FAQ: Combining the Master’s in EEP with Another Master’s Programme

EEP is designed for students who want to explore normative and conceptual questions at the intersection of ethics, economics, and policy. Combining EEP with another Master’s allows you to strengthen both your analytical and professional profile and offers distinctive preparation for careers in research, policy analysis, consultancy, or public service.

You can find the full EEP curriculum on VU Amsterdam's website, including a suggested distribution of courses across the first and second year.

It is possible to take EEP courses in a different order to fit your schedule. The teaching periods themselves do not change, but you may take a second-year course (such as Ethics and Economics) in your first year, or a first-year course (such as History of Philosophy) in your second year.

Course schedules are published about four weeks before the start of each period via rooster.vu.nl or Canvas.

Courses officially planned for the first year are often scheduled in the evenings (after 17:00), making it easier to combine them with your other Master’s or internship. Second-year courses are often taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays, allowing you to follow most lectures on one or two days per week.

This depends on your background and study load. Most students who combine EEP with another full-time Master’s will be able complete both within two years. See sample EEP course schedule here. Experience with other Philosophy MA tracks shows that students can take the first-year Philosophy MA courses (History of Philosophy, Normative Ethics, Philosophy of Science, and Political Philosophy) alongside coursework in their other Master’s. It is also possible to spread out the requirements over more than two years.

When you combine EEP with another Master’s (e.g. in Economics or Political Science) of 60 ECTS, your total workload will be 150 ECTS.

Here’s how it works:

• EEP is a 120 ECTS programme, but 30 ECTS can be filled by courses from your other Master’s.
• So you end up doing 90 ECTS for EEP + 60 ECTS for your other Master’s.

It’s more intensive than a single full-time programme, but very doable for motivated students. And you’ll finish with two full Master’s degrees—in just two years, and usually while paying only one tuition fee per year.

You can start EEP either concurrently with your other Master’s or after completing it. The best option depends on your workload and course scheduling.

Yes, in most cases. If you start the EEP track while still enrolled in your first Master’s (e.g. in Economics or Political Science) you will only pay the statutory tuition fee once per year, not for each programme separately. For the details concerning tuition fees see “Second study programme”.

Yes. You must apply separately for admission to the Master’s in Philosophy (Ethics, Economics & Policy track). Admission decisions are based on your academic background, motivation, and fit with the EEP programme’s interdisciplinary profile.

No, but you may write two theses on related topics. In such cases, it is possible to design complementary projects — for example, a policy analysis for your Economics degree and a normative evaluation of that policy for your EEP thesis. Please discuss such plans with one of the EEP coordinators in advance.

Attendance requirements vary per course. You can find this information in the course manual on Canvas, in the Study Guide, or by contacting the lecturer. The VU course schedule provides an overview of contact hours and the division between lectures and tutorials. If your other programme’s classes overlap, contact the course lecturer before the start of the period to discuss possible solutions.

You can contact the EEP coordinator or the academic advisor for individual advice on combining study programmes, planning your schedule, and managing your workload.