Studying Economics

In the Leuphana Semester, you will deal with science and scholarship in a very fundamental way. This will train your critical thinking skills to be able to question the familiar; this will teach you to choose the adequate approach for gaining systematic knowledge and this will teach you to practice the responsible use of scientific knowledge. At the same time, you will receive an introduction to economics. This means that you will become familiar with economic thinking and gain initial insights into economic behavioural models and statistical methods. The examination of the principles of scientific thinking and working methods in general as well as the introduction to the major in concrete form the foundation for the interdisciplinary bachelor programme of economics.

The minor deepens the economics major or supplements it with another subject area. You have the choice: With the minor in Business Administration, you complete your knowledge of economics and acquire the classic profile of an economist. Other minors allow you to gain an interdisciplinary qualification.

In the Complementary Studies, you have the freedom to individually pursue your thirst for knowledge by immersing yourself in fields of knowledge outside your major-minor combination, such as economic psychology, law, philosophy or politics. By stepping out of your own discipline and engaging with other subject aspects, you will acquire an understanding of the diversity of academic cultures as well as inter- and transdisciplinary competences.

Studying economics at Leuphana College allows you to combine different interests and academic perspectives. When choosing a minor, you can stay within traditional subject disciplines or give your VWL studies an individual profile. You can combine the Economics major with any minor offered at the college.

ENG English-language minor: no German required
GER / ENG German-language minor can also be taken in English
GER German-language minor: German required

Please note

If you choose a minor other than Business Administration or are interested in other Masters programmes, you should check the entry requirements for the relevant programmes as soon as possible.

In the first semesters, the Economics major at Leuphana college comprises a series of courses that introduce you to the methodological and content-related basic knowledge of economics.

The modules on mathematics, statistics and regression methods create the methodological foundations for a sound analysis of economic issues. Mathematical knowledge helps to understand the theoretical foundations and models of economics, which can then be verified with the help of statistical and econometric tools. Without these tools, a question can usually only be approached intuitively without being able to derive reliable statements. In addition to the basic methodological knowledge, the introduction to economics introduces you to the first economic concepts, such as working with economic models.

The second and third semesters lay the professional foundation for future economists. It includes the basic courses microeconomics and macroeconomics. These two sub-fields of economics are the cornerstones of the bachelor programme. The modules are designed to enable you to see problems that arise in current economic policy debates through the eyes of an economist and to present the basic interrelationships of economic action in a simplified and abstract form.

At the same time, you will be introduced to current research topics from the practice of economists in the third semester. The module "Economics: Education, Labor Market, Research" also shows you which professional fields are open to you.

In the fourth and fifth semesters, you will return to the basic methodological and subject-related framework. In electives, you have the opportunity to deepen your own interests and set thematic priorities. Electives can include, for example, the topic of monetary policy, economic policy, economic growth, happiness research or the economic analysis of law.

You complete your bachelor of economics studies with the Bachelor thesis. In the final dissertation, you demonstrate that you can independently apply the fundamentals and methodological skills you have learned to your own topic and deal with current issues in a scientifically sound manner.

With the completion of the English-language Economics bachelor programme, you acquire the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Economics.

In order to meet the requirements of the Bachelor in Economics (B.Sc.) at Leuphana University of Lüneburg from the very beginning, we recommend applicants to have a solid knowledge of mathematical foundations. With this test you can check your knowledge level. If you have difficulties with some questions, this is not an indicator that you are not up to the requirements of the study. You can prepare yourself with the certificate-based Online Mathematics Bridge course (OMB+) of Leuphana or e.g. textbooks.

Studying economics at Leuphana college means that you also deal with topics outside of economics. The following overview lists the modules you take in the Leuphana Semester (30 credit points, CP), Major Economics (90 CP), Minor (30 CP) and Complementary Studies(30 CP):

Leuphana Semester

• Transforming knowledge: responsible action
• Problematising knowledge: critical thinking
• Producing knowledge: methodologies
• Producing knowledge: research methods for Economics
• Economics: introduction to the discipline

2 semester

• Mathematics II for Economics
• Statistics II for Economics and business Economics
• Microeconomic Theory I
• Macroeconomic Theory I
• 1 minor module
• 1 Complementary studies module

3 semester

• Microeconomic Theory II
• Macroeconomic Theory II
• Economics: Education, labor market, research 
• Introduction to econometrics
• 1 minor module
• 1 Complementary Studies module

4 semester

• Applied microeconomics I: market and competition
• Applied microeconomics II: labor Economics
• Elective*
• 2 minor modules
• 1 Complementary studies module

5 semester

• Applied macroeconomics
• Elective*
• Elective*
• 2 minor modules
• 1 Complementary studies module

6 semester

• Bachelor thesis
• Current topics in Economics
• 2 Complementary studies modules

*The electives cover various topics, such as Market and State, Growth and Distribution or Economics Teaching Research Projects.

• Study programme: Leuphana Bachelor with Economics major
• Degree awarded: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• Duration: 3 years (6 semesters)
• Extent: 180 ECTS
• Study places: 66
• Language: English (no German required)
• Fees: no tuition fees
• Semester contribution: approx. EUR 318,15 EUR
• Semester abroad: possible
• Start date: October 1 (winter semester)
• Application period: Mid May – July 15
• Requirements: university entrance qualification and English skills
• Restricted admission : yes
• Admission: own procedere at Leuphana College

Leuphana College accepts new students each winter term. If you wish to be considered for a Bachelor degree programme, your application must be received by 15 July.

For applicants from EU and EEA countries the University operates a special admissions procedure for the award of places. It considers not only applicants' grades, but also special skills, experience and non-academic achievements such as periods spent studying abroad, and volunteering work.

Online applications

Online applications are possible from mid-May. Find out more about the entry requirements and specific admissions process at Leuphana College. Find out more now

College Open Day

The next Online Open Day at Leuphana College is 31 May 2024. Find out more

Information material

Learn more about the interdisciplinary college study model. Order information material

Student counselling service

Clarify your questions in a personal conversation during the Open Advisory Service. You can take advantage of digital counselling at short notice without registering. The College study advisors will be happy to help you:

• Wednesdays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (in person on campus)
• Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. (digitally via Zoom)

Find out more