Bachelor in Econometrics and Operations Research Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

What’s the impact of financial shocks like Brexit on inter-bank lending? How can hospitals make the most efficient use of the beds and the doctors they have available? How can production processes be optimised so that they make the most sustainable use of materials and energy?

Econometrics and Operations Research are tools to approach these questions in a quantitative way, so that you can make the best decisions based on the results of your research.

Discover your Econometrics and Operations Research programme

You’ll learn to investigate and solve problems in economics, business and finance, using quantitative techniques. It’s a challenging programme that offers big rewards, including excellent mathematical skills, analytical-reasoning skills, problem-solving skills and also presentation skills. These will come in handy when you share your proposed solutions with others who may not be econometricians.

Prepare the quantitative basis for important decisions

If you choose the Econometrics and Operations Research track, you’ll get a broad and solid foundation in econometric theory, as well as courses on the application of Econometrics in practice.

Econometrics and Operations Research is highly important within the field of economics and business, as it uses quantitative skills to solve problems and make decisions. How do we predict the next big stock market crash and how should we respond to it? How should a tech company price its latest smartphone so that it is both profitable and competitive? Besides learning skills such as mathematical modelling and programming; you’ll also learn to question decisions from an ethical perspective.

The Econometrics and Operations Research track has an intake of about 100 students every year. The relatively small scale will allow you to get to know everyone, get into the depth of the subject matter, and build a huge network that you will benefit from for the rest of your career. You’ll get lectures on theory, work on group assignments, do case studies, and get first-hand experience with various companies.

You’ll be learning from people in the forefront of their field. Most of your teachers are actively involved in research. Others also work in business when they’re not at the university. This ensures the programme to be both relevant, and up to date. In fact, the Econometrics and Operations Research programme – at both Bachelor’s and Master’s level – has been rated as a “topopleiding” (high-quality education) by the Keuzegids Universiteiten two years in a row.

Kraket, our active study association, adds a fun social side to your programme, organises careers events, invites representatives from large companies such as KLM, and even plans trips to companies abroad!

From planning and logistics to pricing and pensions: decisions in these and other fields impact our daily lives. There are thousands of opportunities out there for econometricians with academic expertise in econometric and operations research expertise.

The majority of graduates from the Bachelor’s programme in Econometrics and Operations Research go on to do a Master's (or a Double Master’s) or even a PhD in a related field at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam before starting their career.

Whatever you choose to do, you’ll have excellent quantitative and problem-solving skills, plus you’ll be able to communicate and present solutions effectively. You’ll leave with a large network of like-minded peers, which will put you ahead of the crowd in your future career. The hard work that you’ll have put in during the programme will make you resilient and ready to take on the world.