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Sample Opportunities
 Summary
Chart: This chart contains information about program eligibility,
duration, and language prerequisites for the programs described below.
Note: Country descriptions below include information
from the U.S. Department of State.
Australian economic reforms since the 1980s have generated rapid
economic growth and reoriented the economy towards exports. The continent’s
wealth of natural resources, combined with a very small domestic market
(the contiguous U.S. has 14 times as many people in a comparable area),
has virtually ensured large surpluses of agricultural, mineral, and other
primary products. However, concerns are increasing over the unprecedented
national water shortage. Strengthening economic ties with other nations
in the Asia-Pacific region, and concern for the economic development of
the region as a whole, are reflected in the economics curricula of many
Australian universities.
The Australian National University, Canberra
ANU’s School
of Economics is one of the most highly regarded in Australia, placing
at or near the top in most rankings. Its strengths range from core microeconomics
and macroeconomics through financial, public and international economics.
In addition, course offerings allow specialization in business economics,
economic development, economic history, econometrics, economic theory,
and money and finance.
Monash University, Melbourne
With a strong emphasis on developing analytical skills, courses from
the Department of Economics
cover a range of fields: econometrics and business statistics; international
commerce; competition, regulation and public policy; finance; labor and
employment; Asian development and transition; etc.
- Economics
courses (listed under ECC and ECF, courses numbered above 4999 are
graduate level)
The University of Melbourne
The highly ranked Department of Economics, in the Faculty
of Economics and Commerce offers courses in core areas of economics,
as well as in international trade, development economics, behavioral economics,
economic design, environmental economics, money and banking, game theory,
and forecasting.
The University of New South Wales, Sydney
The School of Economics
consistently scores near the top in both teaching and research rankings
of Australian universities and offers a wide variety of courses, especially
in econometrics, financial economics and economic history. Course options
are designed to provide a strong body of applied knowledge about the Australian
economy and its place within the global economy. In addition, there is
a broad range of courses specializing in the Asian economies.
The University of Western Australia, Perth
Economics courses offered by the School
of Economics and Commerce focus on the following areas: quantitative
economics, money and banking, international business economics, Asian
business, industrial relations and economic history.
Canada is one of the world's wealthiest nations and has historically
maintained strong economic ties with the United States. The trade and
economic integration increased further with the implementation of the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, and the two nations
now share the largest and most comprehensive trading relationship in the
world. Vast in size, Canada has a diverse abundance of natural resources
(including the world's second largest reserves of oil) and provides the
U.S. with more energy than any other foreign supplier. Among the topics
hotly debated today in Canada is the rising cost of the publicly funded
healthcare system.
The University of British Columbia
The Department of Economics ranks
very highly world-wide. Courses cover a broad range of topics, including:
environmental economics, money and banking, labor economics, international
economics, economic history of Canada, poverty and inequality, public
finance, women and the economy, law and economics, transition economics,
etc.
Vancouver boasts the second largest port on the West Coast of North
America, and is the third largest film production centre in North America
(after Los Angeles and New York), earning it the nickname “Hollywood
North.”
Since the late 1970s, gradually implemented economic reforms have
changed the Chinese economy from a closed state-planned system to a self-described
"socialist market economy,” which features a growing private
sector and openness to foreign investment, but is still within the political
framework provided by the Communist Party. Over this period, China has
enjoyed unprecedented economic growth and is now one of the world’s
largest economies. At the same time, China is still a developing country
and disparities between the coastal provinces and poorer interior regions
are becoming more pronounced. The largest energy consumer after the U.S.,
China is attempting to reduce its dependence on coal in favor of cleaner,
renewable energy sources.
Fudan University, Shanghai
Students of economics and business, political economy, development,
and global and international studies can study in a spring semester program,
taught in English, at Fudan University. The curriculum consists of a core
course, “Chinese Economic Reform and Development” and electives
selected from courses in the School
of Economics, School of Management, and Department of Sociology. Students
learn to apply theory and classroom study to real-life practice through
case studies and projects.
Shanghai is a rapidly growing hub of international commerce and finance,
boasting one of the world’s busiest ports. Together with the Yangtze
River Delta, it is an ideal laboratory for students to observe rapid economic
development against a traditional rural and urban society, and to compare
the application of international business practices.
