Economics and Finance

Bachelor in Economics and Finance (BEF) is a three-year English-language Bachelor's degree programme, which aims to give the student a thorough grounding in both theoretical and applied economics and finance. We put emphasis on developing abstract analytical reasoning, which allows our graduates to solve complex economic and financial problems in various settings. The programme is taught by members of the Institute of Economic Studies (IES).

The applicants must have solid background in Mathematics and good command of English. Courses are taught both by members of the Institute of Economic Studies (IES) and external professionals from the central bank, commercial banks and business analysts. Our graduates typically assume challenging positions in banking, consulting, investment funds and public administration.

To complete the programme, the students must (i) collect 180 ECTS credits and (ii) defend their Bachelor’s Thesis. The available courses consist of mandatory courses, elective and optional courses. The mandatory and elective courses are taught at the Institute of Economic Studies (IES), the optional (off-field elective) courses can be taken at any department of Charles University (including Czech language classes).

Courses

Mandatory courses

Mandatory courses introduce the students to microeconomics, macroeconomics and provide students with nontrivial tools of mathematical analysis and statistics. Mandatory courses are intended to give a broad overview of major topics in economics and finance, and to provide a solid background for further studies of specialized elective courses. Bachelor thesis seminars prepare student for the selection of the topic of the thesis and provide a guide for writing the thesis.

• Principles of Economics I and II
• Microeconomics I and II
• Macroeconomics I and II
• Introductory Mathematics
• Mathematics I and II
• Introductory Statistics
• Statistics
• Introductory Banking
• Financial Economics
• Econometrics I
• Bachelor Thesis Seminar I and II

Elective courses

Elective courses cover a wide range of specific areas in economics and finance, which allows the students to specialize in the field of their interest. The topics include finance and banking (e.g. introductory banking, financial accounting, international finance, public finance), management (e.g. strategic management, financial management), economic policy (e.g. economic policy, global financial crisis), international trade and European economic integration. We also offer courses in complementary areas (e.g. history of economic thought, game theory and political economy, introduction to sociology).

Optional courses

Off-field elective courses can be taken at any department of Charles University or at any partner university. Students may take 27 ECTS credits outside of the Institute of Economic Studies. These credits can also be used to follow the Czech language classes offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The BEF programme is open only to applicants who have already completed (or are about to complete) their secondary education. There is no formal entrance test and we evaluate the complete application package provided by the applicant. We welcome applicants with a strong motivation and a consistent past performance track record. Applicants must be able to demonstrate sufficient competence in mathematics and in English. To evaluate mathematical abilities of applicants, we require one of the following documents:

• predicted or final score in International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Group 5 - Mathematics;
• College Scholastics Ability Test (Suneung),
• General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A Levels) including Mathematics;
• SAT test (Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing); SAT Subject test Math Level 1; SAT Subject test Math Level 2;
• ACT Composite score,
• SCIO Matematika or
• an UJOP Podebrady final Mathematics exam.
• (For an SAT test, please use our institutional code 7280 if you wish for your results to be sent directly to us).

Except of native speakers and graduates of international high-schools where language of instruction was English, applicants should include a copy of their results of either IELTS (required minimum is 6,5 points overall with 6,5 points from at least three components) or TOEFL (required minimum is 90 points; please use our institutional code 6633 if you wish for your results to be sent directly to us) or equivalent (eg. CAE).