Master of Science in International Economics (MSc) University of Göttingen

Courses are held in English, and the Master's thesis is also written in English.

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.

Moreover, you will be able to focus your studies on one of four fields in which the University of Göttingen is at the forefront of research: International Trade and Production, Development Economics, Behavioural and Institutional Economics, or Quantitative Methods of Economic Analysis.

Additionally, you will 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 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 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.

Graduates of the Master's programme in International Economics are equipped with a high level of methodological and factual knowledge as well as language and intercultural skills. This opens up excellent career prospects, in particular in international and European organisations (e.g. IMF, World Bank, OECD, WTO, European Central Bank, EU Commission), in research institutes, development cooperation institutions and in the private sector, in particular in associations, management consultancies, the financial sector or internationally-oriented companies.

Double degree option with University of Groningen

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 of "MSc in International Economics" at the University of Göttingen and simultaneously the degree of "MSc in Economic Development and Globalisation" 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 fourth semester.

Application periods

Berlin Time Zone: UTC+2 / UTC+1

• 1 April to 15 May; 11:59pm UTC+2 to commence studies in the winter semester (October)
• 1 October to 15 November; 11:59pm UTC+1 to commence studies in the summer semester (April)

Please note that all necessary application documents have to be uploaded via the upload portal by their respective deadlines (15 May and 15 November). Subsequent submission of documents after the application deadline is not possible.

The Master's programme in International Economics lasts four semesters and comprises 120 credits (ECTS). It is divided into coursework and the completion of a Master's thesis (24 credits).

The programme starts with four modules (24 credits) that deepen your knowledge of economics and enable you to independently analyse global economic contexts:

• Advanced Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics of Open Economies
• International Trade
• Economics

Specialisation in economics (48 credits)

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
• Development Economics
• Behavioural and Institutional Economics
• Quantitative Methods of Economic Analysis

You can have one of each of these four modules listed in your Master's degree certificate as a specialisation. You will supplement these specialisations with seminars and other modules with a foreign trade orientation.

Elective courses (24 credits)

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 enrol 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 for example in the USA, China, Thailand, Latin America or various European universities.

Master's thesis (24 credits)

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 you will employ real-world data and empirical methods to analyse them.

1) Obligatory 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 for example in the USA, Latin America, Thailand, China and various European countries.

2) Double degree programme with the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands (optional/ separate application): This offers you two degrees from renowned universities and an international study environment. Over four semesters, you have the opportunity to earn the degree of "MSc in International Economics" at the University of Göttingen and simultaneously the degree "MSc in Economic Development and Globalisation" 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 fourth semester.

Under certain conditions, students of the Master of International Economics programme can have an internship credited to their degree.

No tuition fees

The fees are around 400 EUR per semester. This usually includes a prepaid semester ticket, which entitles students to use regional trains in Germany free of charge as well as buses in Göttingen. University of Göttingen students also receive discounts or free entry to many cultural events in the city. Meals are available at reduced prices at university canteens.

The average cost of living in Göttingen is modest compared to other major university cities in Germany. Currently, expenses for accommodation, food, health insurance and books are about 900 EUR per month. Please note that fees for health insurance may vary according to age.

Students of the University of Göttingen receive discounts for cultural events. Meals and drinks are also available at reduced prices at all university canteens.

Admission to the Master’s programme in International Economics is competitive. Admission into the programme is based on proof of relevance of previous studies.

Proof of relevance of previous studies

• A minimum of six semesters of study culminating in a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent course of study with a minimum of 180 credits in the subject of Economics or a closely related subject
• Applicants must have completed at least 150 of the 180 credits at the time of application. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications that do not meet this requirement.
• Completed 60 ECTS credits and course work in Economics including 30 ECTS credits in Economic Theory, Public Economics, and International Trade
• As part of fulfilling the minimum of 30 ECTS course requirements in Economic Theory, Public Economics, and International Trade:
  • A minimum of 18 ECTS from the modules must be from coursework that is of intermediate or advanced levels
• A minimum of 12 ECTS credits must be completed in Mathematics, Statistics, or Econometrics.

Proof of relevant language skills

• English language skills
• For a list of accepted documents, see: "Required application documents", https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/425268.html.

Accepted forms of language verification:

• native speaker
• an education comparable to the German entry qualification to an institute of higher education acquired at an English speaking school
• successful completion of a degree programme taught entirely in English
• study or work stay abroad of at least two years in length in an English-speaking country within the last five years prior to submitting your application
• verification of a least one (business) language course at level C1 in the programme on which the application is based upon
• at least 180 points on the Cambridge English Scale
• at least seven points in the test "International English Language Testing System" (IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic Online),
• at least 95 points in "Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet-based test" (TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition)
• at least 76 points on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic/ PTE Academic online)
• at least level III of the UNIcert certificate
• NULTE certificates at C1 level: Acert (Poland), CertACLES (Spain), CLES (France), UNIcert®LUCE (Czech Republic and Slovakia), UNILANG (United Kingdom)

Please note:

Successful completion of one of the above tests may not be more than three years prior to receipt of the application for admission and admission to the Master's programme.

Application periods

Berlin Time Zone: UTC+2 / UTC+1

• 1 April to 15 May; 11:59pm UTC+2 to commence studies in the winter semester (October)
• 1 October to 15 November; 11:59pm UTC+1 to commence studies in the summer semester (April)

Please note that all necessary application documents have to be uploaded via the upload portal by their respective deadlines (15 May and 15 November). Subsequent submission of documents after the application deadline is not possible.

Germany Scholarship (Deutschlandstipendium): https://uni-goettingen.de/en/218535.html

The university supports students in finding part-time jobs in local industries and businesses.

A number of student jobs are also available at the university. They are announced on the following website: www.stellenwerk-goettingen.de.

Please note that restrictions may apply with your scholarship or visa.

Some proficiency in German may be indispensable to find a job.

Non-EU students are permitted to work a maximum of 120 full days (240 half days) per year.

The Accommodation Service of the International Office supports international students who are enrolled at the University of Göttingen in finding accommodation and serves as a point of contact for related queries. The Accommodation Service also publishes suitable offers from private landlords in Göttingen and collaborates with the Student Services ("Studierendenwerk"). As the number of available accommodation options in Göttingen is limited, it is highly recommended to contact the Accommodation Service as early as possible.

The Career Service of the university offers individual support for the job entry. For international students aiming for a career entry in Germany, the Career Service provides workshops, online learning modules, and a qualification programme. https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/292.html

The "Start Guides" project also offers assistance in developing and realising individual career perspectives in Germany. https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/637664.html

If you are interested in founding a company, start-up support is offered! The university supports you with advice, funding, qualification formats and network contacts: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/en/1279.html

The International Office provides a wide range of services for international students.

German students help newly arrived students to adapt to the university and the city during their first weeks.

An orientation week for new international students provides valuable information about Göttingen and the university.

Study Buddy Programme: Part of the project Integration and Diversity at Göttingen University (InDiGU)

Foyer International: Meetings and activities for all students

German courses during studies (free of charge)