International Programmes 2023/2024

Master of Science in Economics Master of Science in Economics

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München • München

Degree
Master of Science
Teaching language
  • English
Languages

Courses are held exclusively in English.

Full-time / part-time
  • full-time
Programme duration
4 semesters
Beginning
Winter semester
Application deadline

30 April for the following winter semester

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No
Joint degree / double degree programme
No
Description/content

The Master of Science in Economics programme provides students with analytical and logical problem-solving skills as well as a deepening of their knowledge in economics, introducing them to topics of current research. Master's students are offered rigorous training in applied economics and are prepared for high-profile professional careers. Students choose from a diverse selection of application-oriented courses, in which they may delve into one of the field's many subtopics. An outstanding feature of the programme is the academic excellence of the teaching faculty. A number of internationally-renowned researchers are part of our staff. The curriculum spans the full breadth of theoretical and applied economics. Master's students also benefit from the excellent academic networking opportunities; the department's excellent international reputation has enabled the establishment of partnerships with the visiting student programmes of top universities such as UC Berkeley, Wisconsin-Madison, Maastricht University, University of Copenhagen, and the University of Stockholm. Our close connection with the ifo Institute for Economic Research offers students first-hand experience in applied research and economic policy advising. Additionally, the Centre for Economic Studies (CES) promotes international academic exchange and welcomes more than thirty international researchers each year from all over the world. Committed and talented students also have the opportunity to establish contacts with selected partners in the private and public sectors by participating in our department's support programme ECONnect.

Course organisation

The curriculum of the study programme is divided into modules, with a distinction made between compulsory modules (CM) and optional modules (OM). As a general rule, students should obtain 30 ECTS credits per semester. The credit points are based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), which assigns points to lectures and tutorials according to the required workload. The following aspects are considered in the allocation of credits for academic work: the time spent in formal learning environments (e.g., lectures and tutorials), time spent in preparation and revision of the material (self-study), and the requirements for exam preparation. A failed course naturally results in 0 ECTS points awarded.

In the first semester, students attend basic lectures and tutorials in the following: Mathematics for Economists, Econometrics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Public Economics. These compulsory modules (CM) provide students with indispensable theoretical background knowledge and the necessary tools to further pursue a specialisation in their desired sub-field of economics.

In the second semester, students can start specialising in their desired field. They can choose from a wide array of courses and are subject to very few restrictions. 30 ECTS credits should be obtained per semester in OM courses. In at least one 12 ECTS course, students should work on an independently formulated research problem and present the results in a term paper. It is recommended that students take two courses worth 12 ECTS, one in the second and one in the third semester. Students have the opportunity to specialise and/or opt for research-oriented courses in one of the following fields: microeconomics and strategic interaction, applied econometrics, public sector economics, or macro and international economics.

Students write the Master's thesis in the fourth semester. This should be an independently written, scientific work in a specific field of economics. The thesis is to be completed over a period of 22 weeks. The Master's thesis is a compulsory module of its own. In the Master's thesis, students demonstrate their ability to apply scientific methods of economics independently and to write an original piece of research.

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Integrated internships

No

Course-specific, integrated German language courses
No
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
No
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Semester contribution

124 EUR per semester

Costs of living

Living costs (including accommodation and health insurance) in Munich range from 800 to 1,000 EUR per month.

Funding opportunities within the university
Yes
Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-support-services/finance-your-studies/scholarships/scholarships-for-international-students/index.html

Academic admission requirements

The entry requirement for the Master of Science in Economics programme is the completion of the Bachelor of Science in Economics programme at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München or an equivalent qualification and the overall average grade of at least "good" (2.50). Applicants who have graduated with a degree in economics at another university can be admitted into the Master's programme as long as it can be established that this qualification, in terms of content and method, is equivalent to the Bachelor's degree in economics at LMU. A selection committee will determine whether the qualification can be established as being equivalent to a LMU Bachelor's degree in economics on the basis of the provided application documents. If the equivalence of the qualification is unclear (for example, a degree in business administration is not equivalent to our Bachelor's degree in economics) or the GPA is not better than 2.50, the applicant will receive an invitation to the admissions test, which only takes place in Munich. This written test examines whether the applicant's knowledge of microeconomics, macroeconomics, empirical economics, mathematics, and public economics is sufficient for the admission to the Master's programme.

Language requirements

Evidence of sufficient knowledge of English is required, which may be proven either by a university degree at an English-language institution of higher education or by a TOEFL score of at least 80 points (iBT) or an academic IELTS score of 6.5 points.

Application deadline

30 April for the following winter semester

Submit application to

http://www.en.master.econ.uni-muenchen.de/index.html

Possibility of finding part-time employment

Many of our students work part time during their studies with one of the numerous companies that offer student work positions.

The LMU career service has a platform dedicated for offers:
https://www.s-a.uni-muenchen.de/jobboerse/jobangebote/index.html

Accommodation

The International Office helps visiting academics, PhD students, and postdocs who are travelling to Munich for a set period of time to find accommodation.

For further information, please visit the following link:

https://www.lmu.de/en/study/important-contacts/international-office/index.html

Rooms in shared flats are popular on the private market and reasonably priced at 400-600 EUR per month if located in central parts of Munich.

Career advisory service

The LMU offers central career services:

https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/career-services/index.html

Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Welcome event
  • Buddy programme
Supervisor-student ratio
1:50

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

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