Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics (M.Sc.)
Socioeconomics is an interdisciplinary Master’s degree program which offers a rare opportunity to study a combination of subjects related to business and social science. The Master’s degree program focuses on conveying the empirical, methodological and theoretical knowledge for conceptual and advisory tasks in industry, research and administration. Special emphasis is placed on the collection, analysis, and interpretation of empirical data during the program.
- Degree
- Master of Science
- Duration of studies in semester
- 4
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Nuremberg
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Subject group
- Economic and Social Sciences, Law
- Teaching language
- German and English
- Admission Requirements
- Qualification assessment
- Keywords
- Business Administration, Data Science, Society, Communication, Market Research, Media, Sustainability, Personnel, Psychology, Socioeconomics, Sociology, Economics
What is the degree program about?
In the interdisciplinary Master’s program in Socioeconomics (M.Sc.), students will:
- explore and explain the interrelations between the economy, society, and the individual,
- study topics in the fields of sociology, psychology, business administration, economics, and communication studies,
- examine current societal issues from both social science and economic perspectives, and
- acquire outstanding methodological and statistical skills that are in high demand in both academic and professional contexts.
Typical examples of topics at the intersection of economy and society include questions such as the causes and consequences of unemployment, the compatibility of work and family life, or the role of works councils in companies. Issues such as artificial intelligence (AI), the consumption of digital media, and their impact on society – especially on trust and social cohesion – are also playing an increasingly important role.
Empirical research methods – techniques of data collection and data analysis (keyword: Data Science) – are essential for analyzing these topics. These methods are applied across various disciplines within the Master’s program in both the social sciences and economics. Thanks to its interdisciplinary approach, the program enables students to define their own academic focus and select the subject areas they wish to specialize in throughout their studies.
Please note: This degree program is taught in German. Therefore, a good knowledge of German is an essential prerequisite to successfully completing the degree program. Proof of German language proficiency at DSH 2 level or equivalent is required for admission.
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The Master’s program in Socioeconomics offers students from both the social sciences and economics the opportunity to expand their undergraduate knowledge by exploring new disciplines and deepening existing expertise. The program provides solid methodological training across various academic fields, preparing graduates for advanced positions in both the private and public sectors.
Interdisciplinary thinking, strong methodological skills in data collection and analysis, the ability to work independently and in a structured way, along with topic-specific knowledge, are key competencies acquired through the Master’s in Socioeconomics.
The structure of the Socioeconomics Master’s program is based on our belief that a strong research orientation and practical relevance are not mutually exclusive. Engaging in research strengthens problem-solving skills – a core competence for all responsible positions. At the same time, research itself offers a wide range of career opportunities, as shown by the many research institutes in Nuremberg that advise both policy and practice. We maintain excellent connections with numerous cooperation partners in and around the Nuremberg metropolitan region. We are happy to connect students with these partners during their studies to support them in finding internships or job opportunities. In general, we recommend that students gain practical experience during their academic training.
Program Structure
Incoming Master’s students often have very different levels of methodological knowledge. This is due to the program’s interdisciplinary nature, which brings together graduates from various disciplines such as sociology, psychology, business administration, economics, and communication studies. For this reason, the first semester places strong emphasis on providing all students with intensive and challenging training in scientific methods for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting social and economic data – and on applying these methods across multiple disciplines.
Once a solid academic foundation is established in the first semester, the second and third semesters focus on further specialization, elective modules, and gaining practical experience. All students participate in an extensive project seminar that runs into the third semester. In small groups, students independently develop a research question and carry out an empirical research project (see also Specializations and Focus Areas). At the same time, students can choose from a wide range of seminars and lectures to deepen their knowledge in specific areas of interest, define personal focus areas, or explore new topics through elective modules.
In the fourth semester, students focus on their Master’s thesis. The thesis can be rooted in a variety of disciplines. Topics from the social sciences (e.g. sociology, psychology, communication studies) are equally possible as topics from the economic sciences (e.g. economics, business administration, econometrics). Theses may also be written in cooperation with companies or research institutions.
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Students have the opportunity to specialize in one of the following focus areas:
- Education, Work, and Human Resources
- Market and Media Research
- Sustainability
- Data Science
A focus area consists of at least 25 ECTS credits earned through modules from the socioeconomics specialization area as well as from elective modules. The module handbook provides details on which modules are assigned to each focus area. Successful completion of a focus area will be officially documented in the final degree certificate.
Special Feature: Project Seminar
The one-year project seminar gives Master’s students in Socioeconomics the opportunity to explore a current research question in depth within small student groups. Each year, different chairs offer a selection of topical research themes. The empirical projects are developed, analyzed, and documented over the course of a full year. This practical component reinforces methodological skills through direct application.
In addition, the project seminar helps students develop a distinct personal profile, particularly by strengthening key competencies such as project management and teamwork.Examples of past project seminars include:
- Gender inequality in the representation of careers in digital media (Junior Professorship for Computational Social Science)
- Digital stress at work (Chair of Psychology, especially Business and Social Psychology)
- Analyzing infrastructure projects using high-resolution satellite data (Chair of Economics, especially Social Policy)
- Using AI to understand AI adoption and its consequences (Junior Professorship for Communication Studies)
- Ethnic discrimination in professional contexts: An experimental study using deepfakes (Chair of Empirical Economic Sociology)
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The Master’s Program in Socioeconomics…
- is aimed at students with an interest in social and economic interrelations and a solid foundation in these fields.
- is designed for graduates of various Bachelor’s programs such as social sciences, sociology, communication studies, (business) psychology, economics, and more.
- prepares students for advanced roles in business and public administration through interdisciplinary and rigorous methodological training.
- leads to the degree Master of Science, which qualifies graduates for doctoral studies and opens the path to an academic career.
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Graduates of the Master’s program in Socioeconomics are not limited to a specific career path. Instead, they are qualified to take on a wide range of roles—particularly those requiring the application of empirical methods and strong analytical skills in addressing social and economic issues.
Based on the experiences of our alumni and the interdisciplinary profile of the program, the following career fields are especially relevant (non-exhaustive list):- Data Science
- Market research (in research institutes or companies)
- Marketing
- Human resources and social affairs
- Public relations / media
- Quality management
- Management consulting
- Public administration
- Academic and research-related positions at universities and research institutions
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- Qualification assessment
- Application deadline winter semester
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31.05.
- Content-related admission requirements
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Completion of a social science or economics degree program or proof of completed/passed modules totaling 135 ECTS credits in such a degree program. If a degree is missing, this is defined as a requirement and must be submitted within the first year of study. Graduates of foreign universities must provide proof of a complete (first) academic degree.
Proof of an internship (at least 6 weeks and related to the study program; please be sure to refer to our information sheet in this regard); this can also be defined as a requirement and must then be completed within the first Master’s study year.
Proof of English language skills (please also refer to our information sheet) at least at the level of „English Level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR) Vantage or Upper intermediate“, provided that the first professional qualification or university entrance qualification was not acquired in English; proof can be provided in particular by submitting school reports (foreign language acquisition over at least 5 years up to the acquisition of the university entrance qualification, final grade or, if applicable, average grade of the last two years must correspond at least to the German grade level 4 (sufficient) or 5 points).
For further information, please visit the German website.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.