This English-language Master's programme delivers rigorous training across core areas of economics — microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics — alongside substantial exposure to applied economics. Emphasis is placed on building strong methodological skills so you can apply both theoretical models and quantitative techniques to real economic questions. The curriculum is designed to give you a broad, sound and critical understanding of economic theory and its empirical applications.
The programme’s goal is to enable graduates to interpret and discuss key economic concepts and methods, to critically evaluate research approaches, and to use their knowledge independently when facing complex problems. You will gain advanced competence in model-theoretical reasoning and empirical/quantitative analysis, allowing you to analyse economic problems, assess economic arguments and carry out sophisticated empirical investigations while maintaining a critical perspective on the methods and concepts you apply.
Key learning outcomes
Curriculum overview
This MSc programme is structured into six components that together build advanced theoretical knowledge, quantitative skills and specialised expertise in economics. In the first semester all students take the core economics and econometrics courses — including Advanced Microeconomics, Economic Dynamics and Econometric Methods — to establish a rigorous foundation. Semesters two and three are devoted mainly to specialisation courses, where students deepen their knowledge in chosen fields and develop applied empirical skills. The fourth semester is primarily reserved for the master’s thesis.
Specialisation options let you tailor the degree to your interests: you can choose modules from Applied Microeconomics, Macroeconomics & Growth, Financial Economics, International Economics, Spatial Economics, Public Economics, Environmental & Resource Economics, and Applied Empirical Methods (with a maximum of three modules from this last group). There is also the opportunity to take a supplementary subject outside economics — for example Business, Computational Sciences, Business Information Systems, Social or Political Sciences, Agricultural Economics, German as a Foreign Language, or Mathematics — to broaden your perspective and methodological toolkit. Note: instruction in English can currently only be guaranteed if you select additional economics modules.
Key learning outcomes include advanced command of economic theory, strong econometric and empirical analysis skills, specialised knowledge in your chosen subfield(s), and the ability to conduct independent research culminating in a thesis. The programme offers a wide range of specialised courses developed in cooperation with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, giving students regular exposure to contemporary economic research.
Requirements and structure (concise)
Programme parts and ECTS:
First-semester core/obligatory courses:
Specialisation fields (choose modules from):
Supplementary subject options (0–12 ECTS), examples:
Master’s thesis options:
Research context: many specialised courses are offered regularly through collaboration with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, providing insight into ongoing economic research.
Further details:
This master’s programme expects applicants to have a solid undergraduate foundation in economics and quantitative methods. You should hold a completed bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) with sufficient coursework in micro- and macroeconomics as well as in mathematics/statistics/econometrics. To verify course content and comparability, you will need to submit official module documentation (or approved module descriptions) in German or English — a link to an official online module handbook is also acceptable.
There are online resources to help you decide whether your preparation matches the programme’s expectations: an optional self-assessment test and a list of recommended literature are provided. For official application details and further information, consult the programme pages linked below.
Requirements (bullet points)
Useful links
Winter Semester (International)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
1 August 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
1 February 2027
Graduates are prepared for analytical and research-oriented roles that require strong theoretical and empirical skills. Typical employers and career paths include research institutes, government and public policy bodies, international organisations, central banks, financial institutions, consultancy firms and data-driven roles in the private sector.
The programme also provides a solid foundation for academic research and doctoral studies, as students gain the methodological background and empirical experience needed for PhD programmes in economics or related fields.