Economics

Abstract

• Show the study programme profile

  Profile of the study programme

  The bachelor programme provides an in depths training in economics, and additionally covers the fundamentals of business administration and quantitative methods. The focus is on solving economic and societal issues in companies, households, government institutions and markets. On the one hand, it is of interest how people in companies, households, government institutions and markets use economic (eg financial) resources, and how decisions interact with economic and political institutions. On the other hand, an analysis of the impact and the optimal use of economic resources is necessary in order to be able to derive recommendations for companies and politicians. Examples of questions in economics are: What determines prosperity and the distribution of wealth in a country? What influences the exchange rates and trade flows between nations? How do firms acquire market power? Economics also deals with more specific questions: What effect does education have on income, health and crime? Because of what characteristics are some companies more successful than others? Which kind of interventions work in developmental aid? Economics also deals with the question of whether and how the state should intervene in economic and social processes at the national and international level.

  Fribourg profile
  The Department of Economics combines modern political economic teaching and research with the humanistic tradition of the University of Fribourg. Students are empowered to provide answers to economic, social and entrepreneurial issues and to put them into practice.
  The excellent support in the department and the strong application orientation of the teaching provide an ideal environment for students to acquire these skills. The bachelor programme, which is offered entirely in German and French, enables students to prepare themselves optimally for work in an intercultural environment.

  Learning outcomes
  A solid basic education in economics provides students with the necessary knowledge to understand and independently analyse economic problems. The goal of the study programme is to impart methodological, professional and social skills:

  Methodological skills
  Economists contribute to the understanding of economic processes and economic interrelationships under changing conditions. Students learn
  – to make economic diagnoses and prognoses with the help of theoretical and statistical insights, as well as quantitative methods of causal analysis;
  – how to provide economic consulting for companies, the public sector and organisations that pursue certain economic goals;
  – how to communicate economic ideas and economic interrelationships, for example, in the media.

  Professional skills
  Good professional expertise is indispensable for the analysis of complex economic problems. During the course of the study programme, students learn how they can theoretically structure economic issues and subsequently examine them with the help of data. The inclusion of practical cases makes it possible for students to transfer the knowledge that has been acquired into practice and develop solutions for economic and socio-political problems.

  Social skills
  The excellent student-to teacher ratio in the department allows for interactive teaching methods. Students have the opportunity to work in teams early on, present the results of their work and practice participating in scientific discussions. In group work in particular students have the opportunity to motivate fellow students and help one another.

  Career prospects
  At the University of Fribourg, economists gain a solid theoretical and statistical education, which at the same time is practice-oriented, focussing on current economic issues in public organisations and companies. Such a profile provides employment prespectives in particular in large private companies (in particular in banking and insurance, industry, trade, data management and media), consulting, market research, the public sector (on the cantonal or state level), international organisations (e.g. UNO) as well as in professional or trade union organisations.

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Structure of studies

Curriculum

Admission

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