Our Master's programme in International Economics provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics of the global economy. By integrating modern theories with practical knowledge and empirical methods, it prepares you optimally for a role in international organisations and institutions, global corporations, the financial sector, or in research.
ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023
Economics: No. 3 in Germany
UNRAVEL THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
Does international trade lead to increased inequality? What impact do tariffs have on employment? And how does climate change affect a country's competitiveness? Our Master's programme equips you to explore these questions through your own research. During your studies, you'll engage with contemporary academic publications, develop research ideas, and learn to devise solutions for practical challenges in the global economy using empirical methods. Given our emphasis on language skills, the majority of our courses are conducted in English. An overseas semester at one of our numerous partner universities will broaden your horizons and enhance your intercultural competence. Moreover, you will be able to focus your studies on one of four fields where the University of Göttingen is at the forefront of research: International Trade and Production, Development Economics, Behavioral and Institutional Economics, or Quantitative Methods of Economic Analysis.
The Master's programme in International Economics starts with four modules that deepen your knowledge of economics and enable you to independently analyse global economic contexts.
Advanced Microeconomics: Develop the capability to formalise the decision-making processes of individual actors and their strategic interactions, enabling you to comprehend and develop new economic models.
Macroeconomics of Open Economies: Enhance your comprehension of macroeconomic issues in open economies, including the determinants of growth, inflation, business cycles, and capital flows.
International Trade: Acquire an overview of the main theoretical concepts explaining international trade and learn to evaluate the implications of various trade policies, such as tariffs and subsidies.
Econometrics: This course will empower you to address empirical research problems within the framework of the linear regression model, encompassing model specification and selection, estimation, inference, and the identification of heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation.
24 Credits
Specialisation in economics
This block gives you the opportunity to give yourself an independent profile for your later professional activity through specialisation. You can choose from the following specialisations:
International Trade and Production: This block provides you with the opportunity to build an independent profile for your future professional career through specialization. You can choose from the following specialisations.
Development Economics: Understand the historical roots of underdevelopment and learn to use current economic models to analyse how factors such as economic growth, trade, inequality, aid, capital flows and population issues affect development.
Behavioral and Institutional Economics: Explain the economic decision-making behaviour of people and the emergence of economic organisations, laws, contracts and customs by combining business and economics with sociology and psychology.
Quantitative Methods of Economic Analysis: Learn to make predictions using statistical methods such as regression models and learn how to implement these approaches using statistical software packages.
You can have one of each of these four modules listed in your Master's degree certificate as a specialisation. You supplement these specialisations with seminars and other modules with a foreign trade orientation.
48 Credits
Electives: Deepen interests
In the elective area, you have the opportunity to freely choose additional modules from the selection offered by the Faculty of Business and Economics. This allows you to further refine your individual profile. Additionally, you can enroll in selected modules from other faculties covering topics such as machine learning or international law. Furthermore, you can have a voluntary internship credited under certain conditions.
Part of the elective area is also a semester abroad, which deepens your knowledge of foreign languages, strengthens your intercultural competence and broadens your horizons. You can complete this at a partner university of the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Göttingen:
University of Mississippi, USA
Several universities in Latin and South America (for example Argentina, Brazil and Mexico)
Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand
Stellenbosch University, South Africa (an additional scholarship is funded by the DAAD)
Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia
Fudan University, China
European exchange programmes ERASMUS (over 60 European partner universities)
24 Credits
Master's thesis: Applying knowledge
In your final thesis, you will combine all the skills you have acquired during your studies: Subject expertise, empirical methods, and proficiency in application. You will select contemporary, practical topics and questions related to challenges in the global economy, and employ real-world data and empirical methods to analyse them.
Mailing list for economics students (information on teaching offers; job advertisements of economics Chairs etc.)
GOOD REASONS FOR STUDYING IN GÖTTINGEN
International orientation
Personalised profiling
Research intensity
Double degree
Our degree programme places a special emphasis on language and intercultural competencies, as these will be crucial for your professional success in an international setting. A significant portion of the lectures is therefore conducted in English. A semester abroad at one of our numerous partner universities is a mandatory component of the degree programme. Additionally, we promote internships with international companies and organisations to provide you with genuine insights into the professional world. This way, you will learn to present yourself confidently in an international context within a diverse and globally-oriented campus community.
