Do you want to become a specialist in regional economic development in an international context with a keen eye for the role of policy?
The track in Regional Competitiveness and Trade prepares you for a career in regional economic strategies and research in regional science.
The track, which is part of the Master in Economic Geography and organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Economics and Business, focusses on regional and global competitiveness related to trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Trade and FDI importantly govern the interconnectivity between countries and regions and their subsequent economic development. The ongoing fragmentation of value-chains - an iPad is manufactured all over the globe - leads to increasing trade between countries and a growing global presence of multinational firms.
How do global linkages between regions and countries influence their competitiveness? You will learn the latest theoretical (New Economic Geography) and methodological (Spatial Econometrics) approaches to address the issues of interconnectivity between regions through trade and FDI.
Our graduates are specialists in regional economic development with a keen eye for the role of policy. They are well versed in the latest theoretical and empirical Economic models of regional growth.
If you are interested in following a two-year programme in Economic Geography in two different countries (the Netherlands and Germany), then our Dual Degree Master International Programme in Economic Geography is the master programme for you!
If you are looking for a two-year programme and are interested in doing research, you can also integrate the master in Economic Geography with our two-year Research Master in Spatial Sciences.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Economic Geography: Theory and Practice (5 EC) | ||||
| Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development (5 EC) | ||||
| Sustainable Economic Development (FEB) (5 EC) | ||||
| Global Transformations Local Impacts (5 EC) | ||||
| Spatial and Network Interactions (5 EC) | ||||
| Master's Thesis Economic Geography (20 EC) | ||||
| Geographical and Urban Economics (5 EC) | ||||
| Regional Labour Market Dynamics (5 EC) | ||||
| Transport Geography (5 EC) | ||||
More information about this track: http://www.rug.nl/frw/education/master-info-frw/courses-master-economic-geography-track
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
You are automatically admitted with the research university programmes in the transfer options for all research universities below. Do you have a different previous education from a research university? Please contact study.advice.fss rug.nl to see if you can be directly admitted. In some cases you need to take a pre-master. Do you have a degree from a university of applied sciences? You might be able to take a pre-master. Please see the admission requirements in our pre-master guide: https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/pre-master/. |
| language test |
English on VWO level or one of the following equivalents:
A prospective student can always apply for an exemption from the English language test. The student needs to explain, and if required show proof of, why an exemption would be justified. It is up to the Admission Board to decide whether an exemption will be granted or not. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| All Universities of applied sciences |
Via a pre-master More information: |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Human Geography and Urban and Regional Planning | Utrecht University | No additional requirements |
| Sociology | Utrecht University | No additional requirements |
| Economics and Business Economics | Utrecht University | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | Tilburg University | No additional requirements |
| Economics and Business Economics | Tilburg University | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations and International Organization | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Sociology | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Bedrijfskunde - Business and Management | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Spatial Planning and Design | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Human Geography and Planning | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Bedrijfskunde - Technology Management | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| International Business | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Economics and Business Economics | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | University of Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
| Human Geography and Urban and Regional Planning | University of Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | VU University Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
| Economics and Business Economics | VU University Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | Erasmus University Rotterdam | No additional requirements |
| Economics and Business Economics | Erasmus University Rotterdam | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Economics and Business Economics | Radboud University Nijmegen | No additional requirements |
| Sociology | Radboud University Nijmegen | No additional requirements |
| Economics and Business Economics | Radboud University Nijmegen | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| International Business | Maastricht University | No additional requirements |
| Economics and Business Economics | Maastricht University | No additional requirements |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 15 January 2027 | 01 February 2027 | |
| 15 August 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 November 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
| 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| 01 November 2027 | 01 February 2028 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 November 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
| 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| 01 November 2027 | 01 February 2028 |
If you are considering applying for a start in February, please know that this has practical implications for your studies.We strongly advise a start in September. Before applying for a February start in our programme and paying the application fee for students with a foreign diploma, we advise you to discuss your application with one of our Study Advisors (study.advice.fss rug.nl)
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
The programme welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds within the social sciences, economics, and interdisciplinary studies that provide the knowledge and research skills needed to study regional development, socio‑spatial inequalities, and policy responses. Please apply in Studielink if you have an international previous education and your application will be assessed by the Admission Office of the University of Groningen. We offer a pre-master programme for students who are not directly admissible to this master. For admission requirements of the pre-master see: https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/pre-master/ |
| language test |
English on VWO level or one of the following equivalents:
A prospective student can always apply for an exemption from the English language test. The student needs to explain, and if required show proof of, why an exemption would be justified. It is up to the Admission Board to decide whether an exemption will be granted or not. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 15 January 2027 | 01 February 2027 | |
| 15 August 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 November 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
| 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| 01 November 2027 | 01 February 2028 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 November 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
| 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 | |
| 01 November 2027 | 01 February 2028 |
If you are considering applying for a start in February, please know that this has practical implications for your studies.We strongly advise a start in September. Before applying for a February start in our programme and paying the application fee for students with a foreign diploma, we advise you to discuss your application with one of our Study Advisors (study.advice.fss rug.nl)
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2026-2027 | € 2695 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2026-2027 | € 22200 | full-time |
Scholarships: For information about scholarships see the Study in NL website.
Students are expected to follow our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. For more detailed information about laptop requirements, please visit this webpagePractical information for:
Graduates in Economic Geography that have followed the track in regional competitiveness and trade are specialists in regional economic development in an international context with a keen eye for the role of policy. Also, they are well-versed in the latest methods and models in regional science. With this background, the programme prepares well a position in regional economic strategies and research in regional science:
Throughout the year we offer support for practical career preparation and employability skills. Workshops are given about leadership, job interviews and how to present yourself. More information about the FSS Career Services.
In the field of Economic Geography the emphasis of the research lays with regional labour market analysis, the demography of firms, Geography of Innovation and Sustainability Transition and well-being.
I chose for the master track Regional Competitiveness and Trade because it offers three economic courses where contemporary economic models are discussed which are used often, especially in regional economics.
For example: how do regional spillovers occur, and how do you measure this? But also more practical examples like what can possibly happen to Groningen if the infrastructure to the Randstad will be improved? Will the region gain, or not? This is the first time I get in touch with these really practical models, which assures me that I am learning skills that I can use in my future career.
Groningen is one of the only universities who offers a programme in Economic Geography. In other universities, the focus is more on human geography. Furthermore, the University of Groningen is unique because it is one of the few universities that have their own faculty for geographers and planners; the Faculty of Spatial Sciences. It’s a rather small faculty, so teachers know you and if you have questions they can help you right away. I think this is a real benefit.
If you are interested in geography, but you’d also like to use economic models, especially for geographers, this is probably the best course you can choose. After graduating, your future options are countless.
- Jan Sander
