrance test will consist of 100 questions with a time limit of 120 minutes. Each question carries one
mark and there is no negative marking. The topics that the students will be tested on and their respective
weightage are as follows:
1. Mathematics – 40 marks
2. English – 20 marks
3. Logical reasoning – 20 marks
4. Statistics – 20 marks
To prepare for the mathematics section it is advisable to revise the school syllabus taught from 10th to
12th grade. Students can refer to RD Sharma for concepts and practice questions.
For English, questions ranging from reading comprehension to grammar will be tested. Regular reading of
the newspaper, being clear with basic grammar topics and mock tests, which are available online, should
be enough.
Logical reasoning – lots of free online sources available. Check those out.
Statistics – T.R. Jain and V.K. Ohri solutions are regarded as a helpful resource for this section. Once
again revise the school syllabus taught from 10th to 12th grade for this part.

4. Who is a prospective candidate for this programme?

The prospective candidate for this programme is someone who is not afraid of numbers and is willing to
take on a data driven and quantitative approach to the science of Economics head-on. We expect students
to be familiar with Calculus, Trigonometry, Linear Algebra, Probability, and Descriptive Statistics taught
in school in 12th grade.

5. MSE fees for BA (H) programme?

Approximately Rs 85,000 per semester.

6. Fees charged for hostel accommodation?

Approximately Rs 80,000 per year.

7. How many students would be admitted to the programme?

Maximum availability of seats for the B.A. (Honours) Economics Programme is 80, including a 35%
quota for the resident students of Tamil Nadu.

8. Is MSE an autonomous institution?

Yes. In view of MSE’s significant contribution to Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Economics, the
Government of Tamil Nadu has recognized MSE as an Institution of Special Importance in Economics,
Allied Subjects, and Management with degree granting power through the Madras School of Economics
Act, 2020.

9. Application and Basis of Selection

Admission will be based on the entrance test at designated centres in India conducted by an independent
agency, subject to fulfilment of the eligibility criteria.

10. When do classes start?

Classes typically start for year 1 students in August.

11. Can I get an educational loan?

Yes. MSE has a tie–up with IDFC First Bank to offer Educational Loan to students seeking admission in
MSE through their PAN India Network branches. Please approach the Administrative Officer of MSE in
this regard.

12. How's the hostel accomodation?

There are 4 hostels in total. 3 girls hostel and 1 Boys hostel provide accommodation for 300+ students.
Hostellers are usually accommodated in triple sharing rooms at the moment although we are trying to
reduce it to twin sharing rooms soon. Pretty basic rooms with decent ventilation and fans, although
bedding will not be provided. But it'll not be hard to procure because there's a bedding store near the
campus.

13. Is there a Cafeteria?

Yes. One that provides both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

14. How about security?

There is 24 Hours security with Surveillance Cameras throughout the campus.
15. Employment Opportunities
An undergraduate degree in Economics opens up many possibilities for employment. Many firms,
including commercial banks, investment banks, hedge funds, other financial institutions, and large
manufacturing companies, seek out economists in substantial numbers. There are also many opportunities
for employment in government at the state, federal level, and in the Civil Service. In addition, a growing
number of research and consulting firms employ a large number of economists in areas like forecasting,
industry, and financial analysis, consulting, strategy, etc.

Although we do not have a placement cell in place for the programme as of now, we're sure that our
graduates will find a place in the industry if they seek one due to the rigorous training we impart. Armed
with industry relevant electives such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Forecasting, and Computer
Programming, we make sure that our students are ready to address a variety of social science questions.
Moreover, the quantitative nature of our programme helps our students to seek admission for postgraduate
studies both in India (e.g Delhi School of Economics, ISI, IGIDR, etc) and abroad if they are interested in
pursuing further studies.

16. If I have more queries who can I write to?

Send a mail to [email protected]. We would address your queries.

17. How to get to MSE?

From the airport, you can directly take a metro till Nandanam. From Nandanam, take an auto and tell the
driver Kotturpuram Signal or Anna Centenary Library. (The auto drivers will start from a very high fare
but Rs 80-100 should be the ideal fare). Once you reach the Kotturpuram Signal/ Anna centenary library,
you will see the college gate. And voila, you’ve reached your destination. Total transit time:
Approximately 45 minutes.

From the central railway station also, you follow the above-mentioned route.

If you wish, you can take an auto directly from the airport/station as they are plentiful but fares are
relatively expensive and rarely charged as per the meter. App-based cabs such as Uber and Ola are the
most convenient way of getting around.

18. Why is Chennai the ideal city to live in for students?

Living in Chennai will steep you in its cultural history. The capital city of Tamil Nadu is a major
attraction for tourists and people looking for jobs. It is known for its IT hub. With varied cultures,
traditions, food, and festivals the capital city never fails to mesmerize its tourists and visitors. Moreover,
Chennai is a very safe place to live.