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Research Master

Tinbergen Institute offers a Research Master’s Program with three tracks: a track in economics, a track in econometrics and a track in finance. 

Before the start of the academic year, refresher courses are offered in mathematics and programming in econometrics.

In the first year, students receive rigorous training in the core subjects and tools of economics, econometrics and finance. In the second year, students specialize in their choice from the institute’s many fields of research through field coursework and thesis research. In the second year of the program over 40 field courses are offered.

First year of the Curriculum

In the first year of the program, students have to complete 60 ECTS. At the start of the academic year, students choose between the Econometrics and Advanced Econometrics track and whether they will take the Finance track. The first-year of the curriculum includes 13 core courses, 2 field courses (to be chosen from a selection of field courses organized in block V) and the seminar series at the researh departments of the schools. The seminars allow students to explore potential supervisors and fields of specialization, and vice versa, allow potential supervisors to scout out talented students. Attendance at courses and seminar series is mandatory.

 The standard Economics track consists of:

  • Microeconomics (17 ECTS)
  • Macroeconomics (16 ECTS)
  • Econometrics, Statistics and Fundamental Mathematics (20 ECTS)
  • 2 Field courses (6 ECTS)
  • Introduction to TI Research Groups (1 ECTS)

Students in the Advanced Econometrics track take the Advanced Mathematics course, Asymptotic Theory instead of Statistics, and Advanced Econometrics instead of Econometrics. Students in the Finance track substitute two of the block III and IV courses in Macroeconomics or Microeconomics with Asset Pricing Theory and Corporate Finance Theory. The choice of the Finance track is independent of or can be combined with the Econometrics track.

Second Year of the Curriculum

In the second year, students have to:

  • complete 27 ECTS of specialized coursework;
  • participate in the Research Clinic (3 ECTS) with lectures on Academic Writing, Presenting in Academica and Academic Integrity;
  • write and publicly defend a thesis (30 ECTS). The thesis is the final examination of the research master program. 

Students who wish to graduate in the Econometrics track choose the Advanced Econometrics courses in the first year; students who wish to graduate in the Finance track choose the courses in Asset Pricing and Corporate Finance Theory in the first year (see above).

Over 30 field courses will be in offered in 2023-2024.

The Research Master's Academic and Examination Regulations provide details on the program requirements and examination procedures and can be downloaded from the intranet.