Programme structure
For students who started spring 2009 or before, please find the recommended study plan here
Recomended study plan for students who started autumn 2009
The following information is for students starting their studies autumn 2010.
The 2-year master’s programme in Economics encompasses nine courses (90 credits) and a master's thesis and an oral exam (30 credits in total).
The compulsory courses are:
Microeconomics:
ECON4215 - Microeconomics (discontinued)Microeconomics
Macroeconomics:
ECON4310 - Macroeconomic Theory *
Mathematics:
ECON4120 - Mathematics 2: Calculus and linear algebra
Econometrics:
ECON4150 - Introductory Econometrics Alternatively: ECON4135 - Applied statistics and econometrics (discontinued)
The programme starts every autumn semester (in August) and the following sequence of courses is recommended:
| 4. semester | ECON4090 - Master's thesis + Final oral exam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. semester | Optional ECON 4000 subject in Economics | Optional ECON 4000 subject in Economics | Optional ECON 4000 subject in Economics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. semester | ECON4150 - Introductory Econometrics or ECON4135 - Applied statistics and econometrics (discontinued) | Optional ECON 4000 subject in Economics | Optional ECON 4000 subject in Economics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. semester | ECON4120 - Mathematics 2: Calculus and linear algebra | ECON4215 - Microeconomics (discontinued)Microeconomics | ECON4310 - Macroeconomic Theory * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* ECON3410 - Introductory dynamic macroeconomics (discontinued) / ECON4410 may replace the compulsory requirements in macroeconomics ECON4310 - Macroeconomic Theory
The compulsory courses give you a solid platform within the field of micro- and macroeconomics, mathematics and econometrics.
The optional courses you choose are your specialization. You may choose optional courses that are relevant for your master’s thesis. Please consult this list for an overview of the courses offered by the Department.
If any of the compulsory courses,
- ECON4120 - Mathematics 2: Calculus and linear algebra
- ECON4150 - Introductory Econometrics or
- ECON4215 - Microeconomics (discontinued) Microeconomics
has been taken as a part of the Bachelor's degree program in Economics at the University of Oslo, accordingly as ECON3120 - Mathematics 2: Calculus and linear algebra , ECON3150 - Introductory Econometrics or ECON3215 - Microeconomics (discontinued) Microeconomics (previously ECON3210 - Decisions, markets and incentives (discontinued) ), the student must replace them with optional courses to get a total of 9 courses in their Master’s degree.
Master's thesis
The work with your master's thesis starts in the 2nd semester; you choose a topic and a supervisor is appointed. In your 3rd semester you must hand in the project proposal that must be approved by the master's committee. In your 4th semester you are supposed to work full time with your thesis. For more information about the deadlines for approval of the project proposal and the master's thesis please consult the web page for ECON4090 - Master's thesis
Exchange
As a master’s student at the Department of Economic you have a wide variety of exchange agreement to choose from. Both the Departments own agreements and the University of Oslo’s.
If you wish to spend one semester abroad we recommend that you do so in your 2nd or 3rd semester of the master’s programme. If you wish to spend a whol year abroad you, we recommend that you use your 2nd year.
How to qualify for further PhD studies
Students who holds a 2 year Master's degree in Economics or equivalent, with good results, are qualified to apply to take a PhD.
For students who plan to take a PhD or getting analytically demanding jobs in private or public sector, we recommend that you take two of the (new) PhD-courses as optional courses. ECON5200 - Advanced Microeconomics (15 credits), ECON5300 - Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (15 credits) or ECON5103 - Advanced Econometrics - Panel Data (15 credits). For more information about the Ph.D. programme please visit the programme's web page