Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics

The bachelor's programme in economics is an ideal course of study for students aiming to gain a strong academic and professional competencies in economics. Acquiring these key competencies also prepares students to apply for the prestigious master's programmes in international economics (German-language programme) and in development economics (English-language programme) offered by the Faculty of Business and Economics. The bachelor's programme in economics is structured to equip students with key skills applied in the field of economics. One of the most important skills is the ability to apply scientific methods to analyse economic issues concerning modern national economies, such as the terms of price stability, the effects of public debt, or to estimate the optimal amount of social benefits in a society. The courses also prepare students with an understanding of business planning and decision-making as well as language skills in business English.

The programme is formally structured and ECTS credit points are earned throughout the entire course of study. The course ends when a total of 180 credits are completed.

Students wishing to study the Bachelor's programme in Economics should have a good knowledge of mathematics and English. Every semester before the start of lectures, the faculty offers the Maths Pre-course for first-year students (in German). In this course, contents of the school mathematics (regarding German high school students) are repeated and the students are prepared for the lecture "Mathematics" in the 1st semester.

The programme is divided into two phases: the orientation phase (1st and 2nd semesters) and the advanced/ specialisation phase (3rd through 6th semester).

Beginning your studies in the winter semester
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Beginning your studies in the summer semester

During the orientation phase, students are expected to learn different ways of analyzing and solving problems and to become acquainted with neighbouring disciplines. Apart from business and pure economics, there will be a focus on other relevant economic aspects of mathematics, statistics and law. The courses in these two semesters are fixed (compulsory modules, usually taught in German). You will learn important basics and methods of economics, on which you can build in later courses. You will take about 5 modules each semester. For each module you can acquire 6 credits. The examination is usually a written exam at the end of the semester (a total of 60 credits in the 1st and 2nd semester):

B.WIWI-OPH.0002	Mathematik, 8 C
B.WIWI-OPH.0004	Einführung in die Finanzwirtschaft, 6 C
B.WIWI-OPH.0005	Jahresabschluss, 6 C
B.WIWI-OPH.0006	Statistik, 8 C
B.WIWI-OPH.0007	Mikroökonomik I, 6 C
B.WIWI-OPH.0008	Makroökonomik I, 6 C
B.WIWI-VWL.0002	Makroökonomik II, 6 C
B.WIWI-OPH.0009	Recht, 8 C
B.WIWI-OPH.0010	Volkswirtschaftslehre in Aktion, 6 C
B.WIWI-VWL.0002	Makroökonomik II, 6 C

The advanced/ specialisation phase (3rd through 6th semester, 120 C):
From the third semester onwards, you will deepen your knowledge in advanced courses. This period of study is dedicated to gaining an in-depth and specialised understanding of economics. Most credits are obtained in courses of pure economics (from both required and elective options). These courses comprise important areas of economics such as economic policy, finance, applied economic research, and monetary or labour economics. Since the main focus of economics in Göttingen is international economic relations, many of the courses offered are based on topics central to international economics issues. Thanks to a wide range of options, you can set your own priorities. In total, you need another 120 credits to complete your studies (30 credits per semester or 5 courses of 6 credits each). You will take courses from the following areas:

• Courses in economics that deepen the basic modules of the orientation phase (36 C)
• Specialisation in economics (30-36 C)
• Business administration specialisation (12-18 C)
• Business languages (12 C)
• Elective area (12-18 C)
• Bachelor's thesis (12 C)

Develope your profile and select a certain focus

Due to the wide range of courses in the second study section, you can also choose a special subject focus, which you can have identified in your Bachelor's certificate upon application. The following specialisations are offered:

• Applied Statistics and Econometrics ("Angewandte Statistik und Ökonometrie")
• Development Economics ("Entwicklungsökonomik")
• Economics of Globalization ("Ökonomik der Globalisierung")

A condition for this is that corresponding courses of at least 30 credits must be completed. The study and examination regulations (PDF download, in German) list the courses you can choose.

Other courses as part of the programme include courses in business studies (optional) and two business English courses (compulsory). Students may also opt for courses of personal or vocational interest to obtain credits in the interdisciplinary part of the programme.

The Faculty of Business and Economics offers you many opportunities to study one or two semesters at an international partner university. There are three different programmes, each with different partner universities and application deadlines:

• Erasmus+: You will study at one of the more than 60 partner universities of the Faculty in other European countries (only students of the Faculty of Business and Economics can apply for these programmes).
• Worldwide faculty programmes: You will study at one of the numerous partner universities of the Faculty of Business and Economics abroad, e.g. in the USA, Latin America, South Africa, Japan, China, South Korea and Thailand (only students of the Faculty of Business and Economics can apply for these programmes).
• Worldwide university programmes: You study at a partner university of the University of Göttingen, e.g. in Australia, India, the USA, Canada or China (all students of the University can apply for these programmes).

If you go abroad within the framework of one of the above-mentioned programmes, you usually do not have to pay tuition fees for studying at a foreign partner university (the University of Mississippi charges reduced tuition fees). Some programmes even receive additional financial support from the German Academic Exchange Service. Comprehensive information about the programmes, application deadlines and contact persons can be found here.

In our Database you can see which achievements/modules of other universities in Göttingen have already been recognized (in German). In order to keep your choice of course abroad as flexible as possible, we recommend that you complete modules from the elective area of your respective degree programme abroad.

If you would like to get into contact with other international and German students during your studies in Göttingen, please take a look at our Study Buddy Programme and our Exchange@WIWI events: www.uni-goettingen.de/de/613540.html. Both programmes serve to network international and local Göttingen students.

In order to apply the acquired knowledge in practice, to gain first work experience or to get to know possible relevant professional fields - the Faculty of Business and Economics welcomes students to gain practical experience during their studies. Therefore, you have the possibility to have a voluntary internship in the elective area of your studies credited under certain conditions. You can find detailed information here.
Job portal of the University of Göttingen with external job offers: Stellenwerk Göttingen (in German)

The global nature of economies, together with an increasingly transnational segmentation of the value chain has led to an ever-growing international interdependence of companies. Subsequently, the demand for a labour force that thinks and acts globally has never been so high. A sound knowledge of the economic dependencies within an economy, of a company's decision-making process, of how households and states interact, as well as the advantages of international integration are important tools in order to start a career in a variety of fields. This knowledge also lays the foundations for a career in academia. Thanks to the university's international focus, our graduates enter diverse industries such as:

• national and international companies and consultancies,
• banks and insurance companies,
• and private as well as public organisations.

Completing a bachelor's degree offers the possibility to continue studies in a master's course either at home or abroad. In Göttingen, for example, students that complete a bachelor's degree with good grades may apply for the four-semester long master's programmes of study in -

• Master of Science (MSc) in International Economics (English/German)
• Master of Science (MSc) in Development Economics (English-language Programme)
• Master of Science (MSc) in Taxation (German)
• Master of Science (MSc) in Applied Statistics (German/English)