MSc in Economics and Development

The University of Bamberg offers together with the University of Florence a double degree programme as part of the MSc in European Economic Studies / Economics and Development.

The University of Florence is an important and influential centre for research and higher training in Italy, with 1,800 lecturers and internal research staff, 1,600 technical and administrative staff, and over 1,600 research assistants and doctoral students.

It offers a wide range of study programmes at various levels and in all areas of knowledge. Over 130 degree courses (First and Second Cycle, corresponding to Bachelor's and Master's Degrees) organised in 10 schools, with a population of about 51,000 enrolled students. Each year there are over 9,000 degrees awarded in Florence.

The MSc in Economics and Development offers lessons and research projects in the heart of Florence, one of Italy’s most attractive cities, known all over the world for its cultural, architectural, artistic heritage and its high standard of living.  With its interdisciplinary approach to the teaching of economics and an excellent student to staff ratio, this MSc offers an international environment thanks to its students which come from all over the world.

Upon completion of the double degree programme, the University of Florence awards the academic degree

  •     Master of Science in Economics and Development

and the University of Bamberg awards the academic degree

  •     Master of Science in European Economic Studies

Students starting the programme in Bamberg (Bamberg = home institution)

Application and Admission

If you would like to begin your studies in Bamberg (home institution), admission is always possible in the winter semester. The application for double degree programmes is made as part of the application for the Master's degree programme in European Economic Studies and is integrated into the online application for the degree programme during the application phase. Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications from students who are already enrolled on the Master's programme. Further information about the online application procedure and the admission requirements can be found here:

>>>Application for a Master´s degree

Please note the shorter application deadlines for the double degree programmes: Applications for the winter semester 2025/26 will be possible from mid-May when the online portal for Master's applications opens. The application deadline ends on

22.06.2025

In addition to the regular application documents, you must submit the following:

  •     Letter of motivation in German
  •     Curriculum vitae
  •     Proof of language skills (B2 in English)

At the time of application, in addition to the usual recognised language certificates, school or university certificates, for example, are also accepted. For registration at the partner university, which takes place in the first semester (usually at the end of November), an official and up-to-date language certificate must then be provided. The registration for the second year at the partner university as well as the examination for an Erasmus scholarship is organised by the International Office of the University of Bamberg during the first semester. The following language certificates are currently accepted by the International Office:

  •     TOEFL ibT with at least 80 points
  •     IELTS Academic with at least 6.5 points
  •     Cambridge First Certificate (FCE), level B2
  •     Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE), level C1
  •     Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), level C2
  •     In addition, the free language test of the Bamberg Language Centre with a result of at least B2 is accepted.

Knowledge of Italian is not mandatory, but is considered desirable. Students who would like to build up their Italian language skills in the first year are recommended to attend the specialised language training at the Language Centre of the University of Bamberg:

>>>Information on the language training at the language center of the University of Bamberg

Please refer to the study and examination regulations for the requirements for participation in the Master's programme in European Economic Studies.

>>>Study and examination regulation

>>>Further information on the degree programme and admission


Admission to a double degree programme at the University of Bamberg is usually only provisional until admission is granted by the partner university. Admission can only be granted during the first year in Bamberg, as it is dependent on other criteria (study progress, language tests, etc.).

If you receive a letter of admission for one of the Master's degree programmes, but no place on a double degree programme, your admission to the regular Master's degree programme remains valid. You will then still have the opportunity to apply for a regular study abroad programme.

After selection by the home university and receipt of the letter of admission from the partner university, students are admitted to the double degree programme. Admission by the partner university is usually a formality and does not require a separate selection procedure. Applications for the double degree programme that are sent directly to a partner university will not be accepted.

Students starting the programme in Florence (University of Florence = home institution)

Admission to the second year of study

If you have started your studies at the University of Florence (as your home university) and come to Bamberg for your second year of study, you will have to go through a simplified admission process. This begins with you being nominated by your home university. You will then receive all the information you need from the International Office (IO) of the University of Bamberg to prepare for your academic year in Bamberg (halls of residence, introductory and language courses, etc.). Further information on these topics can also be found on the homepage of the IO:

>>>Prepare your stay in Bamberg

Unlike regular exchange students, double degree students are regularly enrolled in Bamberg. You must submit an application via the online application procedure of the Registrar's Office. You will receive an email with all important information and deadlines after your nomination. Please wait until you are contacted by the SoWi double degree coordinator. You will then find the online application here:

>>>Online application

There will also be an introductory event for double degrees at the SoWi at the beginning of the semester where you will have the opportunity to get to know other students who are also studying for a double degree. You will also receive a personal invitation by email.

