Study economics and business economics in Groningen to get a solid understanding of the economic tools and knowledge to tackle the important societal challenges of today.
Why are some countries rich and others poor? How does this relate to globalization, sustainability, inequality, and climate change? What can central banks do to curb inflation? Can taxes and subsidies stimulate firms to care for the environment? How do corporations decide where to invest their money, and what is the value of corporate social responsibility?
During the three-year BSc Economics and Business Economics programme, you will engage with questions like these through a wide range of courses: micro, macro, and international economics, finance, accounting, ethics, and sustainability. These main areas are supported by quantitative and skills courses to provide you with solid analytical, data, communication, and team skills.
During the first, foundational year, all students take the same courses. Next to the fundamentals of their discipline, some courses take an economic view of current societal challenges such as pollution, inequality, social welfare, sustainable economic growth, and corporate responsibility. In year two, you choose one of three profiles:
In year three, you will do a minor at our faculty, university, or abroad, at one of our many international partners all over the globe.
Year one offers a solid introduction to economics and business economics. In your first course "Introduction to E&BE" you will explore how institutional contexts (such as democracy and capitalism) affect people's wealth and well-being and how societal challenges like inequality, poverty, ethics in business, and climate impact can be evaluated from an economic point of view. You will also dig into the fundamentals of corporate finance and financial markets, micro-, macro-, and international economics as well as accounting and marketing. Also, you will get to know the basics of mathematics and statistics applied in an economic context.
You will develop important skills in research and data analysis, working in teams, and communication – think, for example, of the writing and presentation skills that today's labour market demands.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Introduction to E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Mathematics for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Microeconomics for E&BE: Consumers&Firms (5 EC) | ||||
| Financial Accounting for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Macroeconomics for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Statistics for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Data Analysis for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Marketing for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Writing and Presenting for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Asset Pricing and Capital Budgeting (5 EC) | ||||
| International Economics for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| Research Project for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
In the second year, you will add an extra layer to the core courses of the first year and you will continue to work on your research and data skills. In this year, you also choose from one of the three profiles (or specializations) we offer:
Business Economics is aimed at students who are interested in
the decision-making of companies, with a focus on financial
decision-making. Finance deals with deciding on large corporate
investments, and the financing of it, the value of corporate social
responsibility, the functioning of financial markets, and the
determination of security prices like stocks. You will also learn
about banking, accounting, financial statement analysis, business
ethics, marketing, logistics, and human resource management.
International Economics and Sustainable Development is aimed at
students who are interested in how countries develop their economy,
why some countries are wealthy, and others stay poor, how this is
linked to international trade and government, geography, culture,
and history, and how that affects current societal topics such as
sustainability, inequality, and climate change.
Economics is aimed at students who are interested in understanding
economic policy and economic theory. This specialization deals with
consumer and firm behaviour, the performance of markets, the
origins of economic growth, the labour market, fiscal policy,
monetary policy, and political economics. Questions addressed are
for example: what can policymakers do to stimulate consumers to
reduce their energy consumption? And, what can central banks do to
combat high inflation?
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| BE - Matrix Analysis and Optimization (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Monetary Macroeconomics (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Trade Policy and Economic Integration (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Matrix Analysis and Optimization (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Monetary Macroeconomics (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Trade Policy and Economic Integration (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Matrix Analysis and Optimization (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Monetary Macroeconomics (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Trade Policy and Economic Integration (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Management Accounting for BE (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Microeconomics - Industrial Organization (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Operations and Logistics Management (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Intermediate Mathematics (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Microeconomics - Industrial Organization (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Public Finance (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Global Development Studies (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Microeconomics - Industrial Organization (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Technological Change & Innovation (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Capital Structure and Financial Planning (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Econometrics for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Human Resource Management for BE (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Capital Structure and Financial Planning (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Econometrics for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Growth, Institutions and Business (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Capital Structure and Financial Planning (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Econometrics for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Growth, Institutions and Business (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Business Ethics, Sustainability and Law (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Economics of Banking (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Empirical Research Paper for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Economics of Banking (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Empirical Research Paper for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - History of Economic Thought (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Business Ethics, Sustainability and Law (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Economics of Banking (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Empirical Research Paper for E&BE (5 EC) | ||||
In the third year, you choose a minor. Some students choose courses offered within our own degree programme (with more economics, finance, and data skill courses) or follow a faculty minor (such as Data Analytics, Taxation or Entrepreneurship), while others take a minor from a different faculty of the University of Groningen (such as Psychology, Law or Neuroscience) or one that involves studying abroad for a full semester – in Europe, Latin America, Australia, Canada, China, the USA or elsewhere in the world.
