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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes DDM International Development Economics
Header image DDM International Development Economics

DDM International Development Economics

Study international development economics in Groningen and Gottingen and learn how technological developments have made it possible for businesses to restructure production processes globally.

In the double degree master’s with the University of Göttingen (Germany), you will obtain specialized knowledge of international markets and the global interconnections between national economies. You will learn to apply the tools of modern economic analysis to issues of development policy and to communicate effectively with researchers, policymakers and practitioners on development issues.

In Groningen, you follow the MSc International Economics and Sustainable Development . Here, you will learn about societally relevant topics and how they are related to the world of economics. You will also gain valuable skills in international trade, international finance and banking, policy analysis, and more. Also, you learn to analyze economic data, assess policy options, make economic development strategies, and provide recommendations to policymakers. In Göttingen, you will benefit from the expertise of researchers regarding microeconomic aspects of development. You will be trained in applying quantitative research methods that are specifically suitable to study these aspects in a systematic way.

By following the programmes in Göttingen and Groningen, you will graduate with a strong international profile and a deep analytical understanding of global economic policy and business organizations.

Facts & Figures
Degree
MSc in Economic Development and Globalization
Course type
Double Degree master
Duration
24 months (120 ECTS)
Croho code
60963
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Economics and Business
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • You can earn two Master's degrees by studying in Groningen and at a top university abroad - Gottingen University in only two years. A unique combination to learn how to apply the tools of modern economic analysis to specific issues of development in a globalizing world.
  • This double degree master's focuses relatively strongly on the economic development of low-income countries and a more microeconomic perspective on inequality, poverty and growth.
  • The programme in Groningen takes an interdisciplinary approach, integrating economics, environmental research, policy analysis, and technological developments. This broad perspective prepares you to tackle complex, real-world problems. Explore the ethical dilemmas and consequences associated with economic development and globalization, including issues related to sustainability, social justice, and human rights. You will address global challenges and topics that are related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and work towards solutions to make a positive change.
  • Our alumni have the opportunity to engage in high-level research activities of international organizations (such as the OECD in Paris, Conference Board in New York, and the ILO in Geneva) and national organizations (such as the Dutch Central Bank and The Netherlands' Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis).
  • The programme in Groningen has been internationally accredited by the AACSB and EQUIS, ensuring a high-quality education, which only 1% of universities reach worldwide.
Programme

You start the programme in Göttingen, studying the MSc in International Economics (specialization Development Economics) at Georg August Universität Göttingen in Germany.

An important strength of Georg August University is its research programme on poverty, inequality, and growth. The strength of this research programme is clearly reflected in the quality of teaching in the field of micro-economic development studies.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Study at GAU, Göttingen (60 EC)

You will spend the second year in Groningen. You learn about topics like international trade, growth, and development economics and apply these theories to real-world problems. Using data and research findings, you are able to understand the role of globalization on sustainable business practices, why governments come up with certain policies, and how they can benefit one country but disadvantage another.

Depending on your interests, you can choose to specialize in various topics by selecting elective courses in global finance, economic geography, inclusive and sustainable finance, international banking, and monetary policy. You can also decide to participate in the focus area Energy and specialize in energy transition and innovation.

Next to the two-degree certificates, graduates will receive two diploma supplements, which will mention that the respective degrees are awarded within the framework of the double degree programme in Göttingen and Groningen.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
MSc Economic Development and Globalization (60 EC)

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is required

Our double degree partner is Georg-August-Universität of Göttingen, Germany, a university with a long tradition. It has hosted several world-famous scientists, such as Albert Einstein, Carl Friedrich Gauss and Niels Bohr.

http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

To be eligible for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's or Master's degree from a research university in one of the following - or closely related - fields: Business Administration,Business Economics, Econometrics and Operations Research, Economics and Business Economics, International Business, Technology Management.

To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies, and the grades that you have obtained.

For more information, see: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc

If you have any questions concerning admission, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions

other admission requirements

Selection procedure

Admission to the DDM in International and Development Economics is based on a selection procedure, where the applicants are evaluated according to the following criteria, among others:

  • Grade of the Bachelor thesis: ≥ 7.0 (German equivalent: 2.6);
  • Final GPA across relevant economics and business courses ≥ 7.0 (German equivalent: 2.5 – 2.2);
  • GPA across relevant international economics and/or development economics courses ≥ 7.0 (German equivalent: 2.5 – 2.2).

Important to know: The applicants need to have 60 ECTS in economics-related subjects and at least 12 ECTS in Mathematics/Statistics/Econometrics at the bachelor level.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

To be eligible for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's or Master's degree from a research university in one of the following - or closely related - fields: Business Administration, Business Economics, Econometrics and Operations Research, Economics and Business Economics, International Business, Technology Management.

To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies, and the grades that you have obtained.

