QEM — Models and Methods of Quantitative Economics

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This is an EU-approved international graduate degree programme taught full-time over two years in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Taught in English, the programme is designed by a Consortium of four European Universities:

* Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
* Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
* Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France
* Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Venice, Italy

with a network of Associated Partners consisting of international academic institutions as well as public and private companies.

The course offers a rigorous education in fundamental quantitative tools by combining core economic theory with related quantitative disciplines such as Probability, Statistics, Econometrics, Finance, Actuarial Science, Mathematical Modelling, Computation and Simulation, Experimental Design, and Political Science. The breadth of courses offers students the opportunity to specialise in one of these many areas in accordance with their interests along a number of

The course is intended to prepare students for a wide range of careers which utilise their competency in economics, including economic theory, macroeconomics and financial forecasting, financial engineering and risk management, quantitative asset management, computational economics, quantitative trading, and applied and theoretical research.

Each year, approximately 50 students are welcomed to the programme on the basis of academic excellence. Applicants should hold a recognised bachelor's degree (or its equivalent, i.e. 180 ECTS credits in the Bologna system) and be fluent in both written and spoken English. Ideally, applicants will have previously studied mathematics, applied mathematics, quantitative economics or finance but candidates with other backgrounds are welcomed provided that they can demonstrate sufficient interest in economics. Mathematical aptitude as evidenced by previous studies or work experience is taken into consideration in the admissions process.

Applicants without the required mathematical background are advised to undertake special training or programmes prior to their enrolment in the QEM programme. Such training is proposed by the Graduate School of Mathematics of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, IMW - Institute of Mathematical Economics ofUniversität Bielefeld and Università Ca' Foscari Venezia.

It is a programme requirement for students to study at two of the four participating universities from the Consortium. This mobility enables students to benefit from the strengths of each university on a wide range of issues, and to meet and work with professionals from various backgrounds. Upon successfully completing the programme, students are awarded a QEM Joint Degree from the partners of the consortium. The consortium provides extensive career assistance to the students, including help with internships and job placement for graduates. We have had an excellent job placement record, since 2008.

FirstYear
Objective: The first year of the programme is focused on core courses with the objective of building a solid foundation in Economics and quantitative methods on which students build during their specialisation in the second year.

Welcome Week in Paris: The University Paris 1, the programme coordinator, hosts a welcome week at the beginning of the first year to assist students in completing the registration procedures and allow students to become acquainted with one another. F

Mobility: The students spent their first semester in Paris and the second semester is spent in one of the four Consortium universities.

First Year Courses

60 ECTS credits are required and are allocated as follows.

56 ECTS Credits of Scientific Courses: 7 x 7 Credits mandatory + 7 Credits elective

The first year is focused on building a solid foundation in Economics and quantitative methods, thus there are seven mandatory courses and each are awarded 7 ECTS credits (7 x 7). Four of these mandatory courses are taken during the first semester and three are taken during the second semester. The remaining 7 ECTS are allocated to elective courses (which vary by institution, see below). If they wish to take additional electives, students may take up to 67 ECTS credits of courses in their first year.

Students wishing to specialise in Finance during their second year are advised to take two courses in Finance in addition to the mandatory scientific courses. Depending on the credits of the Finance courses they choose, this entails between 61 and 67 ECTS credits in the first year.

4 ECTS Credits of Foreign Language Courses: 2 x 2 Credits mandatory

Each semester, students take courses in French, German, Italian or Spanish as a foreign language. These courses are mandatory and 2 ECTS credits are awarded for these courses, which correspond to approximately 50 hours of language classes and cultural excursion. These courses are graded either pass or fail.

List of Courses

First Semester: 30 ECTS Credits

* Microeconomics 1 (7 ECTS credits, mandatory)
* Macroeconomics 1 (7 ECTS credits, mandatory)
* Optimization (7 ECTS credits, mandatory)
* Probability and Statistics (7 ECTS credits, mandatory)
* Foreign Language Course in French, German, Italian or Spanish (2 ECTS credits, mandatory)

Second Semester: 30 ECTS Credits

* Microeconomics 2 (7 ECTS credits, mandatory)
* Macroeconomics 2 (7 ECTS credits, mandatory)
* Econometrics (7 ECTS credits, mandatory)
* Foreign Language Course in French, German, Italian or Spanish (2 ECTS credits, mandatory)
* Elective courses, see the following links for lists of the range of electives available at each partner university:Barcelona, Bielefeld, Paris, Venice (7 ECTS credits)

In each semester, students may elect to attend tutorials in Economics and Mathematics without grade or accumulating any ECTS credits. In addition, students have access to a computer laboratory with tutorship organised as necessary.

