Master Economics
The Master's degree program in Economics is designed as a full-time program with a duration of two years and comprises a total of 120 credit points (CP), leading to a Master of Science (M.Sc.).
The program is taught in English; individual elective components can be taken in German upon request.
Have you been admitted to the program under certain conditions? You can find information on this under Admission to the Master with conditions!
Structure of the study program
The Master's program is divided into the following three areas: the compulsory area, the compulsory elective area, and the final thesis.
The following table illustrates the structure of the program and the available elective options:
| Sem. | |||||
| 1 | Compulsory elective area in the scope of 90 CP2 | Advanced Methods of Business and Economics 10 CP1 | |||
| 2 | optional specialization in
If a specialization is chosen, at least 40 CP must be completed in it | ||||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | Master's thesis 20 CP | ||||
1 The compulsory module Advanced Methods of Business and Economics can be taken either in the first or second semester, depending on the time of admission. The diagram shows the course for students starting in the winter semester.
2 In the compulsory elective area (90 CP), at least 60 CP must be chosen from the area of economics and methods and at least 10 CP from the area of business administration. Furthermore, the modules can be combined into one of the two specializations.
Color codes:
| Compulsory module | Compulsory elective area | Specialization | Master's thesis |
Please note that the structure of the program may vary slightly depending on your starting semester. The exemplary study plan illustrates the course of study for winter semester start.
From the first semester onwards, you can choose modules according to your individual interests and goals, thereby shaping your profile for your future career:
The compulsory area includes the module Advanced Methods of Business and Economics (10 CP). This module is offered in the winter semester and can be taken either in the first or second semester, depending on when you start your studies. It is designed to provide advanced skills in microeconomic and econometric analysis using specific examples. We recommend that students take this module as early as possible. The knowledge gained from this module is beneficial for many other modules.
In the compulsory elective area (90 CP), at least 60 CP must be completed in the area of economics and methods, whereby at least 30 CP must be earned in lectures and exercises, and at least 10 CP in seminars. At least 10 CP must be chosen from the field of business administration. The specified minimum requirements must be fulfilled independently of each other: Credit points from the above-mentioned three requirements cannot be counted toward more than one category!
By selecting modules in the compulsory elective area, you may specialize in one of the following areas:
Empirical Economics
Modern economics increasingly relies on empirical methods in research. The School of Business Administration and Economics is particularly strong in this area, as the three departments Macroeconomics, International Economic Policy, and Econometrics and Statistics uniformly conduct empirical research and together form the Institute of Empirical Economic Research.
With the focus on Empirical Economics, we offer you research-based teaching in which you will acquire a strong methodological foundation in the fields of statistics and econometrics on the one hand and an application-oriented training in which various economic policy issues are addressed on the other. A special feature is that you will also work independently on empirical work and carry out estimates, e.g., as part of a larger project seminar.
Sustainability, Behavior and Environmental Policy
The specialization is particularly designed for students who wish to understand the connection between environmental problems, human behavior, and economics; explore and discuss potential solutions; and actively shape a social transformation toward greater sustainability in their future careers.
The unique selling point of this focus area is the integration of environmental economics with insights from behavioral economics. The latter lies at the intersection with psychology and enables a broader understanding of human behavior that goes beyond the model of homo economicus as traditionally used in business administration and economics. For example, it takes into account bounded rationality and willpower, the role of values and social norms, as well as innovative policy approaches such as so-called nudges. At the same time, environmental economics offers important insights into the role and design of economic incentive instruments in environmental policy (such as CO2 pricing) and the correlation between economic growth, resource consumption and environmental quality. However, the sustainability transformation also requires a solid understanding of our economic system.
In order to obtain a degree with a specialization at the end of your studies, you must design your compulsory elective area accordingly. For a specialization, you must complete at least 40 CP from the selected area.
The two specializations also include a so-called narrower group as an additional requirement: modules of the specified scope must be selected from this sub-selection so that the desired specialization can be shown on the certificate.
