The Department of Economics >

This page is updated for the academic year 2023-2024.
Information for the academic year 2024-2025 will be updated in the coming days.
 

Master's Degree  

Tracks  

Two tracks are available:  

Track A – includes research and thesis submission (recommended for students considering doctoral work).  

Track B – non research-based.  
   

Admission requirements for both tracks  

A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 76 in any field is required for admission. In certain cases the required average may depend on the undergraduate major. Admission conditional upon available spots within the department, as determined by the department. The Department of Economics is not obligated to admit all applicants who meet the minimum registration requirements indicated above. The final decision on applicant screening is at the discretion of the department.  

The final decision on admission of an applicant is under the authority of the School of Graduate Studies.  

Third-year undergraduate students at Bar-Ilan may begin taking prerequisites in parallel to completion of their bachelor’s degree, per departmental approval.  

Taking prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the master’s degree program.  
 

Programs of study  

  1. Business Economics:  
  • Track A – includes research and thesis submission.  
  • Track B –  non-research track.  
  1. Business Economics focusing on Hi-Tech :        
  • Track B –  non-research track.  

     3.  Business Economics focusing on Data Sciences 

  • Track B – non research track. 

     4.  Economics:  

  • Track A – includes research and thesis submission. 

     5.   Accounting:  

  • Track B –  non-research track. See separate chapter.  
       

Background course completion  

Students without a sufficient economics background admitted to the master’s degree program will be asked to complete a maximum of 17.5 annual-based credits (AC) [35 semester-based credits (SC)]. The list of background courses required for completion, if any, is determined on an individual basis. Required date of completion of those courses depends on the list of courses for the individual student.  

Students who must take all background courses will have to spread them over a two-year period.  

Required minimum average grade for background courses is 76. Master’s degree courses may not be taken before completion of all required background courses and having passed them with the required average grade.    

Required background courses are:    

66-101  

Introduction to Microeconomics  

2 AC (annual-based credits)  

(4 SC – semester-based credits)  

66-110  

Mathematics for Economists I   

1.5 AC   

(3 SC)  

66-111  

Mathematics for Economists II   

1.5 AC   

(3 SC)  

66-201  

Macroeconomics I   

1.5 AC   

(3 SC)  

66-202  

Macroeconomics II   

1.5 AC   

(3 SC)  

66-213  

Pricing Theory I  

2 AC  

(4 SC)  

66-214  

Pricing Theory II  

2 AC  

(4 SC)  

66-231  

Quantitative Methods  

1.5 AC   

(3 SC)  

66-236  

Introduction to Econometrics I   

1.5 AC   

(3 SC)  

66-237  

Introduction to Econometrics II    

1.5 AC   

(3 SC)  

66-238  

Computer Applications in Econometrics  

1 AC  

(2 SC)  
 

  

Students must have a basic background in statistics. Students lacking such background must take an introductory course to statistics.  

Students required to take background courses must take: Introduction to Microeconomics” and “Mathematics for Economists I” before “Macroeconomics I” and “Pricing Theory I”.  

The department reserves the right to terminate students who have failed more than four background courses; these students will not be allowed to proceed toward their master’s degree.  
 

Programs  

  1. Economics  
      
    Track A – research-based track  
    Total of 18 AC (36 SC) coursework  
    including required courses, elective courses, forum participation and thesis.  
       
  1. Business economics  
      
    Track A – research-based track  
    Total of 18 AC (36 SC) coursework  
    including required courses, elective courses, forum participation and thesis.  

          Track B – non-research track  
          Total of 20 AC (40 SC) coursework  
          including required courses, elective courses, forum participation and a seminar.  

  1. Business economics – Hi-Tech specialization  
      
    Track B – non-research track  
    Total of 19 AC (38 SC) coursework  
    including required courses, elective courses  and a seminar.  
      
  1. Business economics – Data Sceinces specialization  
      
    Track B – non-research track  
    Total of 19 AC (38 SC) coursework  
    including required courses, elective courses  and a seminar.  
     

5. Accounting - Track B – non-research track – see separate chapter.  
       

Failed courses  

The department reserves the right to terminate students who have failed more than four graduate-level courses; these students will not be allowed to continue with their master’s degree.     

Transition between tracks  

The department has the right to transition low-performing students from Track A to Track B.  
Students who wish to transition from Track B to Track A must meet all course criteria for Track A, and conversely.     

Research track applicants – please note:  

A thesis topic and thesis advisor must be selected no later than the end of the first year of study.  

Research proposals are to be submitted by the end of the fall semester of the second year of study.     

Overlapping courses  

The department does not allow overlap among courses in other tracks in the department and the university.  

   

Requirements common to all tracks  

Language proficiency  

  1. English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).  
  1. Additional foreign language proficiency if deemed necessary for research work.  

  
Jewish studies  

As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).  
   

Final exam for the master’s degree  

The exam is based on the thesis and its underlying bibliography.  
   

Thesis guidelines (for Track A)  

See School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations in the introductory chapter.  
 

   

Research proposals are to be submitted by the end of the first year of study  

and no later than the end of the fall semester of the second year.  

   

For further details  

contact the Department of Economics during  

drop-in office hours:  Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00 AM-1:00 PM;  

Mondays and Thursdays 09:00 AM-11:00 AM  

telephone hours: Sundays till Thursdays 2:00 PM-3:00 PM;  

or by phone at 03-5318920, via email or visit the Department of Economics website  

 

   

PhD     

Areas of specialization  

  • Economic theory – microeconomics  
  • Economic theory – macroeconomics  
  • Industrial organization  
  • Game theory and decision-making  
  • International economics  
  • Economic growth  
  • Economic history  
  • Finance and banking  
  • Monetary economics  
  • Behavioral economics  
  • Labor economics  
  • Economics and politics  
  • Public economics  
  • Israel’s economy  

   

 **Applicants to the PhD program in the Department of Economics should send the following relevant supporting material via email:  

  1. Transcript  
  1. Names of two references  
  1. A personal essay describing motivation for study  
  1. CV  
  1. Any other material deemed relevant  

   

Upon receipt of the material listed above, candidates will be called to meet with the committee members who also serve as the departmental admissions committee.  

 

   

For further details  

contact Ms. Orit Nissim by phone at 03-5318918 or via email  

   

 

 

Last Updated Date : 03/04/2024