The  second cycle courses offered by the Department of Economic Science are principally designed to train academics who can understand and analyse current practical economic and social questions, explain and communicate their analyses to a wide range of audiences, put their analyses in wider contexts  and go on to work with specialists from other disciplines.

The 60 credit Master 60 provides foundation training either for students who have just completed their first degree or an equivalent, or for students who have already done second cycle studies in another subjects or have gained at least five years’ professional experiences.

It is mainly intended for students who have already completed a second cycle course. Those who have good grounding in quantitative methods, have studied economics as a subsidiary subject or professional experience in the field of economics will have a considerable advantage. For 60 credits, students can gain advanced training in an area of their choice.

This is a joint programme run by UCL and the University Faculties of Notre-Dame de la Paix in Namur (Facultés  Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix – FUNDP) within the Economics School of Louvain (ESL). Certain specialised courses are taught at Namur. There is also close collaboration with the Economics Department at KULeuven : students may study up to three subjects from the relevant programme at KULeuven without having to seek special permission to do so.

The 60 credit Master 60 in Economic Science (general) is made up of core subjects (30 credits) and options or optional subjects (30 credits).

Core subjects
The core subjects are made up of three components :
 two foundation subjects (10) ;
 one optional subject (5) ;
 a final dissertation  (15).

Options
The progression and available choices depend on students’ previous academic background.
 1st semester : 15 credits for optional subjects  or choice of options
 2^nd semester : one option worth 15 credits.

By way of illustration, there are three different kinds of progression.

Progression I : for bachelors who have studied economics as a  subsidiary subject including all the prerequisite subjects  
This is designed to develop analytical skills and to apply them to a particular area of economics.  
 1st  semester : introduction to a specialisation option
 2^nd  semester : advanced economic analysis option

Progression II : for bachelors whose grounding in economics is less strong
This is designed to provide a solid general training in economics.
 1st semester : 15 credits for rudiments and methods of economic 

 2nd semester : an advanced economic analysis option

Progression  III : for students who have already gained a Master and who have a solid grounding in economics (e.g. economics as a subsidiary subject) or relevant professional experience.
This is not available for students who have only gained a first degree. It provides solid and comprehensive training in a specific area of economic work.
 1st semester : introduction to a specialisation option
 2ème quadrimestre : advanced specialisation option

120 credit Master 120 in Economic Science (general).

The exact make up of the second year of the 120 credit Master must be confirmed on a case by case basis, according to the ground covered in the 60 credit Master.