Advanced Master in Political Economy

Presentation: Advanced Master in Political Economy

The Brussels-Washington joint degree in Political Economy is an innovative one-year program combining the strengths of two internationally-renowned institutions. Upon successful completion of the program, two degrees are awarded, one by Solvay Brussels School and one by Georgetown University.
The Advanced Master in Political Economy offers:

• An international experience at the heart of global policy-making decision powers, with full immersion in both Washington DC, host of all US institutions and Brussels, capital of Europe and host of all European institutions.
• Courses instructed by academics and practitioners who are leading specialists in their field.
• On-site meetings that guide students through the inner-workings of international institutions, such as at the European Commission, the World Bank, the OECD, the IMF and various think tanks.
• A combination of frontier training in formal and quantitative political economy, in addition to concrete policy cases.
• Access to the wide and active alumni networks of Georgetown and Solvay.

 
Participants will have the opportunity to gain an international experience at the heart of global policy-making decision powers, with full immersion in both Washington DC, host of all US institutions and Brussels, capital of Europe and host of all European institutions. Courses are instructed by academics and practitioners who are leading specialists in their field.  On-site meetings are arranged that guide students through the inner-workings of international institutions, such as at the European Commission, the World Bank, the OECD, the IMF and various think tanks. This program is a combination of frontier training in formal and quantitative political economy, in addition to concrete policy cases.
 
LEARN FROM EXPERT DECISION-MAKERS IN EUROPE AND NORTH-AMERICA AND EXPLORE:

• The specificities and differences between the approaches taken on each continent
• Their impact in various geopolitically crucial regions around the world
• The complex relationships with other actors within this global governance architecture

Course content

This full-time masters degree consists of 10 courses (equivalent to 60 ECTS in the EU and 30 credit hours in the US), split over three terms and completed within 12 months.
BOOTCAMP : The program will kick off with a preparatory non-credit bootcamp in mathematical methods in the second half of August. The objective of this course will be to fill any gaps in the student's knowledge of basic mathematical techniques commonly used in economic analysis and applied statistics.

CORE COURSES : Students will take the core courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, political economy and data analysis in the fall term in Brussels. Core courses are taught by faculty members of Georgetown University and Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management.

ELECTIVES : After the completion of the core courses, students will choose six elective courses (3 in the spring term and 3 in the summer term). Elective courses are jointly taught by a faculty member of one of the two institutions (SBS-EM in the spring term and GU in the summer term) and a policy expert or practitioner: international trade, impact evaluation, European economic policy: food and industrial policies, workshop in public policy: managing incentives in public policies, environmental economics, law and economics, health economics, energy economics, financial economics, monetary theory and policy, development economics, open-economy macroeconomics, labor markets and policies.

Course format: 

Day classes, full time, 60 ECTS (US equivalent: 30 Credits)

Qualifications/expertise after completing the program

By the end of this Advanced Master, you will be able to:

• Gain a firm understanding of the incentives and behavior of economic (consumers, firms) and political agents (legislatures, government agencies, judicial institutions, NGOs, activist groups, the media)
• Explore the technological and political constraints that shape government interventions
• Cultivate a deep understanding of the reciprocal relationship between politics and markets
• Design better government regulations by the investigation of corporate stakeholders and their motivations
• Cultivate a professional network of trainers, experts, consultants and policy-makers within the academic and alumni community of both institutions.

Entry requirements

Eligible applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• A 4-year BA (in continental Europe: 3-year BA + 1 or 2-year master) or MSc or equivalent degree.
• Eligible degrees include, but are not limited to, Economics, Political Science, Statistics, and Mathematics.
• Work experience is not necessary, but a 2+ year experience strengthens your application.
• A solid background in economics and quantitative methods is a prerequisite.
  • An undergraduate degree in economics is not a requirement for admission to the Program. However, substantial coursework in economics is one factor that tends to strengthen an application for admission to the Program. Since economics is a highly quantitative subject, substantial coursework in mathematics, probability and statistics, and other quantitative subjects is another factor that will strengthen your application. At least two courses in calculus, as well as courses in intermediate microeconomics and intermediate macroeconomics, are specifically required for admission to the program.
  • Evidence of aptitude in quantitative disciplines such as quantitative GRE score.
• Minimum GPA 3.0 on 4.0 (U.S.) scale where available.
• TOEFL score of at least 100 IELTS score (7.0) also acceptable. The test is waived if a previous degree has been obtained at an English-speaking university.

Admissions will be based on the candidates' academic and/or professional background, and motivation. Proficiency in English necessary.

Admission criteria: 

If you wish to join the Joint Degree with Georgetown University in August 2019, please follow these steps of the admission procedure:

• Complete and submit the online application form together with the required documents, on the web site of Georgetown University. The following are necessary for a complete application file (see also the Georgetown University web site for further details):
  • Online Application Form
  • Non-refundable application fee
  • Academic statement of purpose (max. 500 words)
  • Two Letters of Recommendation (one must be from an academic)
  • GRE exam (GMAT not acceptable)
  • Resume/CV
  • Official Transcripts (all prior institutions)
  • Minimum GPA 3.0 on 4.0 (U.S.) scale where available.
  • TOEFL score of at least 100 IELTS score (7.0) is also acceptable. The test is waived if a previous degree has been obtained at an English-speaking university.
• Receive feedback on your eligibility or additional queries from the program's management team.
• If feedback is positive, you will receive an official letter of admission from Georgetown University.
• Please note that you will have two weeks to finalize your registration by paying a deposit of $2000.
• Contact the program manager of Solvay Brussels School, who will assist you with the documents needed for your Belgian visa process.

Manager: