Global Political Economy | Radboud University

Something for you?

The only programme in the Netherlands where political scientists and economists teach side by side, providing you with insights no single discipline can provide.
Our lecturers bridge cutting-edge research with real-world political challenges.
By combining economics and political science courses, we equip for you to tackle today’s complex global economy dilemmas and identify the political forces that drive economic decisions.
You will graduate with skills that employers value, from analytical rigor to strategic thinking in a context of rapidly shifting global economic realities.
This programme consistently outperforms the national average on three of the five core subjects (Source: Keuzegids 2025).

Why this programme?

Admission requirements

Do you want to know if you can be admitted? Read more about the admission requirements of this programme.

Factsheet

Main language: English
Study duration: 1 year (60 EC)
Start: September
Contact hours: 10-15
Number of students: 8
Programme format: Full time
Degree: Master of Science, specialisation of Political Science
Faculty: Nijmegen School of Management
CROHO code: 60203
Accreditation: NVAO

A critical political economy lens allows me to reveal the structures and mechanisms that create and perpetuate inequality.

Angela Wigger

Associate Professor Global Political Economy

Read Angela's story

Testimonials

What will you learn

Global Political Economy at Radboud University trains you to see past the headlines of daily news and uncover the hidden structures that shape the organisation and governance of the global economy. You learn how wealth and power are distributed globally, and why economic crises can pose both threats and opportunities for change, leaving both winners and losers. We challenge you to not only understand and explain the dynamics of the global economy but also to analyse the status quo through the eyes of different players, from transnational corporations to grassroots organisations, while accounting for the institutional stronghold that enable or hinder them to pursue their strategies.

Study programme

Future career opportunities

Alumni of the programme have all the analytical and strategic competences and skills that today’s employers seek, which makes them highly competitive for jobs such as:

Policy analyst in government ministries or international organisations like the UN, World Bank, IMF
Regulatory specialist and policy maker in central banks, financial market authorities, or trade commissions
Research analyst or policy advisor at European Union organisations, like the European Parliament or the European Commission, or at national diplomatic services
Consultant a non-profit organisations, think tank or development agencies, or transnational corporations, banks or other financial institutions

Career prospects

Research

To give you a few examples of cutting-edge research questions you can explore in this specialisation:

How are rising powers like China, India and Brazil reshaping global economic governance and challenging Western-dominated international organisations?
What political forces drive the architecture of global trade and finance, from the WTO’s crisis to the rise of regional trade blocks and economic sanctions as geopolitical weapons?
Why do some countries prosper while other remain trapped in poverty, and how do global economic structures perpetuate or challenge these inequalities?
How do climate and green transition policies redistribute power between countries, corporations and civil society?

Questions about this programme?

Do you have a question about this programme? We're happy to help. Please contact us, ask a student or check out our information activities.

Contact

Tuitions & grants

If you are going to follow this Master's programme, you will pay an annual tuition fee. There are different tuition rates. The amount depends on your personal situation.

Tuition