M.Sc. International Economics and Business

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Degree awarded	Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Duration and credits	4 semesters; 120 ECTS credits
Starts in	October (winter semester)
Languages of instruction	German and English

About the programme

The M.Sc. International Economics and Business programme imparts in-depth expertise, skills and research methodology in micro- and macroeconomic theory as well as empirical economics with a focus on Global Economy, International Trade and Finance, and Governance, Institutions and Development.
The methodological competences, while geared primarily to economic analysis, are enriched with business administration-specific elements.
This degree programme is taught entirely in English.

Please read the Academic Advice Service's infosheet for details.

Features

Focus on economics modules
Strong involvement of empirical research (laboratory and field experiments as well as secondary data analysis)
Includes selected modules on business administration and econometrics
Interdisciplinary modules count towards the degree
Excellent staff-student ratio due to small learning groups (about 20 to 30 students each year)
Combines theory and practice
Excellent results in the CHE Ranking (the university rankings scheme for the German-speaking world)
Numerous global university partnerships

Economists work in a wide variety of occupations. Our graduates have been offered top-tier posts in academia and in the business world: executive posts in the private sector, in policy consultancies as well as in public-sector organisations and federal and state ministries. Many decide in favour of an academic career and follow up with doctoral study.

The programme is divided into seven module groups and the master's thesis module:

A: Core Courses (25–30 ECTS credits)

The core econometrics, macroeconomics and microeconomics courses impart the central techniques required for the subsequent stages of your degree programme.

B: Advanced Methods (a minimum of 10 ECTS credits)

In this module group, you will be acquainted with advanced quantitative methods in in-depth econometrics and behaviour-oriented courses.

C: Global Economy, International Trade and Finance (a minimum of 10 ECTS credits)

This module group comprises courses on globalisation, trade and finance. You will learn about theories and apply empirical methods to understand human decision-making processes concerning investments, location, trade and finance as well as their respective systemic interactions and ways of influencing economic policy.

D: Governance, Institutions and Development (a minimum of 10 ECTS credits)

In this module group you will learn about theories and apply empirical methods to understand development theory and policy; institutional design; the fight against corruption; ethics; fiscal policy; and health economics.

E: Business Administration (a maximum of 20 ECTS credits)

Suitable business administration modules complement the knowledge acquired in module groups A to D.

F: Foreign Language with a business and economics focus (a maximum of 10 ECTS credits)

You will gain 10 ECTS credits in one of the following foreign languages offered by the Language Centre: Chinese, Czech, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.

G: Interdisciplinary Modules (a maximum of 10 ECTS credits)

In this module group you may study master's-level modules taught at the other faculties of the University of Passau and have them counted towards your degree. This allows you to give your degree profile its own interdisciplinary orientation whilst exploring the methodology and subject matters in other disciplines at an advanced level.

Master's thesis

You will write your master's thesis on a topic from module group A, B, C or D. When you pass the thesis module, you are awarded 20 ECTS credits.

Please find the complete description of the programme in the infosheet from the Academic Advice Service.

Academic requirements

To apply, you need a good undergraduate degree with at least 35 ECTS credits in economics (gained in subjects such as microeconomics, macroeconomics and/or economic policy) and at least 15 ECTS credits in mathematics and statistics. To illustrate this point: If you are applying on the basis of a three-year undergraduate degree, at least 20% of that degree programme should have consisted of economics modules and 8% of mathematics and statistics modules. Beyond this, there are no specific requirements on the content of your first degree programme.

If you have not yet received your final results and certificates at the time of application, you may apply using your Transcript of Records or other preliminary transcript. If you are successful in your application, you should then submit your final transcript and degree certificate by the end of the tenth week of lectures in the first semester.

If the evaluation of your submitted documents is positive, you will be invited for an aptitude test consisting of a written exam and an interview. The test can be taken in person or via a video conference.

Self-assessment test

Use our self-assessment test to find out whether you have the skills for the degree programme and to get a first impression of the possible programme content. This questionnaire only takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

German language requirements

This degree programme can be completed entirely in English. However, to be able to get by in Germany, students are nonetheless required to have German language skills at level A1 CEFR (beginner's level). If you do not meet this requirement at the time of your application, you will be offered a free beginner's German course during your first year of study. By the end of that year, you have to be able to present a German language certificate at level A1 CEFR.

English language requirements

You should provide proof of English language skills equivalent to level B2 CEFR.

New: Direct applications for students from EU or EEA countries for this programme

If you’re applying for this programme with qualifications from a member state of the European Union or European Economic Area, you can apply directly to the University of Passau rather than through uni-assist. Since your application will be processed directly by the University, you won't be charged any handling fees. At the application stage, you will simply need to upload scans of the required documents. Once you've been offered a place, you will need to submit your originals or authenticated paper-based copies either by post or deposit them in our letterbox at the time of enrolment in Passau.

Application periods and deadlines

Application period for the winter semester:

15 April - 30 June (direct applications)
1 April - 30 June (applications via uni-assist e.V.)

Please use the interactive application guide to find out which application method you should use.

Application period for the summer semester:

This programme does not accept an intake for a summer semester start.

Apply now!

Infosheet about the M.Sc. International Economics and Business

Introductory video