Giang Vu graduated in 2023 from the master’s in Regional and Urban Economics / Real Estate and Housing Economics at VU Amsterdam. She is now pursuing a PhD at VU Amsterdam, where she focuses on housing affordability and urban economic dynamics.
Giang entered the Master’s with a deep interest in spatial economics and left with a clear academic path. “The programme gave me a strong foundation in housing market dynamics and urban development. It was the perfect combination of theory and application.”
What made the experience especially valuable for her was the mix of technical skills and research opportunities. “During my master’s, I learned how to work with statistical tools and programming languages like STATA, R, and Python. At first, I thought these weren’t essential for economists, but I soon realised they are crucial in today’s data-driven research world.”
Giang thrives on research and enjoys seeing how abstract economic models can help explain real-life challenges. “It’s exciting to apply theory to questions like housing affordability and market inequality. I use the skills from my master’s every day in my PhD.”
She also fondly remembers the academic environment and her peers. “My classmates were incredibly smart and shared my enthusiasm for Real Estate and Urban Economics. We formed a very supportive community where we pushed each other to grow. Their insights and curiosity really inspired me.”
For Giang, the master’s was not just preparation for a PhD—it was a transformative academic experience. “If you're interested in real-world spatial issues and enjoy working with data, this programme gives you everything you need to go far, whether in research, policy, or beyond.”
