English is the language of instruction of all compulsory modules. The same applies for various elective modules. The Master's thesis and seminar papers can also be submitted in English. It is possible to study the entire programme in English.
Application period for applicants with a foreign/international Bachelor's degree:
Application period for applicants with a Bachelor's degree from Germany:
Our two-year Master's programme in Applied Economics, taught in English, prepares you for the challenges of a career in the international economic arena. During the course of the programme, you will develop key competencies that are crucial for a modern economist, such as the independent evaluation and analysis of data and the derivation of policy suggestions based on a solid theoretical foundation. The Applied Economics programme offers the unique combination of theoretical, institutional and empirical analysis with a focus on the issues and topics of the real world and the global economy.
You will benefit from small class sizes in which you will learn together with students from all over the world. You will learn to apply empirical methods to find answers to economic questions. You will become familiar with the basic econometric, quantitative and experimental methods used, among other things, to identify causal economic relationships. You will acquire the ability to assess the significance of empirical studies with regard to the questions asked and to question critically the significance of empirical results. You will be able to independently apply the appropriate empirical methods depending on the particular question and to draw conclusions from the results. You will come to understand the role and significance of theory as the basis of empirical research.
Furthermore, the high degree of internationalisation of the programme enables you to identify the international perspective of economic action and to develop and communicate well-founded recommendations for relevant target groups.
Our programme is the perfect starting point for human capital formation, networking and international activities – aspects that are crucial for your future in business, consulting or politics.
The Master's programme in Applied Economics comprises 120 ECTS. The regular duration is two years (four semesters) of full-time study.
The programme offers a structured curriculum that equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills in various areas of economics.
The programme consists of compulsory courses, elective courses, seminars, and a Master's thesis.
In the compulsory area, students are required to take four core courses (40 ECTS). The first two courses introduce students to fundamental concepts and applications in economics and focus on statistical techniques used for analysing economic data. The other two courses of the compulsory area delve into topics related to the global economy and economic policy or provide advanced training in quantitative methods used for empirical economic analysis.
The elective area offers students the opportunity to further tailor their programme to their interests. Students are required to complete three elective courses (30 ECTS). A wide range of elective courses is available, covering topics such as economic integration, economics of innovation, environmental economics, public economics, capital market theory, service management, incentives and accounting, mathematics and microeconometrics.
In addition, students participate in three seminars (30 ECTS) that align thematically with either compulsory or elective courses. These seminars provide a platform for discussing and presenting current topics in economics through scientific papers.
Lastly, students are required to complete the Master's thesis (20 ECTS) which serves as a culmination of their learning experience. The thesis allows students to delve deeper into a specific area of economics, conduct independent research, and demonstrate their analytical and writing skills.
Overall, the Master's programme in Economics offers a comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge, quantitative analysis, and practical applications.
From analysts at insurance companies, banks, larger companies or international organisations, to consulting or research, our programme prepares students for a variety of careers in corporate, government or academic settings.
For further details on the programme, please visit: https://www.wiwi.uni-wuppertal.de/en/study/master-programmes/msc-applied-economics/.
For academic questions on the programme, please contact: international@wiwi.uni-wuppertal.de.
For general questions (e.g. regarding admission or the recognition of language courses), please contact: intsek@uni-wuppertal.de.
We strongly encourage our students to enhance their profile by integrating a semester or a summer school abroad at one of our partner universities with top programmes in economics. The standardised procedure for the recognition of academic achievements abroad at the Schumpeter School and various scholarship opportunities support your international efforts.
The semester fee at the University of Wuppertal is 303.40 EUR. This includes the so-called "Deutschlandticket". This allows students to travel free of charge on buses, trams, subway trains and regional trains operated by Deutsche Bahn and other regional transport companies throughout Germany.
Housing costs in Wuppertal are typical for a major German city, but they are cheaper than cities such as Munich, Berlin or Cologne. Monthly rent for a room in a hall of residence costs between 200 and 400 EUR, and monthly rent for a room in a shared flat costs between 300 and 500 EUR. An apartment of one's own costs at least 400 EUR.
You should expect to spend around 600 to 1,250 EUR per month on living and studying. In addition to the rental costs, you will also need money for living expenses, from food, clothes, books for university and leisure activities to sports, cell phone contracts and going out. The costs for public transport throughout Germany are included in the semester fee and do not have to be paid separately.
Life is not always straightforward and without stumbling blocks. Not giving up, facing these challenges and hurdles on your own path in life requires courage, perseverance, creativity and determination. The "Studienstiftung der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal" would like to promote these qualities and the corresponding positive attitude to life and reward them with its scholarship programme. The scholarship programme is aimed at students whose academic success is at risk for economic reasons.
Scholarships are awarded with special consideration given to personal circumstances and/or social commitment in the case of expected successful progress in studies as well as other requirements. The scholarship amount is up to 300 EUR per month. The scholarship is granted for up to one academic year. Payment is made monthly.
The University of Wuppertal also takes part in the "Deutschlandstipendium" programme, which offers funding as well.
