The Barcelona GSE Economics Program provides rigorous training for admission to top doctoral programs and for technically demanding careers.
Students who complete this program will acquire an excellent grounding and deep understanding of the field's foundations, applications, and policies covering theoretical and empirical approaches.
The Economics Program course listing is broad enough to offer students specialized training in a number of areas:
More than half of our Economics alumni continue their education through GPEFM or in another PhD or graduate program at prestigious schools around the world. Alumni who choose a professional career path are regularly hired by governmental agencies, international banking, consulting and research firms.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Master Degree in Economics and Finance awarded jointly with the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. The degree requires the successful completion of 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits of graduate courses (6 credits are equivalent to a 40 hour course), some compulsory and some elective. The students' final program must be discussed with and approved by the Master Director.
Examples of recent Economics placements:
The programme provides a historically grounded, multi-disciplinary analysis of key political and economic processes and problems in Europe, relating both to the 'project' of EU integration and to domestic policy challenges and national transformation processes, framed through the lens of an evolving state-market relationship.
This programme draws on different theoretical approaches to political economy (positive, comparative and international political economy) and is taught by staff with academic expertise in the field and experience of policy-making in different parts of Europe. It will equip you with a rounded understanding of the political, economic and institutional context of key policy dilemmas and empirical puzzles in the EU as a whole and in its individual member states.
You will be able to choose from specialist courses in aspects of political economy including monetary union, welfare states, labour markets, models of capitalism, fiscal (dis-)integration, transition and development, and others. In addition, you will be able to choose wider option courses, covering policy-making, governance and politics in the EU; European identity, ethnicity and society; and courses with a more geographical focus. You will also attend a programme of guest lectures from distinguished outside speakers, including business leaders and policy-makers.
Former graduates pursue successful careers in politics, business, diplomacy, consultancy and journalism, and in international organisations and financial institutions. Students from this programme are actively headhunted by companies and international organisations working in the region.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Banking and financial services represents a highly competitive and rapidly changing sector in every modern economy. Changes in customer requirements, technology, competitive conditions and regulation create the need for managers, traders and analysts to make rapid and often far-reaching decisions about their short term operations and long term strategies. The MSc and MA in Banking and Finance degree courses at Bangor offer you a unique opportunity to study advanced theory and practice relating to financial services, and to develop an appreciation of the causes and significance of current developments in this vitally important and dynamic sector of the economy.
Issues you will tackle as part of your MA/MSc Banking and Finance degree programme include:
Why are the banking systems in different countries (such as the UK, Germany, Japan and the US) so diverse?
What determines the structure, performance and efficiency of banking and financial markets?
Why do banks and financial intermediaries exist?
What are the main theories of the banking firm?
How relevant are financial intermediaries in a world of increasing securitization and with the evolution of virtual banking?
How do banks optimally allocate capital?
Does bank regulation increase or decrease risks?
How do we measure the risks undertaken by banks?
Can regulators reduce the likelihood of systemic (system-wide) risk?
What are the relationships between risk and return governing investment in company shares and other derivative instruments?
Can market risk be priced accurately? Can credit risk be priced accurately?
How should institutional investors go about constructing a portfolio of assets to maximise returns on behalf of investors?
How can we assess the investment performance of pension funds, insurance companies and unit trusts?
How do banks use futures, options, derivatives and swaps to manage their balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks?
What are the key principles of international portfolio management in a world of fast and unpredictable movements in exchange rates?
How do banks manage their business so as to maintain customer relationships, improve operational efficiency and add shareholder value?
With these needs in mind, the MSc and MA Banking and Finance programmes at Bangor are designed to develop participants' existing skills through a scheme of specialist advanced study. An important objective is to provide participants with relevant analytical training, so that they are familiar with the latest theoretical and practical developments relating to banking, finance and capital markets. These programmes provide a coherent theoretical framework for the various subject areas, but the emphasis throughout is on advanced practical application of financial techniques in a real-world setting.
The availability of parallel MSc and MA degrees in Banking and Finance allows you to choose between registering for a more technical MSc degree (including a compulsory element in Financial Econometrics), and a less technical MA degree (for which Financial Econometrics is optional). The MSc degree may be more suitable for applicants with some previous background in mathematics, statistics or econometrics, while the MA degree is more suitable for applicants who prefer to adopt a predominantly non-quantitative approach to their studies. However, both degrees include a compulsory module in Research Methods, which includes coverage of both quantitative and non-quantitative research techniques.
The MA Banking and Finance is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as the first year of a 1+3 PhD training programme.
