Master in Economics

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN APPLYING IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR

• Solid foundations to initiate independent research in economics.
• A wide range of advanced tools in the analysis and resolution of complex economic problems.
• Improvement in your skills to evaluate the effects of economic policies.
• Improvement in your decision making, leadership and teamwork skills.
• Better understanding and research communication skills.
• A programme that enables you to pursue a Ph.D. studies.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

• A Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business or studies in other fields with solid maths foundations – such as mathematics, physics, or engineering- with a satisfactory average grade.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Proof of proficiency in English. Unless you are a native English speaker or have undertaken a university study programme in English, you need to provide evidence of your English proficiency. Preferred certificates are the Cambridge, TOEFL (Code C085 for all UB School of Economics programmes), or IELTS (at a B2 level or above in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or its equivalent). Please upload a copy of it in the application form.

• References. You need to indicate the name of two scholars that support your application. They will receive an automated email with general questions about your profile. Please, make sure they receive the email and answer the form within 10 days of your application.

CLASS PROFILE OF 2023

EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES

Second-year students have the opportunity to study part of their degree abroad. Current opportunities include 8 exchange agreements at world-class universities:

• Toulouse School of Economics (France)
• University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
• University of Göttingen (Germany)
• Aix-Marseille School of Economics (France)
• ENSAE (France)
• University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)
• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy)
• University of Bologna (Italy)
• Kyoto University (Japan)

GUEST LECTURERS PROGRAMME

The Academic Committee promotes the participation of distinguished professors from other institutions in the MSc in Economics programme. Guest lecturers for the academic year 2017-2018:  Richard Geddes (Cornell University) and Miren Lafourcade (Université Paris-Sud & Paris School of Economics)

The MSc in Economics is a master’s programme in which students and teaching staff work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and adherence to high standards of personal conduct. Both the teaching staff and the administrative staff at the UB School of Economics want every student to succeed; we work to help students improve their skills and prepare them to meet their academic and professional goals.

The student monitoring at the UB School of Economics graduate programme is fully personalised. During the academic year a number of monographic sessions are organised: enrolment guidance meetings, Erasmus information session, master’s thesis debriefing and research guidance sessions.

MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION 

Director: Vahagn Jerbashian

Academic Committee: Mikel Álvarez, Sergi Basco, Joan Ramon Borrell, Josep Lluis Carrión, Daniel Montolio, Marc Prat and a student’s representative.

Programme coordinators (UB School of Economics Office): Jordi Roca

Administrative affairs (OMD Office): Eloisa Pérez and Victoria Ortiz

STUDENT OPINION SURVEY

Report of survey results about courses and professors – Academic year 2018-2019 (in Catalan)

This programme is designed to train researchers in the field of economics, so successful graduates are equipped to pursue research careers in universities, research centres, business schools, national and international economic institutions, consultancy firms and corporate training centres.

Our former students are employed in a wide range of public and private institutions: Ministry of the Economy and Finance (Generalitat de Catalunya), Inter-American Development Bank, CNMV, Bloomberg, Deloitte… Approximately half of students proceed to PhD programmes at UB or other leading institutions: NOVA School of Business and Economics, University of Chicago, University of Luxembourg, Lund University…

CAREER SUPPORT

The Career Services Office organises a vast number of events, some of them specially designed for the master’s students in Economics.

• Skills development workshops: job search strategies, professional value communication, CV writing…
• Employer-led events: consulting firms, public institucions, finance companies… Services available to graduate students include job vacancy information and internship opportunities.

TUITION FEES

The MSc in Economics is a two-year master’s degree programme (120 credits; 60 credits per academic year). Student’s fees for university master’s degrees are decreed on an annual basis by the Catalan government and Universitat de Barcelona. Please find below the public fees that correspond to the academic year 2024-2025:

• 1,660,20 euros (60 credits | 27,67 euros/credit) for national students from EU member states, from countries that are members of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) or from Switzerland, Andorra, and China; or long-term residents in Spain.
• 4,920 euros (60 credits | 82 euros/credit) for foreign students who are not nationals of EU member states, of countries that are members of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, Andorra, and China; or residents who are not long-term residents in Spain.

Pre-sessional introductory courses:

• 83.01 euros (3 credits | 27,67 euros/credit) for national students from EU member states, from countries that are members of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) or from Switzerland, Andorra, and China; or long-term residents in Spain.
• 246 euros (3 credits | 82 euros/credit) for foreign students who are not nationals of EU member states, of countries that are members of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, Andorra, and China; or residents who are not long-term residents in Spain.

More information about the tuition fees, deductions and increases HERE.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

• Beca General Grants – Spanish Government
• Beques de col·laboració Internships – Spanish Government
• Beques de col·laboració Internships – Universitat de Barcelona
• Beques de col·laboració Internships – Faculty of Economics and Business

You can find information at the University of Barcelona’s website.

LOANS

• Erasmus+ Master Loan (loans for postgraduate studies)
• Banco Santander (loans for postgraduate studies)
• AGAUR – Generalitat de Catalunya (loans for tuition fees)

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026

Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will open from December 3, 2024, to June 17, 2025.

APPLICATION STEPS

(!) Only complete applications will be considered.

Step 1: Check that you meet the entry requirements (Who should apply?).

Step 2: Fill out the online application form (OPEN) and upload supporting documents:

1. ID/Passport
2. Bachelor’s degree transcript of grades (provisional or final version)*
3. One-page CV
4. Letter of motivation (description of your background; your motivation to pursue the MSc in Economics programme at the UB; your academic interests; your research and teaching experience; your professional goals)
5. Proof of English level (not compulsory if you are a native speaker or you hold a university degree taught in English)
6. Bachelor’s project/thesis (not compulsory)
7. Academic ability test: GRE (not compulsory)

*Applicants who have fully or partially completed the studies outside of the Spanish university system can submit their grade equivalency declarations issued by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. Online platform | Instructions in English. Please note that this document is not compulsory.

Step 3: Pay the application fee. Please note that you will have to indicate the degree you are applying for. Choose the option “Economia”. After completing the form you will have to pay the €30.21 application fee. Most major credit cards are acceptable. Important note: The platform for the application fee payment will be available from January 2025. All the applications received so far will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee and payments will be required afterward.

The MSc in Economics programme typically receives over 200 applications and a maximum of 30 students can be accommodated. Consequently we encourage candidates to apply as early as possible.

ACADEMIC RESOLUTIONS

Applicants will receive a decision by email within 6 weeks once the application is completed.

If you are admitted, you will be required to provide us with the required documents in order to get the final approval and formalize the enrolment. Students in possession of academic documents issued outside Spain will be required to pay a fee of €218.15 for the administrative review.  More information will be provided to admitted students.

ADMISSION DEFERMENT POLICY

Students admitted to the programme that are unable to attend may request a deferment of the admission to the following academic year (only once).

Requests must be send by email to school.economics@ub.edu before September 1st. Each request is reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Please note that deferments are not guaranteed.