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MA in Economics and Management
Four unique specialisation programmes, high practical relevance and diverse career opportunities - discover the Master in Economics and Management at the University of Lucerne.
The Master's programme in Economics at the University of Lucerne offers both the opportunity to continue the generalist education of the Bachelor's degree and the option to deepen certain interests and subject areas. Four specialisation programmes enable a targeted focus. With a specialisation you acquire expert knowledge and increase your career opportunities for specific industries and professional fields. If you are interested in an academic career, a Master's degree is a prerequisite.
The most important facts in brief
Facts & Figures
| Degree | Master of Arts in Economics and Management |
| Scope | 90 ECTS credits (total of approximately 2,700 hours of work) |
| Focus | Generalist studies or one of the 4 specialisations |
Language of instruction | English and German. (General Master's Programme and specialisations in "Market-oriented Management" and "Applied Data Science" are available entirely in English.) |
| Standard duration of study | 3 semesters (full-time). Extension possible (part-time) |
| Registration | You can start the Master's program either in the fall or in the spring. We recommend starting in the fall semester. Click here for registration. |
| Admission | Click here for information on admission. |
| Registration deadline | Fall semester: April 30 |
Commencement
| Spring semester: February Fall semester: September The exact dates can be found here. |
| Tuition fees | CHF 815.- (nationals) / CHF 1'115.- (non-nationals) |
General Master's Programme
- Interdisciplinary content: Acquire in-depth knowledge of economics, business administration and quantitative methods.
- English as the language of instruction: Orientate your career internationally with a degree programme taught entirely in English.
- Interactive learning experience: Benefit from an active and discussion-orientated learning environment.
- Focus on data analysis: Develop skills in data analysis for informed economic decision-making.
- Flexible specialisation options: Customise your education with choices in four specialisation areas.
Specialisation Programmes
- Specialised course content: Deepen your knowledge in key areas such as business analytics, marketing technology and strategic human resource management.
- International orientation: Perfect your international skills in a programme taught entirely in English.
- Practice-orientated training: Experience a close integration of theory and practice with real business challenges, guest lectures and case studies.
- Interactive teaching formats: Benefit from a dynamic learning environment with intensive exchange in small groups.
- Focus on data analysis: Become an expert in the use of market data to optimise corporate strategies.
- In-depth understanding of political economy: Gain insights into the interactions between economics and politics and understand global economic policy decisions.
- Thorough methods of analysis: Master the application of advanced scientific techniques to analyse complex political economy issues.
- Diversified teaching formats: Benefit from a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops that encourage active research.
- Practical application of your skills: Apply your newly acquired knowledge and data skills in real-world contexts, supported by interactions with experts from academia and practice.
- Broad career spectrum: Prepare for a successful career in private companies, public administration or international organisations.
- Unique range of courses: Be part of the only programme in Switzerland that specialises in the combination of health economics and management.
- In-depth insurance and risk management: Acquire specialised knowledge in insurance economics and risk management - especially in Lucerne, the main location of many health insurers in Switzerland.
- Expertise in pharmaceutical economics: Understand the economic challenges of the pharmaceutical industry.
- Diverse career opportunities: Prepare for a future in various areas of the healthcare sector.
- Advanced techniques: Acquire in-depth knowledge of statistical methods and machine learning to perform complex data analyses.
- International focus: Perfect your international skills in a fully English-language programme.
- Practical application: Use your skills in real-life projects and seminars to put theory directly into practice.
- Versatile skills: Learn to programme in R and Python and use modern database technologies.
- Future career opportunities: Prepare yourself for a wide range of professional fields, from management consultancies to public institutions.
Why the University of Lucerne?
- Direct contact with lecturers and interactive teaching formats enable targeted support, personal initiative and space to practise and discover.
- Complex topics are made understandable through application-orientated courses and strong practical relevance.
- Take a look outside the box and attend courses outside the economics degree programme: from ethics and psychology to sociology, you will benefit from a broad and exciting range of courses.
- Numerous partner universities open their doors for a semester abroad - your chance to gain new perspectives.
- Sports courses, student organisations and the university choir round off your time at university perfectly in social, cultural and sporting terms.
- The numerous career services help you to network with potential employers during your studies and thus simplify your subsequent career entry.
