M.Sc. in Economics - Scientific Degree in International Economics
Aims and Purpose of the Programme
Postgraduate scientific course in international economics has been performed at the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana since 1961. Stated curriculum and programme have passed all the procedures stipulated by the laws of the Republic of Croatia. As such it was accepted by the Faculty council of the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka on 14 July 2003 with the aim of a joint performance of the stated programme by the Faculties of Economics in Rijeka and Ljubljana. Classes will be held at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka and in Ljubljana. Number of enrolled students is limited to 25. Students in the Master's programme simultaneously enrol at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka and in Ljubljana. Upon completing the postgraduate scientific programme, master's students obtain a Croatian as well as a Slovenian diploma.
The purpose of this postgraduate study course is the development of a traditional and contemporary knowledge in the area of international economic system and the role of national economies in determining the conditions for a successful integration of economic subjects into international exchange. Programme courses provide knowledge from the traditional international economics area, but also from the area of contemporary changes related to the conditions of economic globalisation.
Traditional knowledge from the postgraduate scientific programme International Economics stems from the Theory of International Trade and the Theory of Balance-of-Payments Adjustments. Theories of International Trade clarify the emergence and distribution of the economic profit which came about due to the economic cooperation between economic subjects from different economic areas or countries. Conditions for the development of international exchange will be analysed, starting from the general liberalism and leading to different kinds of foreign trade protection measures introduced by the states in order to adjust to the rules of international organizations in the area (World Trade Organisation – WTO, International Monetary Fond – IMF and others). Theories of Balance-of-Payments Adjustments in economy explain the functioning of the foreign currency market as well as the causes and effects of changing the exchange rate of a particular currency and analyse the connection of those changes with the state of balance of payments and the level of economic growth.
Along with the aforementioned, traditional areas of study of international economics, this postgraduate programme includes different courses which ensure acquiring and applying a more in depth and focused knowledge both for top level management in big corporations involved in international business and for professionals in the area of research, analysis or in the area of public administration. The programme also includes courses which develop a methodological and analytical knowledge necessary for analysing the processes of international exchange, understanding of the changes in the international economic system and its institutions and adjusting to business done within the framework of international (global) economy.
Postgraduate scientific programme International Economics is recommended for graduates of the undergraduate programme who wish to develop and expand their theoretical knowledge in the area of international economics, with the aim of future positive action in various ministries, diplomacy, national and international institutions, scientific and educational institutions and in management of large international business companies, banks and international transport and shipping and insurance companies, that is for all those who wish to become competent in foreign trade.
A variety of skills are necessary for a successful operation in the area of global economic relations on various levels – business level, national or international economic level or theoretical research level.
The contents of the postgraduate scientific programme are adapted to the demands of the contemporary development of the scientific discipline of international economics taking into account the changes in the international economic and business environment which are now more and more often related to globalisation and competitiveness.
Enrolment requirements
A variety of knowledge and skills is necessary for successful operation in the area of global economic cooperation on various levels – business level, national or international economic level or theoretical research level. Candidates who completed their undergraduate studies can enrol in this postgraduate scientific programme. Along with economists, graduates from other faculties can also enrol in the postgraduate scientific programme in International Economics at the Faculty of Economics because various types of knowledge are necessary for successful work in the area of international economics. The programme is especially suited for the graduate economists and lawyers, and to somewhat lesser extent for the graduates from other faculties. Prior to enrolment, candidates have to have a one-year working experience in the area of business or in other activities related to international economics. Practical working experience is especially significant for the candidates who are not graduate economists. For the candidates without any practical experience, enrolment in the postgraduate programme is only allowed if their GPA in the undergraduate programme was above 4.0. In the case of a lower GPA, enrolment is allowed if the candidate was successful in related research projects or has obtained faculty or university awards or acknowledgements for his/her academic achievements. All the candidates for enrolment in the postgraduate scientific programme must have an active knowledge of the English language. Course literature and guest lectures will most often be in English.
Number of enrolled students is limited to 25.
In the case of a larger number of applications, advantage is given to candidates with a higher GPA in the undergraduate programme and proven success in practical work.
Implementation of the study programme
Postgraduate scientific programme encompasses educational and research guidelines. Study programme requires 120 ECTS credits: 90 ECTS credits are given for successful completion of all the subjects in the framework of organised pedagogical part, 30 ECTS credits are given for a successfully defended master's thesis. The duration of the programme is two years and the programme is divided into four semesters. The total organised educational and research work amounts to 450 hours, which means 25-30 hours per subject or seminar. A student can pass to the second year of the programme if he/she participated in all the common study and research activities and acquired the minimum amount of 30 ECTS by passing exams from first-year subjects. Professors and lecturers develop active working methods within the framework of organised, common types of pedagogical work. In case that fewer than 15 students enrol in an academic year, programme will be held in a shorter version, in duration of 12 hours at the most of organised, common pedagogical work. Committee for postgraduate and doctoral programmes of the Faculty can make an exception and allow the students to study certain subjects and pass exams in a specially defined way if the students can prove that they have acquired relevant knowledge throughout their education and professional career.
Two or more subjects from the programme can be performed in the form of joint projects which would involve a group of students. This possibility will be defined for each academic year in the annual work plan.
