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

Economics and Business Economics - Economic Development and Globalization

Why are some countries rich and others poor? How does globalization affect sustainability? What is the relationship between international trade and economic development?

The Economic Development and Globalization profile in Groningen is one of the few economic programmes in the Netherlands that offers a comprehensive and global perspective on current economic trends. When you choose this profile in your second year, you will study the impact of economic development and globalization on firms and individuals, and the governments’ role in that process.

With the increasing integration of the world economy through international trade and capital flows, it is important and highly relevant to consider contemporary economic issues. You will have the opportunity to take courses into various economic topics and subjects such as sustainability, technological change, innovation, and business ethics. You will learn about strategies that governments can pursue to ensure economic growth. Moreover, development economics will give you insight into the theories, policies and patterns that help analyze why some regions of the world have managed to develop successfully, while other regions are struggling.

You will have access to opportunities to develop practical skills and gain exposure to real-world economic challenges. Continuing with the MSc in Economic Development and Globalization will ensure that you are well-prepared for a range of career opportunities in various fields, both nationally and internationally.

Do you want to learn more about the other two profiles in Economics or Business Economics ?

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?
  • One of the few economic programmes in the Netherlands that offers a global perspective on current economic trends.
  • You will take part in various courses that focus on relevant issues in our society. In the course Sustainability and Globalization you will study how production in a global context impacts nature and emissions.
  • The course Technological change and innovation will teach you how and why firms choose to innovate and how the government and research organizations can affect these decisions.
  • You will learn about corporate responsibility and sustainable development and how this impacts organizations on a local and global level in the course Business Ethics, Sustainability and Law.
  • There is ample room to develop skills that are highly valued in the labor market. The programme has connections with the business community and invites professionals for guest lectures. This gives you the opportunity to network and engage with professionals in this field.
  • You can tailor-make your 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 minor possibilities (at the faculty, 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, which only 1% of universities reach worldwide.
Programme

In the first year, you will tackle the fundamentals of Micro, Macro-, and International Economics, and Finance and Accounting. You will also study the basics of Mathematics and Statistics applied in an economic context. You will also 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 Economic Development and Globalization profile, you learn about trade policies, what the fundamentals of growth are in shaping sustainable development, and about similarities and differences in the socioeconomic development of various regions in the world. 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)
Global Development Studies (5 EC)
Microeconomics - Industrial Organization (5 EC)
Technological Change & Innovation (5 EC)
Capital Structure and Financial Planning (5 EC)
Econometrics for E&BE (5 EC)
Growth, Institutions and Business (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

Growth and Development Economics (5 EC)
International Financial Markets (5 EC)

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

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

Intermediate Asset Pricing, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Labour Economics, Marketing Research for E&BE, Financial Statement Analysis for E&BE, Intermediate Corporate Finance, Intermediate Microeconomics, Political Economics.

Sustainability and Globalization (5 EC)
Trade and Firms (5 EC)

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

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 Economic Development and Globalization develops you into a broadly-oriented economist with a strong international profile. You are ready for an international career at multinational firms, in financial institutions, consultancy and public organizations. Jobs such as market analyst, trade expert, global strategy and policy advisor will suit you well. Graduates of the MSc ED&G will be able to take up positions in internationally oriented firms (such as banks and multinationals), international organizations (such as World Bank, IMF, European Union, UN and OECD) and internationally oriented departments of government agencies and policy advisors. Alternatively, if you would like to further develop yourself into the direction of academic research, you could choose the Research Master's degree programme . This degree will allow you to move into academia and perhaps decide to go further and earn a PhD at a university in the Netherlands or abroad.

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 aging and lean operations.

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

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Bachelor's Open DayBroerstraat 5More information
Bachelor's Open DayBroerstraat 5More information

Contact

The best thing about the profile is the open discussions we have in class (Siri Maringanti)

I wanted to study economics because this field is more and more important nowadays and I was interested particularly in the policies that are being considered to prevent and handle the financial crisis. Out of all the study programmes I looked at, the one in Groningen seemed to have the most holistic approach to economics, with not just the core macroeconomics and microeconomics subjects but also a heavy emphasis on developmental economics.

In my second year, I chose to follow the Economic Development and Globalization (ED&G) profile. One of my primary interests was researching uplifting marginalized communities as a driver in reaching a sustainable economy. One of the best things about choosing ED&G is the discussions that you have in classes regarding topics of development. Also, I think courses like Technology and Innovation enhanced my understanding of the global economy and the role technology plays in it. I enjoyed the research-based projects that taught me how to conduct research and prepared me for my thesis. In the future, I would like to do research on global sustainability and equity.

All in all, it is a challenging and very interesting programme and there is a lot to gain from it. Especially when you read financial and economic news and get to see some of the theories come to life.

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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