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Economics (BSc)

Features

Economics deals with macroeconomic processes. It analyzes, among other things, the preconditions for economic growth, the causes of unemployment, the determinants of price developments, and the goals and effects of government activity. In a market economy, the main focus is on the functioning of markets, but also on the conditions under which market failure occurs and government intervention is required. In addition, economics deals with the economic relations between states.

In the bachelor's programme in economics at the Faculty of Business and Economics, students can, in addition to a sound basic education in economics and business administration as well as empirical methods, choose to specialize in a variety of areas such as international trade and production, development economics, behavioral economics, or quantitative methods. Courses taught in English (including by guest lecturers), courses in Business English and the possibility of a semester abroad round off the international education.

Name:
Economics
Degree:
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Teaching language:
German
Standard period of study:
6 semesters
Start of studies:
Winter and summer semester
Admission:
Restricted
(application to the University)
Orientation events:
Orientation events are offered
Pre-course:
A pre-course is offered

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Details

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

In the orientation phase students are expected first, to learn the different ways of posing problems and their respective methods of resolution, and second, to become acquainted with neighbouring disciplines. Apart from business and pure economics, the focus will be on the fields of computing as well as relevant economic aspects of mathematics, statistics and law.

The main period of study is dedicated to gaining an in-depth and specialised understanding of economics. Most credits are obtained in (compulsory and compulsory elective) units of pure economics. These units 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 on international economic relations, many of the units offered are based on topics central to European and international economics.

Other units included in the programme are units of business studies. Students may also opt for units of particular personal or vocational interest to obtain credits in the interdisciplinary part of the programme (e.g. courses in the field of quantitative methods, economic and social history or business psychology). Finally, students have to prove very good English skills (for example by taking classes in Business English).

During the first week of the summer and winter semesters, you will be supervised by older students, the WiWi-O-Phase tutors. In addition to the first lectures, you will get to know important learning management and examination administration systems as well as examination and study regulations of the degree programmes. You will learn how to do your semester schedule and you can even talk to the professors of the faculty at the professors' breakfast. You will get to know each other at city rallies and pub evenings. Even before lectures begin, you can (voluntarily) take part in the maths pre-course (MVK), in which selected content from school mathematics is repeated and preparation is made for the mathematics module in the 1st semester. The student council of the Faculty of Business and Economics organizes the "social events programme" during the maths pre-course with pub nights as well as campus and city tours.

During the Corona pandemic, the students of the WiWi-O-Phase and the student council of the Faculty of Business and Economics organized digital or "hybrid" orientation weeks with a virtual tandem programme, digital games and get-to-know-you evenings, but also with meetings in small groups on campus as well as city and campus tours in small groups on site in Göttingen.

A fundamental education about essential economic interdependences and about international economic relations are good stepping stones both career-wise and for furthering your studies at the graduate level. The University of Göttingen offers excellent conditions for meeting the new requirements of a modern education in economics.

A special feature of studying economics in Göttingen is the strong international focus: in both research and teaching, the main focus is the analysis of international relationships, the special conditions of EU member countries, regional economic issues, as well as empirical and experimental economics research. The University of Göttingen also has Germany's largest focus and field in the area of development economics research. The programmes are also international: an increasing number of courses in economics are offered in English.

International guest lecturers often contribute to the English language offerings with regular lectures on international economics. In addition, the Faculty offers partnerships with renowned universities in Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Latin America, Australia, Indonesia, and the US, so that it is possible to participate in a semester abroad during your bachelor's studies.

If you decide to study economics, you should be interested in general economic issues and have a good or advanced background in mathematics and English. German skills are mandatory.

The internationalisation of economies, together with an increasingly transnational segmentation of the value chain, has led to an ever-growing international interdependence of companies; the demand for a labour force that thinks and acts global has never been so high. A sound knowledge of the economic coherences within an economy, of companies' decision-making bases, of how household and state interact, and of the advantages of the growing international integration as well as skills in quantitative methods and Business English are key competencies for a successful entry into professional life in various fields, or lay the foundations for a career in academia. Get to know the different professional fields of our graduates in the alumni portraits (in German).

