Economics is a social science that deals with the economic activities of people, firms and governments. It is concerned with microeconomic behaviour as well as macroeconomic conditions and processes. As an example, it investigates how private households react to increasing prices or how corporations handle increasing ancillary wage costs. It addresses the socially relevant problem of the exploitation of scarce means of production and resources. The Bachelor degree in Economics is designed to enable students to systematically describe economic problems and offer solution strategies for them.

In the course of the bachelor studies in Economics, the students acquire several core competencies, which are applicable in a wide variety of ways in the economic life. Primarily, this includes knowledge of economic concepts and formal skills for the analysis of micro- and macroeconomic issues of modern economies. This specific methodological competence distinguishes graduates with an economic background in comparison to other fields of study.

Depending on personal priorities, different career perspectives at home and abroad open up for graduates. Examples are private and public corporations, various institutions in the public sector, research institutes, foundations, unions, associations and chambers of commerce. These employers offer job opportunities for graduates who analyse complex economic systems and, thereby, generate information, predictions and suggestions with regard to, for example, existing obstacles for the access to markets, the contractual design of trade relations, principles of pricing, interdependencies of markets or the consequences of regulative interventions.

Link: https://www.wiso.uni-koeln.de/en/studium/bachelor/vwl-bachelor/

Starting from day one, the programme combines an entrepreneurial attitude with academic excellence. You will learn how to approach new problems, how to launch initiatives and how to drive sustainable change.

To support you gain a deep understanding of societal challenges, we provide you with state-of-the-art research findings in relevant fields from various disciplines, such as management, economics, sociology or social psychology. The programme also includes expertise from affiliated specialists, such as the “Institute of Energy Economics (EWI)” when discussing climate change.

You will learn advanced methodologies to rigorously analyse systems and to be able to draw evidence-based conclusions. In order to speed up your personal and academic development, you benefit from an innovative teaching and mentoring concept.

Link: https://www.wiso.uni-koeln.de/en/studium/bachelor/vwl-sozialwissenschaftlicher-richtung/ 

The Master degree in Economics prepares students for a prospective career as a consultant in the field of economic and financial politics, for the analysis and conception of economic systems and for a job in financial and trade institutions. Graduates are able to understand macro- and microeconomic processes & structures and to analyse them scientifically with both, theoretical and empirical methods. Additionally, they are trained to autonomously develop solution strategies for economic problems.

Graduates face numerous employment opportunities in specialized economic institutions: ministries, central banks, administrative offices and public authorities (e.g. the antitrust division or regulation authorities), European institutions (e.g. the European Commission), international institutions (e.g. OECD, IMF or World Bank). In addition, research institutions and economic departments of private companies (e.g. banks, consulting firms, big industrial corporations, associations or media) also offer job opportunities. A combination of specific focus-modules (e.g. Energy, Media or Economy of Capital Markets) with supplement-modules in business administration offers additional opportunities in the job market of business administration. Other fields of work include consulting firms, scientific research institutes or universities. The requirements for an admission to the Master course in Economics are a respective Bachelor degree and the fulfilment of the specific demands for the assessment of the particular aptitude as defined in the study regulations.

Link: https://www.wiso.uni-koeln.de/en/studium/master/master-economics/

The Master degree course Economic Research particularly prepares students for a prospective career in economic research. Graduates are able to understand macro- and microeconomic processes & structures and to analyse them scientifically with both, theoretical and empirical methods. Additionally, they acquire the ability to autonomously develop research questions and to produce scientific papers. Primarily, graduates will be prepared to do their PhD in the field of Economics. In addition, graduates of the Master course in Economic Research become qualified for other economic-related occupations due to their distinct knowledge with regard to economic methods.

Besides a career at universities and research institutions, graduates face numerous employment opportunities in specialized economic institutions: ministries, central banks, administrative offices and public authorities (e.g. the antitrust division or regulation authorities), European institutions (e.g. the European Commission), international institutions (e.g. OECD, IMF or World Bank). In addition, research institutions and economic departments of private companies (e.g. banks, consulting firms, big industrial corporations, associations or media) also offer job opportunities. A combination of specific focus-modules (e.g. Energy, Media or Economy of Capital Markets) with supplement-modules in business administration offers additional opportunities in the job market of business administration. Other fields of work include consulting firms, scientific research institutes or universities. The requirements for an admission to the Master course in Economics are a respective Bachelor degree and the fulfilment of the specific demands for the assessment of the particular aptitude as defined in the study regulations.

https://www.wiso.uni-koeln.de/en/studium/master/master-economic-research/