Which program is right for me?

We offer three Master's Degrees at the Barcelona School of Economics. Each degree has its own specialized programs of study. When you apply, you will indicate the specific program you wish to enter. You can see all the details of the programs of study on the pages below:

Master's Degree in Economics and Finance

• Economics Master's Program
• Financial Economics Master's Program
• PhD Track Master's Program

Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis

• Competition, Regulation, and Markets Master's Program
• Economics of Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability Master's Program
• Economics of Public Policy Master's Program
• International Trade, Finance, and Development Master's Program
• Macroeconomic Policy and Financial Markets Master's Program

Master's Degree in Data Science

• Data Science for Decision Making Master's Program
• Data Science Methodology Master's Program

Our admissions team will also be happy to talk with you about your interests, experience, and objectives in order to determine which program(s) would be the best fit for you.

All BSE Master's Degrees have been recognized by the Catalan and Spanish Education authorities within the framework of the Bologna Process (in Spanish, “Master Universitario o Master Oficial”). You will receive an official Master's degree upon completion of any of our programs.

Quality indicators

Do I meet the entry criteria?

At the BSE, we look for excellence and talent. Key elements of a strong application are a high GPA, a sound statement of purpose and standout reference letters. Strong knowledge in Economics and good quantitative skills are also recommended.

Application requirements:

• An undergraduate/bachelor/grado/laurea, or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university (for Bologna degrees, a minimum of 180 ECTS are required). A typical applicant holds a university diploma in Economics, Finance, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or Business Administration, but students with academic backgrounds in other subjects have also been admitted.
• An advanced level of English language skills: TOEFL score of 90 or better / IELTS Academic Test score of 6.5 or better
• PhD Track Program only: GRE General Test score (for all other programs, GRE is optional but highlight recommended - see below)

Note that the fulfillment of the application requirements does not guarantee admission. Candidates will also be evaluated on the following admission criteria:

• Outstanding academic record
• Quantitative skills
• Reference letters

Tuition fees and funding

Tuition fees

Fees cover registration, teaching, use of the UAB and UPF facilities, and first entry into examinations. Fees are subject to change and may vary by program. Please refer to the individual programs for specific tuition fees.

Funding for top candidates

All financial aid is awarded based on academic merit in competition with all other candidates. Every applicant is considered for all available financial aid opportunities. Financial aid at the BSE may consist of:

Full or partial tuition waivers

Waivers are reductions of 100%, 75%, 50% or 25% on tuition fees. All students, including those awarded a tuition waiver, must pay a 1000€ reservation fee to confirm their place in the program.

Scholarships

Thanks to the participation of a number of companies and institutions, the BSE is able to offer a number of tuition waivers and fully-funded scholarships based on academic merit. These highly competitive financial awards help the School attract the best and brightest international students.

Available programs

Gather your application materials

Undergraduate diploma and transcripts

If you have already completed your undergraduate degree when you submit your application, you will need to provide the following documents:

• A copy of your undergraduate diploma or certification/proof of degree completion
• A copy of your official final undergraduate transcript

If you have not yet completed your undergraduate degree when you submit your application, you will need to provide the following documents:

• A signed declaration stating that you will obtain your degree before the start of the Master's program
• A copy of your provisional undergraduate transcript

If your diploma or transcript is not written in English, Spanish, Catalan, French, Italian, or Portuguese, you will also have to include a sworn translation.

Copy of your passport

Curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)

Statement of purpose (1000 words maximum)

Proof of English language proficiency

Unless you are a native English speaker or have done your undergraduate degree at an English-speaking university, you must provide TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge scores or certificates. If you are not yet in possession of one of these language certificates, we suggest you wait to apply until you can fulfill this requirement with the documents required.

Accepted certificates include IELTS Academic Test (6,5), TOEFL (90), Duolingo English Test (minimum score 115), and Cambridge Exams (Proficiency or Advance, 180 minimum score B2-C2)

Optional but highly recommended: GRE General Test scores

The only program that requires a GRE General Test score as part of the application package is the PhD Track Program. However, applicants to all other programs are encouraged to provide a GRE score, which is often an important element for admission decisions. 

