Master of Science in Quantitative Decision Making in Economics and Management

The Master’s program in Quantitative Decision Making in Economics and Management is structured in three phases as outlined in the Module Handbook (HANDBOOK).

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Phase 1: Core Modules (1st Semester)

The core modules in the first semester (winter term, 30 ECTS) provide basic methodological skills in math, statistics, economic decision making, operations research and programming. The first semester also offers an introduction to the three domains Econometrics, Management Science & Business Intelligence and Economic Behavior & Strategy.

Phase 2: Specializations (2nd & 3rd Semester)

Building upon the foundation established in the core modules, students have the opportunity to customize their education by selecting seven modules (totaling 42 ECTS) from a diverse array of options within the specialized phase, spanning semesters 2 and 3. They have the flexibility to choose any modules across all three domains. Furthermore, students can explore courses in related fields through the Free Part option.

Additionally, all students participate in an academic skills module (6 ECTS) designed to impart essential research fundamentals and personal development training. In two applied project seminars (12 ECTS), students gain hands-on experience applying their theoretical knowledge and acquiring valuable research insights.

Phase 3: Master Thesis (4th Semester)

The last semester is reserved for the master thesis (25 ECTS) and the research colloquium (5 ECTS), in which students participate in research seminars and present their own research findings.

All relevant files related to this program can be found in the Downloadcenter of the Study Office (DOWNLOADCENTER).

The Master's program in Quantitative Decision Making in Economics and Management equips graduates with a versatile skill set that opens up various career opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Graduates of this program can pursue a range of roles, including:

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• Data Analyst or Data Scientist: With a strong foundation in quantitative methods and data analysis, graduates can work in industries such as finance, healthcare, marketing, and technology, where they collect and analyze data to make informed decisions.
• Economic Analyst: Graduates can apply their understanding of economic behavior and strategy to work for government agencies, think tanks, or research organizations, providing insights on economic trends and policy analysis.
• Management Consultant: The program's focus on management science and business intelligence prepares students for roles in consulting firms, where they can help businesses optimize their operations and make data-driven strategic decisions.
• Market Research Analyst: Graduates can work in marketing and research roles, where they analyze consumer behavior and market trends to inform marketing strategies and product development.
• Financial Analyst: The econometric skills acquired in the program can be valuable for financial analysis and risk assessment roles in the banking and investment sectors.
• Policy Analyst: Graduates can work in government or non-profit organizations, analyzing data to inform policy decisions and evaluate their impact.
• Business Intelligence Analyst: Those with expertise in management science and business intelligence can work to optimize decision-making processes in organizations by extracting insights from data.
• Entrepreneur or Business Owner: Some graduates may choose to apply their analytical skills to start and manage their own businesses, leveraging data-driven insights for success.
• Ph.D. Candidate or Researcher: Pursue a Ph.D. in a related field, contributing to academic research and becoming an expert in a specific area.

The program's emphasis on English as the language of instruction, small class sizes, and a strong support system enhances the learning experience. High flexibility in course options and unique topic coverage further prepares graduates for diverse career paths.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor Degree: A completed bachelor-level degree with at least 6 semesters regular period of study. Candidates should have taken at least 18 ECTS in the field of management or economics and 19 ECTS in the field of mathematics, statistics, econometrics or quantitative empirical methods.

Note: that if you have not completed your degree yet, you can still be admitted if – by the time of application – you have already acquired at least 135 ECTS in a bachelor’s program that takes six semesters and awards a total of 180 ECTS according to the European credit point system.

• Language Skills: English language skills at B2 level, proven by one of the following options:
  • Higher education entrance qualification acquired in an English-taught institution
  • Bachelor-level degree in a program entirely taught in English
  • First Certificate in English (University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations) or higher (Advanced (CAE) or Proficiency (CPE))
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with a minimum of 5,5 Points
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), 72 (Internet-based test, iTB), 47 (revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test, PdT)
  • Telc English B2
  • OTE (Oxford Test of English): average score of 111 from 140

• Entrance test: Comprises of a 90-minute-long online test, where students are required to document sufficient prior knowledge in the field of mathematics (analysis, linear algebra, stochastic), statistics (descriptive statistics, estimation and hypothesis testing), microeconomics (basic concepts, game theory and information economics) and basic knowledge in computer science (simple algorithms). The content is typically covered in obligatory courses of a bachelor’s degree in economics and management. A link to sample questions can be found here.

Application Procedure

• Foreign University Degree Recognized - Students with a foreign university degree or other proofs of qualification must have their certificate recognized by the Student Service before applying (link). Due to the processing time, we strongly advise doing this well in advance.

• Apply Online - With your certificates you can apply online for the Master’s program Quantitative Decision Making in Economics and Management on the JOGU-StINe website (link).

• Entrance Test - After the approval of the formal requirements, applicants will be invited for the online entrance test. See the sidebar for information about the next test. The applicants will be informed about the proceedings ahead of time.

Once the selection process is completed, the university will notify you about whether you have been accepted for the Master of Science in Quantitative Decision Making in Economics and Management.

If you have any questions, please contact either:

Daniela Maier (Program Manager)
Room: 01-321 (Rewi II)
Tel: +49 6131 39-28709
Fax: +49 6131 39-25531
Office Hours:
Mon. 14:00-16:00 (only by phone)
Thu. 10:00-12:00
E-Mail: qdem@uni-mainz.de

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schank (Head of the Program)
Room 00-356 (Rewi II)
Tel. : +49 (0) 6131 / 39 - 26007
Fax : +49 (0) 6131 / 39 - 26010
E-Mail: schank@uni-mainz.de