BSc in Economics and Business Economics - Business Economics

36 Months On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Groningen

Program Overview

The BSc in Economics and Business Economics - Business Economics equips you with the analytical tools and financial expertise to understand how companies make smart decisions while balancing profitability with societal impact. You'll explore corporate finance, investments, and strategic decision-making in real-world contexts, preparing you for careers in finance, consulting, banking, and corporate management.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Building Your Foundation

You'll start with a broad introduction to how institutional contexts—like democracy and capitalism—shape wealth and well-being. The curriculum covers Financial Accounting for E&BE, Macroeconomics for E&BE, and Statistics for E&BE, alongside essential mathematics and practical data analysis. This foundation ensures you understand both the theoretical side of economics and the practical skills needed to analyze real business problems.

Second Year: Specializing in Business Economics

Now you dive deeper into how companies create financial value. You'll engage with specialized courses including Corporate Finance for E&BE, Management Accounting for BE, and Microeconomics - Industrial Organization, which teach you how firms compete and make strategic investments. This year builds your ability to evaluate financial statements, understand investment decisions, and analyze how companies generate shareholder value while considering sustainability and ethical concerns.

Third Year: Customizing Your Path

In your final year, you have flexibility to tailor your studies through electives like International Corporate Finance or Marketing Research for E&BE, alongside a 30 EC minor of your choice. You'll complete a Bachelor's Thesis that allows you to apply everything you've learned to a real business challenge, preparing you for either immediate entry into professional roles or further Master's study.

Focus Areas

Corporate finance, investments, financial decision-making, accounting, business strategy, and how companies balance profitability with sustainability and ethical responsibilities.

Learning Outcomes

You'll develop the ability to analyze financial data critically, understand corporate strategic decisions, apply economic theory to real business situations, and evaluate companies' financial health while considering broader societal impacts.

Professional Alignment

The programme is accredited by both EQUIS and AACSB, ensuring the curriculum meets international standards for business education and is recognized by leading employers globally.

Reputation & Employability

Graduates pursue careers in corporate finance, banking, consulting firms, and multinationals, with strong job prospects in financial advisory and management roles. The University of Groningen's Business Economics programme is part of the Faculty of Economics and Business, which maintains these prestigious international accreditations that employers value highly.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In the BSc in Economics and Business Economics - Business Economics at the University of Groningen, you'll dive into hands-on learning right from the start through the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) initiatives that connect classroom theory to real-world business challenges. You'll build practical skills like data analysis, consulting, project management, and networking via activities such as company visits, real-life case projects with firms, and collaborations with organizations like ABN-Amro and Philips, all designed to prep you for economics and business careers. These opportunities, offered through elective courses, extracurriculars, and career services, let you apply concepts from courses like Corporate Finance, Econometrics, and Operations Management to actual problems, boosting your resume and confidence.

This practical focus shines in specifics like these:
- Business Research & Consulting course: Tackle hands-on consultancy projects advising real companies on issues like brand awareness and sales strategies, including company visits and presentations to management.
- Learning Communities: Join collaborative projects on topics like Data (Science) & Analytics, Programming in Python or R, Agile, Blockchain Technology, Career Development, or Economic Challenges in the Energy Transition, with assignments from partners like Philips and Friesland Campina, plus skills in programming, negotiation, and networking.
- Skills workshops and professional development: Practice negotiation, strategic decision-making, and data tools through real-life business cases brought by companies and guest experts (like CEOs), often in interactive "skill-tasting" sessions bridging theory and practice.
- Career Services activities: Gain experience via company visits, interviews, coaching, informal group meetings, and real-life cases presented to business teams, plus options like Master's internships for direct employer connections.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BSc in Economics and Business Economics – Business Economics at the University of Groningen develop a powerful mix of economic insight and practical business expertise. By the time you graduate, you’ll know how to analyse markets, evaluate company performance and support strategic decision-making. Many alumni move into roles such as Business Analyst, Financial Analyst, Economic Consultant or Strategy Advisor, working in both national and international organisations.

Here’s why your career outlook from this programme is so strong:

Career services that truly support you: The Faculty of Economics and Business offers hands-on career guidance, including CV and interview workshops, employer networking events and career fairs. The Economics and Business Faculty (EBF) study association actively connects students with companies through recruitment events, company visits and internship opportunities.
Strong employment outcomes: Graduate surveys from the faculty show that alumni from related economics and business master’s programmes earn an average starting salary of around €3,691 gross per month. Many secure permanent positions shortly after graduation and work in international teams.
Close industry engagement: Students benefit from guest lectures, real-life business cases and collaboration with organisations across finance, consulting and public sectors. Alumni have gone on to work at companies such as Rabobank, Accenture, Volkswagen and the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
International accreditation value: The Faculty of Economics and Business holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious quality labels are awarded to only a small percentage of business schools worldwide, strengthening the global reputation of your degree.
Versatile graduation outcomes: Graduates enter careers in finance, consulting, data analysis, business development and strategic management. The strong analytical and quantitative foundation makes them competitive across industries.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this bachelor’s degree, you can smoothly progress to a range of specialised master’s programmes at Groningen, such as Finance, Economics, International Business, Econometrics or Supply Chain Management.

Country Requirements

China: Senior High School Diploma plus Gaokao with an overall score high enough for admission to a Tier 1 or Tier 2 university in your province (equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma).
France: General Baccalaureate Diploma (equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma).
Germany: Certificate of General University Entrance Qualification (Abitur) or Subject-Specific University Entrance Qualification (equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma).
India: All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE) with at least 5 externally examined subjects, achieving grades A (A1/A2) or B (B1) in all five (equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma).
India: Indian School Certificate (CISCE, Year 12) with a minimum 75% average across 5 externally examined subjects (equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma).
South Africa: National Senior Certificate (NSC) with 7 exam subjects and a minimum 70% overall average (excluding Life Orientation and Mathematical Literacy).
South Africa: Additionally, one IEB Advanced Programme or IEB Further Studies Certificate in Mathematics, Physics, or English with at least 55% is required (equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma).
Turkey: Lise Diploması plus at least 3 externally examined AP courses (College Board) with grades 3–5.
Turkey: A maximum of one AP course from the listed Capstone, Music, or Studio Art subjects may count toward the requirement (equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma).
Canada: Provincial High School Diploma with at least five Grade 12 courses passed (Alberta requires a minimum 65% average; Ontario requires six Grade 12 university-preparation courses, including at least four U-level courses; Quebec requires a Diplôme d'Études Collégiales (DEC)) — equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma.
USA: High School Diploma with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0/4.0 plus at least 3 externally examined AP courses (College Board) with grades 3–5 (maximum one from the listed Capstone, Music, or Studio Art subjects) — equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma.
USA: AP score reports must be submitted with the application; for pending AP exams, a school statement confirming completion with College Board exams is required.
United Kingdom: Minimum of 3 academic GCE A2-levels with grades A*–C (vocational/skills-based subjects are not accepted) — equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma.Only full GCE A-level certificates are considered for admission.