Master of Science in Business Economics (Accountancy)

In the Business Economics programme students become acquainted with almost every functional aspect of the business world: how and why a company is established, how it is financed, how it organises itself administratively, how it produces goods and services, how it markets and sells those goods and services, how it deals with personnel and how the company’s management co-ordinates and steers all those activities. The emphasis is on the inside of the business. The Master’s programme offers three disciplines that allow you to tailor your curriculum according to your own interests, and become an expert in one of the three functional fields.

In the functional field of Accountancy, you are trained to start a career as an auditor or a user of accounting information. You will learn how to prepare annual reports, in line with the International Financial Reporting Standards, which aims to inform investors, shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, the government and other stakeholders about the organisation’s performance. Based on (international) auditing standards, you will learn how to check the reliability of these financial statements. The organisation’s internal accounting system, as part of the information system, produces important accounting information (budgets, product costs, etc.). Managers use this information to make business decisions as well as to measure managerial performance which influences their behaviour. Management control will teach you how to deal with these different purposes of accounting information. The curriculum also covers research methods related to the field of accountancy, focusing on important academic research questions with a relevance for practice. Several course units use a problem-based methodology, by means of which students analyse and work out specific case studies in small groups.

The Master’s programme has a modular structure that differs from the traditional semester system. Course units are organised into six-week modular blocks. Each block consists of only two course units, allowing students to engage with the material in a more focused and in-depth manner.

The teaching methods are challenging and varied, including case studies, group assignments, discussion panels, lectures, business games, and more. At the end of each modular block, students take examinations for the two course units. In addition, the blocks include interim assessments and (group) assignments. As a result, there are no examination periods in January or June. You can take up an internship as an elective course during the months January, Easter break or June.

In the second term, you will follow a practical course unit related to your specialisation, providing you with direct exposure to the professional field. The programme also offers sufficient time to work on your Master’s dissertation, which is a key component of the degree. The dissertation demonstrates your ability to independently apply acquired knowledge to a specific problem.

Students who wish to combine a Master’s degree with a teaching qualification may opt for the Master’s Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve master) instead of the programme described above. Please note that the Master’s Programme in Teaching is taught in Dutch. www.ugent.be/educatievemaster.

Finally, it is possible to participate in a double degree programme with Georg-August-Universität Göttingen or the University Clermont Auvergne. In a double degree programme, students obtain a degree from both the home university and the host university.

The primary career destination for graduates in Business Economics is the business sector. Alumni can be found in a wide range of positions across companies and non-profit organisations. Most graduates start their careers in the specialisation they selected during the Master’s programme, although this often evolves over time.

Some graduates take on increasing responsibilities within their original field, progressing to roles such as marketing manager or financial director, and eventually advancing to positions such as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), or even Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Others broaden their careers by moving into different functional areas or by being promoted to general management positions. The broad orientation of the programme facilitates such career mobility.

A substantial number of graduates pursue careers in economic professions, such as accountant, corporate consultant, tax advisor, or marketing consultant. These professions can be practised either as an employee or as a self-employed professional. Finally, Business Economics graduates are also employed in banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and organisations closely affiliated with the public sector.

Some examples of jobs for graduates in Business Economics:

• auditor
• accountmanager
• digital marketeer
• credit control officer
• executive director
• business advisor
• marketing & communication officer
• project finance consultant
• M&A analyst
• treasury analyst
• financial controller
• business consultant
• senior accountant
• ...