Master in Global Economy and Politics

Master in Global Economy and Politics is one of 10 English-taught Social Sciences & Psychology programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 9 institutions. 2 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. 10 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

The Master's in Global Economy and Politics at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in Ås is a two-year, full-time programme taught in English. It is jointly built by the School of Economics and Business and the International Environment and Development Studies unit (Noragric) at the Faculty of Landscape and Society. You earn 120 ECTS and the degree title Master.

What you study

The programme bridges international economics and the political institutions that govern the global economy. It is interdisciplinary, drawing on economics and political science. You examine how national political actors, international organisations, multilateral institutions, state and non-state actors, and civil society affect and are affected by the global economy. Cross-cutting topics include trade, capital and finance, development aid, remittances and labour migrants, international organisations and global policy networks, security tensions and sanctions, debt, global inequality and poverty, commodity markets, and sustainability and societal well-being. A tailored course emphasises political risk analysis as a cross-cutting method and analytical tool.

How the programme is organised

The 120 ECTS are structured in five parts. A set of compulsory courses (25 ECTS) brings students up to a necessary level of competence in economics, social sciences and methods. A module in the economics of international trade, economic integration and development (30 ECTS) follows. Then comes a module in international relations and political science (30 ECTS). You choose 5 ECTS of either international relations or economics courses. The final part is a 30 ECTS master's thesis, where you are assigned a supervisor who gives ongoing feedback from beginning to end. Supervisors are allocated according to your topic of interest.

Teaching uses lectures, group and teamwork case studies, excursions and field trips, and digital learning tools, with a focus on student-centred learning. A student mentorship programme pairs second-year students with first-year students, and a student conference each spring lets master's students present their work. Assessment methods vary across courses and include semester assignments, project reports, peer review, presentations and exams. You need your own laptop for learning situations and exams. The School of Economics and Business recommends a semester or year abroad, ideally in the second semester, and you can select an internship as part of your studies.

Who it suits

The target group is students who want a thorough understanding of the risks, political structures and trends shaping global economic interactions. The programme mixes students from social sciences, political science and economics backgrounds, and uses that mix for peer learning and exchange of experiences. It suits someone who wants to analyse policy impacts, prepare policy briefs and make recommendations for decision makers.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in economics, business administration, political science, geography, development studies or other social sciences, environmental science or related fields. You must have a minimum of two of the following courses: economics, mathematics or statistics (quantitative methods), for example one in economics and one in statistics. The minimum grade point average is C (or the equivalent). English language ability must meet NMBU's regulations for programmes taught in English. The programme takes 25 students. The application deadline is 1 December for applicants outside the EU/EEA and 15 April for Norwegian, Nordic, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Check the programme page for details on how to apply. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at state institutions; other degree students normally pay a fee set by the institution. NMBU's Student Welfare Association (SiÅs) offers accommodation close to campus, with international students prioritised, though this is not guaranteed. Apply for housing immediately after accepting your admission offer.

Master’s applications go straight to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. The institution lists its deadline as: Nordic applicants: April 15 EU applicants: April 15 Non EU-applicants: December 1. The register shows 1 December 2026 as a deadline date for this programme. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.