We’ve collected the most common questions about the Master in Economics from admitted students over the past few weeks. To answer them, we’ve gone directly to the best sources of information about the program:

• Prof. Antonio Ciccone, director of the Master in Economics
• Esther Xifré, Economics master program coordinator

In addition to emailing answers to individuals, we’ve decided to post the questions and answers on our blog, in order to share the information with as many of you as possible who are still in the decision-making process. If you don’t find the answer you were looking for below, feel free to add your own questions in the comments at the end of this post.

This post provides information specific to the Master in Economics. A more general post with questions common to all the Barcelona GSE master programs will be posted in the days ahead.

And now, to the questions!

Some answers are a bit lengthy, so we’ve listed the six questions here for quick navigation. Click on a question to jump to its answer.

1. The Barcelona GSE Master program in Economics is a one-year program. If I attend the master, do I need to proceed to an MPhil/MRes program before a PhD? Could I be accepted to a PhD program after a one-year Master degree in Economics?
2. Is it possible to aim for top 10 US or EU universities for a PhD after doing really well in the Master in Economics at Barcelona GSE?
3. Is the Economics Program designed for post-graduation employment as well as doctoral study?
4. Can one take a few courses in other specialized programs, such as the Master in Finance?
5. Is it possible to work as a Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant at the Barcelona GSE?
6. Are all Master programs at the Barcelona GSE officially recognized by the Spanish and Catalan Government?

Your questions, answered…

Q: The Barcelona GSE Master program in Economics is a one-year program. If I attend the master, do I need to proceed to an MPhil/MRes program before a PhD? Could I be accepted to a PhD program after a one-year Master degree in Economics?

A: In most EU countries, “PhD program” refers to the thesis writing stage only. The 2 years of course work that come before the thesis writing stage in top US PhD programs are organized in Master programs. Some EU countries have 2-year Master programs, others do it in 2 1-year Master programs. At UPF, students who have completed a 1-year Master program can be admitted to the 1-year Master Research which – upon satisfactory completion – leads to the thesis writing stage.

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Q: Is it possible to aim for top 10 US or EU universities for a PhD after doing really well in the Master in Economics at Barcelona GSE?

A: Many graduates of the Master in Economics transition into competitive PhD programs. Some of them join the Barcelona GSE’s reference doctoral programs (GPEFM at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and IDEA at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona). Others enter top programs elsewhere in Europe or the United States. Examples and a complete list of doctoral program attended by GSE graduates can be found on the Barcelona GSE website:

• Recent Barcelona GSE graduates now attending PhD programs
• List of doctoral programs attended by Barcelona GSE graduates

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Q: Is the Economics Program designed for post-graduation employment as well as doctoral study?

A: About half the graduates of the Master in Economics decide to work in the public or private sector, such as international organizations, financial institutions, international consultancy firms or governmental institutions. Graduates acquire solid command of quantitative economics, of theoretical and empirical approaches from foundation, to applications and policy which makes them very suitable to work as research analysts in those places that look for professionals with advanced skills and knowledge comparable to PhD students.

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Q: Can one take a few courses in other specialized programs, such as the Master in Finance?

A: Not really. The course offering within the Economics Program is broad enough to allow you to design a study plan in any of these areas: macroeconomics with a focus on monetary and fiscal policy; labor and public economics; international economics; development economics; business and market organization; behavioral and experimental economics; and financial economics. We also offer very challenging courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, and econometric methods to obtain the preparation necessary for a research career in economics. If you need academic guidance for course selection, you can count on the advice of the Program Director, who can help you review the elective courses as well as exchange some thoughts on your present and future career path.

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Q: Is it possible to work as Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant at the Barcelona GSE?

A: Only the Master Program in Economics and Master Program in Finance have Teaching Assistantship positions available. TA positions entail a total of teaching hours at the undergraduate level at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and they can be offered for a total of 30 or 60 hours per academic year. (Students should remember that this is the number of contact hours. They will need to plan for three hours of prep time for each contact hour. For a 30-hour TA, for example, the student should plan to work 120 hours in total.)

This information is available in the online master program application form. When the applicants log into the application, they indicate their wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship position and a decision is made and notified by the Admissions Committee. So these positions are granted at the same time of admission to the master program (not afterwards).

However, if you have not been granted one but still would be interested, you may send a message to your Program Coordinator to be put on a waiti list should any “extra” needs arise in the Economics Department.

Research Assistantship positions are related to specific research projects that professors carry out. When they have a position open they contact the Barcelona GSE and we announce it to students who may fit the job description.

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Q: Are all Master programs at the Barcelona GSE officially recognized by the Spanish and Catalan Government?

