Master of Research

Study in Barcelona

Located on a sprawling campus just 20km from downtown Barcelona, UAB offers the best features of small-town and large-city living. There is easy access by public transportation to the cultural, sporting, and recreational opportunities in one of the world's greatest cities.

The Program in Detail

The IDEA Master of Research in Economic Analysis is an official two-year degree with 120 ECTS (complying with the European directives for higher education). The program is divided into coursework, participation in workshops, and the writing of a Master's thesis.

Our Master´s students acquire a solid grounding in Economics and Finance that emphasizes rigorous analytical thinking and advanced quantitative and computational methods. The program includes an ample range of fields of specialization, and it provides students with the tools necessary to enter a doctoral degree. It also makes the students competitive in the job market.

To complement its offerings, IDEA also encompasses the IDEA-MIBF Double Degree Program with the Master of Science in International Banking and Finance (MIBF) of Lingnan University in Hong Kong. For more information, you may visit the IDEA-MIBF page.

Click here to find more information about the application process.

Some of our graduates take on careers in the private sector and governmental and non-governmental institutions, while others continue their studies, pursuing a Ph.D. either with us or abroad.

First Year

The first year in the Master’s Program consists of two semesters of coursework. The first-year courses are the core of the student’s training. Each lecture period is followed by an examination period.

Second year

The second year in the Master’s Program consists of two semesters of elective course work and the writing of a Master’s thesis. The second-year courses are the specialization in the student’s training. The Master’s thesis is an original research paper on a relevant economic problem. The thesis is due by the end of June and is defended before a committee in July. After a successful defense, the Master’s degree is awarded.

Recent Master placements

Courses Offered (2024-2025)

academic calendar:  first year  second year

First Year Courses

click on each course to see the syllabus

Second Year Courses 

click on each course to see the syllabus

Short courses (2024-2025)

Funding Opportunities

Funding is available for outstanding applicants in the form of partial fellowships. 

International Partnerships

IDEA is part of the two-year Erasmus Mundus joint Master Degree (EMJMD) offered by a network of five European universities. IDEA also offers a double degree with the MIBF department of Lingnan Univeristy in Hong Kong. 

Questions about our Master Program? 

Email our graduate programme manager at idea@uab.es