Thanks to the university's international focus, bachelor alumni may choose from various kinds of occupations, such as:

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

The bachelor degree also offers the possibility to continue studies in a master's programme either at home or abroad. In Göttingen, for example, a bachelor graduate with a good grade may apply for the four-semester long master's programmes in International Economics (German/ English skills required), in Development Economics (English-language programme), in Applied Statistics (German/English skills required) or in History of Global Markets (German/English skills required).

Applicants interested in the MSc in International Economics or the MSc in Development Economics have also the option to apply for a two-year-English-language double degree programme in cooperation with the University of Groningen, the Netherlands (International Economics) and in cooperation with the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, the University of Florence, Italy, and the University of Clermont Auvergne, France (Development Economics), respectively.

Related and Consecutive/Graduate Programmes


Programme structure

The programme is fully structured, meaning that credit requirements are set. The degree is successfully completed when 180 credits are earned. The bachelor's programme in economics is organized in two parts, the orientation phase (first and second semesters) and a specialization phase (the third through sixth semesters).

During the orientation phase you will develop skills in fundamental questions and answers to economic sciences as well as to some important and related disciplines. In addition to knowledge in business and economics, you will learn, for example, about relevant mathematical and statistical methods. The required courses help you develop the technical and methodological basis in order to specialize in economics during your bachelor's studies.

The second part of the programme is the specialization phase. The courses in economics covers economic policy, public finance, empirical economic research, and monetary theory or labour economics. A particular focus of economics in Göttingen is international economic relations. As part of the programme, there are also several electives that you can chose from the subject of business administration and economics. In an interdisciplinary part, you can pick from courses in other areas based on your own interests and career goals. In addition, by completing Business English courses, you will acquire in-depth language skills, which are an important key competence for your future career entry. More detailed information about the structure of the bachelor's programme you will find on the according websites of the Faculty of Business and Economics.

Begin of Studies

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Module directory


Admission

Start:
Winter and summer semester
1st subject semester:
restricted admission (application to the University)
2nd to 6th subject semester:
restricted admission (application to the University)

EU
Citizen from an EU country (including Germany and EEA) or holding a German university entrance qualification

Non-German citizens without a German educational qualification

Non-EU
Citizen from a non-EU country (or stateless person)


Impressions

Study Economics in Göttingen

Business Administration, Economics, Business and Human Resource Education, Business Information Systems und Economics in combination with a second subject - the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Göttingen offers a wide range of courses with five Bachelor's and twelve Master's programmes. In the film (in German), students from the faculty report on their everyday studies and tell why it is worth studying in Göttingen.

WiWi-Video-Poster-Ann-Kathrin

Study Economics in Göttingen

Ann-Catrin came to Göttingen for her bachelor's degree in economics - and stayed. She is currently studying for a Master's degree in International Economics. In the video (in German), she explains how she decided to study economics in Göttingen and what she likes so much about Göttingen as a student city.

WiWi-Video-Poster-Patrick

In the beginning just take a look at everything

Good ranking results and personal recommendations brought Pascal to Göttingen. In the video (in German) he tells us what he likes about studying economics and reveals his tips for first-year students.

Websites of the Faculty of Business and Economics for international students

Learn more about our offers for international exchange and degree seeking students.

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Contact

Websites of the Faculty of Business and Economics

Programme homepage

Student Advisors of the Faculty of Business and Economics

Georg-August-Universität
Service Centre for Students
Faculty of Business and Economics

Platz der Göttinger Sieben 3
DE-37073 Göttingen

Oeconomicum, 1st Floor
Room: Oec 1.135

Phone: + 49 (0)551 39 28800
Fax: + 49 (0)551 39 9741

studienberatung@wiwi.uni-goettingen.de

www.service-center.wiwi.uni-goettingen.de

Office hours of the Student Advisory Service