The aim of the master’s programme in economics is to give students a wide understanding of economic issues and a comprehensive knowledge of econometric and mathematical tools of analysis. When studying in the programme, the students will develop the following skills:

• analytical thinking: the ability to analyse a wide range of economic phenomena by using different theories;
• scientific thinking: the ability to apply the economic theory in practice;
• methodological skills: the ability to use econometric and mathematical methods; and
• communication skills: the ability to structure and report economic analysis orally and in writing.

Programme studies 84 cr

Mandatory studies 54 cr

^{*) Replaces course 31E12100 Microeconomics: Policy. Students who have started their master's level studies before 1.8.2017 and completed the course 31E12100 Microeconomics: Policy complete the course Capstone: Economics (31E99904).}

^{1) Enrollment to the seminar held in autumn semester by 31.5. (in the previous spring) and to the seminar held in spring semester by 31.10. (in the previous autumn). See further information from here.}

It is recommended that students who wish to continue to doctoral studies choose a wider combination of courses in micro- and macroeconomic theory than the minimum requirements. It is also possible to choose the research master track from the beginning of the master's studies.

Elective studies 30 cr

Choose five courses from the list below:

^{1) Replaces the course 31E00700 Labor Economics
2) Replaces the course 31E00710 Topics in Labor Economics
*) Not lectured 2020-2021 or 2021-2022
**) Topics in Economics is usually taught by a visiting lecturer. Topic may vary from year to year and the course is not necessarily offered every year.}

Also courses 77E24000 Business Presentations (3 cr) and 77E25000 Business Negotiations (3 cr) can be included in the programme electives.

At the consent of the programme director it is possible to include 1-2 courses offered by other subjects at the School of Business or by other schools of the Aalto University. This enables the student to focus on a certain area of economics, e.g. financial economics. These courses must meet the goals and requirements of the programme. For more information, you can contact the planning officer of Economics.

Advanced courses in University of Helsinki and Hanken School of Economics

Within the Helsinki GSE cooperation the students can also complete advanced courses of economics offered by the University of Helsinki and Hanken School of Economics.

To take courses at the other two universities, you must apply study rights for the courses and fill in a study right application form at https://www.helsinkigse.fi/desc/how-to-enroll/

The following courses are available:

University of Helsinki 2021-2022:

^{*) Organized by the Master’s program in Agricultural, Environmental and Resource Economics (AGERE)}

Students can complement these courses with the course "31E09200 Supplementary Studies in Economics" (1 cr). The course 31E09200 Supplementary Studies in Economics should be completed at the same time than the course for which the supplementary 1 credit is needed, so the student should contact the programme director or the planning officer of economics in advance. For more information, see course description in Sisu (search with the code 31E09200).

Please note that the teaching periods in the University of Helsinki differ from the teaching periods in Aalto. Information about the registration to the courses can be found from here.

Hanken School of Economics 2021-2022:

Students can complement these courses with the course "31E09200 Supplementary Studies in Economics" (1 cr). The course 31E09200 Supplementary Studies in Economics should be completed at the same time than the course for which the supplementary 1 credit is needed, so the student should contact the programme director or the planning officer of economics in advance. For more information, see course description in Sisu (search with the code 31E09200).

Information about the registration to courses offered by Hanken can be found from here.

Minor studies 24 cr

Electives 12 cr

Students aiming at the Doctoral Programme or jobs that require advanced methodological skills may at the consent of the programme director also include in their degree studies research master track courses arranged within the Helsinki Graduate School of Economics cooperation. A separate structure is proposed for the Research Master Track. Alternatively, the research master track courses can replace the required advanced courses in Microeconomic and Macroeconomic Theory and Econometrics, or they can be completed for programme electives.

Students who wish to complete the research master track must send an application to the programme director Juuso Välimäki. Student can start completing the research master track courses only after the approval of the programme director.

Research Track information session 17.11.2021 (pdf)

Programme studies 84 cr

Mandatory studies 39 cr

^{*) The Math Camp is held 23.8.2021 - 3.9.2021.}

^{1) Enrollment to the seminar held in autumn semester by 31.5. (in the previous spring) and to the seminar held in spring semester by 31.10. (in the previous autumn). See further information from here.}

(Helsinki Graduate School of Economics) Research Master Track courses 45 cr

The research master track courses are arranged within the Helsinki Graduate School of Economics cooperation. The course details are given on the course host university’s (Aalto University, Hanken School of Economics or University of Helsinki) WebOodi/Sisu page. The research master track courses (Advanced Econometrics, Advanced Macroeconomics and Advanced Microeconomics) are listed on Helsinki GSE website at: https://www.helsinkigse.fi/courses/

Compulsory 30 cr

^{*) Students must choose one of the compulsory course as a Capstone course.}

Electives 15 cr

Choose 3 courses from the following:

Minor studies 24 cr

The minor of the Master’s degree is 24 credits.

Economics research master track students can complete for example a Minor in research methods. 

For a list of all the minors at Aalto University, see Minors 2020–2022

Electives 12 cr

At the Department of Economics, the students enroll to the 31E99905 Master's thesis seminar held in autumn semester already by 31.5. (in the previous spring) and the seminar held in spring by 31.10. (in the previous autumn). You can find more information about the enrollment and master's thesis seminar in general from here.