Economics is a way of thinking, based on a structured framework to analyse real-world economic problems and policy challenges. This requires appropriate tools and skills which you will further develop in the master in economics. In your economics bachelor, you had exposure to the main fields in economics, e.g. microeconomics, macroeconomics, environmental, labor, international and monetary economics. The master in economics has two objectives : (1) you deepen your analytical skills and (2) you have the opportunity to specialize in your preferred subject area. The deepening part is achieved through dedicated courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics which are compulsory for all master students. The specialization part is achieved by offering you the choice between two field majors.

In the master in economics, we analyze the interactions between economic actors, i.e., households, corporations, financial institutions and governments, in a domestic and international context. A critical analysis of these interactions requires rigorous analytical frameworks and econometric tools. The master in economics offers you the skills to bring hypotheses to the data and formulate policy recommendations based on theoretical insights and empirical evidence. Via individual and group assignments, you will learn to tackle real-world economic problems and you get the opportunity to present and discuss your findings with fellow students and academic staff. You will learn how to set up an academic research project and apply your skills to analyze societally relevant questions about, e.g., productivity, inequality and poverty, ECB monetary policy, labor market frictions, optimal taxation, sustainability of government debt, climate transition, demographic change, trade and migration. As such, the master program prepares you not only for the labor market, but also for further advanced studies. Several of our alumni have successfully completed advanced masters in top universities or have engaged in PhD research.

The program essentially consists of four components: three compulsory courses, major courses, the master dissertation and an elective course.

The compulsory courses offer the foundations for methodological and empirical skills. This common part of the master program deepens your knowledge in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. You already covered the basics of these areas but here we provide a deeper focus on the formal analysis as well as the analytical and econometric tools that are essential for critical economic analysis.

• Microeconomics: you study behavioral economics under uncertainty and asymmetric information. You also take a deep dive into optimization techniques.
• Macroeconomics: you master modern growth theory and modern business cycle analysis. You study theories and models, and apply them to topics and economic policies related to demographic change, inequality, climate change, productivity and innovation,…
• Econometrics: we broaden your knowledge of econometric techniques for time series analysis.

The master in economics program offers two majors allowing you to select courses in your area of interest in which you apply the theoretical insights of the compulsory courses. We offer two majors : (1) Financial Institutions and Markets and (2) Economic Policy. We have deep knowledge and expertise in our department in these areas, also in terms of research. Research and education are closely intertwined at master level. When enrolling in a major, you choose three courses from a list of five or six in that area. The Financial Institutions and Markets major is aimed at students who aspire to start a job in the financial sector. You study financial assets and their risk-return characteristics. You investigate the interactions between financial markets (stocks, bonds, corporate securities, exchange rates, commodities, emerging markets) and the macroeconomic environment (growth, inflation, interest rates, government budget). You explore recent trends in the European banking sector and analyze the profit/risk profile of banks and the impact of regulation on bank intermediation. You study central bank policies, the ECB in particular, and their implications. The Economic Policy major is aimed at students looking for a job in economic policymaking, in the broadest sense of the word (not only government, but also social partners, central banks, international institutions, financial institutions, NGOs,...). You study the role of the government in the economy: efficient allocation, government intervention and externalities, inequality and poverty, optimal taxation. Environmental and energy policy is covered extensively, with a main focus on the optimal use of scarce resources and concepts of cost-efficiency, cost-effectiveness and information problems. Finally, you discover the effects of fiscal policy on key macroeconomic variables such as economic growth and employment, and on (financial, social and ecological) sustainability.

The master is completed with a master dissertation which allows you to demonstrate that you are able to apply the acquired knowledge to address a problem independently. Students in the master in economics typically use a combination of theory and empirical analysis to tackle relevant economic problems, under the guidance of a supervisor. This is really the cherry on the cake.

Finally, we offer the opportunity to tailor your curriculum by choosing an elective course. You have several options for the elective course:

• You choose another course from your major to specialise even more in this subject area
• You choose a course from the other major in order to broaden your horizon
• You choose an elective course from a list of economic courses
• You conduct an internship

If you want to combine your master’s degree with a teacher’s degree, then there is the option of following an ‘Educatieve master’ instead of the above described master. The Master's Programme in Teaching however is a Dutch taught programme. More information can be found on www.ugent.be/educatievemaster.

It is possible to participate in a double degree programme with the Julius Maximilians-Universität Würzburg. In a double degree programme students receive a degree of both the home and the host university. More information can be found on https://www.ugent.be/eb/en/degree-students/double_degree_programmes.

First of all, economics is a broad discipline, our alumni work in a wide variety of sectors and organizations, both in Belgium and abroad. Economics graduates can be found in organizations with a need for economic experts with a solid analytical and econometric training. The financial sector (banks, insurance companies and central banks) for example recruits economists for various types of jobs, from credit analysis to business cycle research to asset management. Quite some economists start their career in policy advisory services. This typically gives them exposures to a wide range of economic problems and commissioning organizations, from governments to corporations and to non-profit organizations. Moreover, many economics graduates find a job in governmental organizations, international institutions, or social partners (e.g., trade unions and employers’ associations). In governmental organizations they typically hold positions related to economic and socio-economic policy (policy analysis, preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation). A number of specific examples are chief economist of a bank, economic analyst at the National Bank, policy advisor to the Flemish Government, investment specialist in an asset manager or environmental economist at an NGO. Other economic graduates opt for a career in education or continue in academic research, in Belgium or abroad. Each year, several masters in economics enter a PhD program and successfully complete their PhD, which opens yet another set of career opportunities.