Master in Economics : General

The Master in Economics trains students to become applied economists, policymakers, consultants, and business professionals in sectors and activities that require technical and analytical skills. It provides them with up-to-date quantitative and conceptual tools for economic, statistical, and financial analysis, and prepares them for policy and business practice. Both master programmes have a strong European orientation that manifests itself through EU-specific courses (e.g. on competition policy) or through emphasis placed in general courses on the specificities of the European dimension. A thematic pathway provides students with an integrated learning experience in sustainability.

The Master in Economics is offered in two flavours:

• The Master in ‘Business Economics’ develops the students’ grasp of business, economics, and policy issues, and highlights their interactions (e.g. finance and financial regulations, strategy and competition policy, regulation and lobbying, etc.).

• The Master in ‘Economic Governance and Public Policy in Europe’ covers the full range of economic issues (employment, competition, growth, development, redistribution, etc.) and policy-making challenges, from the sector- or industry-level to the national or even global economy.

SBS-EM programmes emphasise the acquisition of both analytical and problem-solving skills. They combine conceptual courses—where students learn techniques and their theoretical underpinnings—with practical workshops and individual and team-based projects—where students can test their understanding of the theory and develop their ability to apply it creatively to real problems. Critical, creative, and independent thinking is required.

SBS-EM leverages its wide-ranging international exchange programmes to offer students training opportunities abroad during their studies. This Master also gives students the possibility to include a credited work placement in their curriculum.

What the Solvay Brussels School has to offer

• A location at the heart of Europe, within a comprehensive research university: the Université libre de Bruxelles.

• An international faculty with a staff of high-level researchers and accomplished practitioners, who work together to ensure that the training they provide is both relevant for business and policy practice and corresponds to the state of art.

• A tradition of rigorous and demanding curricula based on solid multidisciplinary and analytical training, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• A diversity of teaching methods that are constantly revised to ensure teaching effectiveness.

• An innovative pedagogical approach aiming to provide students with an integrated learning experience centered around sustainability.

• A diverse and international student body (up to 80% in some Master programmes).

• A comprehensive educational offering covering economics and business from the bachelor to in-company training.

• Accreditation from EQUIS (European Foundation for Management Development) and AMBA (Association of Masters of Business Administration). AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation is underway.

Career services

SBS-EM offers its students a number of resources for career development:

• Credited work placements (full-time, 3-month minimum – 6-month maximum ) allow participating students to gain work experience, apply their academic training, and develop their professional network before graduation.

• Career services provide practical guidance and preparation for the job market (workshops, writing a CV and a cover letter, simulated interviews, LinkedIn profile management, etc.) and organise events (lectures and seminars) with prominent business figures, presenting companies and their employment opportunities. Over the years, the SBS-EM has developed a wide network of recruiters and alumni and has established contacts with companies throughout Belgium and around the world.

• From their graduation onwards, students benefit from a strong and active alumni network with 23,000 members in 100 countries.

Study-abroad programmes

The Master in Business Engineering offers several opportunities to study abroad:

• The international exchange programme, with more than 130 partner universities in 40 countries

• The double degree programme with the LUISS Guido Carli university in Rome (Economic Analysis & European Policy)

• The Master with the QTEM network