Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics: Urban and Regional Economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The Master's in Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics deals with urban and regional, transport, environmental, or real estate economics.

Our Master's programme allows you to specialize in one of these four fields, but also offers the opportunity to combine courses from all these fields. The programme offers you the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to tackle complex problems at a high level of abstraction, keeping in mind the need to translate theoretical solutions into clear-cut policy advice. The contents are firmly rooted in economics, but shed light on the multi-disciplinary nature of many real-world policy questions.

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weiter: Studienverlauf »

Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics: Urban and Regional Economics

You apply for the one-year master Spatial, Transport, and Environmental Economics. Later that year you may specialize in one or a combination of the following fields:

Urban and Regional Economics

This specialization is about the good (e.g. high wages) and the bad (e.g. high crime) of cities and regions. For example, why are some cities thriving, while others struggle? What types of firms and people cluster in space, and why? What does economic theory teach us about policy challenges that metropolitan areas face, such as crime, social segregation, housing affordability, traffic congestion and environmental pollution? How can you use and further develop techniques, methods and tools in this field?

Transport Economics

What are the causes and consequences of a growing demand for mobility from a microeconomic perspective? How can we address problems such as congestion, reliability, safety, and environmental externalities? For example, what are the implications of market power in network markets such as aviation and public transport, and how should we address these in transport policy? How should cars be optimally taxed? Is there a way to stimulate drivers to avoid peak hours, in order to take the pressure off the roads?  Does Uber increase or decrease the use of public transport?

Environmental Economics

What are the economic aspects of environmental problems and policy? How can you combine scientific and policy expertise? How can you address the need to integrate economics with insights from other disciplines, notably the environmental sciences? For example, to what extent are environmental taxes too low, and why? Why would countries want to join the Kyoto Protocol or the Sofia Protocol? What role could trade sanctions play herein?

Real Estate Economics and Finance

How do real estate markets function? More specifically, how does price determination work in these markets, and how are portfolios managed? What is the impact of land use regulation, transport infrastructure, and public policy on real estate price dynamics? What is the relationship between real estate and its location?

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« zurück: Kurzprofil

weiter: Karriere »

Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics: Urban and Regional Economics

Career prospects of graduates in Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics are excellent.

Most graduates find jobs within 3 months as policy economists with (inter)national government agencies or consultancy firms, or at organizations such as airlines or railway operators – and are better paid than graduates from other economic programmes. Some opt for a career in economic research.

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« zurück: Studienverlauf

weiter: Zulassung »

Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics: Urban and Regional Economics

I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) bachelor’s degree (premaster)

In order to be successful in this programme you will need a solid academic basis in, for instance, economics, but bachelor students with sufficient technical expertise, e.g. Engineering or Environmental Science, are also very welcome.

If you have a Dutch higher vocational (HBO) degree you need to enrol in a transfer programme, which is specifically designed to bridge the gap between higher vocational education and university-level education. The transfer programme consists of 5 courses in Mathematics and Economics and a GRE test.

I have a Dutch university level (WO) bachelor's degree (VU bachelor's degree, VU premaster or bachelor's degree at another university)

We welcome and look for motivated students who are interested in the economics of the real estate market. In order to be successful in this programme you will need a solid academic basis in, for instance, economics, but bachelor students with sufficient technical expertise, e.g. engineering, or finance, are also very welcome. Other bachelor students need at least a minor in economics.

Admission requirements

Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics is open to students with a university Bachelor's degree that provides sufficient knowledge of microeconomics or a solid background in mathematics and statistics for economics. You need to have successfully completed courses and studied literature related to the core of this programme, as listed below (or equivalents):

•  Microeconomics
  •  Snyder C.M. and W. Nicholson, Microeconomic Theory: Basic Principles and Extensions, Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning, 11th edition (Chapters 2-5, 9-13). Particularly chapter 2 (except dynamic optimisation) is essential.
•  Mathematics
  • Sydsaeter, Knut and Hammond, Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis, Prentice Hall, 3rd ed., 2008.
• Econometrics
  • Stock, J.H. and M.W. Watson's Introduction to Econometrics, fourth edition Addison Wesley, New York (Chapters 2-9).

Approval is in general given to students who hold a:

•  Bachelor’s degree in Earth and Economics (VU bachelors Earth and Economics have direct admission)
• Bachelor’s degree in Econometrics, Environmental Sciences, Transport Science, Engineering, but also Geography (with sufficient background in economics and statistics)

Other applicants (e.g. with a polytechnic degree) may be required to complete preparatory courses before they can be admitted to the programme.

With a Bachelor's degree in (International) Business Administration, Economics or Econometrics and Operations Research from Dutch Universities you can review this document. Any additional admission requirements can be found on the Curriculum page of this website.

Please note: this information is only meant as an indication of your admissibility. No rights can be derived from this table. Every application will be reviewed individually by the Admission Board. The final admission decision may differ from the indication in this table. If your programme is not listed but contains enough relevant courses, please feel free to apply.

I have a School of Business and Economics Degree

We welcome and look for motivated students who are interested in the economics of the real estate market. In order to be successful in this programme you will need a solid academic basis in, for instance, economics, but bachelor students with sufficient technical expertise, e.g. engineering, or finance, are also very welcome. Other bachelor students need at least a minor in economics.

Mehr Infos zum Studiengang? Besuche die Website!

« zurück: Karriere

weiter: Masterstudiengänge »

Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Mehr Infos zum Studiengang? Besuche die Website!

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weiter: Kontakt »

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