Proof of English language proficiency at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or an equivalent recognised language examination (in particular TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate) is required. Proof of sufficient English language skills is not required if the Bachelor's programme was taught entirely in the English language.
Application period for applicants with a foreign/international Bachelor's degree:
Application period for applicants with a Bachelor's degree from Germany:
Applicants with a foreign or international Bachelor's degree have to apply via uni-assist. Find more information here.
Applicants with a Bachelor's degree from Germany have to apply directly to the university. Find more information here.
The Career Service of the University of Wuppertal maintains a job portal on which job opportunities for students are advertised, which can be completed parallel to their studies and thus prepare them for entry into the job market.
If you study in Germany, you don't automatically get a place in a student hall of residence. Living in Wuppertal is still quite cheap compared to the neighbouring cities of Düsseldorf or Cologne, but students have to find a room, an apartment or a place in a shared flat themselves. The "Hochschulsozialwerk" in Wuppertal offers two options. For students, it offers 1,217 places in seven halls of residence, for which you should ideally apply four to six months before the start of the semester. The "Hochschulsozialwerk" also provides information on housing offers from private tenants or online platforms.
The Career Service of the University of Wuppertal advises on questions of career orientation and career planning and supports students entering the world of work with advice and events such as job talks, excursions, recruiting days or skills workshops.
Wuppertal University offers lots of support programmes especially for international students: During the first week of each semester, a welcome ceremony is held accompanied by events such as city tours, pub evenings, or trips to nearby cities. The International Students Team (IST) offers events as well as buddy programmes and language tandems. The university's own language learning institute (SLI) offers classes in German as a foreign language ranging from A1 to C1 within the common European language framework (CEFR).
The In Touch programme offers courses on German as a scientific and technical language. It includes orientation counselling, mentoring during studies and career as well as counselling services. The primary goal is to integrate and further qualify students with a refugee background professionally and interculturally, to lead them promptly to a degree that enables them to position themselves successfully on the regional and global labour market.
The University of Wuppertal is a modern university in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany's economically most important federal state with an outstanding educational and cultural landscape. With its diverse range of English- and German-language courses, its personal study atmosphere and its lively campus, the University of Wuppertal is popular with students from all over the world. Experience an inspiring learning environment and find a new home in Wuppertal, city of the world-famous "Schwebebahn" (suspension monorail).
More than 150 university partnerships worldwide form its international network. Cooperation focuses on Asia (especially China), Latin America and the USA. The international partnerships not only promote the exchange of students and lecturers, but also joint research projects. The University of Wuppertal itself is a popular place to study: 110 countries are represented here.
With its nine faculties, 31 departments and 44 research institutes, the university offers a wide range of courses in the natural sciences, engineering, economics and humanities as well as in the fields of education, design and architecture. Around 23,000 students benefit from the top-class academic approach to teaching. The university's language institute offers German courses for all levels.
The University of Wuppertal has three campuses in the city of Wuppertal. The main Grifflenberg campus is located above the city of Wuppertal, as is the Freudenberg campus, which is just a few minutes' walk away. The Haspel campus, on the other hand, is located directly in the valley in Wuppertal-Unterbarmen. A dense network of public transportation makes it easy to travel between the campuses.
The university offers a lot of services especially for international students, including Welcome Days to start the semester, city tours, pub crawls, excursions and cultural events.
Website of the University of Wuppertal for international students
Website of the language learning centre (SLI)
Website of the international students' registration and admission office
Instagram page of the university's international students team (IST)
Wuppertal is one of Germany’s largest university towns with some 350,000 inhabitants. It is situated in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), which is economically the most significant German state with an outstanding educational and cultural landscape. Wuppertal is located in the heart of Europe's largest metropolitan region (close to cities such as Dusseldorf or Cologne), which offers a high recreational value as well as job opportunities.
The city of Wuppertal is an interesting mixture of outgoing metropolis and cosy village with a lot of leisure facilities. Due to the excellent train and transport network, you can travel within one hour from Wuppertal to Cologne, Bonn, Dortmund, Düsseldorf and many other cities.
One of the biggest attractions in Wuppertal is the suspension railway line ("Schwebebahn"), which carries passengers 12 metres over and above the Wupper River from the city centre to the surrounding city districts. The cars are suspended from a rail with wheels integrated into the roof, which makes you feel as if you are floating in the air.
This former industrial city looks back on an eventful history. The water power of the Wupper River was in every respect the formative element for the town. It is the basis of Wuppertal’s unique industrial history. The German philosopher Friedrich Engels is one of Wuppertal’s most famous sons, and you can learn more about his life and achievements at the Engels House. The Von der Heydt Art Museum is worth visiting for its impressive architecture alone, as is the Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal, which is acoustically among the best concert halls in Europe. Enjoy the easy-going atmosphere of the city on a long stroll through the city centre (especially the Luisenviertel) and the many gardens, parks and woods. Wuppertal is one of the greenest major cities in Germany. Five Wuppertal parks are part of the European Garden Network EGHN – more than in any other European city.
All in all, Wuppertal is a great place for recreation and relaxation. If you like hiking and enjoying nature but also want the experience of city life, you’ll find ideal conditions for studying here.
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