Master's Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis: Economics of Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability Program

Program Director

faculty

Mar Reguant

PhD, MIT

ICREA-IAE-CSIC and BSE

Deputy Director

portrait of Albert Banal-Estañol

Albert Banal-Estañol

PhD, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

UPF and BSE

There is a growing need to understand the technological transformations and economic challenges that the energy transition and climate change entail.

How can we understand the economic and ecological forces? What can we do to improve outcomes?

In the BSE Master's program in Economics of Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability, you will acquire an advanced understanding of the rapidly changing energy sector, learn how economic theory and data tools can be used to understand their functioning and trends, and develop the qualifications that employers are looking for on their teams. 

Program Structure

This Master’s program is part of Economic Policy and Markets. This means you will be able to choose from different courses that are also available in the Competition, Regulation, and Markets Program and the Economics of Public Policy Program. These three programs share the same fundamental basic courses that will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of how economic policy and markets work. At the same time, each program provides its own specialization courses that will make you an expert in one of the specific fields.

How our program works

  • In Term 1, the Master’s program will present the foundations of theoretical and quantitative frameworks to understand energy markets and climate policy.
  • Then in Term 2, you will apply these concepts to a variety of evolving situations, from the regulation and green transition in energy markets to the accounting of climate risks and costs in the banking sector.
  • During Terms 2 and 3, you will have the opportunity to go deeper into advanced topics, such as climate change and migrations, advanced quantitative methods for energy modeling, and advanced Data Science topics.

You will also complete a master project, which will be supervised in regular meetings with an advisor. The project will allow you to put your new knowledge into practice and improve your writing and expository skills.

To increase the applicability of the master projects, we will seek opportunities for collaborations with the partners of the Energy for Growth Hub, a global network of researchers and advocates from leading universities, think tanks, and international organizations.

Is our program right for you?

The Economics of Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability Program is ideal for students and early professionals in Economics, Business, Data Science, Engineering and other STEM backgrounds who want to focus their careers on energy and climate change policy. At BSE, we can provide the theoretical frameworks and quantitative tools to directly inform the energy transition at government agencies, central banks, think tanks, and companies. A growing number of companies, even if not related to the energy sector, are incorporating technical staff to provide in-house guidance on the uncertainty arising from the energy transition and climate change, and our students will help fill that gap.  

Our program has a quantitative focus that can be particularly exciting to students and professionals who enjoy data analysis and coding. Regardless of your coding background, you will complete the Master's with a full range of computational tools and resources for in-depth analysis of energy and climate data.

 

Program schedule: 

The course offer displayed is for next year's edition. Course offer is subject to change.

Course list for current students

 

Master project

The master project is a required component of all BSE Master's programs. Working individually or in groups, students use the tools and knowledge they've acquired during the entire year to explore a topic of their choice. A professor supervises throughout the project.

Examples of master projects from previous cohorts:


Master's degree awarded

Upon successful completion of the BSE Economics of Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability 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).

This master program is in the process of ex-ante assessment by the Catalan and Spanish Education authorities within the framework of the Bologna Process (in Spanish, "Master Universitario o Master Oficial").


What skills and knowledge will I acquire in this program?
  • Understand how energy markets are organized and the challenges and opportunities associated with the energy transition
  • Build short- and long-run economic models of the energy transition
  • Acquire analytical and statistical tools to evaluate the cost and benefits of alternative energy and environmental regulations
  • Learn about economic concepts and frameworks associated with the analysis and tracking of sustainability goals
Who will benefit from this program?
  • Students with a background in Economics or Business with a strong interest in energy and sustainability economics
  • Graduates in Engineering or STEM who want to build their knowledge of the economics of energy markets and their regulation
  • Workforce professionals seeking in-depth training in the modeling of energy markets and the energy transition
  • Researchers or professionals at regulation authorities or energy companies looking to learn more about recent economic tools in this area
  • Aspiring PhD students looking for a rigorous economic master program in Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability Economics
Who hires Economics of Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability graduates?

This is a new program. We are building our Master’s program to be attractive for:

  • Consulting firms that need economists with the latest background and tools on the energy transition
  • Public agencies looking for energy and climate change economists
  • Central banks looking to expand in their climate risks area
  • Private companies in the energy, climate change, and sustainability space
  • Private companies in any other area seeking to incorporate an expert in this area
Can I enter another BSE Master's directly from this program?

Students who successfully complete the Economics of Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability Program are eligible for direct admission to the following programs, if they stay for a second consecutive year:

Master’s Degree in Data Science:

OR

Master’s Degree in Economics and Finance:

A 20% discount will be applied on the second program's tuition fees. All BSE Alumni are eligible for this discount at any time.

Read more about taking a second BSE Master’s degree

Faculty

Students

Energy Student Profile 2023-24

17 students from 13 countries (100% international)

Most represented countries this year:

  • Germany (4)

  • Japan (2)

Most common undergraduate backgrounds:

  • Economics and Finance

 

Chart displays years of work experience. 6 students have 0-1 years of experience. 2 students have 1-2 years of experience, and 9 students have 2-5+ years of experience.

Alumni

An overview of Energy career paths for recent cohorts (Class of 2023)

  • Energy alumni (75%) enter or return to the professional workforce
     
  • Most common industries:
    Consulting, Government and Authorities
  • Cities with most Competition alumni:
    Milan, Zurich, Oslo, Boston, Dublin
Economics of Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainability Placement by Industry