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Education Bachelor's degree programmes Economics and Business Economics - Business Economics
Header image Economics and Business Economics - Business Economics

Economics and Business Economics - Business Economics

Does it pay for firms to invest in corporate social responsibility? Do stocks of environmentally friendly firms provide a better risk-return tradeoff? In the Business Economics profile, you learn to understand decision-making within organizations from an economic point of view.

After the first year in the BSc Economics and Business Economics in Groningen, you have the opportunity to specialize in Business Economics in year two and three. In this profile, you will learn about corporate finance, asset pricing and accounting. Students who choose this profile are interested in learning more about the functioning of organizations from an analytic, microeconomic as well as macro- and international economic point of view.

During your study, you will find a balanced mix of theory and practice that is applied to current and worldwide trends. You will study how firms create value in their operational and financing decisions and have the chance to work in project teams on real-life assignments. 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.

We work closely with companies from various industries and regularly offer talks and guest lectures by our alumni, business leaders, and economists. By engaging with the labour market, you see how research and theory are applied into 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 Economic Development and Globalization ?

Facts & Figures
Degree
BSc in Economics and Business Economics
Course type
Bachelor
Duration
36 months (180 ECTS)
Croho code
50950
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Economics and Business
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • During your study, you have many opportunities to work on professional skills that are highly valued on the job market.
  • The course in 'Business Ethics, Sustainability and Law' teaches you about corporate responsibility and how this impacts organizations on a local and global level.
  • The course 'Capital Structure & Financial Planning' teaches you about how firms create value in their operational and financing decisions.
  • You can tailor-make your own programme: in your 2nd year, you specialize in one of the three profiles and in the 3rd year you can choose from a lot of various minor possibilities (at the faculty, or university or go study abroad at one of our many international partners) and electives.
  • The programme ensures high-quality education. It has been internationally accredited by the AACSB and EQUIS, ensuring a high-quality education, which only 1% of universities reach worldwide.
Programme

In the first year, you will tackle the fundamentals of Corporate Finance, Accounting, Micro-, Macro-, and International Economics. You will also study the basics of Mathematics and Statistics applied in an economic context. Moreover, you will develop many skills, such as research and data skills, writing skills and presentation skills.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
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)
Mathematics and Data Analysis for E&BE (5 EC)
Marketing for E&BE (5 EC)
Statistics for E&BE (5 EC)
Academic English for E&BE (5 EC)
Research Paper for E&BE (5 EC)
Asset Pricing and Capital Budgeting (5 EC)
International Economics for E&BE (5 EC)

In the second year, you will learn to conduct applied research based on economic data and choose from one of the three profiles. In the Business Economics profile, you learn to understand (financial) decision-making within an organization from an economic point of view. For this profile, you will follow a specific set of courses.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Matrix Analysis and Optimization (5 EC)
Monetary Macroeconomics (5 EC)
Trade Policy and Economic Integration (5 EC)
Management Accounting for BE (5 EC)
Microeconomics - Industrial Organization (5 EC)
Operations and Logistics Management (5 EC)
Capital Structure and Financial Planning (5 EC)
Econometrics for E&BE (5 EC)
Human Resource Management for BE (5 EC)
Business Ethics, Sustainability and Law (5 EC)
Economics of Banking (5 EC)
Empirical Research Paper for E&BE (5 EC)

In the third year, you will choose a minor (faculty, university or study abroad). You can pick from: a minor offered by your own degree programme, a minor from a different faculty of the University of Groningen or a minor that involves studying abroad for a full semester at one of our international university partners in Europe, Latin America, Australia, Canada, China, the USA, to name a few. At the end of the third year, you will write your Bachelor's thesis.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Minor (30 EC)

Minor Business and Taxation, minor E&BE, minor Innovation & Entrepreneurship, minor Management Control, Foreign minor or University minor

Intermediate Asset Pricing (5 EC)
Marketing Research for E&BE (5 EC)

This course can be replaced by a course from the E&BE-BE electives (see Ocasys).

Bachelor's Thesis E&BE-BE (10 EC)
Electives (10 EC)

Growth and Development Economics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, International Financial Markets, Labour Economics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Political Economics, Sustainability and Globalization, Trade and Firms.

