Bachelor in Economics and Business Economics
Maastricht, Netherlands
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request the earliest start date
TUITION FEES
EUR 9,200
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EU/EEA | May 1 for EU/EEA
Introduction
From individuals to businesses and governments, we all make choices every day. Economics is the science of choice, from the personal (Why do you buy what you do?) to the public (How do government policies affect consumer behaviour?). Business economics, meanwhile, is about solving specific problems within companies (How can we as a company get consumers to choose our product?). Understanding the choices that all these players make is essential in today’s globalising society, where consumer choices and business opportunities are multiplying by the hour.
You’ll not only learn the economic theory but will also develop the practical skills for analysing specific problems and the professional skills for presenting your solutions. You’ll be well-qualified to advise businesses, consumers and even policy makers on economic issues. This opens up a wide range of career opportunities to you and will help you succeed at whichever path you choose.
Why this programme?
Economics looks at broader problems that relate to individuals, governments, and national as well as international economies. It’s a science that examines how markets work, how businesses and consumers behave, and how legislative and regulatory changes impact businesses and consumers. Business Economics covers economic problems within companies and how to solve them. You’ll develop the skills to examine economic issues from all angles and to come up with appropriate solutions.
In the Economics and Business Economics programme, you’ll analyse business problems using tools from both economics and business:
- Economics: quantitative skills, economic modelling, information management, knowledge management, network economics
- Business: strategy, finance, accounting, banking, managerial economics
Gallery
Ideal Students
You’ll like this study if you…
- like discussing politics and current affairs
- enjoy analysing problems in business and economics
- like working on practical problems in an international team
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
It is Maastricht University’s (UM) mission to offer students from all over the world the opportunity to develop into active, globally oriented thinkers that are ready to make a positive contribution to their societies.
UM’s high-quality, innovative education based on small-scale Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in an international and intercultural setting prepares students for this purpose.
As an open and accessible academic community, UM offers several scholarships to support top-performing undergraduate and graduate students with personal development potential that are experiencing financial difficulties to pursue a degree at UM. UM scholarship students function as important ambassadors of the university during and after their studies.UM scholarship students are selected on the basis of their academic excellence, extracurricular engagement, active citizenship and financial need. As the number of scholarships is limited, the selection process is highly competitive.
Before applying for a UM scholarship, please take into account the factors summed up below. Read these carefully, to make sure that the valuable time you invest in applying pays off:
- You will have to apply for a study programme at UM before applying for a scholarship;
- You are only allowed to apply for one UM scholarship, multiple applications will be disqualified;
- Verify if your nationality is eligible for the scholarship;
- Verify whether your study programme is participating in the scholarship;
- Ensure that if the scholarship covers only the tuition fees, you are able to finance your own living expenses (rent, food and insurances) for the complete duration of your studies.
Curriculum
Your first year
All students will follow the same courses in the first year. These cover a broad range of business and economics topics such as finance, accounting, international economic relations, micro and macroeconomics, organisation and marketing as well as skills such as presentation, communication and quantitative skills. This will allow you to make a well-informed decision about which specialisation you’re interested in pursuing in your second and third years.
What you’ll actually do:
- Learn by doing in small, intercultural teams
- Address the sorts of problems you’ll face in your career, in a study setting designed to resemble a real working environment
- Develop your knowledge of marketing, economics, finance and management
- Enhance your practical skills in mathematics, statistics and computer science
- Learn how to apply the insights you gain to run businesses more effectively
Problem Based Learning
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is an innovative, student-centred instructional method widely used at Maastricht University. You will work in small tutorial groups of 12 to 15 students, and collaboratively seek practical solutions to real-world problems. Instructors act as facilitators, giving help as it’s needed. This allows you to build independence and develop research skills. As opposed to lectures – which are still the primary teaching method at most universities – PBL is dynamic, requiring active participation in a variety of tasks such as:
- deciding how to approach a given problem
- setting learning goals
- organising tasks to achieve those goals
- sharing your findings with one another
With PBL, you’ll develop the practical skills you need in the workplace by taking skills trainings tailored to your courses.
