Programme in Business and Economics
240 ECTS credits
Study programme
The four-year business and economics programme leads to a Master of Science in Business and Economics. The programme provides a broad educational foundation in the area of economic sciences with an emphasis on business, analytical and problem-solving skills. It also offers students several specialisation options. The Business School at Karlstad University aims to be the leading business school in Europe with a service perspective. (Service research is pursued here in the areas of service innovation, customer satisfaction, and organisation and work conditions.) This aim is apparent throughout the programme in the recurrent study of business operations from a service perspective. Studying at Karlstad Business School is an investment for your future. We offer easy access to world-class research, international perspectives and continuous contact with professional life. Combined with Professional skills, these aspects open up great opportunities for a successful career characterised by academic excellence, employable knowledge and skills, and a world-view perspective.
Economists are active in all sectors of the employment market and are trained to understand and analyse complex economic situations. Most economists work in the private sector, primarily in commerce and industry, but also in public agencies, municipalities, county councils and other organisations. More than one out of three economists work in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail industry. Typical professional roles are, for instance, controller, accountant, auditor, comptroller, financial manager. Other job opportunities are in banking, business development, consultancy, and teaching. Many companies today are headed by an economist and many economists choose to run their own business.
Economists are active in all sectors of the employment market and are trained to understand and analyse complex economic situations. Most economists work in the private sector, primarily in commerce and industry, but also in public agencies, municipalities, county councils and other organisations. More than one out of three economists work in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail industry. Typical professional roles are, for instance, controller, accountant, auditor, comptroller, financial manager. Other job opportunities are in banking, business development, consultancy, and teaching. Many companies today are headed by an economist and many economists choose to run their own business.
Education level:
Basic level
Prerequisites
General entry requirements, plus Mathematics 3b or 3c, Social Studies 1b or 1a1 + 1a2, and English 6/B.
While studying
Education
In the first three terms, students take the same courses to ensure that programme graduates from Karlstad have a common broad base in the economic sciences. Students then move on towards a major in business administration or economics. In term six, business majors can choose to specialise in accounting and control, marketing, or service management. The concluding term is spent on the degree project in the chosen specialisation.Starting in the autumn semester of 2025, the specialization area Service Management will transition to become Management. The Business and Economics program will continue to be linked to the research conducted at the Service Research Center (CTF), and thereby also to the field of Service Management.
Instruction is designed and organised to give students opportunities to develop the skills and abilities specified in the programme aims, for instance, in the form of laboratory exercises and case studies presented orally and in writing. In addition, there are lectures and exercises.
The programme design also allows students to study abroad for a term.
Form of Instruction
This is a full-time study programme. The number of scheduled sessions varies and many courses include seminars and project work. Students are required to participate actively in course work as well as study extensively on their own.Study Abroad
During your Business and Economics programme, you have an opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad at one of Karlstad University's exchange partners. A semester abroad builds upon the competences and knowledge you develop during your studies, you will enhance your communication skills and intercultural skills - all of which improves your CV for future employers. Karlstad University has exchange agreements with over 200 partner universities, located in more than 35 countries. The Business and Economics programme sends the highest number of students on exchange studies from Karlstad Business School. Students have spent semesters in universities such as the University of Wollongong, Australia; the triple crown accredited Toulouse Business School, France or Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain. With the support of your Programme Leader, you select your courses before departure and approved credits are officially recognized after your exchange period. You may also complete aspects of your final thesis data collection abroad. To discover more about these opportunities, go to our Study Abroad website, link in the menu to the right.Professional Contact
Throughout the programme, students will be given the opportunity to meet various representatives of the business world or public agencies as guest lecturers, or contributing in other ways.Course of study
| Semester 1 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Business Administration I (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 2 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Economics (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 3 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Commercial Law (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Statistics (Obligatory) | 15 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 4 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Business Administration II (Obligatory) | 30 |
| Economics - continuation course (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
| Semester 5 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Management control (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Financial Accounting III (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Tax Law I (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Marketing Strategies (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Service management (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Management (Optional) | 15 |
| Quantitative methods for financial economics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Applied Econometrics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Financial Markets, Risk and Insurance (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Scientific Methods in Economics (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Optional course (Elective) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
| Semester 6 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Commercial Law (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Scientific Methods in Business Administration (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Statistics - continuation course for business administration (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Financial Accounting II (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Portfolio Analysis (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Corporate finance (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Financial Risk Management (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Public Economics and Politics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Labour economics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Economic growth (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
Total ECTS credits:
30*
| Semester 8 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Business Administration - Degree Project, Master of Science in Business and Economics (Obligatory) | 30 |
| Economics - Degree project Master of Science in Business and Economics (Obligatory) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
*Full-time study always equals 30 ECTS credits per semester (20 weeks).
Please note - not all programmes offer elective or optional courses.
Elective course: Students are free to choose among certain alternative courses, often depending on their choice of specialisation.
Optional course: Students are free to choose any course offered at Karlstad University or at other universities. Courses listed are examples of recommended or frequently chosen courses for a specific programme.
Academic year and program evaluations
Start semester Autumn 2012
Start semester Spring 2013
Start semester Autumn 2013
Start semester Autumn 2014
Start semester Spring 2015
Start semester Autumn 2015
Start semester Autumn 2016
Start semester Autumn 2017
Start semester Autumn 2019
Start semester Autumn 2020
Future prospects
Employment Market
Economists are active in all sectors of the employment market and are trained to understand and analyse complex economic situations. Most economists work in the private sector, primarily in commerce and industry, but also in public agencies, municipalities, county councils and other organisations. More than one out of three economists work in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail industry. Typical professional roles are, for instance, controller, accountant, auditor, comptroller, financial manager. Other job opportunities are in banking, business development, consultancy, and teaching. Many companies today are headed by an economist and many economists choose to run their own business.Degree
Depending on the choice of specialisation, students will be awarded one of the following qualifications:- Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics Marketing
- Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics Accounting and Control
- Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics Management
- Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics Financial Economics
- Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics Economics
Tuition fees
- Total fee: 384,000 SEK
- Per semester / First payment: 48,000 SEK
You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are an exchange student or a citizen of a country within the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.