Degree Programme

The study programme comprises 4 semesters. Students spend the first two semesters (or Master 1, Bac + 4) at their home university and the last two semesters (or Master 2, Bac +5) at the respective host institution. During their stay at the host institution, students remain enrolled at their home university. The credits earned as part of the double degree programme are recognised as equivalent by both institutions.

Distribution of credits in the Master in European Economic studies

The distribution of ECTS in Bamberg is the following:

 Starting in BambergStarting in Florence
Module group1st year in Bamberg2nd year in Florence1st year in Florence2nd year in Bamberg
MAEES1 Core Curriculum:
Economic Theory and Methods
24-186
MAEES2 Foreign Business Languages-1212-
MAEES Specialisation36243030
MAEES12 Master Thesis-24-24
Total ECTS120120

The programme details mainly depend on whether the student starts the programme in Bamberg or in Florence. The following overview is designed for planning and orientation, while the individual programme details result from the individual recognition agreement students reach with the programme coordinators at both universities based on the current versions of the studying and examination rules in place for the underlying programmes. The courses currently offered in Bamberg are defined by the current version of the module handbook.
>>>Current course offer in Bamberg (Module Handbook M. Sc. EES)

The following tables provide information about the allocation of modules from Florence to the module groups in Bamberg as well as about the choice options for students within the program:

Students who start the program in Bamberg

MAEES1 Core Curriculum: Economic Theory and Methods

 

1. year

Bamberg

2. year

Florence

MAEES1.1 Advanced Microeconomics6 
MAEES1.2 Advanced Macroeconomics6 
Mathe-M-01: Advanced Mathematical Methods6 
One of the following courses:
SuStat-014-M: Advanced Econometrics6 
SuStat-013-M: Introduction to Econometrics6 
Sum24

The current version of the module handbook can be found here.

MAEES2 Foreign Business Languages

 

1. year

Bamberg

2. year

Florence

Program in Florence for students who chosse the Track Economics:
Two of the following courses:

Behavioural and Social Evolution // Behavioural Economics // 

Causal Inference and Program Evaluation // Computational Economics //

Computational Finance //  Demography and Global Policy //

Econometrics Lab // Economic Demography //

Economic History of Globalisation // Economics Lab (Competition Policy) //

Economics of Innovation // Elements of Policy Evaluation Methods //

Energy Policies and International Policies // Health and Education economics //

History of Economic Thought // International Trade //

Labour Economics and Gender // Population, Society and Family //

Public Economics // Quantitative Finance and Derivatives //

Social Network Analysis //

Statistical Information Systems: Big Data, Open Data and Semantic Web

 12
Program in Florence for students who chosse the Track Economics wählen:
One of the following courses:
Economic Law 6
International Law 6
One of the following courses:
Elements of Policy Evaluation Methods 6
Computational Economics 6
Population, Society and Family 6
Social Network Analysis 6
Experimental Economics Lab 6
Statistical Information Systems: Big Data, Open Data and Semantic Web 6
Sum12

The current version of the module handbook can be found here.

MAEES Specialisation

 

1. year

Bamberg

2. year

Florenz

Two of the following modules:
BFC-M-02 International Finance6 

IRWP-M-01 Konzernrechnungslegung nach HGB und IFRS (Group Accounting

in accordance with the German Commercial Code and IFRS)

