Master of Science in Economics Kiel University

In the compulsory sections of the programme, all lectures and examinations will be held in English.

In the supplementary subject, some lectures and examinations may be held in German. However, it is always possible to choose subjects such that they are completely held in English as well. German as a foreign language is taught in German. No prior knowledge is needed.

The Master's programme in Economics at Kiel University imparts methodical skills related to various fields of economics and a broad, sound and critical knowledge of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, plus a command of various sectors of applied economics. The main objective of the Master's course is to enable graduates to discuss and interpret the essential concepts and methods used in the economic sciences, evaluate the main research methods employed in the field, draw upon the knowledge they have acquired to deal independently with complex situations, and develop and implement ideas of their own. Graduates will have a sound command of advanced methods in both model-theoretical and empirical/quantitative analysis and will be able to analyse economic problems, assess economic arguments and conduct empirical investigations displaying a relatively high degree of complexity. In addition, they will possess a critical understanding of the economic concepts and methods they have learned.

Application period with a Bachelor's degree obtained in Germany via Kiel University:

• 1 June to 1 August for the following winter semester (in the case of later applications, consideration for the following semester cannot be guaranteed)
• 1 December to 1 February for the following summer semester (in the case of later applications, consideration for the following semester cannot be guaranteed)

Application period with a Bachelor's degree obtained in other countries via uni-assist:

• 1 April to 31 May for the following winter semester
• 1 October to 30 November for the following summer semester

Effectively, formalities for foreign applicants normally require at least three additional months, e.g., visa application, application for scholarships from the DAAD or elsewhere, etc.

The Master's programme is organised in six parts:

1. Compulsory Section in Economics (30 ECTS CP)
2. Compulsory Section in Econometrics (6 ECTS CP)
3. Compulsory Elective Section in Econometrics (6 ECTS CP)
4. Compulsory Elective Section in Economics (36 - 60 ECTS CP)
5. Compulsory Elective Section Supplementary Subjects (0 - 12 ECTS CP)
6. Master's thesis (18 or 30 ECTS CP)

During the first semester, the core courses in Economics and Econometrics, Advanced Microeconomics, Economics Dynamics and Econometric Methods are obligatory.

The second and third semesters focus on the specialisation courses in Economics. Students choose specialisation modules from various fields of Economics:

• Applied Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics & Growth
• Financial Economics
• International Economics
• Spatial Economics
• Public Economics
• Environmental & Resource Economics
• Applied Empirical Methods (max. three modules of this group)

Furthermore, students can choose a supplementary subject from another discipline. This supplementary subject can be Business, Computational Sciences, Business Information Systems, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Agricultural Economics, German as a Foreign Language, or Mathematics. (At the moment, English as teaching language can only be guaranteed if additional Economic modules are chosen.)

The fourth semester is mainly reserved for completion of the Master's thesis. There are two versions for the completion of the Master's thesis:

1. 30 ECTS: six months processing time, or
2. 18 ECTS: 15 weeks processing time; two additional modules of the Compulsory Elective Section Economics need to be completed.

Examination regulations:
www.studservice.uni-kiel.de/sta/fachpruefungsordnung-economics-master-1-fach-englisch.pdf

Modules and course descriptions:
www.wiso.uni-kiel.de/de/studium/dateien-studienfaecher/modulhandbuecher/module-manual-economics-master-programmes.pdf

A wide range of specialised courses offered on a regular basis gives students an insight into many areas of economic research arising through cooperation with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

For the study plan for the Master's programme in Economics, see below:

Kiel University and the Department of Economics offer exchange programmes for spending a semester at a partner university abroad (ERASMUS and direct partnerships with universities worldwide). For students interested in such exchange programmes, we recommend going abroad in the third semester of the programme. The credits from the partner university can be transferred to the programme.

No tuition fees

An enrolment fee ("Einschreibgebühr") of 55 EUR is charged for the first enrolment at Kiel University. A semester contribution ("Semesterbeitrag") currently amounting to 302 EUR must be paid each semester. This covers free public transport ("landesweites Semesterticket") for trains and buses in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, reduced lunch prices, a culture ticket and other benefits for students.

The monthly costs of living in Germany are currently at least 992 EUR per month. Please note that when applying for a visa (from countries requiring a visa) and also later in Germany when extending a residence permit, financial means in the amount of the living costs for one year (11,904 EUR) must be proven.

More information can be found here: www.international.uni-kiel.de/en/incomings/planning-arrival-and-stay/visa.

Applicants are expected to hold a Bachelor's degree or a comparable university degree (minimum grade 2.5) with a regular period of university education of three years or more and 180 ECTS credit points or more. 

In the 180 credit points, the following needs to be contained:

• 35 credit points from courses on principles of economics (i.e., courses on microeconomic theory and courses on macroeconomic theory) with no overlapping in substance and from courses on quantitative methods with no overlapping in substance
  of which at least:
  • 15 credit points from courses on quantitative methods (mathematics, statistics, econometrics)

With regards to content and comparability an official module manual has to be submitted. In case of unavailability of an official manual, module descriptions approved by the offering institution of higher education are accepted. To avoid unnecessary paper piles, it is also allowed, to provide a link to an official online handbook. The module manual needs to be provided either in German or English.

Admission requirements can be found here: https://www.wiso.uni-kiel.de/en/study/misc/info-inst-econ/application
and here: https://www.wiso.uni-kiel.de/en/study/master/economics

We also provide an optional entry-level self test for your own assessment of knowledge that is required in our Master's programmes. Further Information can be found here.