A: Upon successful completion of the Master Program in Economics, the student is granted a Master Degree in Economics and Finance (Master Universitario en Economía y Finanzas), awarded by the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics and Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

The Master Degree in Economics and Finance has been positively verified by the Spanish educational curriculum verification commission (Comisión de Verificación de Planes de Estudios) in their meeting held on June 1, 2010. With this verification, in accordance with the article 26 of the Royal Decree 1393/2007, the Autonomous Community of Catalonia has the mandate to publish this authorization in the regional official bulletin. The Spanish Council of Ministries, following the Ministry of Education proposal signed it on February 24, 2012 and published its approval in the Spanish National Bulletin (BOE) on March 26, 2012.

Based on the positive verification of the Master Degree in Economics and Finance, the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics has been offering the Master Program in Economics, in accordance with the Spanish current regulations and adapted to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) since September 2010.

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How to request more help with your decision

If you still have questions about the Master in Economics, please share them in the comments below, in the Barcelona GSE Facebook group, or by email to Prof. Ciccone or the Economic program coordinator, Esther.

Patronat CatalunyaMón has announced a new scholarship opportunity for international students who want to pursue a postgraduate degree in a higher educational institution located in Catalonia during academic year 2012-13.

• Number of grants available: 3
• Amount of funding available per grant: 22,000 euros
• Rules and Application Form

NOTE: This information is posted as a convenience for international applicants. The scholarship described is not managed by the Barcelona GSE. Those interested in applying must visit the scholarship sponsor’s website and follow instructions listed there in order to apply for this scholarship. Barcelona GSE is not able to provide additional information or support to scholarship applicants.

May 9, 2012 – 11:30
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Faculty of Economics and Business
Room B1/001 view schedule

The GSE Admissions Office will present an overview of our master programs in Specialized Economic Analysis as part of the UAB Postgrad Fair on Wednesday, May 9 at 11:30h. Master programs include:

• Competition and Market Regulation
• Economics of Public Policy
• Health Economics and Policy
• International Trade, Finance and Development
• Macroeconomic Policy and Financial Markets

Munich, Germany | April 14, 2012 (1pm – 4pm)

Job & Master Day
Holiday Inn – Munich City Centre, Hochstr. 3, 81669 Munich

To schedule a personal interview in Frankfurt with GSE Admissions, please contact us.

Details for TA positions in the Master in Economics and Master in Finance

Teaching assistantships entail a total of teaching hours at the undergraduate level as well as some proctoring exams. TA positions can be of a total of 60 hours or of a total of 30 hours per year. All you have to do to apply for a TA is to check the appropriate box in your online application form in the “Finances and Scholarship” section.

data as of March 6, 2012

Hey! I submitted my application but my country is not highlighted.

We’ve highlighted the countries from which we have received completed applications–meaning:

• You have filled out all of the required sections in the online application form
• You have uploaded all required supporting documents: your academic transcript, CV, proof of English knowledge, and statement of purpose
• We have received both of your referees’ letters
• You have paid the application fee

If you don’t see your country on the Great App Map, it may be because you still haven’t successfully submitted the complete application package. To check if your application is missing documents, log in to the online application form and review your application status.

Your application status is displayed in red and will be one of the following if your application is not yet complete:

• Incorrect documents attached
• Missing documents
• Application submitted successfully
• Application submitted successfully–reference letters received

Your application is considered complete once you see the status message Application with Department for Revision (it can take up to 6 weeks). This means that you’re on the map and being considered by the admissions committee for a place in the 2012-13 Barcelona GSE master programs.

Complete your Barcelona GSE master application

bonus map: Prof. Joachim Voth has also just made a map of International Trade, Finance and Development applicants.

Stop by, introduce yourself, and get to know the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics master programs!

XII Programa de becas para estudios de posgrado, Fundación Rafael del Pino.

For more information click here.

The online application form will continue to function as usual. Requests for assistance with the application, as well as any emails sent to the Admissions Office during this period, will be answered when the office reopens in January.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

holiday lights decorate the streets of Barcelona

“I will apply for Master program for next fall. I got all documents but GRE score. I will probably take it on January 3rd, so score will come by the end of January… So, what do you suggest me to do. Apply now without GRE and than wait for 2 months for GRE results, or wait and apply with results?”

Answer from Barcelona GSE Admissions:

You can submit your application without GRE/GMAT scores. Do not wait to receive your scores – apply now and upload the scores when you receive them. Since the Barcelona GSE has a rolling admissions process, we always advise you to apply as early as possible to avoid getting closed out of your master program.

Remember, GRE/GMAT scores are an optional piece of the application package. From the Barcelona GSE Admissions web page:

“Good scores on these examinations will be positively valued by the admissions committee and could be a decisive factor in those cases in which applications do not contain enough information to determine the candidate’s potential for academic success in the master program.” http://j.mp/svrPAI

Required documents  include your academic transcript, CV, statement of purpose and reference letters. Please refer to the application checklist to review the list of required documents for the master program application.

You can upload new test scores any time. Applicants will be able to upload new test scores to the online application at any time during the admissions process. (You will also be able to upload new scores for English exams.)

Ask a question: barcelonagse.eu/FacebookGroup