Course Organisation:

* Academic Calendars for the first year in Barcelona, Bielefeld, Paris, and Venice
* Timetables of the first year in Barcelona, Bielefeld, Paris and Venice
* Syllabi of the first year in Barcelona, Bielefeld, Paris and Venice.

Prerequisites: In addition to the regular courses of the programme, further courses in mathematics may be offered to QEM students who have not taken them before (such courses may be mandatory for some students if the Director of Studies deems this necessary). These courses shall not count toward the required 60 ECTS credits for the first year of the programme. For example, subject to change, courses may be offered in:

* Logic and Sets(First Semester)
* Multivariable Calculus(First Semester)
* Linear algebra(Second Semester)
* Euclidean algebra(Second Semester)

Second Year
Objective: The second year of the programme is focused on specialisation courses with the objective of completing a masters dissertation.

Second Year Courses

60 ECTS credits are required and are allocated as follows.

- 36 ECTS Credits of Scientific Courses

Second year combines core and elective courses. The core courses are offered every year. The elective courses vary by year and university.

For specific information on second year courses see the following links:

* Barcelona
* Bielefeld
* Paris
* Venice

In addition, each university offers:

* Special Topic Reading Course (up to 4 ECTS credits per year)
* Weekly Seminars (up to 4 ECTS credits per year)

- 4 ECTS Credits of Foreign Language Courses

Each semester, students take courses in French, German, Italian or Spanish as a foreign language. These courses are mandatory and 2 ECTS credits are awarded for these courses, which corresponds to approximately 50 hours of language classes and cultural excursions. These courses are graded either pass or fail.

- 20 credits for the Master Dissertation

Students are required to prepare a masters dissertation during their fourth semester under the joint supervision of two advisors from the specialisation universities. Students must then defend their dissertation in front of a joint committee composed of members from both universities.

Masters Dissertation
Students are required to prepare a masters dissertation during their fourth semester under the joint supervision of two advisors from the specialisation universities. Students must then defend their dissertation in front of a joint committee composed of members from both universities.

Admission is based on academic excellence. Applicants must hold a recognised bachelor's degree (B.A., B.Sc., etc.) or an equivalent qualification at the same level, i.e. 180 ECTS credits in the Bologna system. Any additional qualifications such as a second bachelor's degree, a master's degree, or other graduate study should be mentioned in the application.Ideally, applicants will have previously studied mathematics, applied mathematics, quantitative economics or finance but candidates with other backgrounds are welcomed. Applicants who do not meet the mathematical prerequisites but are strong otherwise may be offered courses in mathematics during their first year in addition to the programme. For example, students may choose to spend a Summer Semester in Paris prior to beginning the programme or to apply to the preparatory year Mathematical Models in Economics and Finance (MMEF) and then enrol in the QEM Accelerated Track. The GRE is not required.Language RequirementsAs no course of English as a second language will be offered during the programme, the ability to attend courses through English is a must. Consequently, a recognised Certificate of Proficiency in English, preferably TOEFL, at a satisfactory level is required for applicants from non-English-speaking countries who have not yet completed a degree (or their secondary education) taught through English. This requirement is waived for applicants whose first language is English or having previously earned a degree (or their secondary education) taught through English . English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 76

The following scholarships are available to all QEM candidates and interest should be stated at the time of application into the program:

All Students
* Consortium Scholarship
* SciencesPo Scholarships
* Scholarships of International Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations, Foundations
* Scholarships of Foreign Governments
* French Government Grants
* German Government Grants
* Italian Government Grants
* Spanish Government Grants

European Students

* Erasmus Scholarship
* French-Italian Vinci/Erasmus Scholarship
* French-German Scholarship
* Other Financial Aid Resources by Country

Non-European Students

* French Government Grants
* Pascal Scholarship
* Other Resources