Master in Applied Economics | IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs

Master in Applied Economics

duration10 months
languageEnglish
locationMadrid + One-week international field trip
intakeSeptember
MODE OF STUDYIn-person
FormatFull-time
duration10 months
languageEnglish
locationMadrid + One-week international field trip
intakeSeptember
MODE OF STUDYIn-person
FormatFull-time

THE MASTER IN APPLIED ECONOMICS PROGRAM

Gain hands-on experience and learn from leading industry experts and academics, boosting your career prospects in just ten months. The program is divided into three terms, offering students a mixture of core courses, elective specialist tracks, and a Final Project. Classes will take place in our vibrant and diverse Madrid campus.

POWERED BY RESEARCH, METHODS AND DATA

The Master in Applied Economics gives you all the industry know-how, with a practical twist. The far-reaching study plan is designed to future-proof your skill set. You’ll combine theory, research and data analysis to respond to real-world economic issues, giving you the hands-on experience that recruiters are looking for.

From learning about the fundamentals of economics to analyzing case studies and forecasting from models, you’ll be well-equipped to launch a successful career in finance, consulting or public policy. Choose from one of three tracks in your third term to specialize and further your skills.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

EXPLORE THE MASTER IN APPLIED ECONOMICS

Program Structure
10 Months

The pre-program is an introductory period held before the program begins and completed by the end of the introduction week. During this module, you’ll explore the basic tools that allow professionals to develop meaningful insights from quantitative information and delve into basic programming in R and Python. During the pre-program period, you’ll study several courses including:

  • DATA ANALYTICS

    This pre-course is designed to provide a set of basic tools that allow you to develop meaningful insights from quantitative information. You will also acquire the fundamental numerical skills required for performing well during the core phase of your master’s degree.

  • PROGRAMMING FOR ECONOMICS

    This pre-course introduces you to basic programming in both R and Python. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll learn the theory behind—and application of—some basic Python and R scripts. By the end of the course, you’ll know how to use different libraries, operators and data structures. You will also acquire the necessary knowledge for the core course, Data Science for Economics.

  • MICROECONOMICS

    This course aims to provide the essential foundations of Microeconomics. Review the fundamental concepts as you prepare for the main Microeconomics course in the Master in Applied Economics. Through this course, you will acquire the essential tools for analyzing consumer and firm behavior and enhance your understanding of the main concepts with practical applications.

*Please note that our program content is continually updated to remain in sync with market demands. Therefore, we advise you that the content is subject to change and it can be dependent on student demand.

PERSONALIZE YOUR PROGRAM

After mastering the fundamentals, you’ll have the freedom to personalize your program, choosing from tracks specifically designed to address the needs of the market. Select the track that best suits your own career path from:

  • ECONOMICS FOR PUBLIC POLICY

    This is the track for socially conscious professionals looking for a career where you’ll make an impact on large organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank or national governments. In this track, you’ll study subjects such as health, education, labor economics, poverty and urban economics, giving you a comprehensive insight into the art of economic policy-making.

  • ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR CORPORATIONS

    This track is for ambitious corporate leaders with the desire to master the more technical dimensions of economics. If you’re attracted to economic modeling, rigorous quantitative methods or the application of machine learning and data analytics to business, this is the track for you. Learn to wield the tools behind complex operations, asset management, investment modeling and the modern financial services industry, gaining in-demand skills that few people possess and placing you front and center for positions at the most prestigious companies worldwide.

  • ECONOMIC CONSULTANCY AND MARKET REGULATION

    If you’re looking to work for some of the most competitive consulting companies in the world, you’ll need the strategic vision provided by this track. Combine your knowledge of M&A, pricing analysis, project evaluation and market dynamics to become a successful consultant. Completing this track will place you firmly in the headlights of the largest consulting firms in the world.

*Providing an enriching learning environment is one of our priorities. With this in mind, if only a small number of students enroll in a specific track, that track will not run that academic year.

CAPSTONE PARTNERS

For their final project, students of the Master in Applied Economics can choose between an individual, research-oriented thesis or a practical team-based Capstone Consulting Project. Underneath you can find capstone partners for the Master in Applied Economics.

NOTE: The partners listed here are from previous intakes. Partnering institutions may vary from year to year.

GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS MASTER PROGRAM

Daniel Fernández, Academic Director of the Master in Applied Economics & Vice-dean of Economics, explains in-depth this program.

Get to Know more About this Master Program | IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs
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IMMERSION WEEK EXPERIENCE

As part of your Master in Applied Economics, you will have the opportunity to be part of a one-week field trip where you will visit top companies in the field and get first-hand insights from leading industry experts. This is a great way to understand how these international organizations are tackling global challenges.

* Visits to organizations may vary from one year to another.

Immersion Week Experience | IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs
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PARTNER UNIVERSITIES FOR THE EXCHANGES

You can personalize your program by spending an additional semester at one of our partner universities worldwide, following the third and final semester in Madrid. Our agreements with these institutions offer you the chance to gain international experience and expand your learning at some of the world's top universities.

NOTE: Spots are limited in all exchange programs. Upon acceptance into an exchange program, there is a fee for reserving your place, but tuition at the partner institution is free of charge. You'll only need to cover your living expenses while there.

  • UNIVERSITY OF ST. GALLEN

    UNIVERSITY OF ST. GALLEN

  • SciencesPo

    SCIENCES PO

  • Universidad SanAndres

    UNIVERSIDAD DE SAN ANDRÉS

  • UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND

    UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND

  • LUISS, ROMA

    LUISS, ROMA

  • UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA (ITALY)

    UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA (ITALY)

  • TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH

    TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH

  • Ashoka University

  • Central European University (CEU), Austria

  • Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore

  • Logo of the University of Milan featuring a classical figure and Latin inscriptions.

    University of Milan

  • A blue logo featuring three white vertical bars inside a white circle.

    Hochschule für Politik München / Bavarian School of Public Policy

  • Logo of the European University Institute featuring stylized arch and text.

    EUI (European University Institute)

  • Kautilya School of Public Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The ten-month Master in Applied Economics begins with a focus on fundamentals such as macroeconomics, microeconomics and statistics, before advancing into practical and technical skills in the second term. The third and final term features a chosen specialization track.

  • During the third and last term of the program, you can choose one of three specialization tracks: Economics for Public Policy, Economic Analysis for Corporations or Economic Consultancy and Market Regulation. This allows you to delve deeper into the area that interests you most while gaining deep knowledge and practical experience.

  • As part of the Master in Applied Economics, you can participate in Immersion Week, a one-week international field trip to visit top companies in various global hubs and gain firsthand insights from leading industry experts. Additionally, you can choose to spend an exchange semester abroad after your final term in Madrid. Our partner universities include Sciences Po, University of Bologna, University of Iceland and Singapore Management University, among others.

    For the final project, you can choose between doing a research-oriented thesis or a practical consulting project alongside corporate partners such as BBVA and Caixa Bank, among others.

  • When applying for the Master in Applied Economics, it’s important to have a solid academic background with a high GPA in your undergraduate degree, or high grades in economics, statistics and math.

  • After completing the final semester of the Master in Applied Economics in Madrid, you can choose to spend an additional semester studying abroad. Our agreements with global partner universities allow you to spend the exchange semester learning at one of eight top academic institutions around the world.

  • The Master in Applied Economics is designed to give you a firm understanding of fundamental and advanced economic concepts, no matter your background. Through a blend of theory, case studies and quantitative methods, you’ll quickly find your footing in the program. It’s rigorous and challenging, but with some helpful tips from our current students , you’ll be ready to excel throughout your academic journey.