Overview
This European Master’s programme trains students to evaluate and design agricultural, food and environmental policies with strong attention to their socio-economic and ecological consequences. The curriculum combines policy analysis, economics and applied research methods so graduates can assess policy impacts and develop evidence-based recommendations for public and private stakeholders. The programme’s research orientation also equips students who wish to continue to doctoral studies.
Programme structure and opportunities
Run as a two-year, English-taught double degree, the course is delivered jointly by four partner universities across Europe, offering an international learning environment and mobility between institutions. Students can specialise in areas such as agri-food policy, environmental and natural resource policy, agribusiness and market analysis, market and consumer research, and development policy. Graduates are well prepared for roles in international, national and regional agencies, NGOs, consultancies, professional organisations, banks and insurance companies, and businesses in the agricultural, food and environmental sectors.
Key facts and application notes
This two-year, 120 ECTS master’s pathway combines rigorous economic theory and empirical methods with applied policy analysis for agriculture, food and the environment. Students spend study periods at two of the AFEPA partner universities (one year at each institution) and, where hosted at Bonn, join the international AFECO course offerings. The programme balances classroom learning with practical, international experience through two joint summer schools that include lectures, workshops and field trips.
Core teaching ensures a common foundation in microeconomic theory (consumer and producer theory, general equilibrium and welfare economics) and in quantitative methods (statistics and econometrics). Optional modules deepen theoretical and empirical skills directly relevant to agricultural, food and environmental policy analysis, while supplementary electives — chosen with approval from the AFEPA Management Board — allow interdisciplinary enrichment (for example: ethics, environmental or trade law, finance, public policy, sociology, GIS and advanced statistics). Language instruction may be taken for credit (max. 5 ECTS).
The master’s thesis, completed in the second year, builds on programme courses and can follow a theoretical or empirical approach; students are encouraged to address a concrete policy question. There is an option to spend a shorter exchange period (one quarter) dedicated to writing the thesis. Structured faculty feedback is built into the summer schools: at the first summer school students present a tentative research idea and receive comments from at least two faculty from different partner universities, and at the second they present draft theses.
Key requirements and structure
Learning outcomes you can expect
This master’s program expects applicants to hold a completed undergraduate degree and a solid foundation in economics. Your bachelor’s qualification must correspond to at least three years of full-time study (180 ECTS) and show a strong academic record (an overall average of at least “B” or an equivalent grade). The selection focuses on demonstrated coursework in economics, with specific emphasis on microeconomics and statistics.
You must have completed substantive economics coursework during your bachelor’s studies: at least 24 ECTS in economics in total, and among those credits you should have taken one course in microeconomics and one in statistics. While not mandatory, having an introductory course in agricultural, environmental, or food sciences will strengthen your preparation for the program’s subject matter.
If your degree was completed outside the European ECTS system or uses a different grading scale, provide official documentation that clarifies credit volumes and grade conversion so equivalence can be assessed. Transcripts should clearly list course titles and credit values so reviewers can verify the required economics credits and the presence of microeconomics and statistics courses.
Requirements (concise)
Winter Semester (International)
31 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
30 April 2026
Graduates are prepared for analytical and advisory roles in international, national and regional public agencies; non‑governmental and professional organisations; consultancy firms; and private companies such as banks, insurers and enterprises in the agricultural, environmental and food industries. The programme’s quantitative and policy‑focused training also makes alumni competitive for research positions and for continuing to doctoral studies.