Master’s programme in Economics

About Audun

"After finishing my bachelor’s in Business Administration in Norway I decided to pursue a Master’s in Economics, much due to my interest in macroeconomics. After doing a lot of research on potential universities through different rankings and accreditations, I ended up applying to Lund. It was also highly recommended to me by my supervisor at the time."

What is the programme like?

"The mandatory courses in the beginning of the programme gives you a good base knowledge within both economics and econometrics, and through the choice of courses and thesis topics you get the opportunity to specialize within your own field of interest. More importantly, you learn how to cope with a large workload and multiple deadlines, analyze and solve complex problems, and how to work together with different types of people. These are all skills that you will benefit from when entering working life.

Most courses are based on lectures, but also include computer labs and different assignments, and are usually concluded with a written exam. A lot of individual work is necessary in order to prepare for exams, but working in groups is both encouraged and expected as a lot of the assignments are solved in groups of two or more students. The interaction between students and teachers is very informal, and students are encouraged to ask questions and be active during the lectures. The lecturers are in general also available and happy to answer questions and help you also outside of the lectures.

There is a nice mix of students from different nationalities, backgrounds and fields of interest. This means that whatever topic you are struggling with, there is always someone who can help you out, and everyone is always happy to share their knowledge. It also gives you a large network all over the world within different industries."

What are you planning to do after your year/years in Lund?

My goal is to work in the intersect between macroeconomics and public policy, and I am currently applying for jobs within the public sector. However, a Master’s in Economics from Lund gives you a lot of freedom and opportunities to pursue different career paths within economics.

Other comments about the overall experience?  

Lund is an amazing student city. The city and its activities are mainly built around the university and its students, and there is always something do also outside the studies.

“I chose to study economics because of the financial crisis that hit Spain in 2008. I was curious about why it happened, and what could be done to solve it. In the Master’s in Economics, we learn sound economic theories in microeconomics and macroeconomics, and how to critically assess and challenge them. Furthermore, the programme equips us with the quantitative skills in mathematics, statistical methods and econometrics required to test theories, carry out policy analysis and pursue original research at the PhD level. You also learn to work in a truly international environment, and adapt to the different cultures and ways of working.

The workload is high and the pace is incredibly fast. The relationship between professors and students is, unlike in many other countries, very warm and informal. The professors are always available to students, and participation during class is encouraged. It is also worth mentioning that the programme has six different specialisations and that it offers a vast array of courses in each subfield. A course typically consists of lectures, assignments and a final exam. Generally, assignments are done in groups of two to four students. I find the assignments diverse and challenging, which forces us to be creative. 

When I first selected the Master’s in Economics, I was sure I would end up doing a PhD afterwards. However, the programme has introduced me to new areas within the field of economics. I ended up being very interested in finance and, in particular, risk management. Before graduation, I secured a job in Spain as a Financial Risk Management Consultant at Deloitte.”