[MEBA] Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
About MEBA The Master in Economics and (MEBA) is a one-year full-time official master program of 60 ECTS, organized by the Faculty of Economics and of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). It aims at providing a solid, advanced and versatile economic education to students seeking to improve their technical toolbox to analyze a broad range of current economic issues. The MEBA intends to help students develop a critical ability in applying economics to practical scenarios and become professionals who are analytically strong and adaptable to a variety of public or private institutions: consulting firms, business associations, non-profit NGOs, think tanks, or domestic and international public institutions. The MEBA also provides candidates with the skills necessary to continue graduate research studies in economics, management or related disciplines. Language English (exclusively) Program Structure The MEBA program is divided into 7 Modules (or blocks). Module 1 and Module 2 are mandatory for all students and consist of core economics and business courses. After the completion of the two mandatory modules, students may choose, according to their preferences and interests, and upon approval by the admissions committee, between Modules 3 and 4 (Finance) or Modules 5 and 6 (Public Policies). Modules 3 and 4, Finance, aims at getting students acquainted with the return-risk mechanisms and the drivers of value creation in firms and financial markets in order to become capable of designing, managing and monitoring financial strategies addressed to financial institutions and corporations. Modules 5 and 6, Public Policies, aims at providing students with a sound foundation in applied theory and empirical analysis of a range of policies that are of special importance in today s world. Finally, Module 7 is also mandatory and consists of a Master s Thesis. All in all, students must register for a total of 60 ECTS according to the following program structure.
Module Type Title Contents Module 1 15 ECTS (80 hours) Module 2 15 ECTS (80 hours) Module 3 Mandatory Fundamentals of Economics and Business I Microeconomics (20 hours) Public Economics (20 hours) Strategic Management (40 hours) Mandatory Fundamentals of Macroeconomics (20 hours) Economics and Public Finance (20 hours) Business II Introduction to Data Analysis (20 hours) Econometrics (20 hours) Elective Finance I Financial Economics and Asset Pricing Module 4 Module 5 Module 6 Module 7 Elective Finance II Corporate Financial Policy, Investments & Financial Institutions Elective Public Policies I Evaluation Methodologies (20 hours) Innovation Policies (20 hours) Infrastructure Policies (20 hours) Elective Public Policies II Environmental Policies (20 hours) Health Economics & Health Policies (40 hours) Mandatory Master Thesis Modules 1 and 2 take place the first semester (September-December). Modules 3, 4, 5 and 6 take place during the first half of the second semester (January- March ). Module 7 (Master s Thesis) takes place during the second half of the second semester, beginning in April. Because of the strong focus on analytical and quantitative methods, including applied mathematical theories and empirical statistics methods, candidates are highly recommended to have passed some undergraduate preparation in economics and business administration, including courses in micro and macroeconomic analysis, statistics, econometrics, calculus and linear algebra.
Brief Course Description Module 1. Fundamentals of Economics and Business I Microeconomics: Agents, markets, and information Public Economics: Welfare Economics, market failures, political economy. Strategic Management I and II: Horizontal and vertical organization, industry analysis, strategic positioning, competitive advantage, incentives in firms Module 2. Fundamentals of Economics and Business II Macroeconomics: Growth, savings, employment Public Finance: Indirect taxation, direct taxation, tax evasion, taxation and growth, public debt and social security. Introduction to Data Analysis: Basic statistics, probability, random variables, probability distributions Econometrics: Linear and non-linear models, panel data, structural models. Module 3. Finance I Financial Economics and Asset Pricing: Financial markets, decision making under uncertainty, contingent assets, market efficiency, term structure of interest rates, derivatives. Mean-variance analysis, CAPM, ICAPM, APT, share valuation models Module 4. Finance II Corporate Financial Policy, Investments & Financial Institutions: Corporate financial structure, dividend policy, mergers and acquisitions. Capital budgeting decision making, real options, international financial management, banking and financial institutions. Module 5. Public Policies I Evaluation Methodologies: Randomized evaluations, difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity designs and natural experiments. Innovation Policies: Determinants and consequences of innovation. Evaluation of innovation policy. Infrastructure Policies: Optimal level of infrastructure provision, role of public and private sector in their provision and operation, policy implications Module 6. Public Policies II Environmental Policies: Economic analysis of environmental issues, economics of sustainability, environmental policy tools. Health Economics and Health Policies: Supply and demand of health care, information asymmetries, insurance markets. Role of regulation, policy evaluation.
Admission Requirements Four-year or EHEA degree in Economics, Business Management and Administration or in Business Studies. Four-year or EHEA degree in Science, Engineering or other similar studies with a technical profile. Degrees in other studies will be taken into account by the admissions body. Admission will be based on academic excellence. The Master's committee will consider academic records, quantitative and analytical background and command of oral and written English. In this sense, the following optional additional information is also recommended: Analytical and quantitative background Academic transcripts, including studies in other related fields Knowledge of English: level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or equivalent certificate GRE and/or GMAT scores Application Deadlines From January 16 th, 2015 to July 31 st, 2015 Application Decisions As the number of places are limited, early applications are strongly encouraged. Notifications on admission will be sent by March 13 th, May 15 th, July 15 th, and September 11 th. Faculty Lecturers at MEBA draw from the three Departments at the Faculty of Economics and of the UAB: Department of Applied Economics, Department of, and Department of Economics and Economic History. Coming from different backgrounds, they all share a strong commitment to high quality academic standards and an international focus. Contact MEBA Master in Economics and Deganat Facultat d Economia i Empresa Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona 08193-Bellaterrra (Barcelona) SPAIN web: http://pagines.uab.cat/meba e-mail: master.meba@uab.cat
About the UAB The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) was founded in 1968. The founders aimed to establish four principles of autonomy: freedom to select teaching staff, admission available to all students (but with a limited number), freedom to create its own study plans and freedom to administrate the University's capital. It is therefore a young university, but in its short history it has moved forward at a rapid pace. Currently it hosts about 35000 students (both graduate and undergraduate), more than 3500 research and teaching staff, and more that 2000 administrative and service staff. UAB has 13 Faculties and Colleges offering 78 undergraduate degrees 125 master degrees and 75 PhD degrees. There are about 30 research centers inside the UAB as well as 30 more research and studies centers at the UAB Research Park and 45 spin-off companies. On November 26, 2010 the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona obtained recognition as a Campus of International Excellence (CIE) by the Ministries of Education and Science and Innovation. The project UAB Campus d Excel lència Internacional: Aposta pel Coneixement i la Innovació was one of the five selected by a panel of international experts for its high potential for achieving international excellence. The UAB-CIE has 79 attached institutions including the Generalitat de Catalunya, 44 research centers and institutes, 21 companies and business parks, 2 R&D organizations and 11 local councils. UAB's structure includes three campuses, all in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona and its outskirts. Bellaterra: a large campus for teaching and research The main UAB campus is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Cerdanyola del Vallès. Its infrastructure, created exclusively for university life, offers different academic, cultural and social activities.is home to most of our faculties, departments, institutes and services, as well as to a significant scientific and technological cluster. The Bellaterra campus is also home to the UAB Research Park, a group of centers and specific partner research institutes created to meet the specific needs for important fields of research.