Main Content

Program structure

Facts & Information

  • Degree: Master of Science
  • Study period: 4 semesters (2 years)
  • Program start: Summer & Winter
  • Language: English

 Structure/Overview

  • Total: 120 ECTS
  • Modules: 90 ECTS (typically 6 ECTS per course)
  • Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Fields of study

The specific courses offered within each module typically vary from term to term, but the main qualifications acquired in the alternative courses within a module are the same. The currently available courses are registered in MARVIN. A list of courses and their assignment to modules can be found there. 

  • 1. Foundations (24 credits)

    Four mandatory modules:
    •    Introduction to Institutional Economics
    •    Decision-Making in Strategic and Non-Strategic Settings
    •    Introduction to Behavioral Economics
    •    Applied Econometrics or Quantitative Methods in Empirical Finance.

    This area includes introductory courses in institutional economics and behavioral economics, which are central components of the program. Furthermore, theoretical microeconomics and empirical analysis lay important foundations for the subsequent course of study.

  • 2. Institutions and Behavior: Theory (18 credits)

    Mandatory module:
    •    Seminar in Institutions and Behavior: Theory

    Two out of the following modules:
    •    Institutions and Behavior: Theory
    •    Law and Economics
    •    Public Economics
    •    (Topics in Institutions and Behavior: Theory Abroad)

  • 3. Institutions and Behavior: Empirics (18 credits)

    Mandatory module:
    •    Seminar in Institutions and Behavior: Empirics

    Two out of the following modules:
    •    Empirical Macroeconomics
    •    Experimental Economics
    •    Institutions and Behavior: Empirics
    •    Empirical Development Economics with Reference to the MENA-Region
    •    (Topics in Institutions and Behavior: Empirics Abroad)

  • 4. Specializations (30 credits)

    Choose six modules from the following offers. Choosing at least three modules from one area earns you a specialization on your transcript.

    4.a Political Economy
    •    Economic Aspects of Political Institutions
    •    Economic Policy
    •    Political Economy of Corruption and Shadow Economy
    •    Political Economy of Islam
    •    Inequality and Diversity
    •    Digital Societies
    •    Researching Inequality and Diversity
    •    Researching Digital Societies
    •    Researching International Politics and Conflict
    •    (Topics in Political Economy Abroad)

    This specialization focuses on how the political sphere influences the economy and vice versa. For example, actors such as politicians are understood as self-interested decision-makers and political competition before elections is analyzed. This field of study examines various topics from this perspective.


    4.b Sustainability 
    •    Behavioral Economics and Sustainability
    •    Introduction to Geography
    •    Sustainable Development Economics
    •    Challenges to Sustainable Development
    •    Geographies of Sustainable Transformation
    •    Innovation and Knowledge for Sustainable Development
    •    Economic Growth and Sustainability
    •    Space and Policy
    •    Climate Change
    •    Life on Land
    •    Soil and Water Resources
    •    Advanced Statistical Methods
    •    Advanced Empirical Social Research Methods
    •    Environmental Modelling
    •    Remote Sensing
    •    (Topics in Sustainability Abroad)

    In this specialization, students learn about various social and organizational challenges related to sustainability and possible tools for addressing them. This approach is based on various methods and an interdisciplinary approach.


    4.c Money, Accounting, and Finance

    •    European Monetary Economics
    •    International Macroeconomics and Finance
    •    Corporate Finance and Institutions
    •    Advanced Management Accounting I: Value-based Management
    •    Advanced Management Accounting II: Managerial Decision Making, Governance, and Control
    •    Advanced Management Accounting III: Data Analysis and Empirical Research
    •    Asset Pricing Theory/Capital Market Theory
    •    Behavioral Finance
    •    Quantitative Methods in Empirical Finance
    •    Selected Problems in Banking and Finance/Banking
    •    Seminar Advanced Management Accounting
    •    Seminar Case Studies in Entrepreneurial Finance
    •    Seminar Current Topics in Behavioral Finance
    •    Seminar Finanzierung und Banken für Fortgeschrittene
    •    Seminar Household Finance
    •    (Topics in Money, Accounting, and Finance Abroad)

    This specialization offers economic and business perspectives on the financial market and prepares students for careers in this sector.

  • 5. Electives

    This part of your studies grants you a lot of flexibility. You may choose more courses from the specializations, Master of Science in Business Administration courses, language courses, or any other eligible courses offered at the University of Marburg, ranging from humanities to social science to natural science. 

    In addition, you can use credits for an internship or Key Qualifications

    Also, courses from studies abroad or from the EUPeace initiative and its module "Perspectives on Peace, Justice, and Inclusive Societies" can be credited here.

  • 5. Master thesis

    The Master thesis (30 credits) is your opportunity to apply the skills you have been taught and demonstrate how much you have learned. A theory- or policy-oriented research question is studied using appropriate methods from the economist’s toolkit.