Quantitative Economics – (M.Sc.)

The MSQE Program is designed to ensure that students
-- in the economics track acquire a thorough knowledge of economic theory, of econometric and computational methods, as well as the structure of modern economies;-- in the finance track acquire a thorough knowledge of the theory of finance, of econometric and computational methods, as well as the structure of modern financial markets;
-- in the marketing track acquire a thorough knowledge of the theory of marketing, of econometric and computational methods, as well as the structure of the modern marketing services sector.

Minimum prerequisite for consideration by the program's admissions committee is a Bachelor's degree. An undergraduate specialization in economics, finance, or marketing is not required; the program rather seeks applications from candidates with outstanding analytical and quantitative skills who can demonstrate a strong interest in substantive issues in economics, finance, or marketing. The program invites applications from both domestic and international students. The language of the entire program is English. While the program strives to put its students in a position to engage in frontier research in economics, finance, or marketing, students who after the first year of studies learn that they are more likely to excel in policy and implementation oriented courses have the option to follow a professional track in their second year in the program.
The first year of the program is structured as follows:
-- In the economics track, students will in their first year attend core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and mathematical methods. At the end of the first year, students who wish to preserve the option of moving to studies in the Ph.D. Program in Economics must pass preliminary examinations in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. Students who successfully complete these preliminary examinations will automatically be admitted to the Ph.D. Program in Economics, and in their second year of studies simultaneously complete their MSQE Program studies in the research track of the MSQE Program.
-- In the finance track, students in their first year will attend core courses in finance, microeconomics, econometrics, and mathematical methods. At the end of the first year, students who wish to preserve the option of moving to studies in the Ph.D. Program in Finance must pass preliminary examinations in finance, microeconomics, and econometrics. Students who successfully complete these preliminary examinations will automatically be admitted to the Ph.D. Program in Finance, and in their second year of studies simultaneously complete their MSQE Program studies in the research track of the MSQE Program.
-- In the marketing track, students in their first year will attend core courses in marketing, microeconomics, econometrics, and mathematical methods. At the end of the first year, students who wish to preserve the option of moving to studies in the Ph.D. Program in Marketing must pass preliminary examinations in marketing, microeconomics, and econometrics. Students who successfully complete these preliminary examinations will automatically be admitted to the Ph.D. Program in Marketing, and in their second year of studies simultaneously complete their MSQE Program studies in the research track of the MSQE Program.
Students who do not pass their respective set of preliminary examinations at the end of the first year in the program will in their second year of studies continue in the professional track of the MSQE Program.
In their second year in the program students who follow the research track will need to complete Ph.D.-level field courses in two fields of their choosing. The fields offered are microeconomics, macroeconomics, finance, and marketing (economics students must pick microeconomics or macroeconomics as their first field; finance students must pick finance as their first field; and marketing students must pick marketing as their first field). Students who in the second year of the program follow the professional track can choose among field courses in microeconomics (in particular labor economics and public finance), macroeconomics (in particular monetary economics, international economics, and economic growth), finance (in particular banking and asset pricing), and marketing (in particular pricing, strategic marketing, and Bayesian marketing models). During the second year of the program, all students - irrespective of track chosen - will also need to enroll in two seminars. The seminars help students to deepen their skills to read, write, and present papers. Finally, all students in the second year in the program - again irrespective of track chosen - will need to write a Master's thesis, which is to be completed within four months. In writing their Master's thesis, students will demonstrate their ability to independently analyze a substantive issue in economics, finance, or marketing, using state of the art methodological approaches.
Overall the program carries 120 ETCS credit points. The program expects students to commit to their studies full time. Students who have not successfully passed all requirements within eight semesters of studies will be dropped from the program, without the possibility of re-instatement.