Studies & Degrees in International Economics
International Economics Study Programs
International economics studies how countries are linked through trade, investment, finance and migration. It asks why countries trade and who gains from it, how tariffs and trade agreements change production and prices, what moves exchange rates and capital flows, and why some economies grow faster than others.
Programmes are usually built on three blocks. The first is international trade: trade theory, trade policy and economic integration. The second is international finance: exchange rates, the balance of payments, international banking and financial crises. The third is development and growth. Around these, students take microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics and econometrics. The University of Groningen, for example, describes its master's programme as covering international trade, economic development, international finance and banking, and policy analysis.
Qualifications and levels
International economics is offered as a full degree, as a profile or track within an economics degree, and as a master's specialisation.
- Bachelor's degrees. The Bachelor of International Economics (BIE) of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver is a four-year, cohort-based programme that admits students directly from high school. It focuses on international trade, finance and development, and accepts about 100 students per year. According to the school, half of each cohort are international students from more than 35 countries.
- Profiles within an economics degree. The BSc in Economics and Business Economics of the University of Groningen lasts 36 months (180 ECTS credits) and is taught in English. In the second year students choose one of three profiles, one of which is International Economics and Sustainable Development. In Spain, the Grado en Economía of the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona is an official degree of 240 credits over four years, taught in Spanish and English, with 80 places. It can be combined with a specialisation called International Economics & Finance.
- Master's degrees. The MSc in International Economics and Sustainable Development of the University of Groningen lasts 12 months (60 ECTS credits), is taught in English and starts in February or September. Applicants need a university bachelor's degree in economics, business or a closely related field. The statutory fee for EU/EEA students is €2,694 for the 2026-27 academic year; non-EU/EEA students pay €22,200. Double degree options exist with Corvinus University in Hungary, Lund University in Sweden, the University of Göttingen in Germany and Fudan University in Shanghai.
- 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. The faculty of economics of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid explains that official master's degrees last between one and two years, and that graduates from outside the European Higher Education Area can be admitted without formal recognition (homologación) of their degree, once the university has checked that it is of an equivalent level.
Where to study international economics
SpainExchange lists 28 active schools for international economics. Eight are in the United States and seven in Spain. The Netherlands has three, Italy and China two each, and Sweden, Germany, Canada, Slovenia, Vietnam and Russia one each.
The Spanish schools in the list include the Universidad de Navarra, the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, the Universidad Pontificia Comillas and the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. Elsewhere it includes the University of Groningen and Utrecht University in the Netherlands, Bocconi University in Milan, Lund University in Sweden, the University of British Columbia in Canada and the School of Economics and Business of the University of Ljubljana.
The Groningen and Vancouver programmes are taught in English, and the degree in Pamplona in Spanish and English. Programme names differ between schools, and so does the weight given to mathematics and statistics. Check the language of instruction, the entry requirements in mathematics and the options for an exchange or a double degree before applying.
Careers
Graduates work as economists and analysts in banks, consultancies, exporting companies, ministries, central banks and international organisations. The University of Groningen reports that its master's graduates often take up positions in multinational firms such as banks and consultancy firms, and that it is also common for them to enter international organisations such as the World Bank, the IMF, the European Union, the UN and the OECD.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics lists international trade among the issues that economists research. It states that economists typically need at least a master's degree to enter the occupation, and it projects employment of economists in the United States to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between international economics and international business?
International economics analyses trade, finance and development at the level of countries and markets, with economic theory and statistics. International business looks at how individual companies operate across borders and is closer to management.
Do I need a master's degree?
For work as an economist, usually yes. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, economists typically need at least a master's degree to enter the occupation.
Can I study international economics in English?
Yes. The bachelor's and master's programmes of the University of Groningen and the Bachelor of International Economics in Vancouver are taught in English. The Grado en Economía of the Universidad de Navarra is taught in Spanish and English.
How long does it take?
The bachelor's programme in Vancouver and the grado in Pamplona take four years; the bachelor's degree in Groningen takes three. The master's degree in Groningen takes one year.