January intake: Taught modules are undertaken in the period of January to June and September to January and will involve the study of 120 credits. The dissertation (or equivalent) is valued at 60 credits and is undertaken during the period of June to September.
September intake: Taught modules are undertaken in the period of September to June and will involve the study of 120 credits. The dissertation (or equivalent) is valued at 60 credits and is undertaken during the period of June to September.
Research Methods: This module develops knowledge of intermediate and advanced research methods, and provides a basis in research methodology for those who may eventually wish to pursue research degrees.
Bank Financial Management: This module provides a grounding in the nature, strategic context and managerial functions of financial management in banks, and other financial services firms.
International Financial Markets: This module provides an overview of financial instruments in a multi-currency world, taking account of insights from portfolio theory concerning the relationship between risk and return, the diversification of risk, and the pricing of assets.
International Banking: This module examines the origins of international banking, the activities of international banks, the markets in which they participate, and the sources of risk.
Financial Crises and Bank Regulation: This module examines why banks and financial markets are inherently vulnerable to crises, and analyses the role of policy makers and institutions. The roles of monetary policy, bank supervision and regulation, corporate governance and ratings agencies in mitigating or exacerbating crises are considered.
International Financial Management: In this module the financial management of multinational companies and the influence of macroeconomic, fiscal, currency and political environments on business and financial decision-making are examined in an international and global context.
Islamic Finance: This course provides an insight into topical issues relating to Islamic financial instruments and related risk management issues.
Corporate Risk Management: This module provides an analysis of pure risk and its management.
Financial Institutions Strategic Management: This module examines the main theoretical and practical issues concerning banking business. You will develop a critical awareness of the theory of the banking firm, the motives for international banking, and regulatory and structural issues impacting on bank behaviour.
Financial Analysis: This module analyses the techniques that are used to evaluate a company’s financial position and performance.
Investment Strategy and Portfolio Management: This module evaluates the development of investment strategies for bonds, equities and derivatives that are designed to achieve optimal risk-return outcomes, and examines the measurement and evaluation of the performance of a portfolio of investments.
Islamic Banking: This module provides an insight into the key features of Islamic banking business.
Application period/deadline: November 1, 2017 - January 24, 2018
• An internationally comparable degree in Economics from an AASCB accredited business school
• Rigorous theoretical and empirical studies incorporating the latest research
• Hands-on experience in developing economic models and using econometric methods to perform economic and financial analysis
Oulu Business School’s International Master’s Programme in Economics (ME) is a two-year programme providing rigorous training in modern Economics. The programme equips you with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and empirical research methods used in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics. You will have the opportunity to develop an interest in fields such as:
• Mathematical economics
• Industrial organisation
• Energy economics
• Urban and regional economics
• Environmental economics
• International macroeconomics
• Game theory
• Financial econometrics
Through group work and projects, you will learn to apply your economic expertise and acquire the problem solving, project management and presentation skills you will need in your career as an economist.
It is not compulsory to choose a specialization, but the two-year programme offers two specialisation options:
Energy Economics and Smart Grid courses bring the latest economic and technical energy research into the classroom and equip you with the skills you need to work as an economic researcher or consultant in energy related projects. Gain experience in multidisciplinary project work and employ your skills in Economics to analyse and solve business problems in tomorrow’s energy markets.
Financial Economics focuses on equipping you with skills that are relevant for an economist working within the financial sector. You will gain further knowledge of statistical modelling software and intensify your knowledge of econometric models used for forecasting macroeconomic and financial variables.
The professorship for Economics at the University of Oulu was established in 1959 and the department is a part the AASCB accredited Oulu Business School (OBS). Economists at OBS and at associated research centres (MAIGBE, SYKE) focus on research in Energy Economics, Social Economics, and Regional Economics. The department is renowned for its achievements in input-output modelling and Energy Economics. Current faculty members are active, among others, in the Finnish Economic Policy Council, the Finnish Climate Panel and the national BCDC energy research project. OBS organizes frequent seminars with Finnish and international visitors from business and academia. You are strongly encouraged to attend these events.
The master’s programme equips you with the skills you need as a professional economist working in business, government, international organizations, and research centres. Depending on your interests, you can, for example, work with market research in the financial sector, with strategic pricing and production decisions in private firms, and with fiscal and monetary policy within the public sector. The master’s programme also serves as thorough preparation for Ph.D. studies. The master’s programme provides you with an internationally comparable degree in Economics from an AASCB accredited business school. Upon completion of the master’s programme, you will be equipped to pursue a career as an economist in Finland or abroad.
