Studying Economics in Europe in English: Top Programmes and How They Work

Where economics is taught in English across Europe

You do not need German, Italian or Swedish to study economics in continental Europe. A large and growing share of economics degrees — especially at master's level, but increasingly at bachelor's level too — are delivered entirely in English. The Netherlands has the deepest pool of English-taught economics bachelor's and master's programmes; Germany, Italy, Sweden and the Nordics offer many English-taught master's and a smaller set of English bachelor's.

Because the exact list of English-taught programmes changes each year, treat any list as a starting point only. Confirm the language of instruction for a specific programme on that university's own course page and on the official national study portal — Study in NL (Nuffic) for the Netherlands, the DAAD programme database for Germany, Universitaly for Italy and University Admissions for Sweden.

Quantitative vs policy-oriented tracks

Economics is not one degree. Programmes sit on a spectrum from heavily mathematical and statistical to more applied and policy-facing, and the same word ('economics') can mean very different course content.

Reading the curriculum is the only reliable way to tell them apart. A quantitative or econometrics-leaning programme will list calculus, linear algebra, mathematical statistics and econometrics early; a policy- or business-leaning programme leans more on applied micro/macro, institutions, and case work. Many European universities split the difference with named specialisations (for example 'economics and policy', 'quantitative economics', 'international economics', 'behavioural economics'). Pick by the modules listed, not the brochure language.

• Quantitative / econometrics track — strong maths and statistics core, programming, research methods; good preparation for a research master's or a PhD
• Policy / applied track — applied micro and macro, public policy, development or labour economics; oriented toward government, NGOs and industry roles
• Business-adjacent track — economics blended with finance, management or data; check whether the degree is awarded by an economics or a business faculty

How entry requirements typically work

Across these countries, an economics admission usually weighs three things: your prior qualification (a recognised secondary-school certificate for a bachelor's, or a relevant bachelor's for a master's), a demonstrated mathematics background, and English proficiency.

Many quantitative programmes ask specifically for evidence of mathematics in your prior studies, and some master's programmes ask for prior economics or quantitative coursework. English is usually evidenced with IELTS, TOEFL or an equivalent the university accepts. Do not assume a fixed score, GPA cut-off or maths requirement — each university publishes its own, and these change. Verify the exact prior-subject, grade and English requirements on the official programme page before you apply.

Credits, degree length and how the Bologna system fits

Most European economics degrees follow the Bologna three-cycle structure: a bachelor's, then a master's, then (optionally) a doctorate, with study measured in ECTS credits that are designed to transfer across the European Higher Education Area.

In practice that means a continental bachelor's is often three years and a taught master's often one to two years, but the exact length and credit load vary by country and university. The advantage of the ECTS system is portability: a quantitative master's in one country generally recognises a bachelor's earned in another. Confirm a specific degree's length and credits on the university page and check how your own qualification is assessed via the official recognition channels (ENIC-NARIC, and country recognition bodies such as Germany's uni-assist or Italy's CIMEA).

Funding, tuition and the visa step

Tuition for economics varies enormously by country and by whether you are an EU/EEA or a non-EU student — some public systems charge little or no tuition, others charge substantial fees, and private and business schools charge more again. There is no single 'European tuition' figure, so never rely on a number you read second-hand.

Look up the exact tuition for your fee status on the university's own fees page, and check national scholarship routes (for example DAAD scholarships for Germany, or Erasmus Mundus joint master's, which are scholarship-funded joint degrees — distinct from the Erasmus+ exchange programme). For the residence permit or student visa, each country sets its own rules and financial-proof requirements; this is general information, not immigration advice, so verify the current rules on the official government source for your destination.