Economics

After the first semester, students are automatically admitted to the tracks Economics and Competition and Regulation Economics. The best students (according to their performance in the introductory phase) are offered to continue in the field of study Economic Research, which is a fast track option to acquiring a PhD degree.Economics: The field of study Economics prepares students for working in a complex international work environment. In the second and third semester students have a high degree of flexibility and liberty and can pursue courses according to their own interests, choosing from a wide range of elective courses. Students discuss their course choice with a faculty member who advises them at the beginning of the specialization phase. In the fourth semester students prepare their Master thesis.Competition and Regulation Economics: The Competition and Regulation Economics track prepares students for a professional career in organizations, governmental institutions, as well as companies where specialized knowledge in the field of competition and regulation economics is required or desirable (e.g. competition and regulatory authorities, companies in regulated sectors such as energy and telecommunications, and consultancies). During the specialization phase students complete the mandatory courses Industrial Organization: Markets and Strategies, Empirical Industrial Organization, and Competition Law, as well as a tailor-made lecture series with talks by leading practitioners and an interdisciplinary seminar on competition economics and law. The compulsory courses are complemented by a large offer of electives. Students finish their studies in the fourth semester by writing their master thesis.Economic Research: The field of study Economic Research prepares students for writing a PhD thesis and builds the foundation for a successful academic career. Students attend courses from the PhD program of the Center for Doctoral Studies in Economics (CDSE). At the end of the second year, they prepare a dissertation proposal as their Master thesis. After obtaining the Master degree, graduates from this field of study can formally enter the PhD program with a scholarship and start writing their doctoral dissertation.