A good GRE result is particularly helpful for candidates who have a Bachelor's in the social sciences or other undergraduate degree without a strong quantitative component. In previous years, the GRE score has helped directors identify candidates with excellent potential but little previous exposure to serious mathematical training. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates to submit a GRE.

BSE institution code for GRE General Test: 2531

Contact two referees

During the online application process, we will ask you for the names and contact information of two referees who are willing to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Letters from academia signed by a professor are strongly preferred. However, if you can’t provide those, and if you think your professional experience is an asset, you can ask your employer to support your application.

The two signed letters must be uploaded directly to the online application system by your referees. Your application is not considered complete until both letters have been uploaded.

Before starting your application process, we advise you to contact both referees to let them know about your intention to apply to our programs. Just after you submit your application, we will contact them via email with instructions on how to proceed.

You must notify your referees and remind them to check their email for the instructions. 

Letter format suggestions

Referees must include their full name, work address, and email, and they should include your name in the body of the letter. Letters should be submitted on official letterhead and signed by your referees.

Your referees should evaluate you based on the following criteria: 

• Intellectual ability
• Research abilities/experience
• Motivation to face challenges
• Capacity to work in groups 
• Propensity to thrive in new environment

Choose single or multiple offer option

Choose one of the following options when submitting the application:

Single Offer Option	Multiple Offer Option
Candidate lists up to three programs on the application in order of preference Application goes to the admissions committee of the candidate's first-choice program. The candidate will receive a decision and offer for only one program. If the candidate is rejected from the first-choice program, the application will go to the admissions committee of the candidate's second-choice program (and so on with the third, if needed).	Candidate lists up to three programs on the application and is considered for all three simultaneously. Candidate will receive decisions and offers from all three programs. Candidate may accept only one of the offers. Once an offer is accepted, the other offers are cancelled and no longer available to the candidate.
Single Offer Application Fee: 60€	Multiple Offer Application Fee: 100€
Payable by credit card or Flywire. Application fees are non-refundable.

How to apply

Make sure your application is complete

You can track your admission status by logging into the application system and clicking Status. You will receive an email from the application system each time your application status is updated.

If any of your documents are missing or formatted incorrectly, an admissions officer will contact you to help you complete the application process.

Follow up with your referees to make sure they have uploaded their letters to your application file. (Don't forget to thank them for their time and effort on your behalf!)

Check your email for the admissions decision

Candidates who apply before January 15 can expect an admissions decision by mid-February. Those who apply after January 15 will receive a decision within 4-6 weeks.

Admission offers are delivered via email along with any offer of financial aid. Offers are sent to the email address you use on your application form.

Single Offer Option	Multiple Offer Option
Candidate will receive one email containing the decision and offer.	Candidate will receive separate emails containing the decision and offer for each program. Application volume varies among programs, so the candidate should not expect to receive all offers on the same day.

Accept or decline your admission offer

How to accept your offer

To secure your seat in the program, log in to the application system to complete the following steps:

Single Offer Option	Multiple Offer Option
Upload the signed Acceptance Reply form (sent to you via email with your offer) Pay the reservation fee (1000€, non-refundable)*	Choose the offer you are accepting. Remember that once you accept an offer, the others will be automatically declined. Download the Acceptance Reply form and sign it Upload the Acceptance Reply form Pay the reservation fee (1000€, non-refundable)*

* All accepted students, including those who have an offer of financial aid, must pay the reservation fee in order to secure a place in the program.

If you wish to decline your offer

Single Offer Option	Multiple Offer Option
Please contact the admissions office as soon as possible so we can offer your place to other applicants on the waiting list for your program.	Log in to the application system and indicate which offer(s) you wish to decline. If you wish to decline all offers, you can do so.

Start to plan for living and studying in Barcelona!

Once you have accepted your offer, we will send you detailed information about the beginning of the program and some logistical items you will need to take care of before you arrive in Barcelona.

The following pages will help you get started:

• International Students
• Living in Barcelona
• Campus Locations

Track application status