About Economics
Students majoring in economics examine how people can use their limited resources as individuals, groups, businesses, and even countries. The study of economics may be applied to food and water, health care, education, environmental policy, and more, despite having a reputation for being exclusively about money. Furthermore, economics majors generally use empirical data. Empirical data are what you rely on when studying economics. Evidence to support or refute a proposition based on observation and experimentation is called empirical data. Economists observe how individuals distribute scarce resources. Then, using the data gathered, they run experiments to forecast how people will act in the future. Numerous choices we make on a personal, societal, and even international level are influenced by these predictions. Economics is appropriate for graduate and professional studies in fields such as business management, law, and public affairs. Undergraduate degrees are also helpful for a variety of career paths. Students frequently start their studies by building a strong foundation in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and calculus, which they can apply to more advanced coursework and research opportunities.
Study Economics in the Netherlands
One of the world's safest and happiest countries is the Netherlands. Looking at the high standard of living, the educated population, and society as a whole, this is not at all surprising. Netherlands is second in Europe and seventh in the world to study abroad; it is a popular destination of international students. Furthermore, if you are an EU or EEA citizen, Dutch public universities have relatively reasonable tuition costs. English is spoken by more than 90% of Dutch people. You won't have any trouble communicating if you wish to visit a well-known tourist destination on your own, ask for directions, or make a purchase at a store. Government figures show that there are more bicycles in the Netherlands than there are actual citizens (around 17 million). There are cycle lanes literally everywhere, and many students and workers use them every day to transport. These developments in this country made the Netherlands an outstanding country. One of the contributors to these developments is economics. The Netherlands has the third-largest exports in the Euro Zone and the fifth-largest economy overall. The nation receives foreign direct investment at the sixth-highest rate in the world. In other words, the economy plays a crucial role in this country, and studying economics would be suitable. Data shows that Economics is among the most widely-taught subject in the Netherlands. Dutch universities mostly include Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics, as well as specific knowledge in core fields including Financial Economics, International Economics, Public Sector Economics and Development Economics in the program of Economics.
Advantages of Studying Economics in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has a strong reputation in economics, and is close to economic hubs such as Brussels, London and Frankfurt. Thus, studying economics in this country would be a great opportunity since you will learn economics at the heart of the economy. There are global market leaders including highly successful local companies like ING, Unilever, Philips, Shell, and Heineken. You may have the opportunity to work for these companies, and build your future career, as well.
Career Paths for Economics Degree Majors
There are professions in economics, and those with an economics degree have career alternatives. In other words, you don't necessarily have to use your economics degree to work for the government as an economist. Numerous economics majors pursue jobs as corporate managers, financial analysts, or scientists, among other professions. In other words, multiple possibilities are available to international students looking for jobs in economics. The abilities you acquire with a degree in economics will open the door to various kinds of well-paying and gratifying careers, from work in the government and nonprofit sectors to business and teaching. Below, there are career options for economics majors.
- Most economics careers end with the word "analyst." These positions include business analyst, price analyst, market research analyst, and operations/data analyst. Analysts, in general, examine data to seek trends. They then attempt to use the data to discover connections and associations, analyze outcomes, make predictions, and publish findings. A financial analyst supports the financial investment decisions made by organizations like hedge funds, insurance firms, and banks.
- Being an economist is another career option for the candidates. The distribution and production of many types of resources are studied and predicted by economists. Like the analysts described above, some economists who work for businesses look for patterns to increase profits for the organization. Other economists study topics including energy use, healthcare, and government spending while working for the government or nonprofit institutions.
- Teaching may be more satisfying for students who are more interested in economic theory than in actual practice. International students can work as professors and transmit important knowledge to future generations of students by earning a Ph.D. in economics. The hours are almost as good as the salary, despite the fact that this profession needs quite a bit of education. However, if you still want to teach but don't think a Ph.D. is for you, you can think about doing it at the pre-college level. In order to teach in many elementary, junior high, and high schools (or the equivalent in your home country), you usually only need a bachelor's degree plus a few education-related courses.