6 

VM-M-02 Business-to-Business Marketing &

Purchasing
6 
VM-M-01 Price Management6 

VM-M-09 Intercultural Challenges in Customer

and Account Management
6 
Four of the following modules:
MAEES3 International Economics
MAEES3.1: Financial Engineering and Systemic Risk6 
MAEES3.2: The Economics of Inequality6 
MAEES3.3: International Monetary Economics6 
MAEES3.4: Complexity and Distribution in Economics6 
MAEES4 Empirical Microeconomics
MAEES4.1: Microeconomics of Education6 
MAEES4.2: Applied Economics of Education6 
MAEES4.3: Topics in Labour Economics6 
MAEES4.4: Personality Psychology and Economics6 
MAEES5 Public Economics
MAEES5.1: Political Economics6 
MAEES5.2: Advanced Topics in Public Economics6 
MAEES5.3: Evolution, Learning, and Behaviour6 
MAEES5.4: Incentives and Behaviour6 
MAEES7 Economic Theory
MAEES7.1: Games and Contracts6 
MAEES7.2: Public Economic Theory6 
MAEES7.3: Advanced Industrial Economics6 
MAEES7.4: Topics in Economic Theory and Applications to European Policy6 
MAEES8 Macroeconomics and International Finance
MAEES8.1: Empirical Monetary Macroeconomics6 
MAEES8.2: Computational Behavioural Macroeconomics6 
MAEES8.3: Financial Macroeconomics6 
MAEES8.4: Advanced Topics in Empirical Macroeconomics6 
MAEES9 Labour, Regional and Migration Studies
MAEES9.1: Regional and Labour Studies6 
MAEES9.2: Migration Studies6 
Program in Florence for students who choose the Track in Economics:
Political Economy 6
Einer der folgenden Kurse:
Economic Law 6
International Law 6
One of the following courses:
Microeconometrics 6
Macroeconometrics 6
One of the following courses:
Behavioural Economics 6
Computational Economics 6
Economics of Innovation 6
International Trade 6
Labour Economics and Gender 6
Public Economics 6
Program in Florence for students who choose the Track inTrack Economics with Behavioural Economics:
Political Economy 6
Microeconometrics 6
Behavioural and Social Evolution 6
Behavioural Economics 6
Sum60

The current version of the module handbook can be found here.

MAEES12 Master Thesis

 

1. year

Bamberg

2. year

Florence

Thesis in Florence 21
One of the following courses:
Stata Lab I: Software

 3
Stata Lab II: Models and Applications 3
Sum24

The current version of the module handbook can be found here.

Students who start the Programm in Florence

MAEES1 Core Curriculum: Economic Theory and Methods

 

1. year

Florence

2. year

Bamberg

Advanced Macroeconomics9 
Mathematics for Economics9 
One of the following courses:
SuStat-014-M: Advanced Econometrics 6
SuStat-013-M: Introduction to Econometrics 6
Sum24

The current version of the module handbook of the M. Sc. European Economic Studies can be found here.

MAEES2 Foreign Business Languages

 

1. year

Florence

2. year

Bamberg

Two of the following courses:
Corporate Governance, Bank Management and Sustainable Finance12 
Firm´s Financing, Bank Management and Sustainable Finance
Corporate Governance, Firm´s Financing and Financial Markets
Sum12

The current version of the modulhandbook of the M. Sc. European Economic Studies can be found here.

MAEES Specialisation

 

1. year

Florence

2. year

Bamberg

Game Theory and Microeconomics9 
Advanced Microeconomics6 
Statistical Inference6 
One of the following courses:
Stata Lab I: Software3 
Stata Lab II: Models and Applications3 
One of the following courses:
Economic Law6 
International Law6 
Five of the following courses:
MAEES3 International Economics
MAEES3.1: Financial Engineering and Systemic Risk 6
MAEES3.2: The Economics of Inequality 6
MAEES3.3: International Monetary Economics 6
MAEES3.4: Complexity and Distribution in Economics 6
MAEES4 Empirical Microeconomics
MAEES4.1: Microeconomics of Education 6
MAEES4.2: Applied Economics of Education 6
MAEES4.3: Topics in Labour Economics 6
MAEES4.4: Personality Psychology and Economics 6
MAEES5 Public Economics
MAEES5.1: Political Economics 6
MAEES5.2: Advanced Topics in Public Economics 6
MAEES5.3: Evolution, Learning, and Behaviour 6
MAEES5.4: Incentives and Behaviour 6
MAEES7 Economic Theory
MAEES7.1: Games and Contracts 6
MAEES7.2: Public Economic Theory 6
MAEES7.3: Advanced Industrial Economics 6
MAEES7.4: Topics in Economic Theory and Applications to European Policy 6
MAEES8 Macroeconomics and International Finance
MAEES8.1: Empirical Monetary Macroeconomics 6
MAEES8.2: Computational Behavioural Macroeconomics 6
MAEES8.3: Financial Macroeconomics 6
MAEES8.4: Advanced Topics in Empirical Macroeconomics 6
MAEES9 Labour, Regional and Migration Studies
MAEES9.1: Regional and Labour Studies 6
MAEES9.2: Migration Studies 6
Sum60

The current version of the module handbook of the M. Sc. European Economic Studies can be found here.

MAEES12 Master Thesis

 

1. year

Florence

2. year

Bamberg

Thesis in Bamberg 24
Sum24

The current version of the module handbook of the M. Sc. European Economic Studies can be found here.