After your minor, you continue with your specialization, make a
selection from many electives, and you will write your empirical
Bachelor's thesis on a current topic.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| BE - Minor (30 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Minor (30 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Minor (30 EC) | ||||
| BE - Elective BSc E&BE-BE (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Intermediate Asset Pricing (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Elective BSc E&BE-Economics (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Intermediate Macroeconomics (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Elective BSc EB&E-ED&G (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Growth and Development Economics (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Bachelor's Thesis E&BE-BE (10 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Bachelor's Thesis E&BE-Economics (10 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Bachelor's Thesis E&BE-ED&G (10 EC) | ||||
| BE - Elective BSc E&BE-BE (5 EC) | ||||
| BE - Intermediate Corporate Finance (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Elective BSc E&BE-Economics (5 EC) | ||||
| ECO - Intermediate Microeconomics (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Elective BSc EB&E-ED&G (5 EC) | ||||
| ED&G - Sustainability and Globalization (5 EC) | ||||
| Programme options |
|---|
| Business Economics (BE) (profile) Study business economics in Groningen and discover how firms create financial value while balancing societal and sustainability concerns. How can corporations use financial derivatives to manage their currency risks? Do stocks of environmentally friendly firms provide a better risk-return tradeoff? How can a business assess its social and environmental impact using sustainability accounting? In the Business Economics profile, you engage with such questions to understand financial decision-making within organizations from an economic point of view.In the Business Economics profile of our BSc Economics and Business Economics programme, you will focus on corporate investments, financing, security pricing, and accounting, while also paying attention to economics, marketing, human resource management, and logistics. Moreover, you will learn about business ethics and sustainability and get an insight into corporate responsibility and its impact on organizations at both local and global levels. You will also work on many important employability skills: analytical skills, data skills, team skills, writing skills, and presentation skills. Every year you will work on a research project to answer societal relevant questions using real-life data. We work closely with companies from various industries and regularly offer career and employability events or guest lectures by our alumni, business leaders, and economists. By engaging with the labour market, you see how research and theory are applied to the real world and you get insights that will help you prepare for your future career.Do you want to learn more about the other two profiles in Economics or International Economics and Sustainable Development? |
| Economics (ECO) (profile) Study economics in Groningen and explore how inequality, the role of the state, and other big societal issues can be affected by economics – and how you can impact them for the better. How do periods of higher interest rates affect the economy? And, how can monetary and fiscal policy be used to combat inflation? Can we predict whether a proposed government programme is likely to improve the welfare of its citizens and future generations? Can taxes and subsidies stimulate firms to care for the environment?In the Economics profile of the BSc Economics and Business Economics in Groningen, you analyze big societal problems equipped with rigorous analytical tools from economics. The courses taught focus not only on macroeconomic and microeconomic theory and policy but also on the current and historical debates on topics such as inequality and limits to growth.You will get insights into a wide range of topics like banking, fiscal and monetary policy, economic development, political economy, economic theory, decisions made by consumers on labour and other markets, and strategic behaviour between firms on markets. By studying economic problems with real-life data, you will gain the necessary knowledge to analyze complex economic issues, interpret data, and make informed decisions. As such, along with solid communication and presentation skills, you will develop valuable analytical and data skills.The focus is on both theoretical and practical knowledge which prepares you for your professional life. Our programme is designed to shape students into future economists with a solid and strong analytical foundation. An economist who can understand historical trends and interpret today’s policies and economic data is able to make predictions about the future.Do you want to learn more about the other profiles in Business Economics or International Economics and Sustainable Development? |
