Master of Economics

The Master's

As an economist, you will observe the various players (individuals, companies, domestic and foreign governments) and their interaction within the global economy. You will be able to interpret the general economic situation in a wider social and legal context. The programme offers a theoretical framework, allowing you to provide well-grounded answers to socio-economic questions.

Why K.U.Leuven?

Only two universities in Flanders offer an Economics degree. K.U.Leuven offers a broad-based programme, which includes many courses that stimulate reflection and critical thinking in a more general and social context.

My profile

In completing this Master’s programme, you will gain thorough mastery of key economic principles. You will learn to interpret individual, interpersonal and social phenomena from a global economic perspective. Hence, you should have broad interests in social and scientific matters and demonstrate critical and creative thinking. You wish to gain in-depth knowledge of economic research, to develop strategies for addressing economic challenges and to interpret existing research outcomes. You will be expected to develop a high degree of autonomy with regard to knowledge, research and methodology.

Study programme

The programme consists of a common core of two programme units and a Master’s thesis. This is a thesis written under the guidance of a supervisor and a tutor. In addition, you will need to select one of three majors: a General Economics major, a Research in Economics major, which prepares you for entry into the Master of Advanced Studies in Economics, or a Financial Economics major, which prepares you for entry into the Master of Financial Economics.

Assets

The Leuven School of Business and Economics

As one of K.U.Leuven’s 13 faculties, the Faculty of Business and Economics conducts teaching and research in five departments:

• Economics
• Marketing and Organization Studies
• Accountancy, Finance and Insurance
• Managerial Economics, Strategy and Innovation
• Decision Sciences and Information Management

One of the faculty’s most important assets is its vast national and international network. We maintain strong links with the business and financial community by organising regular workshops with captains of industry and the European Commission, situated only half an hour from our campus. Many of our alumni work at European institutions, while many of our colleagues act as advisers to various European bodies and international companies. The student association, Ekonomika, is equally active via its Business-to-University lectures programme. Our Alumni network offers excellent communication channels and networking opportunities with top people in industry and politics.

We have a wide international student exchange network. Not only do we participate extensively in the (intra-EU) Erasmus programme via 65 partners, we also have numerous agreements with leading universities outside the EU, e.g. the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), the University of Chicago, Cornell University, the University of Illinois and Rochester University in the USA, the University of British Columbia, Queen’s University, the University of Toronto and the Université de Montréal in Canada, the Indian Institutes of Management Calcutta and Bangalore in India, the Chinese University and the City University of Hong Kong, Beida, Tsinghua and Fudan in China, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane and the University of Sydney in Australia, Insper in Brazil, Esan in Peru, the University of Monterrey in Mexico and the Singapore Management University.

Career prospects

When you graduate from this Master’s programme, you will have a very informed perspective on society as a whole. Moreover, you will be equipped to address a variety of social problems in an economically and socially sound way. Thanks to the expertise and flexibility you will have acquired, you will be qualified for employment in a variety of fields. The following career options are well-suited to the skills you will develop in this programme:

• Policy development in sectors in which decision-making is highly dependent on the external economic context: government research centres, professional associations, large enterprises and international organisations.
• Problem solution and implementation in managerial positions involving external communication, i.e. government departments, public institutions, international organisations, financial services, companies and social organisations.
• Critical reflection on and transfer of knowledge in education and basic scientific research.
• External communication, journalism, public relations in companies and social organisations.