ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training Structure
School of Economics
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The Public Economics and Environment track of the Master’s in Economics program trains students to analyze collective decisions in the face of growing pressures on the environment caused by human activities. These challenges involve complex trade-offs, incorporating identifiable costs, diffuse impacts, and benefits that are often unevenly distributed among stakeholders and across generations. The economic approach serves as a decision-making tool for public officials, organizations, and businesses facing these challenges.
The program provides in-depth knowledge of environmental economics and natural resource economics, as well as public economics, which examines the mechanisms and criteria of collective decision-making. These two complementary fields enable the design of policies and mechanisms that are economically efficient as well as socially and politically sustainable.
The program draws on the expertise of a teamof faculty members and specialized researchers based at the Montpellier Center for Environmental Economics.
The Benefits of the Training Program
- A RECOGNIZED AREA OF EXPERTISE
- OPERATIONAL SKILLS
- A WIDE RANGE OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Objectives
The program aims to train economists specializing in environmental economics and public policy who are capable of informing decision-making regarding environmental issues and collective trade-offs.
It develops students’ proficiency in economic analysis tools applied to environmental issues: socioeconomic assessment, cost-benefit analysis, regulatory instruments, taxation, and environmental incentives. Students learn to design and evaluate public policies, taking into account economic, social, and distributional effects.
The program also strengthens quantitative skills and data analysis, with the aim of producing assessments and impact studies that can be utilized by public officials, local governments, and organizations committed to the ecological transition.
Expertise and Skills
Expertise
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Work as part of a team, cooperate, listen, and express a well-reasoned point of view while respecting others
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Adapt to unexpected situations and meet deadlines
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Search for, select, organize, and summarize information from academic, institutional, and statistical sources
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Communicate clearly in writing and orally, adapting to the intended audience
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Critically analyze academic works in economics (French / English)
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Designing and Conducting a Comprehensive Economic Analysis: Research Questions, Methodology, Analysis, and Discussion of Results
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Prepare and use a database, perform a statistical analysis, and present the results
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Conduct applied econometric analyses
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Design an investigation protocol that takes potential biases into account
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Conduct a financial assessment of a public or private project
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Adapt an economic model to simulate scenarios and compare results (static/dynamic)
Skills
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Knowledge of current economic, industry, and regulatory developments
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Master's Degree inApplied Economic Analysis Methods
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Proficiency indata analysis and econometrics methods
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Understanding the Challenges ofCausal Inference in the Social Sciences and Related Methods
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Knowledge of experimental methods in economics (laboratory and field)
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Expertise in analyzing competitive markets and situations involving market power
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Economic analysis of public policies and their effects (allocation, distribution, environment, public budget)
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Understanding the principles of market regulation and environmental regulation
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Master's Degree inEnvironmental Economics and Natural Resources
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Knowledge of the issues and regulations related to pollution, biodiversity, natural resources, and agro-environmental systems
International Dimension
Starting in their second year, students can spend a year (two semesters) at one of the 60 universities with which the School of Economics has partnerships through the ERASMUS+, inter-university agreements, and CHARM-EU exchange programs.
Organization
Knowledge Assessment
Master’s programs at the School of Economics are structured over two years and four semesters and are based on an assessment system designed to measure students’ learning progress in a gradual and comprehensive manner. At the end of each semester, the skills, competencies, and knowledge acquired in each course unit (UE) are assessed in one of two ways: through continuous assessment or a final exam.
Continuous assessment allows for regular monitoring of student progress through various forms of evaluation: proctored exams, graded tutorials, presentations, projects, document analyses, and active participation in class. This approach encourages regular attendance, consistent work, and the gradual acquisition of skills.
The final exam, on the other hand, consists of a written or oral test administered at the end of the semester. Its purpose is to assess the student’s overall mastery of the concepts taught and their ability to apply their knowledge in a structured and in-depth manner.
Depending on the learning outcomes or educational objectives, some courses may combine both assessment methods. These approaches ensure fair, diverse, and appropriate assessment tailored to the nature of the course, while allowing students to develop methodological skills, rigor, and independence throughout their academic journey.
Special Features
Students with disabilities, young entrepreneurs, and elite athletes can receive personalized support.
This may take the form of academic accommodations, pedagogical adjustments, or specific rights, in order to enable students to best balance their personal or professional commitments with their university studies. Depending on the situation, these measures may include an adapted class schedule, modified assessment procedures, attendance accommodations, individualized support, or dedicated support services.