| International Economics and Sustainable Development (profile) . Study International Economics and Sustainable Development in Groningen and understand the role of governments, firms, and individuals in reshaping the global economy to deal with the important societal challenges of today.Why are some countries rich and others poor? How does globalization affect sustainability, inequality, and climate change? What is the relationship between international trade and economic development? The International Economics and Sustainable Development profile in Groningen is one of the few economic programmes in the Netherlands that offers a comprehensive and global perspective on current economic and societal trends. When you choose this specialization, you will study the impact of economic development and globalization on firms, individuals, and our society, and the government’s role in that process. We teach you about the necessary tools and skills to make an impact, and while doing so, you will develop an analytical mindset to work on societally relevant issues. With the increasing integration of the world economy through international trade and capital flows, it is important and highly relevant to consider the contemporary challenges we are facing. In this profile, you will learn about technological change and innovation, the socio-economic determinants of international trade and development in various regions of the world, as well as how production in a global context impacts nature and emissions. You will gain insight into the theories and policies to understand why some regions of the world have managed to develop successfully, while other regions are struggling. Finally, we devote attention to corporate sustainability and teach you how to deal with moral issues in a business setting.Join us in working closely with diverse companies and benefit from lectures by renowned guests such as Klaas Knot, the president of the Dutch Central Bank, or other government, business, and academic experts. Discover how to apply research and theory to the real world – and where to direct your own qualities and ambitions when you start your career.Continuing with the MSc in International Economics and Sustainable Development will ensure that you are well-prepared for a range of career opportunities in various fields, both nationally and internationally. Businesses across a wide range of industries, governments, research institutions, and NGOs are eager to hire international economists who have the knowledge and skills to help them navigate the challenges of today’s world.Do you want to learn more about the other two profiles in Economics or Business Economics? |
In this programme, you have the option of studying abroad for one semester in Year 3 (30 EC). You can do this at one of our many international exchange partners in Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia or Asia.
Check this overview of our partner universities around the world: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/exchange/partners/.
Wiskunde A of wiskunde B.
It is also possible to enter the programme with an HBO propaedeutic certificate, on condition that you meet the required level of mathematics and the English language skills. For mathematics, you must at least have completed A or B (previously mathematics A12 or B1) at Dutch VWO level. For English, you must also have completed this at VWO level or obtained one of the English certificates: IELTS Academic overall score 6 (Speaking 6, Writing 5.5); TOEFL internet-based overall score 90 (Speaking 20, Writing 20); C1 Advanced (with minimum score 169).
You can enroll, as long as you have a finished VWO-degree with mathematics A or B.
The degree programme will organize a choice of degree programme check. Attendance is optional. The advice is not binding.
Matching is a way for first year students of a Bachelor's degree programme without a selection procedure to find out whether their chosen degree programme matches with what they want.
Students have to apply online via Studielink. After you have applied, you have the right to participate in a matching activity. Matching is a procedure for students who want to apply for a Bachelor programme without a decentral selection procedure. Read more about the matching procedure.
More information on the steps to apply .
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
If you intend to start with a bachelor degree programme at the University of Groningen in September, make sure to apply before May 1 in Studielink. The degree programme will give you the option to participate in a matching activity to see if you and the degree programme are a match. Which matchings activity they provide depends on the faculty and programme.