You can find out which modules can be selected for the respective compulsory elective areas in the overview for the M.Sc. in Economics in the module catalog of the School of Business Administration and Economics. In addition, you can also view possible modules in Stud.IP via the module catalog or the individual study areas with the courses of a selected semester via the course catalog. The courses for the following semester are made visible in Stud.IP in January for the summer semester and in June/July for the winter semester.
The General Competencies area offers you the opportunity to integrate selected courses from related and complementary disciplines, such as law or psychology, into your studies for a maximum of 10 CP.
If you are majoring in Sustainability, Behavior and Environmental Policy, you can also integrate a maximum of 10 CP from this area via the "Interdisciplinary Module Sustainability, Behavior and Environmental Policy" module. Here, too, you can choose courses from related and complementary disciplines that go beyond regular Business Administration and Economics and contribute to your professional qualification in the area of Sustainability, Behavior and Environmental Policy.
At the beginning of your studies, you should take a close look at the relevant examination regulations for your degree program. The examination regulations contain legally binding regulations on the timing, content and organization of the respective degree course. These include information on course content (compulsory and compulsory elective modules) and examinations (requirements, repeatability, free attempt).
The module catalog of the School of Business Administration and Economics contains overviews of the modules to be taken in the individual study programs as well as the corresponding module descriptions.
Examination regulations M.Sc. Economics (PDF, 759 kB)
(valid since 01.10.2022)
Module catalog of the School of Business Administration and Economics (PDF, 4.52 MB)
(valid since 01.10.2025)
You can register for examinations in the HISinOne portal. You will also find examination results, certificates and everything important about your studies.
Please note: You can register for courses via Stud.IP. Further information can also be found there.
It is also possible to integrate a semester abroad into your Master's degree. With appropriate planning, a semester abroad is also possible without extending your study time.
In addition to the university's partnerships, you can choose from a large number of departmental partnerships in other European countries (Erasmus+). Find out more about your options under Study abroad.
Have you already completed coursework and examinations in another degree program or at another university or are you planning to spend a semester abroad?
As part of your degree program, you have the opportunity to have coursework and examinations recognized upon application to a certain extent and under certain conditions. Please note the provisions of § 21 of the examination regulations applicable to your degree program. Further information can be found on the page Recognition of study and examination achievements.
Special regulations apply to coursework and examinations from module examinations at the School of Business Administration and Economics at Osnabrück University in accordance with Section 21 (2) of the PO M.Sc. Economics: These are credited ex officio, including failed attempts. Upon application, you can waive the crediting of (selected) modules that are provided for in the compulsory elective area according to these examination regulations.
The successful completion of your studies includes a Master's thesis in the field of Economics and Methods or in the field of Business Administration (incl. IT).
In order to be able to write a Master's thesis, you must have completed at least 60 CP at the time of binding registration (i.e. at the start of the processing period). In addition, the requirements for provisional admission to the Master's degree program must be met. The credit points awarded for provisional admission cannot be credited towards the 60 CP mentioned above.
For the allocation of a Master's thesis place, you must take part in the central allocation procedure in the previous semester: These usually take place in January/February for the summer semester and in June/July for the winter semester.
At the time of participation in the allocation procedure, the starting requirements do not have to be completely fulfilled; however, they must be fulfilled at the latest when the examinations office allocates the topics at the beginning of the processing phase in the respective target semester.
Further information can be found under Information on the assignment of theses.
If you are planning to write your Master's thesis in cooperation with a company, we recommend that you contact the relevant departments in advance.
In principle, there is no entitlement to a practice-oriented thesis. However, if the project you would like to carry out in your company as part of your thesis is also interesting from a scientific perspective, you have a good chance of convincing our professors of your project. The search for a suitable company is your responsibility.
If you have any questions about the course of study, module selection, etc., our Student Advisory Service staff will be happy to help and advise you! Advice appointments can be made by telephone, online or in person. You can find the contact details of the advisors on the Student Advisory Service page.