Possible titles include:
• Economist
• Economic Advisor
• Investment Advisor
• Industry Analyst
• Financial Analyst
• Economic Development Officer
• Economic Consultant
Students applying for the programme must possess an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree in Economics or a related subject. The quantitative nature of the ME programme ideally suits for those who have studied Economics, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or Natural Sciences (e.g. Mathematics, Physics or Statistics).
tart of programme: November / January / March / May / July
Mode of Attendance: Distance Learning
This programme will provide you with skills and knowledge in the field of public finance. It ranges across all applications, whether in budgeting, revenue policy, financial reporting and audit, compliance or where financial matters take a central position in policy, such as in public-private partnerships or fiscal decentralisation.
The MSc is made up of eight modules. Each module is studied in eight-week sessions. You can only take one module at a time, but each module is typically available in at least two of the year's study sessions. This gives you the flexibility to plan how you study during the year, enabling you to fit your study in with your professional, family and personal commitments.
You will be individually assigned an online academic tutor for the duration of each module with whom you can discuss academic queries at regular intervals during the study session. You will also have a named administrator providing you with help and advice throughout your studies.
Before the start of each module you have enrolled on, you will be sent a package containing all of the study materials that you need to complete the module – the core text, textbooks, a collection of key articles, and any module related software.
To make your experience as a distance learning student more complete and rewarding, we provide access to the Virtual Learning Environment, which is a web-accessed learning environment. Via the VLE, you can communicate with your assigned academic tutor, administrators and other students on the module using discussion forums. The VLE also provides access to the module Study Guide and assignments, as well as a selection of electronic journals available on the University of London Online Library.
For each module, you will sit a three-hour examination, held on a specified date in September/October, and complete two assignments during the module study session. Assignments are submitted and feedback given online. Examinations and assignments are weighted 70:30.
This degree is suitable for people working in central Financial Ministries, or in financial management roles in line Ministries, sub-national governments or financial scrutiny functions in Parliaments or Supreme Audit Institutions. It will also be valuable for people working in consultancy and advisory functions, and in international financial institutions.
Advances in information and communications technologies have revolutionised the way data is gathered, fuelling a surge in the demand for graduates with high-level training in data-analysis using econometric techniques.
The Master of Applied Econometrics is a new two-year program that combines coursework and research to equip you with the skills to make economic decisions in a data-driven manner.
If you are interested in understanding the fiscal responses to macroeconomic conditions, the degree of collusion amongst petrol retailers in Australia, or the impact of trade liberalisation on wage inequality, then The Master of Applied Econometrics is the program for you.
It will give you the econometric expertise to answer real world economic questions, while also providing the flexibility to specialise in areas relating to your career goals.
As a graduate of this degree, you will develop expertise in:
Graduates are likely to be employed in organisations such as banks, government, consulting firms and think tanks as an analyst, data scientist or modelling and insights leader.
Estonia’s e-government and the country’s other innovative e-solutions have grown into one of Europe’s success stories of the last decade. Tallinn Tech has taken a leap into the future of e-Governance education. Largely focusing on IT solutions at government level, its interoperability between different faculties in the University is giving fundamental background also in other aspects (law, public management and economics) of government. The program is especially important due to the reason that it is unique in Estonia and in Europe and the demand for the specialist with broad knowledge on e-governance is increasing tremendously.
The Master’s programme in e-Governance Technologies and Services is giving students broad knowledge about the makings of a modern state – the transition into e-governance, its management and development. Studies include a wider overview of administrative and legal aspects of e-governance.
The curriculum will help to prepare managers and specialists responsible for the development of e-Governance, who are able to comprehend the business processes and the management of public administration; and are familiar with the information systems and software development.
Giving student’s a broad knowledge about the transition into e-governance, its management and development, helps graduates to work as a public sector high level officials whilst leading eGov projects by having also a wider overview of administrative and legal aspects of e-governance.
Master’s degree holders have the opportunity to continue their studies in the PhD programme.
Arvo Ott, Executive Director of the e-Governance Academy:
“e-Governance is not only technology but also innovation, policy, legal and fiscal frameworks, management and economy. The curriculum of the programme brings together science, practices and knowledge in these fields and trains very internationally needed specialists of the e-Governance.”
The e-Governance Academy
- is a non-governmental organization, which shares Estonia's expertise and experience on state level and has trained and consulted governmental officials in more than 40 countries around the world, including countries like China, India, Japan, Canada, Cuba, Georgia, United Kingdom and many more.
