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Explore the links between people and the economy

Discover what drives people, organisations, and governments

Sustainability. The labour market. Competition. Income inequality. Ethics. Entrepreneurship. Risk management. Big data. E-business. Innovation. Consumer behaviour. Investment. Economics is so incredibly diverse!

The Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Economics is a broad and relatively small-scale study programme. All courses are in English. You benefit from direct and personal contact with your teachers and from interactive lectures. At all times, you are challenged to get the best out of yourself.

You learn to identify the mechanisms underlying various economic phenomena in a country, region, or organisation. You also investigate the steps needed to bring about different economic objectives. With this knowledge, you are well-placed to advise consumers, companies and government agencies in their decision-making processes.

After the first year you select one of four specialisations: Economics, Marketing, Finance, or Accounting. Because human behaviour is influenced by many different factors, in the third year you can choose from a wide range of minors: psychology, sociology, technology and more. You can follow your minor at a different faculty or at a university abroad. Alternatively, you may choose to do an internship.

Did you know that economics education in the Netherlands is highly regarded internationally? With our widespread prosperity, the ‘polder model’ of consensus decision making and the unique balance between public and private organisations, the Netherlands brings a special dimension to economics compared to other countries. At VU Amsterdam, we work to uphold this philosophy. You don’t just study ‘economics’. Instead, you connect the field of economics with the people in a given economy and the pursuit of broad prosperity.

The start date of this programme is September 1st.

Facts and Figures

First year

In the first year you will follow compulsory courses in general economics and business economics, thus creating a solid foundation for the rest of your studies. You will be familiarised with micro- and macro-economics, marketing, finance, accounting, and organisation management. You will also work on your academic skills. You will learn programming and quantitative research methods, as well as taking a mandatory language test. At the end of the first year you will write an essay and choose whether to continue with the General Economics or the Business Economics track.

Subjects

  • SAM Programme EBE
  • Economic Challenges
  • English Language Test
  • Quantitative Research Methods I
  • Marketing I
  • Microeconomics I
  • Academic Skills
  • Accounting I
  • Macroeconomics I
  • Economics and Management of Organizations
  • Finance I
  • Programming for Economists

Please consult the Study Guide for more information

Second year

You will focus on your choice of either General Economics, or Business Economics. If you opted for Business Economics, you will choose a specialisation midway through the year: Accounting, Finance, or Marketing. In the second year you will work in smaller groups, so you get to know your fellow students and teachers better. This small-scale setup and the combination of compulsory and elective courses ensures that you learn a lot about your future professional field. You will also develop your knowledge of various research methods and refine your thinking about ethical and philosophical positions.

Subjects

  • Quantitative Research Methods II
  • Ethics
  • Research paper

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

Third year

The third year consists of two parts. In the first semester you will yourself design your curriculum: you will choose a minor, adding a personal flavour to your study programme, or you can study abroad or do an internship. In the second half of the year you will further develop your chosen specialisation and write your bachelor’s thesis.

Subjects

  • Quantitative Research Methods III
  • Thesis

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

  • 1st year

    First year

    In the first year you will follow compulsory courses in general economics and business economics, thus creating a solid foundation for the rest of your studies. You will be familiarised with micro- and macro-economics, marketing, finance, accounting, and organisation management. You will also work on your academic skills. You will learn programming and quantitative research methods, as well as taking a mandatory language test. At the end of the first year you will write an essay and choose whether to continue with the General Economics or the Business Economics track.

    Subjects

    • SAM Programme EBE
    • Economic Challenges
    • English Language Test
    • Quantitative Research Methods I
    • Marketing I
    • Microeconomics I
    • Academic Skills
    • Accounting I
    • Macroeconomics I
    • Economics and Management of Organizations
    • Finance I
    • Programming for Economists

    Please consult the Study Guide for more information

  • 2nd year

    Second year

    You will focus on your choice of either General Economics, or Business Economics. If you opted for Business Economics, you will choose a specialisation midway through the year: Accounting, Finance, or Marketing. In the second year you will work in smaller groups, so you get to know your fellow students and teachers better. This small-scale setup and the combination of compulsory and elective courses ensures that you learn a lot about your future professional field. You will also develop your knowledge of various research methods and refine your thinking about ethical and philosophical positions.

    Subjects

    • Quantitative Research Methods II
    • Ethics
    • Research paper

    You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

  • 3rd year

    Third year

    The third year consists of two parts. In the first semester you will yourself design your curriculum: you will choose a minor, adding a personal flavour to your study programme, or you can study abroad or do an internship. In the second half of the year you will further develop your chosen specialisation and write your bachelor’s thesis.

    Subjects

    • Quantitative Research Methods III
    • Thesis

    You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

Change your future with the Economics and Business Economics programme

Change your future with the Economics and Business Economics programme

After the bachelor’s programme you can specialise further by following a master’s degree programme. As a graduate of Economics and Business Economics, you could work as an economist, an accountant, a financial manager, an entrepreneur, a marketing manager, an investment advisor, or as a researcher for a government agency or at many companies and organisations in the Netherlands and abroad.

Explore your future prospects
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