Internships, supervised projects
Internship | Possible |
|---|---|
Duration of the internship | A maximum of 924 hours, or 6 months |
Internship Abroad | Possible |
A true immersion in the professional world, it allows students to apply the knowledge they’ve acquired in class, discover how organizations operate, and compare theory with practice. To get the most out of it, thorough preparation is essential: learn about the host organization, define your goals, draw on what you’ve learned, and prepare for professional demands.
In the first year of the master's program, an internship is possible but optional. It must be related to the program.
The internship may begin at the end of the second-semester exams or take place during university breaks. In any case, it must end no later than August 31, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in a Bachelor’s program, a first-year Master’s program, or a University Diploma program.
In the second year of the Master's program, the internship is required.
The start date is set in consultation with the academic advisor, generally between February and March, to align with the academic calendar and the requirements for the final thesis. Regardless of the period chosen, the internship mustend no later than September 30.
Program
The program lasts 2 years, or 4 semesters
120 ECTS
Game Theory
Econometrics
Development Economics
4 creditsIntroduction to SAS
Individual Research Project
Environmental Economics
Public Economics
3 creditsSurvey Methods
Choose one of the following two options:
Optional
Corporate Social Responsibility
4 creditsExcel / Power BI
3 creditsThe Economics of Risk and Uncertainty
Natural Resource Governance
4 creditsEconometrics of Qualitative Variables
Individual Research Project
5 creditsData Analysis
3 creditsBehavioral Economics
Optional
Choose one of the following two options:
Economics of Biodiversity and Natural Resources
3 creditsChoice experiment
Public Economic Analysis
3 creditsEnvironmental Economics and Policy
2 creditsSocial Incentives and Preferences
3 creditsTopics in Experimental and Behavioral Economics
Social Dilemmas
3 creditsEnvironmental Information and Labels
3 creditsStatistical method
3 creditsAssessment of Non-Market Effects
3 creditsEcosystem Protection
2 credits
Taxation and the Environment
2 creditsGlobalization and the Environment
2 creditsThe Political Economy of Environmental Policy
2 creditsHealth and the Environment
2 creditsThe Economics of Justice and Equity
Research or Internship Thesis
13 creditsCircular Economy
3 creditsGame Theory 2
4 credits
Admission
Admission Requirements
- For the Master 1 program: Applicants must hold or be in the process of earninga bachelor’s degree (or equivalent, bac+3) in economics or a related field, recognized in France or Europe.
- For the Master 2 program: Applicants must have completed at least 4 years of higher education (Bac +4 / 240 ECTS) in fields related to economics or similar disciplines. A strong academic record and, in some cases, professional experience are highly valued.
Registration Procedures
First year of the master's program
If you wish to apply for admission to the first year of a master's program, you must submit your application through the Mon Master platform .
Second year of the master's program
To gain admission to the second year of the master's program based on academic equivalence, the ecandidat application process is required.
economie.edu.umontpellier.fr/candidatures/candidatures-et-admissions/
Target Audience
Students from the Montpellier Academy, the Occitanie region, France, and abroad
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are set each year by the Ministry of Higher Education. They are accompanied by the Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC).
The entire program is free for students receiving scholarships.
Capacity
Recommended Prerequisites
A strong background inmicroeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematics, statistics, and econometrics is essential. Depending on the intended career path, certain course options may be particularly valuable.
And then
Continuing Education
The program offers in-depth training in economic analysis, preparing students for immediate entry into the workforce, as well as providing a pathway to a Ph.D. in economics for students interested in pursuing a career in research.
The involvementof faculty members and researchers who are actively engaged in research units allows students to gain hands-on experience with scientific work and to assess their interest in pursuing an academic career.
Since the skills acquired are particularly sought after in the public sector, some graduates also choose to prepare for civil service exams or enroll in programs designed to help them prepare for these exams after completing the EPE Master’s program.
Employment Placement
Graduates of the Master’s in Environmental Policy and Economics (EPE) are trained to design and conduct economic analyses of the effects, relevance, and implementation mechanisms of regulations and public policies, particularly in the environmental field. These skills are in high demand among public authorities, businesses, professional organizations, as well as consumer and environmental protection groups.
They can pursue careers as research analysts or project managers in environmental economics and public policy: in the sustainable development departments of large companies, NGOs, public and quasi-public agencies (both national and international), as well as in research and consulting firms that work with these organizations.
The program also provides students with strong methodological skills and a solid command of the discipline’s tools, paving the way for doctoral studies in economics and for positions of greater responsibility, both in academia and in specialized institutions and organizations.
https://osipe.edu.umontpellier.fr/masters/