Economics (Master of Science) University of Konstanz

The Department of Economics at the University of Konstanz offers a two-year Master's programme in economics. The English-taught study programme is on a small scale, and you will benefit from close contact with your professors. The aim of the programme is to provide you with a firm background in the modern scientific methods of economics and the ability to apply these methods to economic problems. You will have the opportunity to specialise in the following areas:

• Econometrics and Applied Economics
• International Financial Economics
• Macroeconomics and International Economics
• Microeconomics and Decision-Making
• Public Economics

Before you start: We offer two preparatory courses in October before the start of your first semester. We highly recommend our prep courses if you want to refresh your knowledge in quantitative methods and advanced econometrics.

In your first semester, you will take three compulsory courses: Advanced Econometrics, Advanced Macroeconomics I, and Advanced Microeconomics I.

In the second and third semesters, you may choose courses according to your desired specialisation, interest, and career aspirations. You can choose courses and one seminar per semester from your specialisation area:

• Econometrics and Applied Economics
• International Financial Economics
• Macroeconomics and International Economics
• Microeconomics and Decision-Making
• Public Economics

The fourth semester is dedicated to your Master's thesis.

Our department offers four exciting double degree options. Choosing a double degree option means that you will study one year in Konstanz and one year abroad at one of our partner departments – and finish your studies with two Master's degrees. Our double degree partner universities are:

• University of Essex, UK
• Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Italy
• University of Florence, Italy
• Aix Marseille School of Economics, France

Our double degree partner universities:

• University of Essex, UK
• Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Italy
• University of Florence, Italy
• Aix Marseille School of Economics, France

We encourage students to complete an internship of two months during the third semester or spend a semester studying abroad.

Application deadline 15 April (if you need a visa)

Application deadline 15 June (if you do not need a visa)

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university with a standard minimum study period of three years. The Bachelor's degree can be in any discipline that provides sufficient quantitative background (e.g. economics, business administration, mathematics, statistics, or natural sciences).

Please find the more detailed requirements here:

How to apply and admission requirements

The semester contribution amounts to approx. 209 EUR. A public transport ticket with a student discount for the city of Konstanz is available at an additional cost of 65.30 EUR per semester.

The cost of living for students in Konstanz is approx. 1,150 EUR per month, including an average monthly rent of approx. 400-450 EUR.

If you want to earn some extra cash while you study, you can easily get a student job. The university administration and many departments offer student assistant jobs (also with non-German requirement). Jobs are also posted online via the university website or on the notice boards in the entrance hall.

The university's career service offers personalised advice and events on career orientation and how to apply for a job in Germany.

There are a number of possibilities for accommodation for students: in apartments, flat shares, or residence halls run by the university. Check out our website, where we provide an overview of the different options as well as general tips. You can also contact the team of our International Office for advice on housing.

Please note that it is important to begin your search for accommodation as early as possible since our city and surroundings are very popular not only with students but also with families and outdoor enthusiasts. Since both Switzerland and Lake Constance border Konstanz, the available living space is limited and not always inexpensive.

Would you like to study at one of the best research universities in Germany? Then the University of Konstanz is the right place for you. We offer you excellent study conditions in a beautiful location between Lake Constance and the Alps. For us, excellence in studies and teaching also means cultivating close cooperation. We encourage our students to take part in discussions and get involved in research from the start.

Our university is currently home to some 10,000 students enrolled in around 120 different study programmes in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences, humanities, politics, law, and economics. With students from more than 90 countries around the world, we are proud to call our university an international community. This international character is further strengthened by our extensive network of over 245 Erasmus+ partnerships across Europe, more than 60 bilateral partnerships with universities worldwide and several Master’s programmes with double degree options. The University of Konstanz is a campus-based university: you will get to know other students quickly, come into contact with other departments and feel at home right away. Our university has an open-door policy: professors are very accessible and happy to help you with any questions or issues you might have.

We will give you a very warm welcome and support you in every stage of your stay. We have an excellent supervision ratio and top advisory services. You will learn in small groups and work across disciplines. We promote innovative teaching methods and strategies such as transfer formats or virtual classrooms and support lecturers in further developing their teaching. Our Advanced Data and Information Literacy Track (ADILT) complements all study programmes by teaching the fundamentals of computer science and data processing methods, along with their legal foundations. Additionally, it provides reflection on their relevance for society.

In Konstanz, you will find optimal conditions for research, studying, and teaching.

The University of Konstanz has set the following five research priorities:

• Collective Behaviour
• Cultural Dynamics and Social Transformation
• Material – Function - Quantum
• Molecular Principles of Life
• Inequality and Conflict

We want to give you the best possible opportunities to develop personally and professionally. You will have many opportunities to put your own ideas into action – whether you conduct research or start a spin-off. In Konstanz, we foster close communication and a strong sense of community to enhance the potential of our university members at all levels. We bring together our different backgrounds and disciplines to create something truly outstanding. At the same time, you will enjoy an /exceptionally beautiful environment with a historical city, lake, and nearby mountains as well as excellent sports facilities.

Find out more about our university and student life in Konstanz on our website.

Konstanz is situated in south-west Germany in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, and it shares its border with the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. It is beautifully located on the shores of the Rhine River and Lake Constance, central Europe's second-largest lake, where the borders of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland converge. The lively university city, with about 87,000 inhabitants, among them more than 14,000 students, is the economic and cultural centre of the Lake Constance region. Take a stroll through the shopping mall and the historical centre featuring both large department stores and small specialist shops. Take a break in one of the many cafés, restaurants, ice cream parlours, pubs, and wine bars. Konstanz is not only a popular tourist destination but also an attractive business location (light industry, commerce, high technology). It is a very safe place to live offering a high quality of life with its excellent infrastructure and diverse cultural and recreational facilities. Konstanz has a long and rich historical tradition. The first settlements were erected in Konstanz Bay in 2000 BC, and the city was given its name "Constantia" by the Romans in the fourth century AD. Konstanz has a well-preserved medieval town and numerous historical buildings from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque periods.

Konstanz has the perfect location for all kinds of outdoor leisure activities. The region has an excellent network of routes for walking, cycling, and in-line skating tours. The beaches are a major attraction for relaxing in the sun and swimming in the lake or the Rhine. The lake offers various water sports, such as sailing, canoeing, and diving, while the nearby Alps provide year-round enjoyment for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and climbers. Konstanz is the home of the oldest running theatre in Germany and of the famous Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra. There are several museums, art galleries, and art centres offering a broad spectrum of events: art and documentary exhibitions and concerts in all genres of music. Konstanz is also an ideal starting point for excursions to many attractions in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. On the city's doorstep are the famous gardens of Mainau Island and the Island of Reichenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take boat trips to beautiful towns around the lake, such as Meersburg, Überlingen, and Lindau. The lakeside town of Friedrichshafen is the home of the Zeppelin, and the Austrian city of Bregenz is renowned for its summer festivals, featuring spectacular opera and musical performances on a floating stage in the lake. A boat trip along one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhine takes you to the magnificent Rhine Falls at the Swiss town of Schaffhausen. From Konstanz, you can easily reach major cities, such as Zurich, Basel, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Munich, and Milan.