Recent strength of the Danish economy has enabled the government to
effectively pay off its national debt. Denmark’s standard of living
is among the highest in the world and extensive welfare benefits guarantee
basic health care for all citizens. However, this safety net and a large
public sector are financed by high taxes (including a 25% value added
tax and a progressive income tax up to 59%), and potentially sharp declines
in the ratio of workers to retirees in the future is an issue of national
concern. Although an active participant in the economic integration of
Europe, Denmark has so far chosen not to adopt the Euro despite exceeding
the European Economic and Monetary Union’s (EMU) criteria for doing
so.
University of Copenhagen
General economic theory and methodology occupy a central position in
the research profile of the Department of Economics (http://www.econ.ku.dk/)
as well as in the required curriculum for students at all levels. Reflecting
this emphasis are a wide range of courses covering many subfields of economics,
including: quantitative methods, microeconomics, macroeconomics and monetary
economics, industrial organization, economic history, finance, and development,
international, public, health, labor, and experimental economics. Because
most of these courses are technically rigorous, demanding mathematical
sophistication, UC students should be advanced in their major.
Copenhagen is Denmark's capital, largest city, and chief industrial
center. Reflecting its long commercial tradition, its name is derived
from the Danish for “merchants' harbor.” It was here that
the economic and political conditions for joining the EU (the “Copenhagen
criteria”) were established.
Already the most populous nation in the Arab world, continued growth
is taxing the resources of Egypt’s legendarily fertile Nile valley,
which has sustained human civilization for thousands of years. The majority
of Egyptians live on or around the less than 5% of Egypt’s total
land area that is arable, leading to some of the world’s highest
population densities. Recently however, the government has accelerated
the pace of economic reforms aimed at shifting from a highly centralized
to a more market-oriented economy. Such continued privatization and deregulation
has boosted the stock market and increased foreign investment.
The American University in Cairo
The curricula of the Economics
Department are highly comparable to those of UC economics departments.
In addition to core topics of economic theory, statistics, and econometrics,
students can take advantage of courses in finance, development, trade,
and economic history, many of which focus on issues in Egypt and the Middle
East.
Cairo is the most populous city in Africa and the Middle East and, together
with Alexandria, is the heart of the Egyptian economy.
France is one of the world’s largest economies and its top tourist
destination. The government plays a major role in much of the country’s
economic activity, especially in energy production (nearly 80% nuclear),
public transportation, telecommunications, and defense. Furthermore, extensive
social spending supports universal health care as well as substantial
retirement and unemployment benefits, resulting in one of the lowest poverty
rates in the world. However, France has had a poor record of job creation
in recent years and continues to struggle with chronically high unemployment
(reaching 40% of youth in some immigrant communities). The 35-hour work
week has been a topic of debate since its inception in 1998.
University of Toulouse
The highly regarded Faculty
of Economics offers a range of courses in economics and business fields.
In the past, EAP students have taken courses such as international economics,
European economics, finance, and social welfare economics.
The rapidly growing city of Toulouse is home to much of the European
aerospace industry.
Germany’s so-called social market economy promotes free enterprise
while providing an extensive array of social services and intervening
in the economy through ownership of or subsidies to certain segments of
the economy. Since reunification in 1990, Germany has struggled to modernize
and integrate the economy of formerly communist Eastern Germany. Today
it is Europe’s largest economy, although chronically high unemployment—partially
attributed to strict layoff regulations—wage stagnation and high
taxes have dramatically slowed economic growth. Debate currently centers
on whether new economic reforms are needed.
Free University, Berlin
The faculty
of “Economy Science” offers a variety of courses in economics
and business fields, with a strong international focus and an emphasis
on empirical analysis.
Though replaced by Frankfurt as the financial center of Germany after
World War II, the city state of Berlin is the nation’s capital and
ideally situated for studying Germany’s (economic) reunification.
- Economics courses
(listed under Bachelor VWL, Grundstudium, and by area—includes
both undergraduate and graduate courses)
A British colony until 1997, Hong Kong is now governed as a Special
Administrative Region of China. Under the "One Country, Two Systems"
policy, Hong Kong will retain significant autonomy, including its economic
system, for fifty years after the transfer of sovereignty. With few natural
resources and a small domestic market, Hong Kong has achieved extraordinary
economic success by becoming an international center of trade and finance:
its laissez-faire approach to capitalism has earned it the title of freest
economy in the world. The government is pursuing further economic integration
with China while attempting to maintain its position as gateway, and middleman
in the case of Taiwan, to the mainland.
