The bachelor program in Global Economics and Management at Constructor University provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex and interrelated economic and political forces that shape our globalized world. Through a unique combination of traditional business and economics studies, political science, sociology, and management, students gain a transdisciplinary perspective on the challenges faced by today's firms and economies, with a focus on sustainable development and responsible leadership.

As a result of the program's excellence and its successful integration of various academic disciplines, the program has been consistently highly ranked in recent university rankings conducted by the Center for Higher Education (CHE). This demonstrates the program's ability to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary for success in today's fast-paced and ever-changing global economic environment.

The undergraduate program at Constructor University is a three-year, 180-credit-point program designed to prepare students for a wide range of career paths.

The “4C Model” is the program's backbone, with disciplinary content grouped into three themes according to study years: CHOICE-CORE-CAREER. Additionally, the “CONSTRUCTOR Track”, an integral part of the program, runs parallel throughout the program. It provides students with multidisciplinary content and essential skills such as argumentation, data visualization, societal engagement, and communication.

The curriculum allows students to tailor their education to their goals and to explore different fields of study, with the flexibility to change their major within the first year. Moreover, the programs include a mandatory internship and a study-abroad opportunity in the fifth semester to provide students with hands-on experience and a global perspective.

Year 1

The first study year is characterized by a university-specific offering of disciplinary education that builds on and expands upon the students’ entrance qualifications. Students select introductory modules for a total of 45 CP from the CHOICE area of a variety of study programs, of which 15-45 CP will belong to their intended major.

Students can still change to another major at the beginning of their second year of studies, provided they have taken the corresponding mandatory CHOICE modules in their first year of studies.

To pursue GEM as a major, the following CHOICE modules at least 30 CP need to be taken as mandatory (m) modules:

• CHOICE Module: Microeconomics (m, 7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Macroeconomics (m, 7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to International Business (m, 7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to Finance and Accounting (m, 7.5 CP)

These lecture-tutorial combinations provide the students with a general overview about basic concepts and theories in economics and business. In the associated tutorials, students have the opportunity to integrate the material taught in the lectures through discussions of related concepts, policy problems, or scientific studies, and through cases and exercises.

Year 2

In their second year, students take a total of 45 CP from a selection of in-depth, discipline-specific CORE modules. Building on the introductory CHOICE modules and applying the methods and skills acquired so far, these modules aim to expand the students' critical understanding of the key theories, principles, and methods in their major for the current state of knowledge and best practices.

To pursue GEM as a major, at least 30 CP from the following mandatory elective (me) CORE modules need to be taken:

• CORE Module: Public Economics and Policy (me, 7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Environmental and Resource Economics (me, 7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Comparing Economic Systems (me, 7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: International Economics (me, 7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Marketing (me, 7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Investments and Capital Markets (me, 7.5 CP)

These modules offer a combination of seminar and tutorial. Each module builds on the contents of the first-year modules and delve into its respective topic through a mix of lecture inputs, paper discussions, and interactive group work. In the second year of studies, examinations are increasingly oriented towards essays and presentations.

The remaining 15 CP can be selected according to interest and/or with the aim of pursuing a minor in a second field of studies, or students complement their studies by taking all of the above listed mandatory elective CORE modules.

Year 3

During their third year, students prepare for and make decisions about their career path after graduation. To explore available choices and to gain professional experience, students undertake a mandatory summer internship.

The fifth semester also opens a mobility window for a diverse range of study abroad options. Finally, the sixth semester is dedicated to fostering the students' research experience by involving them in an extended Bachelor thesis project.

In addition, GEM students take 15 CP from major-specific or major-related, advanced Specialization Modules to consolidate their knowledge and to be exposed to state-of-the-art research in the areas of their interest.

To pursue GEM as a major, at least 15 CP from the following mandatory elective Specialization Modules need to be taken:

• GEM Specialization: Advanced Econometrics (me, 5 CP)
• GEM Specialization: Managing Public and Nonprofit Organizations (me, 5 CP)
• GEM Specialization: Information Economics (me, 5 CP)
• GEM Specialization: Current Topics in Business and Economics (me, 5 CP)
• IBA Specialization: Lean Management (me, 5 CP)
• IBA Specialization: Managerial Accounting (me, 5 CP)
• IBA Specialization: Contemporary Topics in Marketing (me, 5 CP)
• IBA Specialization: Blockchain Technology and Applications (me, 5 CP)
• MDDA Specialization: Financial Data Analytics (me, 5 CP)

At Constructor University, students are given a unique opportunity to boost their employability through a mandatory two-month internship worth 15 credits. This opportunity usually takes place during the summer between the second and third year of study, providing students with the chance to gain practical experience in a professional setting. Through this internship, students can apply the knowledge and understanding they have gained from their major to real-world contexts, evaluate the significance of their major in the employment sector and society, reflect on their role in employment and society, and make informed career decisions. For students interested in starting their own company, an alternative to the full-time internship is offered as a start-up option, which allows them to focus on developing their business plan.

The CONSTRUCTOR Track is another important feature of Constructor University's educational model. The Constructor Track runs orthogonal to the disciplinary CHOICE, CORE, and CAREER modules across all study years and is an integral part of all undergraduate study programs. It provides an intellectual tool kit for lifelong learning and encourages the use of diverse methodologies to approach cross-disciplinary problems. The CONSTRUCTOR track contains Methods, New Skills and German Language and Humanities modules.

