Career prospects

Throughout the MSc in Economic Policy courses, you will have a number of opportunities to speak with professional economists, receive their insights and advice, and build up a professional network. The study association ECU’92 organises regular career events, where you have a chance to speak with potential employers. In addition, U.S.E. often invites practicing economists to lead meetings and discussion groups. You may also wish to take on an external research internship, an excellent way to gain experience and make contacts. If you are interested in an internship, it is a good idea to talk about it with your teachers: they will be happy to offer advice, introduce you to their academic and professional networks, and help you find a placement in your area of interest

Possible careers

Whether you wish to work in the private sector or in the public domain, you will find that there is always a need for well-trained graduates with the skills – and the interest – to look beyond the boundaries of economics. Thanks to its multidisciplinary, wide-ranging content, as well as its unique emphasis on the interplay between economics and social change, the MSc in Economic Policy offers the ideal preparation for a career in a wide range of companies and institutions. Positions obtained by our graduates include policy functions in various corporations (usually on an academic level). But graduates also find their way to various research organisations linked to government. Graduates have gone on to work in a number of different institutions and sectors including:

  • ministries
  • central banks
  • government agencies;
  • pension funds;
  • insurance companies;
  • economic consultancy firms;
  • multinationals;
  • research institutes.

The Master's programme taught me to look at economic issues from various perspectives

Positions held by our graduates in previous years

Economists at a ministry or government advisory bodies
As an economist working at a ministry or government advisory body, you make use of quantitative models to support socio-economic decision making, for instance to analyse proposals towards a more sustainable economy. Because most projects are comprised of multi-disciplinary teams, your experience in the MSc in Economic Policy enables you to communicate with colleagues of different educational backgrounds. You combine a strong theoretical background in public economic policy-making with expertise in quantitative methods and a strong orientation towards sustainability. Economic Policy alumni are in key positions at ministries.

Consultant
As a consultant in economic policy, you use your knowledge of public economics to advise decision-makers such as city counsellors. You are strongly policy-oriented and familiar with the organisation of the public sector, ranging from public administration, health care, and education to social security. You have strong communication skills and like to be in touch with clients regularly. Over the years, you will become an expert in specific policy areas and act as project leader.

Policy advisor Member of Parliament
As a policy advisor for a member of parliament, you must be able to process large amounts of information,  summarise the main issues, then translate this into policy recommendations. With your focus on socio-economic policy-making, you are sensitive to the many trade-offs in choosing one policy as opposed to  another. Your training in public economics and your expertise in quantitative economic research enables you to quickly grasp the quality and outcomes of studies produced by advisory government bodies, and policy notes produced by government departments.

Researcher at a research institute or university
As a researcher you, for instance, evaluate social and economic policy reforms or analyze the effects of macro-economic shocks. Graduates have obtained PhD student positions in the Netherlands and abroad at top-class universities (including Harvard).

Alumni Stories

Curious about the jobs our alumni got? Browse the LinkedIn profiles of some of our graduates in Economic Policy.

UU Career Services

UU Career Services offers training related to career orientation and job application skills; examples include writing an application letter and CV and conducting a job interview. You can find more information about career services on UU Career Services for Dutch students or UU Career Services for international students. Furthermore, the alumni network supports graduates with workshops and meet-ups after graduation to expand networks and skills.

UU Careers Day

Once a year, Utrecht University organises a Careers Day. The Careers Day offers the opportunity to sign up for workshops and trainings, have your resume assessed, and meet recruiters.