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Department of Economics,
in HKUST’s School of Business, has an outstanding international
reputation. In addition to the common core of microeconomics, macroeconomics
and econometrics, research efforts focus on three specific areas: Economic
Growth and Development, Industrial Organization/Theory of the Firm, and
International Economics. Students interested in business may also take
courses in English from the School’s departments of accounting,
finance, information and systems management, management of organizations,
and marketing. Strong emphasis is placed on scientific and analytical
methods, supplemented by the use of case studies appropriate to Hong Kong
and the neighboring region. The courses are rigorous and academic expectations
are very high.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
EAP students at CUHK are affiliated with the International Asian Studies
Programme (IASP) but may also take courses from departments such as the
highly ranked Department
of Economics. Stressing both theory and application in its curricula,
the department offers a wide range of economics courses including many
focused on the economies of Hong Kong and China. UC students are encouraged
to participate in group research projects in China sponsored by CUHK faculty
members or to develop independent study projects in cooperation with CUHK
professors.
The University of Hong Kong
Course offerings of the School of
Economics and Finance concentrate on areas such as general economics
theory, international economics, quantitative economics, financial analysis,
and financial management. Particular attention is paid to economic and
financial institutions and systems in the Asian region.
Italy is a G8 nation and a charter member of the European Economic
Community (now the EU). A key economic strength is manufacturing, especially
by small and medium-sized family-owned companies specializing in products
such as high-quality machinery and stylish consumer goods. However, increased
competition from globalization presents a significant challenge for these
companies and there are concerns about whether Italy is internationally
competitive in advanced goods and services. Italy also struggles with
persistent regional differences: the north is highly developed and industrialized
while the agricultural south suffers from inadequate infrastructure, lower
incomes, higher unemployment, and greater corruption.
University of Commerce Luigi Bocconi, Milan
Bocconi is a research university of international standing, offering
programs
in economics, business, and law. UC students at the advanced undergraduate
or graduate level are eligible to participate. Although most courses at
Bocconi are offered in Italian, many, including courses from the University’s
Bachelor
of International Economics and Management, are offered in English.
Additional
information.
Milan is Italy’s most populous city and home to la Borsa Italiana
(the Italian Stock Exchange).
- Economics
courses (click on “Course search – alphabetical order”,
then filter by department and program type)
Japan ascended to its current position (among the three largest world
economies) through government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic,
mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation
(1% of GDP). A distinguishing characteristic of the Japanese economy has
been a type of business group called keiretsu, in which manufacturers,
suppliers, and distributors work together in groups centered around, and
often named after, one or more banks (e.g. Mitsubishi, Sanwa, etc.). Many
large companies such as these have guaranteed lifetime employment, but
this practice is on the decline. Reform and privatization of industries
previously controlled, protected, or subsidized by the state are currently
issues of debate in Japan.
Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo
Hitotsubashi is one of Japan’s premier national universities in
economics, business and commerce. The
Faculty of Economics offers courses in the following branches of economics:
economic theory, statistical analysis, public economics, economic policy,
economic geography, regional economics, and economic history.
Osaka University
The highly ranked School of
Economics offers a variety of courses in the broad areas of economic
theory, economic policy, economic history, and the Japanese economy, supplemented
by courses in business administration and management science.
Free trade agreements with over 40 countries cover nearly all of Mexico’s
trade, making it one of the world’s most open economies. Trade with
the U.S. and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994
and today about 85% of Mexico's exports go to the U.S., making the Mexican
economy highly dependent on its North American counterpart (as well as
on the remittances of immigrants working in the U.S.). One of the largest
oil producers in the world, Mexico has successfully reduced dependence
on this commodity though economic diversification. Other important exports
include automobiles and electronic equipment. The presence of maquiladoras
that assemble imported components into goods for re-export accounts for
much intra-company trade with the U.S.
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City
UNAM’s extensive Faculty
of Economics offers courses in a wide range of fields: public economics,
business economics, quantitative economics, international economics, economic
history, and economic development, in addition to core topics in economic
theory and analysis. Of particular note is course work in development
economics.