Financial Statement Analysis for E&BE (5 EC)

This course can be replaced by a course from the E&BE-BE electives (see Ocasys).

Intermediate Corporate Finance (5 EC)

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional

You can choose to spend one semester (30EC) in the third year studying abroad at one of our exchange partners. For an overview of university partners, please visit https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/exchange/partners/.

Entry requirements

Admissible Dutch diploma profiles

  • VWO Natuur & Techniek
  • VWO Natuur & Gezondheid
  • VWO Economie & Maatschappij
  • VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij

    Wiskunde A of wiskunde B.

  • HBO propedeuse

    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).

  • academic propedeuse

    You can enroll, as long as you have finished VWO-degree with mathematics A or B.

Choice of degree programme check

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.

If you want to register as a first year student for a Bachelor's degree programme without a selection procedure, you must do so no later than 1 May. That is a statutory requirement. When you have applied via Studielink on time, you are entitled to participate in a matching activity. Through matching you can find out whether your chosen Bachelor's degree programme matches with what you want. Every Bachelor's degree programme has a different matching procedure. After you have registered for a degree programme via Studielink, you will automatically receive a message explaining the procedure for the degree programme of your choice.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024

Choice of degree programme check

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

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore 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).

Registration procedure

Students have to apply via Studielink and the 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.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 11200full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Most of our graduates continue their studies with a Master's degree. A Master's degree in Finance grants you access to the world of banking or the government sector, where you could help develop economic policy. All of these degrees could help you become an analyst for a research institute, consulting firm or university.

If you choose the Research Master's degree programme you could move into academia and perhaps decide to go further and earn a PhD at a university in the Netherlands or abroad. As a graduate, your degree will be highly valued in the labour market. The Faculty of Economics and Business is internationally accredited and belongs to the 1% of business schools around the world accredited by both EQUIS and AACSB.

When you become a student at the faculty, we want to support you in developing your career and strengthening your employability skills. You can count on a dedicated on-campus Career Services team offering you a wide range of courses, workshops, events and career-related support during your studies. Everything you need to enter the labour market.

Job examples

  • Risk analyst
  • Financial advisor
  • Business development consultant
  • Policy maker
  • Equity trader
Research

Linking education to research and career preparation

Our education is strongly rooted in business practice and society. Also right from the start of your degree programme attention is paid to academic research and professional development. An analytical and critical mind and problem-solving capabilities are important qualities in any career our students aspire to. In collaboration with external partners, we conduct research projects on e.g banking, local government, customer insights, leadership, energy, healthy ageing and lean operations.

Read more about the research conducted at the Faculty of Economics and Business.

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Excellent teachers that are driven to help you (Sanna Wiersinga)

After high school, I wanted to study something that had to do with economics, finance and taxation. What I found interesting about the Bachelor's programme in Groningen is that you will first be introduced to courses from each profile before you get to choose your specialization in the second year. When choosing this programme, I considered the many minor opportunities in the third year and the international accreditations (AACSB and EQUIS).

In my second year, I decided to follow the Business Economics (BE) profile. During my study, I also build up knowledge in a specific area through different courses. To give an example, you follow Asset Pricing in your first year, Capital Structure in your second year and Intermediate Asset Pricing in your third year. If the level of mathematics is the main reason that you doubt choosing this Bachelor’s degree, then you should not let this deter you. The combination of lectures, tutorials and practicals provides you with enough practice and support to accomplish the required level of mathematics. There are excellent teachers that are driven to make the most out of their courses and are always willing to help you understand the material completely.

The programme has an international aspect which I value since you get the opportunity to work together with students from all over the world and learn about different cultures. This creates a thriving learning environment and inspires students to look further than their own way of living. This programme is a good starting point for starting your career in the inspiring world of economics and finance.

Read more

Study associations

EBF

The Economics and Business Faculty association (EBF) is the faculty association for all students studying at the faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Groningen.
The EBF is your partner during your time in Groningen by organising events that support you with your studies and help you prepare for your future career.
https://www.ebfgroningen.nl/
Read more
(Binding) study advice

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.

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