Taking the right step: MSc Applied Economics

As an economist in Rwanda, Ivan Rudakubana Kamali wanted to deepen his knowledge and learn how to apply economics to policy – the MSc Applied Economics felt like the right step. Here, he discusses why the MSc was right for him and is geared towards applied work.

Prior to starting the MSc, I worked as an economist at the National Bank of Rwanda, the country’s central bank. I was still early in my career, but as my responsibilities expanded, it became clear that I needed to deepen both my technical toolkit and my ability to apply economics to real policy questions. An MSc felt like the right next step.

I was fortunate to have strong support from the Bank to pursue further study. I chose the MSc Applied Economics at the University of Strathclyde Business School in part because a former colleague had completed the programme a few years earlier and spoke highly of the experience, which made Strathclyde a straightforward choice for me. I’m also grateful to the Fraser of Allander Institute for awarding me the Sam Baker Scholarship, which has supported my studies - the Sam Baker Scholarship was launched in 2019 in memory of a former employee of the Bank and an alumnus of the Department of Economics at Strathclyde.

Stand out modules

A number of modules have stood out for me, particularly topics in Public Economics and electives like International Development and Economics of Inequality and Inclusive Growth. Coming from a central bank background, a lot of my day-to-day work had been anchored in macroeconomic questions. These classes have been useful because they’ve pushed me beyond that default lens and given me new ways to apply the economist’s toolkit to questions around living standards, inequality, opportunity, and policy design. Those issues are not abstract if you come from a developing economy like Rwanda, where you see the trade-offs and constraints in real time.

The module that has stood out most, though, is Professional Development for Economists. I’ve liked how grounded it is in the realities of the job. The guest speakers gave concrete insight into how economists work across sectors and what high-quality output looks like in practice. The practical work strengthened skills I already relied on, like writing policy briefs, drafting press releases, and supporting high-level communications, while pushing me to be more disciplined about clarity, structure, and audience. Overall, it has sharpened my ability to deliver the kind of work I expect to keep doing.

Practical tools

A big part of what I wanted from the MSc was to become more confident in the practical tools that sit behind good, applied economics. Over the year, I’ve found myself getting better at taking a question, turning it into something testable, working with data in a disciplined way, and explaining what the results do and do not imply, so the takeaways hold up in policy settings. That grounding has come through the data-focused work on the programme, where the emphasis is on moving from patterns in a dataset to conclusions you can defend.

I’ve also sharpened how I think about policy choices when there are real trade-offs. Working through appraisal techniques, and learning how to structure comparisons between options, has made me more deliberate about what good evidence looks like when decisions involve costs, benefits, and competing objectives. Alongside that, the modelling work is pushing me to be clearer about assumptions and channels, and about how to communicate the logic behind a recommendation. Taken together, these skills improve both my day-to-day analytical thinking and the standard of research output I expect to contribute to when back at the Bank.

I would recommend the MSc in Applied Economics to anyone looking for a rigorous programme that is clearly geared toward applied work. It works well even if you are new to the discipline, because it does a strong job of bringing you into it and developing the habits and tools you need to contribute. For anyone considering it, my main advice would be to come in ready to engage fully with the material and to treat the degree as a chance to practice using economics on real questions, not simply to learn concepts in the abstract.

Applied focus

That applied focus is also what shaped where I chose to study. I wanted to learn in a setting known for high-quality research and experienced teaching, and Strathclyde has lived up to that. The programme has felt demanding and practical. Strathclyde describes itself as “the place of useful learning,” and that has matched my experience so far. The skills and ideas we’ve covered have a clear line of sight to how they get used in applied work.

Living in Glasgow

As for Glasgow and Scotland, the experience has been genuinely warm overall. Glasgow is diverse, and the people are friendly and welcoming. The infamous Glaswegian weather did take getting used to, but it becomes easy to settle in and adjust once you find your rhythm. Outside of the university, I’ve had memorable experiences exploring Scotland, including hiking in the Highlands, learning more about Scottish history and culture, and appreciating Glasgow’s unique blend of modern and Victorian architecture, as well as the architecture in other places like Edinburgh. I’ve also made friends from all walks of life, which has added a lot to the already rich experience, and I am looking forward to the rest of my time here. Glasgow and Scotland more generally have left a lasting impression that I will carry with me for life.

About Ivan Rudakubana Kamali

Ivan Rudakubana Kamali is currently completing the MSc Applied Economics at Strathclyde Business School. Prior to starting the programme, he worked as an economist at the National Bank of Rwanda.