Master's Degree in Economics and Finance

Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis

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Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis

Economics of Public Policy Program

Learn theoretical and empirical fundamentals to answer questions that impact entire populations.

9 months
full time

17,500€

Face-to-face

English

60 ECTS

Campus: Bellaterra (UAB) and Ciutadella (UPF)

Program begins in September 2025

Application deadline for 2025-2026, is July 2, 2025

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Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis

Applications for 2025-2026 Master´s Degrees are now open!

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Master's Degrees

Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis

Economics of Public Policy Program

About this Master’s program

This Master’s will train you in advanced empirical public policy evaluation tools and how to use them in practice. It will provide you with unique insights and skills to help you stand out in the job market once you graduate.

Discover what makes this program truly exceptional

1

Learn advanced empirical tools: Evaluate public policies, understand their impact, and enhance your practical skills in policy analysis.

2

Faculty renowned for leading-edge research: Learn from professors who are top published researchers in the field.

3

Exceptional student placements: Graduates go on to work in prestigious research and professional roles.

Meet the Program Directors

Program Director

Lídia Farré

Scientific Director

Joan Llull

Ready to make a difference? This program is designed for

Students who are passionate about becoming a policy maker. Here’s why it is perfect for you:

You have a background in Business Administration, Economics, International Relations, Political Science, Public Policy, or Statistics.
You are a Junior analyst or professional looking to upgrade your analytical skills.
You are an aspiring PhD student who want to build a solid foundation with a Master’s.

What skills and knowledge will you learn?

Learn the skills to design and evaluate public policies

Economic Theory

Examine the Economic theory behind the design and evaluation of public policies.

Applied Analysis

Of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Information Economics, Game Theory, and Political Economy.

Empirical Tools

Evaluate policies and their impact.

Public Policy Design

Expert knowledge of how public policies are designed and implemented.

Policy Report Writing

Write technical and non-technical policy reports based on multidisciplinary approaches.

Professors

BSE Professors are renowned researchers who are published in leading Economics Journals.

Princeton University and Office of Population Research

Alícia Adserà

Universitat de Barcelona

Cristina Bellés-Obrero

UAB and BSE

Fernando Payró Chew

IAE-CSIC and BSE

Lídia Farré

IAE-CSIC and BSE

Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell

UPF and BSE

Jaume Garcia-Villar

Professor, GSEM-University of Geneva

Giacomo De Giorgi

UPF and BSE

Javier Gómez Biscarri

UPF and BSE

Humberto Llavador

IAE-CSIC and BSE

Joan Llull

Goethe University

Alexander Ludwig

MOVE, UAB and BSE

Pau Milán

IAE-CSIC

Ursula Mello

Professor, UAB

Xavier Ramos

Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA)

Pere Riera

UAB and BSE (on leave)

Raül Santaeulàlia-Llopis

Assistant Professor, ESADE

André B.M. Souza

Program Schedule

In September, students will have the opportunity to take a brush-up course in Mathematics and Statistics, and Stata. These courses are not mandatory but highly recommended to assure a smooth start.

In the beginning of the first term, students will also have the opportunity to take brush-up courses in Coding in R and Coding in Python. These two courses are mandatory for those students who want to take Foundations of Data Science in Term 1.

Term 1: Tools (September-December)

Course title	Credits	Professor(s)
Mandatory
Quantitative and Statistical Methods I	6	Javier Gómez Biscarri
Microeconomics: Markets, Strategies and Information	6	Fernando Payró Chew
Public Economics I: Market Failures, Taxation and Social Insurance	3	Pau Milán
Macroeconomics: Public Finance	3	Alexander Ludwig
Foundation of Data Science	3	André B.M. Souza

Term 2: Core (January-March)

Course title	Credits	Professor(s)
Mandatory
Quantitative and Statistical Methods II	6	Joan Llull
Public Economics II: Inequality, Poverty, Health, and Education	6	Cristina Bellés-Obrero , Xavier Ramos
Labor Markets	3	Lídia Farré
Elective (Choose 0 to 6 ECTS)
Quantitative Evaluation of Public Policies and the Environment	3	Pere Riera
The Economics of Climate Change	3	Humberto Llavador

