Economics (B.A.) (two subjects)

If you're interested in various subjects and don't want to give up on any of them, no problem. Our degree programme in economics offers you the chance to try out and get a better understanding of two different degree programmes simultaneously. This gives you the flexibility to decide which discipline you want to delve deeper into during your studies. If you choose the 'Applied Economics' or 'Applied Statistics' specialist profile in Economics, you can take enough economics modules to qualify for advanced Master's programmes in Economics (e.g. International Economics or Development Economics). To do so, you should take the required modules in the professionalisation area and write your Bachelor's thesis on an economics topic. If you choose the 'Applied Statistics' specialisation and profile, you will meet the admission criteria for our Master's programme in Applied Statistics.

Economics deals with macroeconomic processes. It analyses the prerequisites for economic growth, the causes of unemployment, the factors that determine price developments and the objectives and effects of government activity. In a market economy, economics is primarily concerned with how markets function and the conditions under which market failure occurs and government intervention is required.

It also deals with economic relations between countries. Who benefits from global free trade? At the University of Göttingen, the economics programme has a very international focus, with key areas of emphasis including foreign and international trade, and the economic analysis of developing countries.

A two-subject degree promotes your mental flexibility and creativity. It allows you to expand your intellectual boundaries and develop new ways of thinking. You learn to combine different subject areas and link their methods and approaches. This strengthens your analytical skills and helps you to look at complex problems from different perspectives. You also sharpen your communication and teamwork skills by working with different people from different disciplines.

Studies in economics as part of the two-subject bachelor can be individually combined with one of more than 40 major subjects, except for those forming part of a teacher education programme. Recommended supplementary subjects particularly include the fields of social sciences, linguistics and cultural studies, for example: Sociology, Political Science, Law, East Asian Studies or Economic and Social History.

If you want to study economics, you should be interested in economic issues and contexts, and have a good knowledge of English and mathematics. International students should also have good knowledge in German. Before lectures begin each semester, the faculty offers a preparatory mathematics course for first-year students. This course covers (German) school mathematics content and prepares students for quantitative modules, such as the mathematics module. Students pursuing a two-subject bachelor's degree can choose whether or not to participate in the 'Mathematics' module, but it is highly recommended, especially if they plan to continue on to a Master's programme.

There are professions that require interdisciplinary knowledge not provided by any of the usual degree programmes. Perhaps, for example, you wish to work in policy consulting and therefore want to combine Economics with Political Science. Or you aim to work as a quantitative analyst for banks and insurance companies but find that a traditional Economics degree lacks sufficient computer science and statistics components. Our two-subject bachelor's programme allows you to precisely assemble the course of study you need for your career aspirations. Potential career opportunities are for example:

• Specialist for international trade problems in industrial enterprises, banks, insurance companies or consulting firms
• Specialist with knowledge and experience in the empirical economic research for associations or big enterprises
• Specialist for micro- and macroeconomic problems of the financial sector in banks, insurance companies, industrial enterprises or associations.

Get to know the different professional fields of our graduates in the alumni portraits .

Once you have chosen one of the two specialist profiles, you can begin a Master's degree in Economics. The University of Göttingen offers Master's programmes in International Economics and Development Economics, which follow on from the two-subject Bachelor's programme in Economics. If you select the Applied Statistics specialisation and profile, you can then study for a Master's degree in Applied Statistics at the University of Göttingen, following the two-subject Economics Bachelor's programme.