- Economics
courses (click “Nucleo Basico” or “Nucleo Terminal,”
then scroll down and select area)
One of the most open economies in the world, the Netherlands attracts
significant foreign direct investment and internationally-oriented companies.
Financial and transportation services are cornerstones of the prosperous
Dutch economy and the country’s geography positions it as a major
European transportation hub. Moreover, the Netherlands has Europe’s
largest port (Rotterdam). Through public spending and regulation, the
government maintains a role in the increasingly privatized economy, and
the population enjoys low unemployment as well as relatively high and
evenly distributed income.
Maastricht University
The program at Maastricht is appropriate for advanced UC undergraduate
and graduate students who are interested in international economics and
business. EAP students take courses through the Faculty
of Economics and Business Administration, which offers a range of
topics in broad categories such as International Economic Studies, International
Business Economics, Infonomics, and Econometrics and Operations Research.
Maastricht University employs an innovative curriculum that emphasizes
Problem Based Learning: working in small groups, students analyze real-life
problems in their discipline and discuss what they need to know to be
able to solve them. The program provides a unique opportunity for UC students
to develop the skills that will be useful for careers in business and
applied economics. The program is rigorous and students must be motivated
and well prepared. Additional
information.
Maastricht was the site of the Treaty on European Union (informally,
the Maastricht Treaty), which led to the creation of the European Union
and the Euro.
- Economics courses
(select level, then check off areas of interest within the various degree
schemes, then select specific courses and click preview)
Pro-business, pro-foreign investment, and export-oriented policies
have helped Singapore become one of the world's most prosperous countries
despite a small domestic market and almost complete lack of natural resources.
Singapore takes full advantage of its strategic geographic position at
the crossroads of international shipping and air routes; its port is among
the world's busiest. Tourism (marketed around shopping, food, and now
gambling) and manufacturing are major industries and the economy relies
heavily on the export of electronics and chemicals. The government strives
to make Singapore the financial and high-tech hub of Southeast Asia, despite
increased competition from China.
National University of Singapore
Course offerings of the highly ranked Department
of Economics cover most economics topics. Particular research strengths
of the department include fields such as game theory, industrial organization,
labor economics, financial economics, growth theory and economic development.
The curriculum pays special attention to the economies of Asia, from China
to Singapore and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Spain’s economic modernization has accelerated following its
accession to the European Community (now the EU), and recent administrations
have continued to liberalize, privatize, and deregulate the economy. Although
Spain is still the world's largest producer of olive oil and supplier
of much of Europe’s fresh produce, recent economic growth has been
based largely on mass tourism (Spain is second only to France as a tourist
destination), the construction industry, and manufacturing sectors. However,
there is concern that continued growth in these sectors may not be sustainable;
for example, massive housing and tourist complexes on the Mediterranean
are severely taxing local land and water resources.
Complutense University in Madrid
The Faculty
of Economics and Business has a number of departments offering course
work in such fields as economic analysis, international economics and
development, industrial organization and growth, monetary and financial
economics, public economics, and economic history. For example, the Department
of Applied Economics I (International Economics and Development) devotes
its attention to the processes of economic globalization and the worldwide
impact that these processes have on standards of living and conditions
of labor worldwide. The department investigates themes such as international
socioeconomic inequality, differential growth rates among advanced capitalist
economies, regional economic integration (especially that led by the European
Union), and the transition of Eastern European economies. UC undergraduates
considering this program should be advanced in their major and have a
firm command of the Spanish language.
Madrid, Spain’s capital, is also one of the most populous cities
in the EU and plays an increasing role in European finances. Bolsa de
Madrid (Madrid Stock Exchange) is the largest and most international of
Spain's four regional stock exchanges.
- Economics courses: Descriptions
(select LECO 2000 for all economics courses, or filter by specialty
or department); Curriculum
Autonomous University of Barcelona
The Faculty of Economics and Commerce
has been highly ranked by economics faculty and provides a wide range
of course work for EAP students, including a small number of classes instructed
in English. In addition to such standard offerings as micro- and macroeconomics,
the economics program grounds its approach in the legal and economic history
of Spain, Europe, and the increasingly global reach of all financial and
production decisions.
University of Barcelona
The Faculty of Economic and Business
Sciences has several different specializations in social science,
business, accounting, and statistics in addition to its offerings in economics.
