Competition and Master Regulation

As competition policy becomes increasingly relevant in public and private sectors, there is a great need for professionals equipped to address Competition Policy and Market Regulation issues.

The highly practical focus of our Competition and Market Regulation Program ensures that graduates have both an advanced understanding of the interaction between theory and practice as well as the qualifications necessary for solid placement in the field.

The Barcelona GSE Competition and Market Regulation Program presents students with a learning progression, starting from the basic necessary conceptual frameworks and economic tools, and then introducing core issues in Competition Policy and Market Regulation with the help of leading specialists in each field.

Students themselves will examine real-world competition policy cases and demonstrate how regulation works across specific industries such as banking, energy, and telecommunications, and will design and conduct an independent master's project in their domain.

Students will have a wealth of opportunities to complement their coursework with conferences and seminars in various fields of specialization. Chief among these is the Regulation and Competition Seminar Series, organized by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) Department of Economics and Business, the Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT), and the Barcelona GSE. Seminars feature academics, regulators, and practitioners at the forefront of their fields discussing specific issues and presenting original research. In addition to providing a range of regulatory issue perspectives, seminars also give students the opportunity to network with top professionals in the industry.

Study with the experts

Teaching faculty for 2016-17 will include many industry experts teaching in the current edition of the program, as well as Massimo Motta, who will be returning from his stint as Chief Competition Economist at the European Commission. Professor Motta has been involved with the master program since its foundation and brings many years of experience both in the classroom and in the practice of competition policy.

 Skills Acquired

• Orderly thinking in Economic concepts, especially Microeconomics, Industrial Economics, Information Economics, Game Theory, and Strategic Behavior
• Confidence in the fundamentals of competition law and its history
• Understanding of theory and models of regulation, and in particular the basic regulatory frameworks of main industrial sectors
• Ability to publicly present cases, and development of analytical skills for discussion and argument from different points of view
• Communication through written technical reports containing real data analysis, analysis of economic literature, and selected project themes
• Expert subject knowledge in discussion of formalized theory on competition policy 

Addressed to 

• Students with a background in Economics or Business with a strong interest in microeconomics
• Graduates in Engineering or Law who want to build their knowledge of economics, markets, and organizations
• Workforce professionals seeking in-depth training in competition and market regulation policies
• Researchers or professionals at antitrust authorities looking for advanced techniques and tools
• Aspiring PhD students looking for a rigorous economic master program in Competition Policy and Market Regulation

Prospective Employers

• Governmental and Regulatory Agencies
• Research Institutions and Consulting Firms
• Energy and Telecommunications Industries, among others
• Banking and Financial Institutions
• International and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

At the Barcelona GSE we look for excellence and talent. Key elements of a strong application are a high GPA, a sound statement of purpose and a standout reference letter. Strong knowledge in economics and good quantitative skills are also recommended.

The entry criteria for applicants are:

• An Undergraduate/bachelor/grado/laurea, or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university (for Bologna degrees, a minimum of 180 ECTS are required).
• A typical applicant would hold a University Diploma in Economics, Finance, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics or Business Administration. See our Student Profile for more detailed information.
• An advanced level of English language skills: TOEFL 90 and IELTS 6.5
• GRE exam is mandatory for the Data Science Program and highly recommended for those applicants to the Economics Program who want to be considered for the UPF PhD program (GPEFM).

Note that the fulfillment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee admission. Candidates will also be evaluated on the following admission criteria:

• Outstanding academic record
• Quantitative skills
• Reference letters

The Barcelona GSE is able to offer tuition waivers and fully-funded scholarships based on academic merit.

The financial aid that is available to students includes:

• Fully funded scholarships

• Waivers for 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of tuition fees

• Teaching assistantships

Financial aid will only be awarded to candidates that have an outstanding academic record. All candidates will automatically be considered for any available financial aid when they submit a completed application for a master program. 

While applications are open every year until June 25, preference in funding will be given to candidates who apply before January 15. 

In the Class of 2016, 34% of students were awarded with scholarships or tuition waivers.

Master degree awarded

Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Master Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis awarded jointly with Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF).

All Barcelona GSE master degrees have been recognized by the Catalan and Spanish Education authorities within the framework of the Bologna Process (in Spanish, “Master Universitario o Master Oficial”)