ECTS credits
M.Sc. in Economics - Scientific Degree in International Economics list of courses with ECTS credits:
- Maks Tajnikar, Ph.D.; Maja Vehovec, Ph.D.; Ivan Pavić, Ph.D.
MICROECONOMICS 6 ECTS
- Vinko Kandžija, Ph.D.
INTERNATIONATIONAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM 6 ECTS
- Tone Hrastelj, Ph.D.; Maja Makovec Brenčič, Ph.D.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS 6 ECTS
- Tone Hrastelj, Ph.D.; Bruno Grbac , Ph.D.
INTERNATIONAL MARKETING 6 ECTS
- Tone Hrastelj, Ph.D.; Marčelo Dujanić, Ph.D.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 6 ECTS
- Krešo Puharič, Ph.D.; Ljiljana Maurović, Ph.D.
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL LAW 6 ECTS
- Ratko Zelenika, Ph.D.; Ivan Vanja Frančišković, Ph.D.; Heri Bezić, Ph.D.
FOREIGN TRADE AND TRANSPORT INSURANCES 6 ECTS
- Dušan Mramor, Ph.D.; Ivan Marković, Ph.D.
BUSINESS FINANCE 6 ECTS
- Mojmir Mrak, Ph.D.; Dragoljub Stojanov, Ph.D.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE 6 ECTS
- Dušan Strahinja, Ph.D.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLICY 6 ECTS
- Andrej Kumar, Ph.D.; Ivan Mencer, Ph.D.
ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD MARKETS 6 ECTS
- Zarjan Fabjančič, Ph.D.; Mate Babić, Ph.D.; Ivan Boras , Ph.D.
MACROECONOMICS 6 ECTS
- Andrej Kumar, Ph.D.
THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION 6 ECTS
- Ferdinand Trošt, Ph.D.; Nada Karaman Aksentijević, Ph.D.ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF CROATIAN AND SLOVENIAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE 6 ECTS
- Andras Inotai, Ph.D.; Tibor Palankai, Ph.D.
ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD ECONOMY 6 ECTS
Research and methodological seminars
a) Vladimir Dimovski, Ph.D.; Ratko Zelenika, Ph.D.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODS IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
b) Lea Bregar, Ph.D.; Jože Rovan, Ph.D.; Maja Biljan August, Ph.D.
USE OF DATABASES AND STATISTICAL METHODS IN FOREIGN TRADE ANALYSIS
c) Jože Andrej Čibej, Ph.D.; Ljiljana Lovrić, Ph.D.
USE OF MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
or
Krešo Puharič, Ph.D.; Ljiljana Maurović, Ph.D.
COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW
or
Tone Hrastelj, Ph.D.; Jozo Previšić, Ph.D.
INTERNATIONAL MARKETING THEORY AND PRACTICE
TOTAL: 90 ECTS
SCIENTIFIC MASTER THESIS 30 ECTS
ENTIRE POSTGRADUATE MASTER STUDY 120 ECTS
For the successful completion of the postgraduate scientific programme International Economics the students ought to:
successfully pass fifteen exams (subjects from 1-15) which can be either written, oral or combined;
write three special methodological research papers (for subjects under a), b), c)). The prerequisite for writing the methodological research seminar in the subject Use of Databases and Statistical Methods for the Analysis of Foreign Trade is a successfully passed test of general knowledge from the field of databases and statistical methods;
write eight seminar papers from selected subjects (1-15) with the approval of the lecturer as a prerequisite for taking the exam;
write and successfully defend the master's thesis.
We recommend that the students actively participate in all the lectures and other forms of pedagogical process (presentations of seminars, discussions on selected topics etc.) performed by different lecturers. Courses are taught by university professors – course holders who can decide on the topics to be discussed in cooperation with national and international experts and professors. Course literature is prescribed for each subject and it is mostly in Slovenian, Croatian and English. Students are responsible for the costs of books prescribed as course literature for each subject.
Writing methodological research papers and seminars is aimed at developing the ability for critical and independent, analytical research in different fields of international economic cooperation and business. Students are involved in performing research projects at the Faculties.
During the course of study the candidate selects an area and agrees upon the topic of his/her master's thesis with his/her mentor. Responsible body of the Faculty approves the topic after having considered it and nominates a mentor. Upon completing all the study obligations: exams, methodological research papers, seminars, a student finishes the programme by writing a master's thesis and defending it publicly. Successfully completed postgraduate scientific programme in International Economics provides a student with a title of Master of Science in the area of international economics as well as a diploma valid both in the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia. The Faculty of Economics of the University in Rijeka and Faculty of Economics of the University in Ljubljana allow the students to complete their study obligations in the period of five years after first enrolling. If the student does not finish the programme within five years from enrolling in the first year, he/she loses the right to fulfil the unfinished obligations. In that case, it is possible that the Committee or the Commission for postgraduate or doctoral studies allow the student to finish the programme at his/her request and by the condition it thereby sets. Those conditions follow the development of particular scientific disciplines and changes of the study programme.
As a non-obligatory part of the study programme, it is possible to organize field trips. Based on the students' decision on participating in the field trip, a programme will be prepared in cooperation with the students. Students who decide to participate in the field trip will have to cover the costs by themselves.
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