Recommended Literature

Please find a list of recommended literature here.

Proof of English language skills by

• C1/CEFR
• TOEFL (paper-based test): 550 points or an equivalent test e.g. IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79
• Bachelor's degree with English as the language of instruction

Application period with a Bachelor's degree obtained in Germany via Kiel University:

• 1 June to 1 August for the following winter semester (in the case of later applications, consideration for the following semester cannot be guaranteed)
• 1 December to 1 February for the following summer semester (in the case of later applications, consideration for the following semester cannot be guaranteed)

Application period with a Bachelor's degree obtained in other countries via uni-assist:

• 1 April to 31 May for the following winter semester
• 1 October to 30 November for the following summer semester

Effectively, formalities for foreign applicants normally require at least three additional months, e.g., visa application, application for scholarships from the DAAD or elsewhere, etc.

No

The Department of Economics and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy offer jobs as student assistants. Students can apply for these jobs upon availability.

Please find information on accommodation in Kiel on the following website: https://www.international.uni-kiel.de/en/incomings/planning-arrival-and-stay/accomodation.

Career counselling: https://www.careercenter.uni-kiel.de/en/career-counselling

Career Center seminars: https://www.careercenter.uni-kiel.de/en/seminars

International students receive support by Kiel University's International Center in manifold ways: www.international.uni-kiel.de/en/about-the-international-center

Kiel University (also referred to as the CAU) was founded in 1665. It is Schleswig-Holstein's oldest, largest and best-known university, with 27,000 students and 3,700 staff members. It is also the only full-fledged university in the state. Seven Nobel Prize winners have worked here. The CAU has been successfully taking part in the Excellence Initiative since 2006.

We use research, teaching and the transfer of science to address the great challenges of our time in health, environmental and cultural change, nutrition and energy. In doing so, we ensure peace and preserve livelihoods for future generations. We use responsible actions to make sure that scientific discoveries are transferred into all sectors of our society by interdisciplinary thought – regardless of short-lived trends – where they are incorporated into political, economic and social decisions aimed at securing peace and prosperity.

When it was founded back in 1665, the CAU had the motto “Pax Optima Rerum: peace is the most valuable asset.” This maxim is as applicable today as it was over 350 years ago. We want to follow this key idea and contribute towards creating a peaceful, fair world in which everyone lives freely and comfortably. We aim to create a world in which treating the environment with respect also enables future generations to enjoy the same benefits.

CAU’s mission:
Our mission is to deliver research and teaching that contribute to peace, prosperity and maintaining a pluralistic, free society as well as address the challenges we are facing. Our strong disciplines carry out this mission. The fulfilment of this mission requires interdisciplinary collaboration and involves transdisciplinary issues. We find solutions to today’s pressing problems and implement these solutions together with stakeholders from society, industry and politics.

Teaching profile:
We are dedicated to research-based teaching and learning. Therefore, the development of new teaching approaches is evolving constantly at the interfaces between research from the different scientific disciplines. Students from all over the world benefit from this: research results are quickly integrated into programme curricula and our academic staff is trained in state-of-the-art teaching methods.

Research profile:
The CAU is Schleswig-Holstein’s only full-fledged university with a major focus on research. Over time, four dynamic priority research areas have systematically developed. These are based on strong disciplines interacting together – Marine Science, Life Science, Societal and Cultural Change, and Nano Surface and Interface Science. Each individual research area makes a substantial contribution towards dealing with at least one of the grand challenges of our time.

Transfer profile:
A university is not an island. It is an entity that impacts on, with and for society in a number of ways, by offering space for new ideas, passing on knowledge and values, and enabling debates about controversial subjects. Universities train specialists, produce innovative products and start-ups, help companies to develop further and assist politics by giving advice and warnings. The CAU encompasses top quality, innovative science, a sense of responsibility and the transfer of knowledge. We advocate for the university’s active role in society and aim to work closely together with the community to be the driving force behind regional, national and international development by looking for and finding pioneering solutions for our most pressing issues. This is the reason why we maintain a variety of active connections with our partners in science, industry, politics and society.

Read more about our profiles.

The city of Kiel is located directly on the Baltic Sea coast and is the capital of the northernmost German federal state, Schleswig-Holstein. Famous for its sailing tradition, Kiel has hosted two Olympic sailing competitions. The city's annual "Kiel Week" is the world's largest sailing event and one of the biggest cultural festivals in northern Europe. Kiel's international flair is enhanced by its port, where Scandinavian ferries dock next to cruise liners and historic ships. Those who enjoy going out will benefit from the city's lively cultural life as well as the many clubs and bars to be found between the campus and the city centre. Kiel is a strong centre of science and research. Our students benefit from studying by the sea in a city that offers short distances and a wide range of leisure facilities by the waterside. It takes less than 20 minutes to get from the lecture hall to the beach. A fresh breeze on your face and the right books on hand create a great atmosphere for learning. The social conditions for studying in Kiel are excellent. Freshmen receive a welcome payment of 100 EUR when they come to Kiel to commence their undergraduate studies. They have the opportunity to live in one of the many halls of residence, which are reasonably priced and situated close to the universities. In our bicycle-friendly city, not only the universities but also other inner-city locations can be reached conveniently by bike. The new scientific generation represents the most important resource for making Kiel, the state capital, fit for the future.

www.kiel.de