- Law school is available to international students who have an economics degree. You'll have a solid foundation for understanding the legal system if you grasp how economics works. Gaining analytical abilities will enable you to consider complex arguments in an abstract manner, and being able to read and analyze academic papers will also enable you to understand the frequently dense and difficult legal literature you will be studying. Before choosing this career route, be sure the field is one you are enthusiastic about because law school is expensive, challenging, and not for everyone. Despite this, many people consider practicing law to be one of the many incredibly lucrative and worthwhile careers in economics.
- You can also start your own business using your knowledge of economics. You can combine your love of economics with another interest as an entrepreneur. Whether you want to start a real estate business or a restaurant is up to you if you enjoy cooking and interacting with customers. A degree will offer you an advantage over other business owners and the wisdom to determine which risks are worth taking and which dangers you should avoid, despite the fact that starting a business is risky.
What Skills Do I Need to Become an Economist?
Whether or not you seek a job in finance, an economics degree will provide you with numerous abilities that businesses appreciate. Some of the skills that companies appreciate;
Attention to detail: Economics majors look for relationships in data and statistics. They sift through the data, digging deeply into the figures and facts until they discover anything helpful. An incredibly marketable skill set that is valuable across a wide range of sectors is the ability to uncover hidden, actionable patterns in data.
Good Communication: When economists discover information that might be beneficial to a company, they need to be able to share it with the rest of the company. A complex subject matter calls for both excellent written and spoken communication skills.
Problem-solving: While a lot of people mention problem-solving as a skill on their CV, economics majors can support it with experience in advanced math and statistics.
Conceptual Thinking: Students majoring in economics gain conceptual thinking skills and a better understanding of complicated linkages from their theory study, which is useful in work.
These skills are the requirements for a qualified economist. If you do not have any of the skills, do not be scared. They can be earned while you are studying economics.
Is Economics Right for Me?
If you want to utilize analytical thinking to behavioral research trends, policy issues, or corporate practices, majoring in economics might be the best decision for you. Moreover, you can also consider taking an economics course if you enjoy solving problems logically, consider yourself a good problem-solver, or ever find yourself wondering how the world could function more effectively. Nevertheless, if you do not feel close to any of these, or you have confusion, you should consider filling out forms and getting informed by our education advisors. They will guide you in the correct direction and help you move forward in your future career. Of course, you are the one that makes the proper decision, but maybe getting help in this adventure might be a good solution.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Economist?
A bachelor's degree in Economics takes three years to graduate in the Netherlands.
The Best Universities to Study Economics
The Netherlands has good education opportunities and best schools. Here are the top 5 schools for economics degree major;
- Erasmus University Rotterdam: A public university with beginnings in 1913 is known as Erasmus University Rotterdam. The instruction language is English. The campus for Economics students is located in Woudestein. Recently, there are 297 first-year students of economics in EUR.
- Tilburg University: Tilburg University is a public research university. The university ranked 27 in business and economics worldwide. International students make up the %70 of the school.
- University of Groningen: It is a public institution and one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands, having been established in 1614. In buildings that are managed by SSH, the institution has reserved rooms for international students. The instruction language for economics is English.
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: Established in 1880, the VU University Amsterdam is a state university. The Dutch university is located in Amsterdam's Zuidas neighborhood and recently enrolled over 23,000 students.
- University of Amsterdam: The University of Amsterdam was founded in 1632 and is a public university. Over 30,000 students attended the university in a recent academic year. The school is renowned for its high-quality, research-based instruction and research that substantially contributes to addressing social concerns.
Economics Admission Requirement
Almost all the universities accept applications on the same website; Studielink.nl. Pay attention and carefully review the list of documents because each university has different application criteria. You can get in touch with the student services at your potential university if you have any inquiries or need assistance with your enrollment.
Typically, the necessary documents are:
- a copy of your ID or passport
- a passport photo
- a personal statement in English
- copies of secondary school transcripts in any of the following languages: English, French, German, or Dutch
- transcript of records
- evidence of Dutch or English language proficiency
- Some colleges can need additional paperwork, like:
- resume or cv (including two referees)
- motivation letter
- An illustration of academic writing
In order to prove your language level, you need to show exam results such as IELTS or TOEFL.