Public and International Economics Dresden University of Technology

The Master’s degree programme in Public and International Economics (PIE) covers issues of economic policy in a global society. It confers a sound understanding of economic situations and recommendations for action with a particular view to the connections between national and international levels. This knowledge will enable you to analyse the pressing economic challenges of our day – such as climate change, financial crises, disturbances in commodity markets and income disparity – and to develop potential solutions.

The Master’s degree programme in Public and International Economics comprises a total of 120 credit points distributed across four semesters.

The first semester provides fundamental methodological and contextual knowledge comprising 30 credit points.

In the second and third semesters, you can choose from a broad selection of current issues in economic policy within an international context, from the social welfare state to fiscal matters and international financial markets to immigration and development economics. From this core content, you must choose at least 35 credit points. At least another 10 credit points will come from interactive teaching formats such as seminars and projects. Topics from neighbouring disciplines are available to round off the courses available to you.

The degree programme concludes with the Master’s thesis (20 credit points) in the fourth semester. You will receive support in planning and conducting your research in the parallel research seminar (10 credit points).

More specific information about the course of your studies, the modules available and the module content can be found on the degree programme website.

If your first university degree is from Germany:

• Application deadline: 15 July (each year)

If your first university degree is from abroad:

• Non-EU citizens: Application deadline is 31 May (each year)
• EU citizens: Application deadline is 15 July (each year)

• A first university degree in Economics or a related field of study recognised in Germany or a degree from a state or state-recognised university of cooperative education in economics,
• Proof of particular aptitude for the programme by demonstration of:
  • 35 credit points (ECTS) earned in economics with a good average grade
  • 15 credit points (ECTS) earned in quantitative methods (e.g. Mathematics, Statistics, or Econometrics)

For more details, see the PIE Aptitude Assessment website.

Currently, students pay ~340 EUR per semester (i.e. for six months). This includes a ticket for public transport and regional trains in all of Germany ("Deutschlandticket"). Additionally, students can use a bike rental service all over the city for free for 30 min. The contribution also assures concessions in the university cafeterias and offers benefits (e.g. price reductions) for many cultural and leisure activities in Dresden.

Dresden offers high quality of living at very moderate costs. Currently, students should expect to pay around 850 EUR per month including rent, food, insurance and basic expenses. This figure is relatively low compared to other big German cities.

In order to top up their budget, some students may want to look for temporary work in Dresden. If so, different regulations apply for students from EU member states, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, and students from outside the European Union and the EEA area. In addition, restrictions on the duration of employment may apply. Professors, lecturers and group leaders involved in the Master's programme may offer students the possibility of working as academic assistants. However, living expenses can be financed only partially through a job as an academic assistant.

Information on scholarships and funding for students is summarised on a dedicated web page of the TU Dresden.

TU Dresden offers plenty of counselling and training within its Career Service to help students with finding professional orientation. They offer workshops to equip students with professional skills and aid to optimise their CVs.

Additionally, there are special workshops for international students to get to know the German and Saxon job market and network.

It is still relatively easy to find affordable accommodation in Dresden. Accommodation is available either via the "Studentenwerk Dresden" or on the private market. Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 250 EUR per month.
Private housing can be found online. We recommend that you move into a hall of residence at the beginning of your stay in Dresden. Subsequently, you can look for a place on the private market or in a shared apartment, which is known as a "Wohngemeinschaft" in German.