With a Master's degree you prove you can handle high intellectual pressure. The difference is not just knowledge, it is the level of complexity you learn to handle. Where the bachelor's provides broad foundations, this Master's offers specialist depth in business economics topics at an advanced academic level. You develop the professional judgement that employers expect from a graduate-level hire. The MSc title also opens doors to leadership roles and advanced positions that a bachelor's degree alone does not.

A specialisation track must be chosen when applying for the Master's programme. However, track modifications are still possible until late October. The criteria for all tracks are identical and do not impact the likelihood of being accepted into the programme.

The Master's programme moves at a fast pace. You cover a substantial amount of material in just 12 months, with exams following one another in quick succession. Managing your time well and staying on top of multiple courses simultaneously is something most students have to get used to. The programme is intellectually demanding and requires you to combine insights from different fields. For example, in Neuroeconomics you study neuroscience, psychology and economics together. In Sustainability you study economic, environmental and social dimensions.

This Master's opens doors quickly, across sectors, in Amsterdam and beyond. Within two months of graduating, most Business Economics alumni have already landed their first job. Whether you see yourself in finance, strategy, sustainability, or public policy: this programme prepares you for it. you won't navigate that path alone. The Economics and Business Career Centre supports you from day one — with workshops, recruitment events, and personal career coaching available up to a year after graduation. Non-EU graduates can apply for the Orientation Year Permit, which allows them to live and work in the Netherlands for one year after graduation. Find out more on the track specific pages. 

The programme takes just 12 months, making it one of the most efficient investments you can make in your career. Without a Master's, you will find yourself hitting a ceiling early in your career, as the specialist knowledge and professional credibility employers expect cannot be demonstrated with a bachelor's degree alone. 1 year of focused study significantly expands both your earning potential and the range of roles available to you. 

Requirements depend on your prior education. Dutch, EU, and non-EU applicants each follow a different admission route. This Master's does not have a numerus fixus.

The pre-Master's programme (1 year) bridges the gap and grants access to the Master's the following September. The pre-Master's programme is designed to complement your prior education and helps you catch up on subjects such as econometrics, microeconomics and macroeconomics.

Deadlines vary by nationality (visa requirements) and housing needs, ranging from 1 April to 1 June for the September start. 

The tuition fee depends on your nationality and whether you qualify for the statutory or institutional rate. Outstanding students with a non-EU nationality can apply for two scholarships: the Amsterdam Merit Scholarship and the Amsterdam Economics and Business Talent Fund. The application deadline for both scholarships is 15 January.