Master of Science in Economics

The MSc in Economics (ME) is an advanced programme offered by the Faculty of Economics at the Università della Svizzera italiana.

The goal of the Master is to teach students how to analyze economic problems at the national as well as international level and how to identify the most appropriate policy instruments. In a cordial environment and in close interaction with the Faculty, the students will be equipped with the quantitative methods and the analytical tools necessary for a successful career as a professional economist in the private or public sector. To optimally prepare for different career paths, the students have the option to acquire additional programming skills (minor in data science) or additional tools relevant for public policy analysis (minor in public policy). The master will also drive interested students into a Ph.D program.

Why ME?

• Program entirely taught in English, with a strong international orientation,
• International Faculty from USI and abroad,
• Outstanding Career Outcomes,
• Regular guest lectures from leading practitioners,
• Excellent professor-to-student ratio,
• Choice of two minors (Public Policy and Data Science), which allows the students to specialize according to their interests,
• Possibility for a limited number of students to earn a double degree “MSc in Economics” (awarded from Università della Svizzera italiana) and “Laurea Magistrale in Economics and Finance” (awarded from Università di Napoli Federico II).

Awarded degree

Master of Science in Economics

Structure and contents

The Master of Science in Economics (ME) prepares professional economists with a policy orientation, with an eye to the skills required to be employed in national and international policy and research institutions, including central banks, development banks, economics and statistics research offices but also in high ranks of the public administration. Due to the skills acquired during the master, the ME is also a pathway to higher studies in Economics and Economic Policy.

The Master offers knowledge in various fields of applied economics combined with a sound background in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. To understand, evaluate and propose economic policy instruments in the current world with all its global challenges, the teaching methodology is to combine economic theory with relevant real world applications of today.

Teaching

The ME courses are taught by professors from USI and abroad. In line with the international spirit of this Master, excellent researchers from abroad build part of the teaching team and contribute to the diversity of thoughts. Regular guest lecturers from the private and public sector complement the academic knowledge with relevant policy applications.

INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS

USI in the Times Higher Education (THE) and Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS), which are amongst the world's most popular and well-known global rankings - latest available data:

• QS World University Rankings 2023
  240th globally
  (out of 1500 universities considered)
  
• THE World University Rankings 2023
  Range 201-250
  (out of 1799 universities considered)
  
• THE World's Best Small Universities 2022
  15th worldwide
  among small universities.
  
• THE Young University Rankings 2022
  57th worldwide
  among ‘young’ universities (less than 50 years old)
  
• QS Top 50 Under 50 2021
  26th worldwide
  among ‘young’ universities (less than 50 years old)

U-MULTIRANK 2022

With 16 "A" in the indicators taken into consideration, USI ranks 3rd in the ranking of Swiss universities (Country Report Switzerland).

RANKINGS BY SUBJECT AREA

In addition to the global university rankings, USI has made significant progress in subject area rankings:

• THE Subject Rankings
  with important results in particular in Computer Science, Clinical and Health, Economics.
• Forschungsmonitoring
  with high scores in the rankings that measure the impact of research in Economics, especially when referring to the most prestigious academic journals of the field.

Career Prospects

The Master in Economics provides the foundations for a successful career as an applied economist. Due to the rigorous training of quantitative skills, combined with knowledge in more specialized areas, ME-students are a great asset for national and international organizations, PhD programs, as well as firms in the private sector.

Our students have found employment (internships and regular jobs) in diverse sectors.
More than 90% of students found employment within 3 months after graduation.