Programme Overview *

Compulsory courses: 37.5 ECTS

Restricted elective courses: 22.5 ECTS

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

*The curriculum is valid for students commencing their studies in September 2027.

Restricted elective courses

You must choose 22.5 ECTS restricted elective courses from the following two lists:

Programme Overview *

Compulsory courses: 37.5 ECTS

Restricted elective courses: 22.5 ECTS

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

*The curriculum is valid for students commencing their studies in September 2027.

Restricted elective courses

You must choose 22.5 ECTS restricted elective courses from the following two lists:

Programme Overview *

Compulsory courses: 45 ECTS

Restricted elective courses: 15 ECTS

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

*The curriculum is valid for students commencing their studies in September 2027.

Restricted elective courses

You must choose 15 ECTS restricted elective courses from the following two lists:

Programme Overview *

Compulsory courses: 37.5 ECTS

Restricted elective courses: 22.5 ECTS

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

*The curriculum is valid for students commencing their studies in September 2027.

Restricted elective courses

You must choose 22.5 ECTS restricted elective courses from the following two lists:

Programme Overview *

Compulsory courses: 37.5 ECTS

Restricted elective courses: 22.5 ECTS

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

*The curriculum is valid for students commencing their studies in September 2027.

Restricted elective courses

You must choose 22.5 ECTS restricted elective courses from the following two lists:

This course offers the tools and concepts for thinking conceptually and analytically about the economics of environmental pollution and of the global climate system at a graduate level. The course combines the application of modern economic techniques to questions of the environment and the climate system with the acquisition of new tools, e.g. for tackling dynamic problems. We will cover the scientific and normative foundations of environmental policy together with issues of non-market valuation and implementation (instrument choice).

Assessment for this course is in the form of a final exam of 90 minutes, accounting for 100% of the grade.

To obtain 8 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

Experimental economics is a grown and growing field in economics and business administration. It provides a method to test theoretical predictions, to explore human behavior in specific economic environments, to help design institutions, to advice on policy and to search for patterns and regularities in economic behavior. Methods range from lab experiments, field experiments, and surveys to neuroscientific experiments. This class will link questions from behavioral economics more broadly, decision theory, labor economics, corporate governance and policy design with experimental economics. Both experiments in the lab and in the field will be discussed. We expect that this course will help students to critically assess in how far economics can be an experimental science, and provide the students with a working knowledge of techniques for conducting (laboratory) experiments. This will be achieved through classical lectures, but students will also read and discuss a selection of experimental economics’ papers, with the aim to find interesting economic, psychological and behavioral research questions, which they then try to answer with a feasible and original experimental design. Students will also participate as subjects in replications of experiments during the tutorial, to get a better feeling for the situation in an experiment. Several lectures and tutorial sessions will be devoted to the econometric methods used to analyse experimental data.

Grading is based on class participation (discussion of papers) 20%, a mid-term exam (30%) and the experimental design developed (50%).

To obtain 8 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

The course introduces numerical methods to analyze equilibrium problems in environmental, energy, and climate economics. The focus is on applied modeling based on partial and general economic equilibrium models. The course reinforces concepts, rationales, and instruments for policy interventions in energy markets, including an introduction to environmental implications of energy use and the role of economic analysis in designing policies to address environmental externalities, focusing largely on the climate change “carbon” externality. Students will develop expertise in working with data and in applying quantitative economic equilibrium models. Emphasis will be put on the following economic models: formulation of economic equilibrium models using mixed complementarity problems, partial equilibrium models of energy supply and demand (focusing on the electricity, natural gas, and coal markets) and general equilibrium models to study the price- and quantity-based policy controls of carbon dioxide emissions (for example, carbon taxes and emissions trading systems), including settings when energy markets interact with the macroeconomy.

The grade will be determined by two types of learning assessments during the semester: (1) three graded homework assignments during the first half of the semester and (2) a supervised group project that must be (a) submitted in the form of a written report and (b) presented in class. In addition, groups may receive bonus points for their presentation based on peer assessment.

To obtain 8 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

Experimental methods in environmental economics are considered to be instrumental in understanding the link between the incentives that individuals’ or firms’ face and their subsequent choices. In a randomized controlled setting, field experiments aim to provide causal evidence and reliable estimates of policy or program impacts, of high importance when assessing the success of environmental policies. This seminar course focuses on field experimental methods in environmental and development economics. Students have the opportunity to select a topic of interest, review the related economic literature, formulate an original research question and one or several testable hypotheses, and lay out the design of an appropriate field experiment to test it. Students will prepare a report summarizing in detail this exercise, including the current state of knowledge on the selected topic.

The grade will be determined based on the performance across the following components: Research paper (80%), seminar presentation (10%), and written referee report and 5-minute presentation (10%).

To obtain 6 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

Students will be able to apply different concepts for measuring individual well-being, inequality and poverty, and they will understand advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches. They can explain inequalities within and between rich and poor countries, and how inequality and poverty have evolved over time. They are familiar with the fundamentals of analytical microeconomics, general equilibrium and market efficiency. They can identify different sources of market failures in less developed countries and understand how inequality and poverty threaten market efficiency. They understand why poverty is propagated and evaluate economic policies aimed at breaking the poverty cycle.

During the semester, each student will be assigned a term project and give a short presentation in class, which will be graded with a maximum of four points. Further, solutions to twelve problem sets have to be turned in. A random selection of four of these problem sets will be selected for grading and graded with zero, one, two or three points each. Problem sets not turned in in time or failure to present the term project have to be documented with a doctor’s certificate. The sum of points earned from the four graded problem sets (maximum 12) will be added to the exam and term project presentation points. From this cumulative sum of 136, the course grade will be calculated. For obtaining a grade of 4.0 or better, you have to (i) pass the exam with a grade of at least 4.0, (ii) present your term project and (iii) achieve at least one point on each of at least three of the four problem set solutions that we grade, and (iv) participate regularly in the presentation of problem sets.