Methods Modules

Methods such as mathematics, statistics, programming, data handling, presentation skills, academic writing, and scientific and experimental skills are offered to all students as part of the Methods area in their curriculum. The modules that are specifically assigned to each study programs equip students with transferable academic skills. They convey and practice specific methods that are indispensable for each students' chosen study program. Students are required to take a minimum of 20 CP in the Methods area. The size of all Methods and Skills modules is 5 CP.

To pursue GEM as a major, the following Methods modules (20 CP) need to be taken as mandatory modules:

• Methods Module: Applied Calculus (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Applied Statistics with R (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Qualitative Research Methods (m, 5 CP)
• Methods Module: Econometrics (m, 5 CP)

New Skills Modules

This part of the curriculum constitutes an intellectual and conceptual tool kit that cultivates the capacity for a particular set of intellectual dispositions including curiosity, imagination, critical thought, and transferability. It nurtures a range of individual and societal capacities, such as self-reflection, argumentation and communication. Finally, it introduces students to the normative aspects of inquiry and research, including the norms governing sourcing, sharing, withholding materials and research results as well as others governing the responsibilities of expertise as well as the professional point of view.

All students are required to take 20 CP of New Skills modules in their second year and third year of studies. Students choose New Skills modules from the following portfolio:

• New Skills Module: Logic* (me, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Causation and Correlation* (me, 2.5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Argumentation, Data Visualization and Communication* (me, 5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Models, Matrices and Theories of Complex Systems (me, 5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Complex Problem Solving (me, 5 CP).
• New Skills Module: Agency, Leadership and Accountability (me, 5 CP)
• New Skills Module: Community Impact Project (me, 5 CP).

Some of these modules (marked by *) will be offered with two different perspectives from which the students can only choose one for the fulfillment of graduation requirements of their degree program. The module perspectives are independent modules which examine the topic from different points of view. Please see the module description in chapter 6 for more details such as scheduling, content and assessment.

German Language and Humanities Modules

Students are required to take 5 CP of German language or Humanities modules. German language abilities foster students' intercultural awareness and enhance their employability in their host country. They are also beneficial for securing mandatory internships (between the 2nd and 3rd year) in German companies and academic institutions. Constructor University supports its students in acquiring basic as well as advanced German skills in the first year of the CONSTRUCTOR Track. Non-native speakers of German are encouraged to take two German modules (me, 2.5 CP each), but are not obliged to do so. Native speakers and other students who are not taking advantage of this offer take alternative modules in Humanities in each of the first two semesters:

• Humanities Module: Introduction to Philosophical Ethics (me, 2.5 CP)
• Humanities Module: Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (me, 2.5 CP)
• Humanities Module: Introduction to Visual Culture (me, 2.5 CP)

Solid labor-market qualification

With its combination of economics and management, students acquire solid labor-market qualifications for junior management positions with responsibilities in function-specific tasks and projects within areas of employment such as business development, sales and marketing, human resource management, organizational development, strategy and technology consulting, as well as for analyst positions in these fields or in specific industries. 

Well-prepared for top global career paths 

In the last years, our graduates obtained internships and positions in a variety of institutions, including the World Bank, MIT, or the Harvard Kennedy School, and at companies such as Daimler, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Börse, Ernst & Young, Henkel, KPMG, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PwC, Uber, Vodafone, Volkswagen, or Zalando, as well as in various startups. A degree in GEM will also equip students with transferable skills that will allow them to move into other areas of employment in a variety of employers such as national and multi-national companies, governmental agencies, NGOs, international organizations, think tanks, special interest groups, or research institutions.

All applicants must show an adequate command of the English language to enroll at Constructor University. An applicant’s English language ability (non-native speakers) may be demonstrated through language proficiency test scores.

You will qualify for an English proficiency waiver if you:

are a native English speaker OR

have been instructed exclusively in English for a minimum of 6 years OR

have scored 600 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section OR

have scored 9 or higher on the ACT Writing section

English Language proficiency tests accepted by Constructor University and the minimum scores/grades:

• TOEFL (Paper-based): Minimum Score: 575

• TOEFL (Internet-based): Minimum Score: 90

• MELAB (Michigan Test): Minimum Score: 80

• IELTS (British Council): Minimum Score: 6.5

• GCSE (British General Certificate of Secondary Education): Minimum Score: A or B

• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Minimum Score: A, B, C and C1 pass

• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): Minimum Score: A, B, C

• Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE – extended): Minimum Score: A

• International Baccalaureate English A Lit / Lang & Lit: Minimum Score: 6, 7

• SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing: Minimum Score: 600

• ACT Writing: Minimum Score: 9

• Duolingo English Test: Minimum Score: 110

• Pearson PTE Academic: Minimum Score: 58

Global Economics and Management is a Business & Economics Department program at Constructor University. GEM feeds on the Department’s latest research activities to deliver state-of-the-art education to its students.

Our expertise covers a wide array of topics, such as international business, China and BRIC countries, foreign direct investments, organization theory, network reliability, international economics, energy and sustainability, management information systems, organizational behavior, aging workforce, design thinking, or diversity management. The Department’s work appears regularly in the best academic journals worldwide.