To path indicator Subpages of “Studies“ To navigation To quick access To footer with other services
To content
Economic Policy and Journalism
5 students, male and female, are walking on the campus in front of EF 50 building, they are happily chatting, the brownish leaves on the trees and the student's clothing suggest that it's autumn © Institute of Journalism

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Internships, duration of study, writing a Master's thesis, practical relevance and job perspectives - here we provide answers to your most important questions.

For questions that also concern other degree programs offered by the Institute of Journalism, such as German language BA programs or journalistic traineeships, please refer to the frequently asked questions on the Institute of Journalism's website (German only!).

Photo: Beige bold letters F, A and Q are held by small figurines in blue, yellow and red © Pixabay

Economics and Journalism (MA)

The Master’s degree program in Economics and Journalism is open for all applicants who hold a Bachelor’s degree in Economics or have completed an equivalent degree program.

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have earned at least 50 credit points (ECTS) in Economics and 10 ECTS in Statistics and Mathematics in their previous studies. In addition, the Bachelor’s degree must have been completed with a grade of 2.5 (German standard) or better. Applicants with a comparable qualification may also be admitted if the examination board recognises their degree as equivalent.

In addition, it is necessary for applicants to submit a journalistic sample article on a current economic policy topic. 

If you have completed your Bachelor's degree in Germany, pelase refer to the application and enrollment information provided by TU Dortmund University. 

If you have completed your Bachelor's degree abroad, please refer to the information provided by the International Office. 

Precondition for all applicants

Before applying, all applicants must submit a journalistic sample article on an economic policy topic. We will communicate the annual topic on this website under the headline EP&J writing competition. The announcement will be made in good time before the application period begins. We strongly encourage early submissions as it takes time to process all articles.  

Authored in English language, the text should be no longer than 6000 characters and must adhere to journalistic standards in terms of writing and quality criteria. It should be fit for publication in a financial newspaper. Research, analytical originality and stylistic clarity are particularly important. Please note that we do not recommend the use of generative AI to write your article and that it is mandatory to include a signed affidavit with your submission.

Applicants must upload their sample articles alongside all other application documents. For more information on the application procedure, please refer to the International Office.  

Applicants are chosen based on their articles. They will be invited to take an interview with Prof. Müller and selected members of the examination board of the Institute of Journalism. The interview is a precondition for being able to enrol in the Master's degree program. 

When evaluating the equivalence of previous degrees, special attention is given to demonstrated knowledge in Economics and Mathematics/Statistics. This knowledge should align with that typically acquired in a Bachelor's degree in Economics.

For admission to the Master's degree programme in Economics and Journalism, applicants must have earned at least 50 credit points (ECTS) in Economics and 10 in Statistics and Mathematics. In addition, the BA degree must have been completed with a grade of 2.5 or better. If the minimum requirement of ECTS is not met, applicants may enrol with a constraint of no more than 30 credit points. 

Applicants with a comparable qualification may also be admitted if the examination board recognizes their degree as equivalent. 

Applicants may be admitted on condition that they make up for up to 30 CP from the bachelor's degree. These must be completed by the time the master's thesis is registered.

The examination and aptitude test regulations provide the general framework for the course of study. The individual modules and examination formats are described in the module manuals. The study plans provide an overview of the structure of the program. All documents can be downloaded here.

The International Office at TU Dortmund University offers comprehensive information and services regarding international exchange and studying abroad. Incoming international students can find guidance on admission and language requirements aloang with detailed support for the application and enrollment processes. The office also provides consultation (for instance via Zoom) on pre-arrival matters such as visas and resicence permits, bank accounts or insurance. 

Broader topics including English-language degree programs, student counselling, funding opportunities and Campus life are discussed here. 

Graduates of the Master’s degree program Economics and Journalism can pursue careers in economic policy journalism or in other areas of economics where communicating economic issues to a general audience plays a key role. The ability to present economic content in a clear, accessible manner and across various media platforms is increasingly important in many traditional fields of economics.

In addition to journalism itself, potential career paths include public relations and communications work for institutions and associations engaged in economic policy - such as government agencies, federal and state authorities, business associations and organisations, chambers of commerce and industry, economic research institutes, and the finance, banking, and insurance sectors.