Set yourself apart from the crowd by specialising in one of four subject areas within the field of economics. You can shape your individual professional profile in the specialisations of International Trade and Production, Development Economics, Behavioral and Institutional Economics, or Quantitative Methods of Economic Analysis. Additionally, you have the opportunity to enhance and deepen your specialisation with additional elective modules. This allows you to create your own professional profile, making you more appealing to potential employers.
Our Master's programme is characterised by both research proximity and a high level of application orientation. You will learn to take up complex problems and solve them using scientific methods, even beyond the current limits of knowledge. You can already participate in research projects during the Master's programme. The analytical skills you acquire during your studies will give you decisive advantages in your later professional life: After all, employers such as international institutions or the financial sector strongly demand the ability to find answers through empirical methods.
Our double degree programme with the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands offers you two degrees from renowned universities and an international study environment. Over four semesters, you have the opportunity to earn the degree "M.Sc. in International Economics" at the University of Göttingen and simultaneously the degree "M.Sc. in Economic Development and Globalization" at the University of Groningen. The double degree programme is structured so that students spend two semesters in Göttingen and two semesters in Groningen, with the Master's thesis being completed in Groningen during the 4th semester.
THESE OPPORTUNITIES OPEN UP TO YOU
Career paths with a master’s degree in international economics.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI SAY ABOUT STUDYING IN GÖTTINGEN
"The Dean of Studies Office and the Examination Office staff, along with the student council at the Faculty of Business and Economics, have been dedicated to supporting their students from the very beginning. This starts with the mathematics preparatory course and the accompanying program, and culminates in a well-organised graduation ceremony. Everyone can always find a receptive ear and receive the assistance they need at any time."
Vivien Papenbrock,
Master's programme in International Economics
"I completed my Master's degree in International Economics with a specialisation in Development Economics. My solid academic background and the international experience I gained through semesters abroad and internships were instrumental in helping me secure a position with GIZ. When I look back on my studies, what stands out is the unique combination of a diverse cultural environment and an international atmosphere."
Fabian Barsky,
Master's programme in International Economics
"I participated in the double degree programme with the University of Groningen and spent a year studying in Groningen, where I also completed my master's thesis. One significant advantage of this experience is undoubtedly the language aspect of studying abroad. Since my workplace is also highly international, the cultural experiences, especially the ability to adapt to other cultures, are immensely valuable."
Esther Reichelt,
foreign exchange analyst at Commerzbank AG
How to apply
Three simple steps to apply to the faculty
1.
Fully fill out the online application form during the application period and send it to us via the send button at the end of the form.
2.
You will receive login-data in order to be able to access the upload portal via email. Go through the attached checklist and upload all necessary documents.
3.
You will receive a reply via email approximately six weeks after the application deadline.
"Curious questions and open dialogues about incentives and barriers open up the economic policy path to transformation, which cannot succeed without economic thinking. Joint reflection based on economic models complemented by other social science approaches to develop concrete economic policy measures is the goal of my teaching."
Microeconomics
Prof. Dr. Claudia Keser
“Tell me and I will forget. Show me, and I may keep it. Let me do it, and I will be able to (Confucius) - this is the leitmotif for my teaching.”
International Economics
Prof. Dr. Udo Kreickemeier
"Many important insights in economics can be gained using simple economic models. In my lectures, I attach great importance to both presenting the insights gained from these models in a clear way and to working out the limits of these insights together with the students."
Macroeconomics and Development
Prof. Dr. Holger Strulik
„Macroeconomics education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.“
International Trade
Prof. Dr. Florian Unger
"In order to understand effects of globalisation, economic concepts help like a toolbox. My passion is to analyse these 'tools' with students and apply them to current issues of international economic relations."
Do you have any questions?
Are you wondering whether a study programme at the Faculty of Business and Economics is right for you or do you have questions about the course of studies, placement in a higher semester or recognition of academic achievements? During our office hours, we advise you on site at the Oeconomicum, digitally via BBB and by telephone without prior registration.