This English-taught MSc programme builds advanced analytical and logical problem-solving skills while broadening and deepening knowledge across modern economics. Coursework covers both theoretical and applied areas, with a strong emphasis on applied economics and current research topics. Students tailor their studies through a wide range of application-oriented modules, allowing them to specialise in particular subfields of interest. The faculty includes many internationally recognised researchers, ensuring high academic standards and exposure to cutting-edge research.
The programme prepares graduates for demanding professional careers by combining rigorous training with practical research experience and extensive networking opportunities. Formal and informal links with leading international universities (including UC Berkeley, Wisconsin–Madison, Maastricht, Copenhagen and Stockholm) support student exchange and collaboration. Close cooperation with the ifo Institute for Economic Research gives students direct experience in applied research and policy advising, while the Centre for Economic Studies (CES) brings many international researchers to campus each year. The department’s ECONnect support programme also helps motivated students make contacts with selected public- and private-sector partners.
What you can expect / programme requirements
The programme is organised in modular form, with a clear split between compulsory modules (CM) and optional modules (OM). As a rule, students are expected to earn 30 ECTS each semester. ECTS points reflect total workload — time spent in lectures and tutorials, independent study and exam preparation — and a failed course yields 0 ECTS. This structure ensures steady progress each semester while allowing increasing freedom to specialise after the first term.
In the first semester all students take core, compulsory modules: Mathematics for Economists, Econometrics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Public Economics. These courses provide the mathematical and theoretical foundations and the empirical tools (especially econometric techniques) that you will need for advanced study and research in any subfield of economics.
From the second semester onward you move into optional modules and specialisation. You can choose freely from a wide range of courses with few restrictions, and the semester workload should again total 30 ECTS coming from OM courses. At least one optional course (12 ECTS) must centre on an independently defined research problem and be assessed via a term paper; it is recommended to take two such 12‑ECTS research courses — typically one in the second semester and one in the third. Specialisation and research-focused tracks are available in microeconomics & strategic interaction, applied econometrics, public sector economics, and macro & international economics.
The final, fourth semester is devoted to the Master’s thesis, a compulsory module completed over 22 weeks. The thesis is an independently written scientific project where you demonstrate your ability to apply economic theory and empirical methods to produce original research findings.
Requirements at a glance
This Master's programme requires a completed Bachelor's degree in Economics (or an equivalent qualification) and a solid academic record. Specifically, applicants must hold either the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München BSc in Economics or a degree from another institution that can be shown, in terms of content and methodology, to be equivalent to LMU’s Bachelor's in Economics. The selection committee assesses equivalence based on the documents you submit with your application.
If your degree’s equivalence is unclear (for example, a degree in business administration is typically not considered equivalent) or your overall grade does not meet the programme threshold, you will be invited to a written admissions test held only in Munich. The test evaluates your understanding of microeconomics, macroeconomics, empirical economics, mathematics, and public economics. Note: in the German grading scale lower numbers indicate better performance; the programme requires an overall average of at least "good" (2.50).
Admission requirements (summary)
Tips for international applicants
Winter Semester (International)
30 April 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
30 April 2026
Graduates leave with strong quantitative, theoretical and empirical skills suited to careers in economic research, policy institutions, consultancies, and the private sector. The programme’s applied focus and institutional links (ifo, CES, partner universities and industry contacts through ECONnect) help students gain practical research experience and professional networks.
The degree also provides a robust foundation for those pursuing doctoral studies in economics or related disciplines, as the curriculum emphasises independent research skills and advanced methodologies required for PhD-level work.