From individuals to businesses and governments, we all make choices every day. Economics is the science of choice, from the personal (Why do you buy what you do?) to the public (How do government policies affect consumer behaviour?).

Business economics, meanwhile, is about solving specific problems within companies (How can we as a company get consumers to choose our product?). Understanding the choices that all these players make is essential in today’s globalising society, where consumer choices and business opportunities are multiplying by the hour.

You’ll not only learn the economic theory but will also develop the practical skills for analysing specific problems and the professional skills for presenting your solutions. You’ll be well-qualified to advise businesses, consumers and even policy makers on economic issues. This opens up a wide range of career opportunities to you and will help you succeed at whichever path you choose. 

Why this programme?

Economics looks at broader problems that relate to individuals, governments, and national as well as international economies. It’s a science that examines how markets work, how businesses and consumers behave, and how legislative and regulatory changes impact businesses and consumers. Business Economics covers economic problems within companies and how to solve them. You’ll develop the skills to examine economic issues from all angles and to come up with appropriate solutions. 

In the Economics and Business Economics programme, you’ll analyse business problems using tools from both economics and business:

• Economics: quantitative skills, economic modelling, information management, knowledge management, network economics
• Business: strategy, finance, accounting, banking, managerial economics

Your first year:

All students will follow the same courses in the first year. These cover a broad range of business and economics topics such as finance, accounting, international economic relations, micro and macroeconomics, organisation and marketing as well as skills such as presentation, communication and quantitative skills. This will allow you to make a well-informed decision about which specialisation you’re interested in pursuing in your second and third years.

What you’ll actually do:

• Learn by doing in small, intercultural teams
• Address the sorts of problems you’ll face in your career, in a study setting designed to resemble a real working environment
• Develop your knowledge of marketing, economics, finance and management
• Enhance your practical skills in mathematics, statistics and computer science
• Learn how to apply the insights you gain to run businesses more effectively

Study abroad:

In the Economics and Business Economics programme, you’ll be required to study abroad for at least half a year. This gives you the opportunity to expand your knowledge of other cultures and practices. The School has an extensive network of more than 130 partner universities around the world, in countries including Australia, Singapore, South Africa, the United States, and throughout Europe. The semester abroad at a partner university is a compulsory part of the curriculum. Depending on your study programme, you go on exchange either in the first or in the second semester of your third year of your bachelor’s.

On a yearly base, up to 750 SBE students spend part of their studies abroad within an exchange programme, and about 740 exchange students visit SBE.​

Internships:

Within this bachelor’s programme, there are two internship possibilities: a curricular and an extracurricular internship. The curricular internship involves replacing part of the programme (4 ECTS) with an internship. The internship should be between 6 and 14 weeks full-time. Most students opt for an internship during the summer break, either in the second or third year. The extracurricular internship is an addition to your bachelor’s programme and does not replace any part of your programme curriculum. The internship should be between 8 and 26 weeks full-time.

To assist you in finding an internship, SBE maintains a database with internship opportunities for each programme. The SBE Internship Office is also on hand for guidance and counselling.