Chennai: More than 80% of students who joined the five-year integrated economics degree at the Madras School of Economics (MSE) in the 2025-26 academic year were from Tamil Nadu. As many as 61 students out of 73 in the course were from the state, which was an increase from 38 students in the previous year.

Professors pointed to the increased awareness among school students about career opportunities for economics graduates.

Students who passed out of the BA economics course in the first batch in 2025 joined top global schools such as the London School of Economics, Barcelona School of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics and Columbia University for higher studies.

“There is increased awareness about careers in economics among school students. It is one of the main reasons for MSE getting more students from the state to the integrated degree,” said N R Bhanumurthy, director of MSE.

Students will have exit options in the third year and fourth year of the course with BA economics (honours) and BA economics (honours with research). Of the 61 students, 11 were from govt model schools across the state.

“The course has 35% reservation for students from Tamil Nadu, and the number exceeded it,” he added.

For the intake of 75 seats in the integrated degree, the institute received 373 applications. Admission to the course is based on the written test. With the degree programme having a strong quantitative component, only students with a maths background in Class XII are eligible to apply. Applications will open in February.

“The level of economics taught is at a higher level. BA students acquire skills almost like what postgraduate students acquire elsewhere,” Bhanumurthy said.

MSE also offers five MA degree programmes. It also offers an MBA in finance and business analytics.

Students from the postgraduate programmes get, on average, around 14 lakh a year as a salary package. Graduates were offered roles such as analysts and economists, among others.