Fundamentals of Graduate Economics and Finance: Student Diary 2025

My Week in Oxford for the Fundamentals of Graduate Economics Summer School

By Jem Grimley, 2025 Alum

 

 

In July I was lucky enough to take part in the Fundamentals of Graduate Economics and Finance Summer School at the University of Oxford. I wanted to give my reflections in the hope that you will gain greater clarity on the programme.

Initially before you start the course an extensive reading list is sent to help prepare you for the summer school. These resources are a massive help in learning some of the concepts that you may be unfamiliar with. The questions that are provided are especially useful to test knowledge and consolidate learning before and after the course.

 

Jem Grimley

Course Learning

The course is designed to be an introduction to the Maths and Statistics you will experience at the beginning of a graduate economics course. For myself this course allowed me to get a taste of what my econometrics module is going to be like next year and to grow my confidence.

The first half is Mathematical Analysis and is taught by Professor Ines Moreno de Barreda. The course was initially very challenging with the level of abstract reasoning being personally difficult. Referring to the preparatory and lecture notes was especially helpful here and Ines was extremely helpful in explaining any questions we had. This section built my resilience, and I now feel I have a clearer picture of how mathematical analysis connects to economics.

At midday we would partake in a series of insight sessions which spanned careers and academia. From q and a with current and past MPhil Students to research inspirations sessions from current Economics department professors. These research inspiration sessions looked at various disciplines of economics such as industrial economics and macroeconomics. The session in industrial economics was particularly insightful and is something I am going to pursue in the form of an undergraduate research project on return to university. we would enjoy a catered lunch which was suitable to all dietary requirements and was very tasty. A special mention to the snacks available in the breaks which were the perfect energy boost throughout the day.

The second half of the course is intro to econometrics taught by Professor James Duffy. This part of the course expanded on the statistics I had already learned at the undergraduate level which was a useful refresher before going into more complex topics such as multiple hypothesis testing and the various trade-offs different statistical techniques have. I really appreciated the use of practical examples throughout the teaching of this part of the course that helped ground the content and feel like each session was a natural progression. In the afternoon you are given independent study time to digest the concepts you have been learning and practice questions. This subsequently leads onto a seminar where you can ask any questions you may have and go through the worksheet in detail. These seminars were invaluable, and I will be going over the worksheets again in my own time.

Social Activities

There are many social activities both inside and outside of the course that I took part in and would highly recommend taking advantage of. First off inside of the programme we went on a pub trip in the first day which was a great way to break the ice with my fellow students and our tutors. The student body is very diverse with students from all over the world. I would also highlight the various backgrounds of different students from undergraduates like me all the way to professionals returning to education for postgraduate study. The variety of perspectives this diversity delivered enhanced the course and I learnt so much from my fellow students.

 

 

College Formal Dinner

Welcome Reception

 

 

 

Outside of the programme many of us would dine together which was the perfect way to decompress after a long day of studying. Oxford has a wide variety of cuisine on offer for any taste or eating preferences. These meals were a highlight for me and was an excellent way to get to know the rest of the students on the course and come together.

 

To top off the experience we went to St Hilda’s College to engage in the oxford tradition of a formal dinner. This was the perfect celebration to end the programme with everyone dressed up and coming together to explore the college and enjoy a wonderful meal. This really was the cherry on the cake and really gave us an insight into what life as an oxford student would be like. 

College Formal Dinner

 

Outside of the programme many of us would dine together which was the perfect way to decompress after a long day of studying. Oxford has a wide variety of cuisine on offer for any taste or eating preferences. These meals were a highlight for me and was an excellent way to get to know the rest of the students on the course and come together.

 

To top off the experience we went to St Hilda’s College to engage in the oxford tradition of a formal dinner. This was the perfect celebration to end the programme with everyone dressed up and coming together to explore the college and enjoy a wonderful meal. This really was the cherry on the cake and really gave us an insight into what life as an oxford student would be like. 

My Final Reflections 

The summer school has been a truly amazing experience and is something I will always remember fondly. It has challenged me in the best possible way and broadened my horizons about what I want to do in the future. Going forward into my second year I feel confident in my ability to use econometric techniques. I feel immensely grateful for the opportunity and a particular thanks to Ines, James and Rafael who were so generous with their time and energy. I can say without a doubt the summer school has been the best educational experience I have ever had.

Summer School Group 2025