Economic Geography: Regional Competitiveness and Trade
Žiemos stojimas
2027-02-01
Žiemos stojimas
2026-10-15
Do you want to become a specialist in regional economic development in an international context with a keen eye for the role of policy?
The track in Regional Competitiveness and Trade prepares you for a career in regional economic strategies and research in regional science.
The track, which is part of the Master in Economic Geography and organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Economics and Business, focusses on regional and global competitiveness related to trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Trade and FDI importantly govern the interconnectivity between countries and regions and their subsequent economic development. The ongoing fragmentation of value-chains - an iPad is manufactured all over the globe - leads to increasing trade between countries and a growing global presence of multinational firms.
How do global linkages between regions and countries influence their competitiveness? You will learn the latest theoretical (New Economic Geography) and methodological (Spatial Econometrics) approaches to address the issues of interconnectivity between regions through trade and FDI.
Our graduates are specialists in regional economic development with a keen eye for the role of policy. They are well versed in the latest theoretical and empirical Economic models of regional growth.
If you are interested in following a two-year programme in Economic Geography in two different countries (the Netherlands and Germany), then our Dual Degree Master International Programme in Economic Geography is the master programme for you!
Cambridge C1/C2 certificate: overall score 180.
IELTS Academic: overall score 6.5 (min. 6.0 in all categories)
TOEFL iBT*: overall score 90 (min. 18 in Reading and Listening, 20 in Speaking, 21 for Writing)
TOEFL iBT*: overall score 4.5 (min. 4 in Reading, Listening and for Speaking, 4.5 in Writing)
The programme welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds within the social sciences, economics, and interdisciplinary studies that provide the knowledge and research skills needed to study regional development, socio‑spatial inequalities, and policy responses.
Students with an academic Bachelor's degree in Human Geography, Spatial Planning, or a related discipline are invited to apply to the MSc Economic Geography.
Also programmes such as Economics and Business Economics, Business Administration, Sociology, International Relations and Organization, Political Sciences, Bèta‑Gamma studies, Policy Analysis and Management, and Environmental Management and Sustainability Sciences are admissible.
Job prospects
Graduates in Economic Geography that have followed the track in regional competitiveness and trade are specialists in regional economic development in an international context with a keen eye for the role of policy. Also, they are well-versed in the latest methods and models in regional science. With this background, the programme prepares well a position in regional economic strategies and research in regional science:
- A fair share of the graduates is employed by governmental organizations at all geographical levels (cities and municipalities, regional, national and international governmental organizations). This includes organizations such as the EU, the city of Amsterdam or The Dutch Ministry of Environment and Infrastructure.
- Another large share of the graduates is active on the commercial market, mostly in consultancies in economic development. This includes companies such as Twijnstra Gudde, Antea.
- A smaller share of the graduates enters research, teaching and entrepreneurship.
- According to Elsevier (2015), job opportunities of geographers are above average with a relatively large job stability.
Throughout the year we offer support for practical career preparation and employability skills. Workshops are given about leadership, job interviews and how to present yourself. More information about the FSS Career Services.