Theory & Practice
The University of Lucerne attaches particular importance to providing you with a broad and practice-oriented education. Therefore, the following offers have been created:
BUSINESS CHALLENGES
One Challenge - two winners: In our Business Challenges, organisations receive suggestions for solutions to their daily challenges. You learn to develop solutions for real problems and face the toughest jury: the real world.
Field report on the Eichhof Marketing Challenge
FIELD TRIPS
On a Field Trip, you leave your home university building and gain on-site insight into different companies. You get a feel for how the theory you have learned can be put into practice and can experience business processes first-hand.
Field Trip Report in Rwanda
CAREER EVENT
At the Career Event you take your first steps towards the professional world. In addition to workshops and offers on the topic of job applications, you can network with potential employers at the networking event.
Impressions of the Career Event 2023
STUDENT PARTICIPATION
Some students are given the opportunity to work directly at the university. Gaining your first work experience, directly applying what you have learned or climbing the stairs to the office after class are just some of the advantages of this job.
Your future prospects
With the broad content of your economics studies at the University of Lucerne, various doors are open to you, and experience shows that economics graduates are in high demand on the job market. Here is an excerpt from the list of companies that employ graduates of the University of Lucerne:
AMAG Group AG | Emmi AG | Roche Holding AG |
| Andermatt Swiss Alps AG | Ernst & Young AG | Siemens AG |
Balmer-Etienne AG | KPMG Schweiz | SUVA |
| B. Braun SE | Leonteq AG | The Chedi Andermatt |
| BDO Schweiz | Novartis Pharma Schweiz AG | Unilever plc |
| Beldona AG | Obwaldner Kantonalbank | VZ Vermögenszentrum AG |
| Bucherer AG | PwC GmbH | |
| DECTRIS AG | Reichmuth & Co Privatbankiers |
There are also various fields of activity in federal and cantonal administrations, in international organizations, or with NGOs. Of course, you can also take the step into self-employment and start your own business.
Learn more
INFO EVENTS
Would you like to get a personal impression of the university? Then take part in our on-site information events. In addition to first-hand information, our professors will be available to answer your questions during the aperitif afterwards. No question is left unanswered. The information events for both the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes take place twice a year. Click here for the overview.
STUDENT ADVISORY SERVICE
Do you have any questions about the content of our degree programmes, the structure of your studies or how to plan your academic journey? Our student advisory service will be happy to assist you. In a personal consultation, you will receive detailed information and individual support to help you choose and organise your studies. We help you make the decision that's right for you. Here you can find all the information you need about our student advisory services.
Insights and important links
Study information
Graduates who acquire the title "Master in Economics and Management" are able to apply not only business management instruments but also economic instruments in various contexts. For this reason, there are compulsory subjects in the master's programme which imparts economics, management and empirical methods.
The majority of the course can be arranged according to your own interests. There are two possibilities: Either you choose freely from the entire range of master's courses offered by the Faculty of Economics and Management or you choose one of the four specialisations offered:
An overview of all master's courses at the Faculty of Economics and Management with detailed information is available in the course catalogue.
Economics (9 credits)
- Games and Strategies
- International Macroeconomics
- Public Economics
Management (9 credits)
- Advanced Marketing Management
- Strategic HRM
- Corporate Finance
Methods (6 credits)
- Causal Analysis
Further examples of courses can be found in the individual specializations:
If you would like to gain an insight into courses and the atmosphere at the University of Lucerne, you can contact our student advisory service. They will be happy to recommend suitable lectures or seminars.
The sample curricula can be found on the course page.
The master's programme in economics and management comprises a total of 90 credits and the standard period of study is three semesters. It consists of four parts:
- Compulsory subjects (24 credits)
- Optional compulsory subjects or specialisation (36 credits)
- Optional subjects (12 credits)
Master thesis (18 credits)
Compulsory subjects (24 credits)
- Economics (9 credits)
- Management (9 credits)
- Methods (6 credits)
Option with optional compulsory subjects (36 credits)
If you choose this option, you can attend courses from the faculty's entire master's programme, whereby at least six credits must be selected from three out of four specializations.
Option with specialisation (36 credits)
By choosing this option, you can expand your knowledge in one of the four specializations offered:
Optional subjects (12 credits)
12 credits are available for courses outside the Faculty of Economics and Management, e.g. lectures in the Faculty of Cultural and Social Sciences, Law or Theology. Internships can also be credited in the optional subjects (see Frequently Asked Questions).
