Economics of International Trade and European Integration

Título del curso - Carácter - Créd. Teóricos / Créd.Prácticos

• Advanced Macroeconomics OBLIGATORIO 6.0 / 0.0

• Advanced Microeconomics OBLIGATORIO 6.0 / 0.0

• Econometrics OBLIGATORIO 6.0 / 0.0

• Economics of European Integration OBLIGATORIO 6.0 / 0.0

• International Trade: Theory and Policy OBLIGATORIO 6.0 / 0.0

• Open Economy Macroeconomics OBLIGATORIO 6.0 / 0.0

• Selected Topics in EU Policy OBLIGATORIO 4.0 / 0.0

• MEMORIA FINAL 0.0 / 20.0

Unidad Organizadora: Economía

Dirección: Jose Villaverde Castro. Catedrático de Universidad

Carga lectiva total: 600 horas (60 Cr.: 40 Cr. teóricos y 20 Cr. prácticos)

Plazo de preinscripción: Del 12/6/2006 al 20/9/2006

Plazo de matrícula: Del 25/9/2006 al 29/9/2006

General Philosophy

As a result of fundamental changes in the international trading environment associated with European integration and economic renewal in Central and Eastern Europe, the universities participating in this programme acknowledge the need for their economic and management faculties to develop European joint educational initiatives. They recognise that there is an increasing need for specialised university training in the field of the economics of European integration in which, besides a further study in economic theory, applied economic, social and legal topics on European integration are dealt with. They also believe that this type of study prospers in an environment where students and teachers from different countries participate.

The programme is aimed at students with career aspirations in research, in government and international organisations, and in research departments of large banks and industrial and commercial corporations.

Diploma

The programme leads to an M.A. Economics of International Trade and European Integration.

The diplomas are certified jointly by the partners and are signed by the Rector, President or Vice-chancellor of each partner university.

In December 2000 the programme was recognised as an innovative and high quality course by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the UK when they reviewed Staffordshire University's postgraduate and undergraduate Economics programmes and ranked them as "excellent" with a maximum score of 24 out of 24.

In July 2002 the M.A. Economics of International Trade and European Integration was selected by the EUA (European University Association) to participate in the EUA Pilot Project 'Joint Masters in Europe'. This project is supported by the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission.

In September 2005 the M.A. was selected by the European Commission as an Erasmus MUNDUS Consortium Master Course. The Programme will start operating as such from the academic year 2006-2007 onwards.

General Structure of the Programme

The M.A. Economics of International Trade and European Integration is a professional training programme for economists with interests and career intentions in these or related areas. The programme involves the study of economics and its applications at an advanced level.

The total programme consists of 60 ECTS credits, the taught part of the programme consisting of 40 credits and the dissertation of 20 credits.

One credit in the taught part of the programme roughly corresponds to 25 hours of working time (lectures and assignments).

The subjects covered by the programme are as follows:

Economic Theory

• Advanced Microeconomics (6 credits)

• Advanced Macroeconomics (6 credits)

• International Trade : Theory and Policy (6 credits)

• Open Economy Macroeconomics and International Finance (6 credits)

Mathematics and Quantitative Methods

• Econometrics (6 credits)

• Mathematics for Economists (not credit-rated)

Issues of European Economic Integration

• Economics of European Integration and Transition (6 credits)

• Selected Issues in EU Policy (seminar) (4 credits)

Foreign Languages

(students who choose at least 2 of the following 3 (optional) languages can earn 3 credits; in that case the weight of the dissertation is reduced to 17 credits)

• French (optional)

• Dutch (optional)

• Czech (optional)

Dissertation (20 credits)

Total : 60 credits.

Practical Implementation

The study-programme is full-time and runs over a year. It is taught by staff of the seven partner institutions.

In term I students study the core areas of advanced micro-and macroeconomics together with econometrics. During terms II and III students pursue in-depth studies in the named areas of the Award: i.e., the economics of international trade and European integration and their application.

The M.A. Economics of International Trade and European Integration is European, not only with respect to its content, but also its structure. Students spend their first term at Staffordshire University(SU) in the U.K or at the Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille (USTL) in France. In term II students study for three months at the Universiteit Antwerpen (UA) (Belgium) and in term III for three months at Prague University of Economics (VŠE) (Czech Republic). Professors of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), of Università degli Studi di Bari (UB) (Italy) and of Universidad de Cantabria (UC) (Spain) participate in the teaching during terms II and III.

The language of the programme is English. The students on the programme will be part of an international group throughout their studies.

The course has a maximum of 35 students. The selection of the entrants to the programme is through a common and unified procedure. The main selection criterion is past academic performance.

The time schedule is as follows :

• Term I (mid-September to end of December): SU or USTL

• Term II (mid-January to mid-April): UA

• Term III (mid-April to end of June): VŠE

Students finalise their dissertation during the third term. They are allowed to submit their dissertation until October 31st.

Admission Criteria and Enrolment Procedure

The programme is open to students who have earned 240 ECTS credits in an economics or applied economics university study programme or have a bachelor degree in these areas that is considered by the Joint Studies Board to be equivalent.

Applicants that are enrolled in the final year of their academic programme should submit an official letter in English from their university confirming that the student is expected to finalise his/her course at the end of the current academic year, and submit up-to-date authenticated transcripts with the results of the previous years.

The proficiency in English of the students of the participating universities is checked by the local academic co-ordinators. Students from other universities should submit proof of a computer-based TOEFL level of minimum 230 (or its equivalent in the so-called next-generation TOEFL score system), or a IELTS grade of at least 6.5, or should submit proof of having studied at least one academic year in an English-language programme.

The selection criteria are common to all students and relate primarily to study results.

Students of the participating universities enrol at their home university. Non-MUNDUS students who have studied at a university different from the participating universities, enrol at the partner university of their country, if any. Non-MUNDUS students from a university in a non-partner country, can enrol at the partner university of their choice. Erasmus MUNDUS and Erasmus MUNDUS 'Asian Window' students apply at the Erasmus MUNDUS coordinating university, the University of Antwerp.

Non-Mundus candidates from non-EU countries should be aware that completing the admission procedure at some of the partner-universities, especially with respect to obtaining visas, may take some time.

All the candidates should submit the appropriate application form. Non-MUNDUS students should apply before June 30, 2006 at the latest, and should also send a copy of the application form to the university where they enrol. The new application deadline for Erasmus MUNDUS and Erasmus MUNDUS 'Asian Window' students is December 31, 2006.

Evaluation and Examinations Procedures

The diplomas are issued jointly (in consortium). The Examination Board making the final decisions on degrees consists of members of all the partner institutions. They base their decisions on the official evaluation and examination procedure of the programme.

In order to minimise travelling, examinations for the first term can be taken not only in Staffordshire or Lille but also in Antwerp. Examinations for the second term are taken in Antwerp and for the third term in Prague.

Financial Aspects (for non-MUNDUS students only)

The tuition fee for EU students, students from EEA-EFTA states and from candidate countries for accession to the EU is paid at the university where the student enrols. The fee is fixed by each of the partner universities. Information concerning the amount of the tuition fee can be obtained from the partner universities.

In addition, the student has to finance the cost of living at each of the destinations, travel costs and the cost of study materials. EU-nationals and students from candidate countries for accession can in principle benefit from an Erasmus SOCRATES grant.