Economic Policy Consulting, Master 1 subject

  • What should an economically viable adaptation to climate change look like?
  • What kind of incentives for maximising electromobility should be implemented?
  • What are the macroeconomic consequences of decarbonisation?
  • Which measures should a municipality take to combat long-term unemployment?
  • How could development aid be rendered more efficient?
  • How can political decision-makers be advised in economic situations?
Fabian Schäfer

The thing I enjoy the most are the open discussions with my fellow students and teachers on new ways and methods of approaching challenges from an economic perspective.

– Fabian Schäfer, Master's degree

Profile

Degree
Master of Science
Start
Winter- and summer semester
Duration
4 semesters
Classroom language
German, English
Admission
Restricted
Information on enrollment/application for German applicants

Information on enrollment/application for German applicants

Application information for international applicants

Application information for international applicants

What's it all about?
This degree programme is unique, because ...
it combines theoretical understanding of economic and financial policy with real-life scenarios. Another element of the course is acquiring and optimising transdisciplinary competencies.
It provides the opportunity to specialise in the following fields ...
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Regional, International and Development Economics
  • Environmental, Resource and Energy Economics
  • Microeconomic Theory and Application
Who is suited?
Those who wish to enrol in this degree programme,

has:

  • qualifications in economics, basic mathematical and statistical know-how, German and English language skills, good communication skills

enjoy:

  • economic policy issues

struggle through:

  • data analyses, different negotiation and presentation situations
This degree programme is suited for graduates in the following subjects
  • Management and Economics
  • Economics
  • East Asian Economics and Politics
  • Geography
  • Political Science
  • Social Sciences
Graduates from this degree programme frequently work
  • in consulting enterprises
  • in governmental institutions
  • in private research organisations
  • in associations and economic departments of enterprises
  • in financial institutions
And else?
An internship ...

is mandatory. It is done during the degree course.
Duration: one semester

Studying abroad ... can be covered voluntarily.
Where do I find help?
Academic advisory office

Dipl.-Ök. Michèle Lorraine Kim Docter & Michèle Teufel
Building, Room: GD 03/ 229
Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-22762/ 22687
Email:
Website academic advisory office

Contact students

Fachschaft Wirtschaftswissenschaft
Building, Room: GD 03/165
Phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-27854
Email:
Website Fachschaft

Internet

Degree programmes' website

Fabian Schäfer
Fabian Schäfer is a first-year student of Economic Policy Consulting. He is pursuing the Master of Science degree.

What made you choose this degree programme?

After completing my Bachelor’s degree in Management and Economics, I was looking for a Master’s degree that would enable me to initiate and influence social and political themes. And so it was a stroke of luck that the new degree Master Economic Policy Consulting had just been introduced. Integrated in the degree course, a semester internship provides ample opportunity to apply my newly acquired theoretical and economic skills in practice.

In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?

Just as expected, I’ve been able to establish closer ties to the Institute – one of the reasons for this has been low number of students, which is limited to 15. Whereas in the Bachelor’s degree, we would only ever get to see our professors during lectures. In my Master’s degree, I do however miss seminars that focus on the details of specific consultancy functions – i.e. how do I translate scientific findings to address my target group? Still, it should be taken into consideration that the degree course wasn’t launched until the end of 2016 and that it is still being optimised.

Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?

The thing I enjoy the most are the open discussions with my fellow students and teachers on new ways and methods of approaching challenges from an economic perspective.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

Definitely the Macro 1 exam, which I’m currently attempting to pass for the third time :D

What would you like to become after completing your degree?

Inspired by this degree course, several of my fellow students and myself have set up an initiative (youngperspectives.ruhr), intending to promote a sustainable development of our home region, Ruhr. To this end, we wish to utilise our economic know-how and the interdisciplinary research at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, in order to aid municipalities and projects with sustainable strategies and ideas. We are currently in the middle of our start-up phase and are about to handle our first project. Working for my own company one day would be a good start.

Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?

Do not focus on pursuing a Master’s degree with an integrated semester internship, but check out other aspects as well, in order to find out if it’s really the right option for you. Apart from that – you should have the confidence to believe that you can effect changes and to have visions of a better future. After all, the #apocalypsepreventionmaster was not selected in vain.