Any questions about matching? Check www.rug.nl/matching
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
To meet the general entry-level requirements, you will need an educational background equivalent to the Dutch pre-university education (VWO). For an overview of VWO-equivalent qualifications, please check https://www.rug.nl/vwo-equivalent-qualifications. If you have any questions concerning admission to the programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions. |
| additional subject |
Mathematics should have been passed as a standard/methods level subject in your secondary school education. Please note that the level of mathematics will need to be assessed by the Admissions Board. |
| language test |
IELTS Academic overall score 6 (Speaking 6, Writing 5.5); TOEFL internet-based overall score 80 (Speaking 20, Writing 20); Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (overall score 169, Speaking 169, Writing 162). |
Students have to apply via Studielink and the Progress Portal (replacing the previous system, Online Application System OAS) of the University of Groningen. After you apply for the programme of your choice, the Admissions Office will evaluate your educational background and assess your eligibility. Your application will be assessed on an individual basis.
More information on how to apply.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 2530 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 13100 | full-time |
| EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 2601 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 13500 | full-time |
Practical information for:
A degree in Economics and Business Economics from our university can open a lot of doors for you on the job market. The skills and knowledge of our students are greatly valued by (international) corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, policy institutes (like a central bank or the WTO), regulators (like the Financial Market Authority), commercial banks, government (such as ministries and local governments) or in education (such as high schools) and research institutes (such as universities).
Most of our BSc graduates continue their studies with a Master's degree. This is a good way of gaining more specialized knowledge in your field so that you will have more interesting career options when you graduate. Some MSc students make use of our many double degree possibilities, where you will also study at another foreign university, for example in China, Chili, Sweden, Hungary, or Germany.
There are many related Master's programmes you can immediately access after completing this degree. A Master's degree in Finance offers career opportunities in corporate finance, corporate governance, financial markets, and portfolio management, with job opportunities at multinationals such as PwC, Google, Coca-Cola, or Toyota. A Master's degree in Economics grants you access to the world of banking or the government sector, where you could help develop economic policy. A Master's degree in International Economics and Sustainable Development opens the gateway to multinationals, intergovernmental institutions, or international organizations. All of these degrees could help you become an analyst for a research institute, consulting firm, or university.
With a Research Master's degree, you can move into academia. You might even decide to go further and earn a PhD at a university in the Netherlands or abroad.
Our research-driven education is strongly rooted in business practice and society. Our lecturers are active researchers and experts in their field. They study societally relevant topics in areas such as a healthy society, inequality, governance, sustainable finance, business ethics, sustainable development, energy policies, and much more. They conduct their research in collaboration with external partners and students and use their state-of-the-art knowledge in the classroom. Every year of your programme you will conduct a research project yourself.
Read more about the research conducted at the Faculty of Economics and Business.
The BSc in Economics and Business Economics was the perfect choice for me, as I have always had a keen interest in economics, particularly in its practical implications, such as why financial crises happen or how companies decide what to invest in. The program in Groningen provides a broad introduction to various economic topics, allowing for a deep dive into a specialized area in your second year, which I liked a lot. I chose to specialize in Business Economics due to my passion for finance, attracted by the profile’s strong emphasis on financial courses.
You will be offered study advice after the first year of study. You can expect a positive result if you have earned more than 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative result, you will not be allowed to continue with your degree programme.
You will receive preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you stand. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the BSA system. N.B. Some degree programmes use a tutoring system; please check with your study advisor.
As a student, you are expected to work independently, but of course, the faculty will help you do so. Together with other first-years, you will participate in a mentor group. The mentor, a senior student, will help you learn the ins and outs of the faculty. In addition, you will discuss your study progress with your tutor (a lecturer-supervisor) at regular intervals. The study advisers are available to help you with specific study problems.
During the first year, your mentor group, called Study Performance and Academic Attitudes (SPAA) group, will meet on a regular basis, supervised by your student-mentor. Assignments and discussions will help you gain insight into your own way of studying and how to develop effective study skills. You will follow most tutorials with the same group. This small-scale approach enhances contact between students and between students and lecturers. You will also have a lecturer-tutor, whom you will meet individually at the start of your studies and after the first two exam periods. This way you receive personal and regular feedback on your study progress. Successful studying depends on many different factors, so it is understandable that you may need to consult an impartial expert with whom you can discuss your study progress and personal circumstances. The faculty's study advisors are available to help you. Obviously, everything discussed with the study advisor remains confidential.