Master thesis (18 credits)
If you have chosen the option without a specialisation, you can freely choose the subject area for your master's thesis. If you have chosen one of the four specialisations, the master's thesis will be written in the chosen specialisation.
A large part of the master's programme is taught in English, the remaining courses are in German. It is possible to complete the master's programme entirely in English for the options "General Master’s in Economics and Management" as well as for the specializations "Market-oriented Management" and "Applied Data Science".
For the language in which a course is held, please refer to the course catalogue.
** Please note that graduates of a university of applied sciences in particular receive certain lectures from our bachelor's program as a requirement for admission. These lectures are mainly in German. A German certificate C1 is required for admission.
During the master's programme you have the opportunity to study at another university in Switzerland or abroad. Important information on the exchange programmes and the registration deadlines can be found under Mobility.
If you are interested in a study visit to another university or would like to register for it, please contact the Student Advisory Service in good time.
With this master's programme, the world is open to you. As an economics and management graduate, you will hold management positions in national and international companies, enter consulting or do research at universities and in think tanks on economics and politics. Leading positions in the federal and cantonal administration as well as in NGOs and international organisations are also possible. Of course, you can venture the step into self-employment and start your own business. After graduating, you will always have good chances on the job market (see photo).
If you have opted for the option with a specialisation, the career prospects will also become more specific:
Still not enough of studying? Then you have already taken the first step towards a doctorate with your master's degree.
Application
You can start your master's programme in Economics and Management both in fall and spring.
Find out more about the registration deadlines
Go to registration
APPLICATION FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LUCERNE
- If you continue your studies at the University of Lucerne at Master's level in the same subject, you do not have to re-register for the programme. You will remain enrolled by paying the semester fees. The study level will only be changed after the graduation ceremony for your Bachelor's degree.
- If you are continuing your studies at the University of Lucerne but wish to change your subject for the Master's programme, please inform Student Services by e-mail (studiendienste@unilu.ch).
- If you wish to leave the University of Lucerne, please de-register via UniPortal. The invoice will then be cancelled.
The Dean's Office will contact you before the start of the semester to enquire about the option (compulsory elective or specialisation). This choice can be changed during the degree programme. In this case, the crediting of courses already completed must be checked. If you have any questions, please contact the Student Advisory Service.
The requirements for admission to the MA in Economics and Management can be found in the following guidelines:
Guide to Admission to the Master Programme in Management and Economics
Information on the GMAT/GRE:
- Students with a university entrance qualification that was not obtained in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France or Italy must present a GMAT or a GRE test.
- For admission to be possible, a GMAT test result with a minimum score of 575 (GMAT Exam) or 545 (GMAT Focus Edition) or a GRE test result (General Test) with a minimum score of 157 for the quantitative part and 157 for the verbal part is required.
- The test result must be submitted with the application and cannot be submitted later.
- In addition to the tests taken in test centres, GMAT online and GRE at home are accepted.
- The test result must not be older than 5 years.
- When taking the test, enter the programme/institution code of the University of Lucerne:
GMAT: Master of Arts (MA) in Economics and Management (HZ5-KR-19)
GRE: University of Lucerne Economics and Management-1274
If you have failed to do so, please instruct GAMC or ETS to subsequently provide us with your test result.
In our Frequently Asked Questions section you will find answers and lots of useful information about studying. If you have any further questions, we will be happy to assist you personally.
- E-Mail: wf@unilu.ch
- Phone: +41 (0)41 229 58 00
All regulations relevant to the study of economics and management can be found on our regulations page.
Dean's Office
The student and examination administration is your first point of contact for questions in connection with your studies, lecture plan and administrative matters.
Call us on +41 (0)41 229 58 00 or send an e-mail to wf@unilu.ch. Our opening hours are from Monday to Thursday from 9.00 to 12.30 am. Please note that there are no official opening hours during the lecture-free period.
Academic student advisors
The Student Advisory Service of our faculty supports you in your choice of studies and advises students on general questions concerning their studies and study planning (including mobility, military service, credits, admission questions).
Website
On the website of our faculty you will also find information on events, the staff, the main research areas and other activities of the Faculty.