For more information, see: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc

If you have any questions concerning admission, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions

certified competences

A GMAT/GRE test is required from all candidates who obtained their bachelor's degree from a university in a non-EU/EEA country. For specific scores and exemptions, please see https://www.rug.nl/feb/gmat-gre.

grade list

A certified grade list(s) is considered in the evaluation.

language test

IELTS Academic overall score 6.5 (Speaking 6, Writing 6.5); TOEFL internet-based overall score 90 (Speaking 20, Writing 24); Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (overall score 176, Speaking 169, Writing 176).

other admission requirements

Selection procedure

Admission to the DDM in International and Development Economics is based on a selection procedure, where the applicants are evaluated according to the following criteria, among others:

  • Grade of the Bachelor thesis: ≥ 7.0 (German equivalent: 2.6);
  • Final GPA across relevant economics and business courses ≥ 7.0 (German equivalent: 2.5 – 2.2);
  • GPA across relevant international economics and/or development economics courses ≥ 7.0 (German equivalent: 2.5 – 2.2).

Important to know: The applicants need to have 60 ECTS in economics-related subjects and at least 12 ECTS in Mathematics/Statistics/Econometrics at the bachelor level.

Registration procedure

For students who are not yet enrolled in the MSc Economic Development and Globalization, please first apply to this master's programme online in Studielink. For more information, please visit https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc.

Please note that prospective applicants with a bachelor's degree from Germany should apply to this programme via the University of Göttingen, Germany (see the website here or contact Sandra Sattlecker at sandra.sattlecker uni-goettingen.de for more information).


Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 20800full-time

The tuition fees above are for the one year studying in Groningen. For an estimation of the total tuition fees for the double degree, please see DD fees.

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

The courses in Göttingen and Groningen share a strong focus on empirical methods and approaches. As a consequence, graduates of this double degree master's are fully equipped for a career in national, international, multinational or transnational institutions and enterprises. As a graduate, your degree will be highly valued in the labour market.

Job examples

  • academic researcher at a university or international research institution
  • business consultant with an internationally operating consultancy firm
  • economic consultant with an (inter)national governmental organization
  • international economist or strategy expert in a multinational corporation
  • staff member with an (inter)national governmental organization, such as I.M.F., World Bank, OECD, WTO, ECB, Asian Development Bank or the EC
Research

Linking education to research and career preparation

Our research-driven education is strongly rooted in business practice and society. At the heart of our teaching approach is (interdisciplinary) research and in collaboration with external partners, students, and professors conduct projects on societally relevant topics such as healthy society and the economics of healthcare systems, digitalization, and how AI is shaping business and societies, leadership and governance, future prosperity and sustainability, climate change and how to tackle the shift to renewable energy. From day one of your degree, we are about making a real impact. The teachers in this programme are all active researchers in the Global Economics and Management research group, in the area of international economics, and several of them collaborate with the renowned Groningen Growth and Development Centre . The following (full) professors teach in this MSc programme:

Milena Nikolova is the Aletta Jacobs Professor in the Economics of Well-being. She is an expert on the health and well-being consequences of migration, labor market arrangements, and entrepreneurship. In addition to science, she is actively engaged in public policy and making a societal impact – she has worked in tanks and international institutions, such as the Urban Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the World Bank.

Steven Brakman is an expert in the field of economic geography, including as co-editor of the Journal of Regional Science . He frequently contributes to the public debate, including on Brexit, Trump’s trade war, and trade agreements. He has published extensively and authored textbooks on international economics and economic geography.

Dirk Bezemer studies the interaction between the financial system and the rest of the economy, focusing on the role of debt. His research is published in numerous journals and he has been funded by the Institute of New Economic Thinking . He is also a columnist in the Dutch periodical De Groene Amsterdammer .

Bart Los ’ area of expertise is on the interlinked nature of (regional) economies and the impact of such linkages on trade patterns and economic outcomes, such as economic growth and employment. He has published widely, is the editor of Economic Systems Research , and has contributed to the public debate on the consequences of Brexit.

Robert Inklaar ’s research is on the causes and consequences of productivity growth, including the impact on broader welfare. His research has appeared in a range of top economic journals and his work on developing the Penn World Table and Maddison Project Database is used extensively around the world.

Erik Dietzenbacher is an authority in the field of input-output analysis, including as president of the International Input-Output Association . His research has improved the tools for input-output analysis and these have been applied in such areas as international trade and environmental economics.

Harry Garretsen combines research in international economics with research on management and leadership. In this latter role, he is one of the directors of the LEAD centre of expertise. He is also a sought-after expert, including on the Bankraad, the advisory board of the Dutch Central Bank.

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Study associations

EBF

The Economics and Business Faculty association (EBF) is the faculty association for all students studying at the faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Groningen.
The EBF is your partner during your time in Groningen by organising events that support you with your studies and help you prepare for your future career.
https://www.ebfgroningen.nl/

Master Community - IBM

Make the most of your master by getting to know your fellow students and prepare for your future career.
https://www.ebfgroningen.nl/committees
Read more
Study support

Studying means working independently and planning your studies yourself. But successful studying depends on many different factors, so it is understandable that you may need to consult an impartial expert to discuss your study progress and personal circumstances that influence your studies. The faculty's study advisors are available to help you. Obviously, everything discussed with the study advisor remains confidential.