How the fees work. EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters, then EUR 363.36 per semester. Most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester (about EUR 1,453 a year); nationals of a list of least developed countries are exempt. The compulsory student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester.
About this programme
Master in Economics (Economic Policy Analysis) is a master’s programme at Johannes Kepler University Linz in Linz, taught in English. It runs for 2 years (4 semesters) and carries 120 ECTS credits. The register gives Linz as the campus town. It lists the academic degree as Master of Science, MSc. Johannes Kepler University Linz is a public university in Upper Austria.
How it compares
Master in Economics (Economic Policy Analysis) is one of 10 English-taught Economics programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 7 institutions. 8 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 7 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.
What you will study
What you study
The Master's degree in Economics (Economic Policy Analysis) at JKU Linz is about policy questions. How do you limit the market power of mega corporations? Why does the gender wage gap persist? What works during a global pandemic? The programme trains you to analyse economic policy measures, not just economic theory.
You specialise in one of four fields:
- Competition and Consumer Protection: how digitalisation and artificial intelligence shape competitive advantage and what it means for consumers.
- Education, Migration and Labor Markets: refugee integration, migration decisions, and how education and labour market policy can respond.
- International, Monetary and Macroeconomics: trade, national economic success and setbacks, monetary issues.
- Public, Health and Environmental Economics: the energy transition, climate policy, and how governments can support renewable energy.
You take 48 ECTS in Economic Policy Fields, 24 ECTS in Economic Policy Seminars, 6 ECTS in Gender Aspects in Economics, 12 ECTS in free electives, and write a Master's thesis worth 30 ECTS. The programme is taught entirely in English.
How the programme is organised
It is a full-time degree over four semesters, 120 ECTS in total. The second year includes project-based courses, so you work on applied policy analysis rather than only attending lectures. The programme combines advanced economic theory with empirical research methods. You learn to apply quantitative-analytical methods to specific research questions.
The English-only format is meant to sharpen your communication and intercultural skills alongside your technical expertise. The curriculum is published by JKU, and you should check it for the exact course list and sequence.
Who it suits
This master's is for students who want to work on economic policy, not just study markets in the abstract. If you are curious about why some countries grow and others do not, how competition policy handles digital platforms, or how environmental policy actually works, the specialisations give you room to go deep. It suits people who are comfortable with data and quantitative methods and who want to use them on policy problems. The project-based second year fits students who prefer applied work to purely theoretical coursework.
Admission, language and next steps
You need a Bachelor's or Diploma degree in Business and Economics from JKU, or a comparable programme considered equivalent in content and scope, to enrol without further constraints. Graduates of JKU's Bachelor's in International Business Administration can qualify but must pass a supplementary examination by the end of the second semester on the content of "KS Data and Research Designs in Economics" (572GVWLDFOK21).
English at level B2 is required, with a language certificate. The teaching language is English. Applications go directly to JKU, not through a central portal. Check the JKU programme page for the application period and contact the Admissions Office with questions. For programme-specific queries, email msc.economics(at)jku.at.
What the register says
The master’s degree programme in Economics (Economic Policy Analysis) focuses on policy-related economic issues at the crossroads of economics, statistics, and analysing political decisions and in the following corresponding economic and socio-political fields: competition and consumer protection, education, migration and labour markets, international economics, monetary economics and macro-economics, public economics, health economics, and environmental economics.
Text as the Austrian national register publishes it. Some entries are in German. For the current content and structure, use the official programme page.
Job opportunities after graduating
- Analyst in consumer, product and market research at a financial institution or multinational corporation
- Economic policy adviser at an international organisation such as the EU, OECD, UN or WHO
- Researcher on monetary and macroeconomic issues at a central bank such as the OeNB or ECB
- Applied economic researcher at an institute such as IHS, WIFO or WIIW
- Consultant on environmental and migration policy for non-profit organisations
- Policy officer in Austrian public administration at federal or state level (education, budget, spatial planning)
- Researcher or lecturer at a university of applied sciences
Before you apply
There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here Johannes Kepler University Linz. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.
Facts on this page come from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at, which states the language of instruction). Fees are in euros as the register lists them. "Not listed" means the register has no figure, not that the programme is free. Always confirm requirements, fees and dates with the institution.
Quick answers
Is Master in Economics (Economic Policy Analysis) taught in English?
Yes. The register’s study finder lists English as the language of instruction at Johannes Kepler University Linz. Confirm the language of the examinations and the thesis with the institution.
How long does it take?
The register records 2 years (4 semesters) of study and 120 ECTS credits. Sixty ECTS credits are one academic year of full-time study.
Where is it taught?
The register lists Linz as the campus town for this programme at Johannes Kepler University Linz.
How do I apply?
There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here Johannes Kepler University Linz. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page.
Is there an entrance examination?
The register gives: No. Details of any admission or aptitude procedure are on the programme page at Johannes Kepler University Linz.
What does it cost?
EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters, then EUR 363.36 per semester. Most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester (about EUR 1,453 a year); nationals of a list of least developed countries are exempt. The compulsory student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester. Fees are in euros as the register lists them; confirm the amount for your intake with Johannes Kepler University Linz.
Is this programme officially listed?
It comes from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at, which states the language of instruction). The OeAD, the Austrian agency for international education, publishes the official information for international students at studyinaustria.at. The programme page at Johannes Kepler University Linz is linked from this page so you can compare.