Studies & Degrees in Econometrics
Econometrics Study Programs
Econometrics applies statistics and mathematics to economic data. The University of Bristol describes it as the statistical methods economists use to analyse data, estimate economic relationships and test theories. Economists cannot run controlled experiments on a whole economy, so they use econometric methods to separate cause from coincidence in the data they observe: the effect of an interest rate change on prices, of a training programme on wages, or of a tax on consumption.
Students learn probability and statistical inference, regression analysis, time series and panel data methods, forecasting, and the programming needed to work with large data sets. Microeconomics and macroeconomics provide the questions; mathematics and statistics provide the tools. Programmes increasingly add machine learning and data science, and several combine econometrics with operations research, the mathematics of optimal decision-making, or with actuarial science.
Qualifications and levels
Econometrics is taught in three ways: as a full degree, as a named half of an economics degree, and as a group of courses inside any economics programme.
- Netherlands. Econometrics is a separate degree. The BSc in Econometrics and Operations Research of the University of Groningen lasts 36 months (180 ECTS credits) and is taught in English. Applicants with an international diploma need mathematics as a higher-level subject at secondary school. The statutory fee for EU/EEA students is €2,694 for the 2026-27 academic year; non-EU/EEA students pay €14,000. The university states that almost all students continue with a master's degree. Its MSc in Econometrics, Operations Research and Actuarial Studies lasts 12 months (60 ECTS credits), starts in February or September, and has four profiles: Data Science, Operations Management, Econometrics, and Actuarial Studies and Financial Econometrics.
- United Kingdom. The BSc Economics and Econometrics of the University of Bristol takes three years full time. The standard A-level offer is A*AA including Mathematics. The course covers econometrics, mathematics, statistics, machine learning, data analysis, and micro- and macroeconomics.
- Spain. Official degrees consist of a bachelor's degree (grado) of 240 ECTS credits, master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits, and the doctorate. Econometrics is normally studied as courses within a grado in economics and then at master's level. The Máster en Análisis Económico Cuantitativo (Quantitative Economic Analysis) of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid lasts one year (60 ECTS credits), is taught in English and has 30 places. Applicants need a good grounding in economic theory, econometrics and mathematics, and at least CEFR level B2 in English. The university gives an approximate price of €2,736 for the year, or €5,079 for non-EU students who are not resident.
- Study abroad. Semester programmes are another option for students who want economics courses abroad without a full degree. AEP Academic Experience in Prague, for example, offers fall and spring semester programmes.
Where to study econometrics
SpainExchange lists eight active schools for econometrics: two in the United Kingdom, two in Spain, and one each in the Netherlands, India, the Czech Republic and Russia. They include the University of Bristol and the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the University of Madras in India and HSE University in Moscow.
English is the usual language of the programmes described here, including the master's degree in Madrid. Mathematics is the main entry requirement. Before applying, compare how much mathematics each school expects, how the programme balances economic theory against statistics and programming, and whether the degree gives direct access to a master's programme.
Careers
Econometricians work wherever decisions rest on economic or financial data. The University of Groningen lists jobs in finance, insurance, logistics and marketing, notes that the public sector also hires econometricians, and gives quantitative analyst, consultant and actuary as examples. The University of Bristol mentions graduates working as investment analysts, business consultants and data analysts. Central banks, statistical offices, ministries and research institutes employ econometricians for forecasting and policy evaluation.
A master's degree is the usual entry point for work as an economist. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that economists typically need at least a master's degree, and it projects employment of economists in the United States to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
How much mathematics do I need to study econometrics?
A lot. The University of Groningen requires mathematics as a higher-level secondary school subject, and the University of Bristol asks for A-level Mathematics. Master's programmes expect university-level mathematics, statistics and econometrics.
What is the difference between economics and econometrics?
Economics studies how economies, markets and households behave. Econometrics is the set of statistical methods used to measure those relationships with data and to test economic theories.
How long does it take?
The bachelor's degrees in Groningen and Bristol take three years. The master's degrees in Groningen and at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid take one year (60 ECTS credits).
Can I study econometrics in English in Spain?
At master's level, yes. The Máster en Análisis Económico Cuantitativo of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid is taught in English and asks for at least level B2.