The economics program focuses on preparing students to interact in an
economic world that is rapidly changing by emphasizing the skills of analysis
and synthesis as well as more standard theoretical and practical approaches
to the worlds of production, business, and public intervention.
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the principal industrial and
commercial center of Spain.
As part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free
Trade Area, Thailand continues to develop and pursue free or preferential
trade agreements with countries such as China, India, Australia, Japan,
and the United States. The Thai economy is heavily dependent on agricultural
and manufactured exports such as rice (it is the world’s leading
exporter), textiles, rubber, and jewelry, as well as high-technology products
like automobiles, computers and electrical appliances. Income differentials
between the greater Bangkok region and the rest of the country are significant
and the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami continue to be felt.
Thammasat University, Bangkok
The International Program in Economics
offers courses covering most areas of economic theory and practice, including:
Thai, Asian, and developing economies; international and comparative economics;
quantitative methods and econometrics; human and natural resource economics;
and monetary, public, industrial and agricultural economics.
Bangkok is the commercial, political, cultural, and transportation center
of Thailand.
The continuing transition from a state-run economy dominated by agriculture
and heavy industry to a more modern, diversified, and globalized market
economy, has been a bumpy road. However, substantial economic reforms,
including tight fiscal policy and increased privatization, have attracted
significant foreign direct investment and improved the economy sufficiently
to facilitate accession negotiations with the European Union. Recent economic
growth has rivaled that of China and India. Liberalization of the energy
sector has proceeded slowly and the stakes are high; Turkey is a key link
in the East-West Energy Corridor project, which seeks to construct pipelines
for the export of oil and gas from the Caspian region to Europe and world
markets.
Middle East Technical University, Ankara
In addition to a core curriculum of economic theory, economic history,
mathematics and statistics, course offerings of the Department
of Economics encompass topics such as the Turkish economy, European
integration, international economic institutions, agricultural economics,
and environmental and development issues. A particular strength of the
department is applied statistical methods.
The capital of Turkey, Ankara is an important crossroads of national
and regional trade.
First to enter the Industrial Revolution, and with the empire providing
overseas markets for British products, the United Kingdom dominated international
trade in the 19th century. Today, the UK remains one of the world’s
largest economies and a prime example of the Anglo-Saxon economic model.
Sustained economic growth, low inflation and unemployment, and substantial
social welfare services have provided most residents with a high standard
of living. However, income inequality is high and on the rise. Although
a member of the EU, the UK has yet to join the Economic and Monetary Union
and adopt the Euro, a position that continues to be supported by public
opinion. London, the capital, is one of the world’s two largest
financial centers (the other is New York City).
University of Edinburgh
Economics has a long history
at the university. Opportunities are available in many economic fields.
Past EAP students have taken courses such as Economics of Developing Countries,
History of Economic Thought, and Economics of Strategic Behavior.
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is an extremely prosperous city with
an economy largely based around banking, financial services and tourism.
University of Glasgow
The “father of modern economics” himself, Adam Smith, once
taught at the University of Glasgow. Today, the Department
of Economics excels in research and teaching in a variety of topics
including financial economics, international macroeconomics and finance,
industrial economics, econometrics, and development economics.
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and a leading center of business
and commerce in Europe.
University of Manchester
The School of
Social Sciences offers an economics curriculum with a heavily quantitative
core. Supplementing this are courses in the following areas of specialization:
econometrics and mathematical economics; finance; international and monetary
economics; business economics and applied microeconomics; comparative
economics; and economic history.
Manchester is one of England’s major cities and played a central
role in the Industrial Revolution.
University of Warwick, Coventry
With an outstanding international reputation for research and teaching,
the Department
of Economics has strengths in economic theory, econometrics, public
economics, industrial organization, labor economics, economic history,
and economic development.
Long the center of the UK’s automotive industry, Coventry’s
economy has diversified and is increasingly service-based.
University of York
Large and prestigious, the Department
of Economics offers a wide range of courses in the broad categories
of economics, economic history, economics and finance, econometrics and
economic statistics.
The historic city of York’s economy is increasingly based on tourism,
retail, financial, and other services, while retaining a strong industrial
tradition in fields such as chocolate manufacturing and the railway industry.
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