Term 3: Practice (April-June)

Course title	Credits	Professor(s)
Mandatory
Master Project	6	Joan Llull , Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell
Topics in Applied Econometrics for Public Policy	6	Lídia Farré , Laura Mayoral
Social Economics	3	Giacomo De Giorgi , Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell
Policy Lessons	3	J. Ignacio Conde-Ruiz
Elective (Choose 0 to 6 ECTS)
Population Economics	3	Alícia Adserà
Economic Geography and Climate Change	3	Andre Groeger

Master's Project

Students use the tools and knowledge they've acquired during the Master’s to explore a topic of their choice for the Master’s project. It can be carried out individually or in groups.

Examples of Master's Projects

Class of 2023

The Impact of a Minimum Wage Increase on Labour Market Outcomes: Evidence from the Northern Mexican Border by Maria Jimena Contreras Contreras, Joseph Easterling, Silvia Ríos Juaristi, Inés Torres Rojas.

Class of 2022

Taking a Rain-Check: The Effect of Droughts on Educational Attainment in Brazil by Dario Maddaloni, Lucille McKnight, Francesco Serra, Iqbal Dawam Wibisono.

Class of 2021

Extreme Weather and Health Outcomes in Women: Evidence from Colombia and Peru by Melina Aliayi, Manohar Gannavarapu, and André López.
Personality Traits and Mental Health Outcomes: The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Young Adults in the UK by Nour Hammad, Alexandre Marin, and Ruben van den Akker.

Master’s degree awarded by UAB and UPF

Upon successful completion of the BSE Economics of Public Policy Program, students will receive a Master’s Degree in Specialized Economics Analysis awarded jointly with Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF).

BSE Institutional Accreditations

Quality accreditations

All Barcelona School of Economics 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”).

Quality indicators for this Master’s degree

BSE commitment to quality

Placement rate

92%

Job titles: Research Assistant, Economist, Consultant.
Industries: Consulting Firms, Research and Academic Institutions, Government and Authorities.
Higher Education: 6% go on to a PhD or further education.
Companies: European Commission, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ministry of Education of Peru, German Ministry of Finance.

Work Internationally

Cities with the most alumni

Barcelona

Madrid

London

Paris

Zurich

Testimonials

Avery Atencio

I want to help people in my community and I believe that Economic Policy is the best way to do this. Studying Economics and Public Policy surrounded by peers and professors that are from all over the world has been one of the most eye-opening and educational experiences I have had.

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Tim Hewett

I chose the EPP program because I believe that evidence-based public policy is a powerful tool for achieving social progress and improving the lives of others. The program has been challenging but highly fascinating and provided an invaluable international perspective and skills I look forward to implementing in my professional career.

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Why study a Master’s at BSE

1

RePEc has ranked BSE among the top institutions for economics research in the world.

2

Prestigious economists including Nobel Laureates guide the development of BSE Master’s.

3

Learn from faculty who are renowned for their research.

4

Study and live for a year in the vibrant city of Barcelona.

Admissions and entry requirements

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

Master’s program starts: September 2025

Application deadline: July 2, 2025

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).
University diploma in Economics, Finance, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or Business Administration. Students with academic backgrounds in other subjects will be considered.
An advanced level of English language skills: TOEFL score of 90 or above; IELTS Academic Test score of 6.5 or above; Duolingo English Test 120 points.

Candidates will also be evaluated on the following admission criteria:

Outstanding academic record.
Quantitative skills.
Reference letters.

Apply now

FAQs

Below you will find our most frequently asked questions but do not hesitate to contact the BSE Admissions Team to learn more about our Master’s programs.

Is the Barcelona School of Economics listed in any rankings?

Here you will find a list of the Rankings BSE is part of, including RePEc and QS

Can I apply to different Master’s programs?

You can apply to up to three programs for the same academic year.

How can I apply for tuition fee funding?

You will automatically be considered for our tuition fee funding when you apply

Do I need an advanced level of English to study this Master’s?

You need to have the following test results to prove your level of English is high enough: TOEFL score of 90 or above; IELTS Academic Test score of 6.5 or above; Duolingo English Test 120 points