Skill trainings you might take include:
- quantitative methods
- managing takeovers
- interview skills and techniques
- customer relations management
- country risk analysis
Career Opportunities
Specialisation Economics
To study or to work? By the time you’ve finished this bachelor’s programme, you’ll have spent three years sharpening your academic skills and mastering the theoretical content. At the same time, you’ll have gotten a taste of working life, too, given the emphasis placed on practical experience and making contacts within the IES Network. Whether it’s further study or the labour market, you’ll have the right foundation and tools to pursue your highest goals.
Master's programmes
Your specialisation in Economics provides a strong foundation for the following master’s programmes:
- Economics
- Global Supply Chain Management and Change
- Learning and Development in Organisations
- Financial Economics
- International Business
Feel like branching out? Other Maastricht programmes will welcome you as well, provided you fulfil any additional admission requirements. Or what about something even more adventurous? The good news is that SBE is highly regarded across Europe and around the world, and your bachelor’s specialisation will open doors to programmes you’ve not yet imagined.
Career prospects
Sound theoretical and practical knowledge? Check. Critical thinking and communication skills? Check. International experience? Check. With this degree, you tick the boxes on just about every employer’s checklist.
Our graduates go on to work in:
- multinational organisations, such as the EU and the OECD
- major financial institutions, like national banks, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
- university research departments
- the private sector, such as telecommunications companies
- strategic, advisory or consultancy roles, e.g. in mergers and acquisitions
Specialisation Economics and Management of Information
With your specialisation in Economics and Business Economics, you might want to further develop your expertise in this field. Or you might prefer to spread your wings to another area, to become a well-rounded professional. Either way, there are plenty of master’s programmes at your fingertips, both in the Netherlands and abroad.
Master’s programmes
Among these are some of Maastricht University’s own master’s programmes:
- Global Supply Chain Management and Change
- Learning and Development in Organisations
- Financial Economics
- International Business
- Economics
Career prospects
These days, you simply can’t go wrong with IT. And combined with your general knowledge in economics and business, you’ll have employers knocking down your door. Along with the big players like Microsoft and Google, just about every decent-sized company needs people who can translate new technologies into business returns.
Our graduates work in:
- IT planning and policymaking
- IT consultancy
- the EU and other government institutions
- research and academia
- IT project management, working their way up to key positions in large multinationals, such as Cap Gemini, Accenture, SAP, Business Objects, Shell and Vodafone
Specialisation Emerging Markets
Master’s programmes
Within the Emerging Markets specialisation, you’ll have the freedom to choose many of your courses and design your own path. You can ensure that you’ll be well prepared for many of the master’s programmes in business and economics at Maastricht University, including:
- Economics
- Global Supply Chain Management and Change
- Learning and Development in Organisations
- Financial Economics
- International Business
You’ll also be well positioned to apply to master’s programmes at other universities that focus on the business or economics of emerging markets, as well as related areas such as development studies, global studies and international relations.
Career prospects
The challenging structure of this specialisation is designed to make you an attractive candidate for a broad range of employers in business or economics such as:
- international (multinational) companies
- international development organisations
- global financial institutions
- trade promotion offices and ministries of national governments
- business and economics consultancies
- market research companies
- start-ups
Specialisation International Business Economics
Employers are understandably eager to get graduates of this programme on board:
- You’re familiar with how organisations work.
- You’ve got the tools to solve their problems and improve their performance.
- You understand the impact of government policies and global events.
- And you know how to sell your innovative solutions to the right players.
- Your next step depends entirely on your own ambitions.
Master's programmes
If you’re keen to keep on studying, you’re safe in the knowledge that your bachelor’s degree prepares you well for six Maastricht master’s:
- Global Supply Chain Management and Change
- Learning and Development in Organisations
- Financial Economics
- International Business
- Economics
Of course, Maastricht University also has a range of other reputable programmes, and for some of these you may need to fulfil additional requirements. And beyond our doorstep, there’s a whole world of programmes waiting for you.
Career prospects
Academic theory, practical skills, and international experience: all this sets you apart from other graduates. This programme is well known in the business world of the Euregion and beyond, opening doors to graduates for management and market research positions in:
- large multinationals, such as Shell and Daimler
- accounting firms, like Ernst & Young and KPMG
- pension funds and financial institutions, like Fortis and Deutsche Bank
- consulting firms, such as Cap Gemini and Accenture
- government and non-profit organisations, like the European Central Bank and United Nations