To obtain 6 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

Environmental policy encompasses all policy instruments designed to address environmental challenges. While these instruments can be categorized using universal frameworks (such as the NATO scheme, which distinguishes between nodality-, authority-, treasure-, and organization-based systems), their implementation and calibration vary across jurisdictions. This course introduces students to both conceptual classification systems for environmental policy instruments and their practical application in European Union (EU) member states. Students will also examine the domestic (e.g., political party preferences) and international factors (e.g., EU directives and international environmental agreements) that influence the selection and calibration of environmental policy instruments.

To obtain 8 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

Political science employs a diverse array of empirical methods to systematically compare political institutions (polities), processes (politics), and outcomes (policies) both within countries (e.g., at subnational, provincial, or regional levels) and across nations. These methods serve to explain differences and similarities between observation units and enable researchers to identify trends, patterns, and regularities among them. This course introduces students to case-study design methods for comparative empirical research, including most-similar-systems and most-different-systems designs. Additionally, students will learn statistical techniques for analyzing cross-sectional, longitudinal, and time-series-cross-sectional data.

To obtain 8 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

Policy theories provide comprehensive insights into policy processes across diverse settings. This course teaches students how to effectively communicate these theoretical insights to broader audiences. Students will first explore leading policy process theories (such as the Advocacy Coalition Framework). They will then examine the distinction between policy scholars serving as ‘knowledge brokers’ versus ‘policy advocates’. The course will also teach techniques for presenting research findings in clear, accessible language, avoiding jargon and unnecessary complexity to enhance their potential impact. Finally, students will critically examine the actual and potential roles of policy studies and scholars in shaping public policy design and implementation.

To obtain 8 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

This course examines the distinctive characteristics of democratic and autocratic regimes, exploring their operational mechanisms and analyzing the policy outputs and outcomes they generate.

To obtain 6 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

This course provides an introduction to fundamental theories of public policymaking. While focusing primarily on policy process theories, it also incorporates complementary theoretical frameworks that examine specific explanatory factors, such as the influence of political parties on policy outputs.

To obtain 6 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

This course, situated within modern political theory, explores theories of justice and their application to contemporary environmental challenges.

To obtain 6 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

This course examines the landscape of national climate policies and introduces students to relevant policy databases, evaluating their utility for different research approaches.

To obtain 6 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

This course explores the fundamental characteristics of conflicts and the conditions that lead to war. Students will develop a nuanced understanding of conflict dynamics and manifestations, examining both de-escalation pathways and factors that drive conflict escalation.

To obtain 6 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

While all governments produce public policies, these policies vary across countries, policy sectors, and time periods. This course examines the underlying factors driving policy variation and equips students with methodological tools for designing comparative public policy research projects.

To obtain 6 ECTS, students have to achieve a minimum grade of 4,0.

The aim of the lecture and tutorials is to familiarize students with advanced econometric techniques, their properties and their most important applications. During the lecture theory and empirical examples are presented. The aim of the tutorials is to familiarize students with the applications of econometric tools discussed during the lecture. Classes include solving tasks, computer laboratories and work on case studies including models estimated using time series and panel data and models for discrete variables.

The lecture is intended for students of the second level of economic studies. The lecture uses concepts from the field of linear algebra, mathematical analysis, probability calculus, descriptive and mathematical statistics and basic econometrics.

The course explores how climate policies affect households differently across various income levels and social groups. The focus is on understanding the mechanisms through which climate policies, such as carbon pricing, subsidies, and regulatory standards, influence households’ economic well-being, particularly their consumption patterns and income distribution. It will provide a detailed analysis of how low-income households are often more vulnerable to the regressive impacts of climate policies. For example, policies like carbon taxes on electricity or heating tend to consume a larger proportion of a low-income household’s budget, making them more susceptible to economic strain. In contrast, high-income households might be better positioned to absorb these costs or benefit from policies that subsidize energy-efficient technologies, as they have greater financial flexibility to invest in such upgrades.

Students will also study how households respond behaviorally to these policies, considering factors such as shifts in consumption patterns. The course will explore the implications of these behavioural responses, such as the tendency for low-income households to continue using less energy-efficient appliances due to upfront cost barriers, which in turn affects their overall energy consumption and carbon footprint. Furthermore, the course will address policy design strategies aimed at mitigating adverse distributional impacts. This includes examining compensation mechanisms, like lump-sum transfers or targeted subsidies, that can help offset the regressive effects of climate policies. Additionally, students will learn about designing climate policies that incorporate progressive elements to ensure that the benefits of such policies are equitably distributed, thereby enhancing their political acceptability and effectiveness in achieving environmental goals.

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to key numerical models used in the analysis of climate policy at global, national, and sectoral levels. Students will learn the derivation and calibration of computable general equilibrium (CGE) models, which are crucial for macroeconomic analysis at the national level. The course will cover the structure and application of integrated assessment models (IAMs) for global climate policy analysis, providing a robust framework for understanding how these models inform international policy decisions. Additionally, the course will explore the applicability of sectoral models in analyzing and optimizing production methods within specific sectors. Through these models, students will learn to evaluate the impacts of policies at the sectoral level and identify the optimal changes in production process. A key focus of the course will be on the practical application of these numerical tools to recognize and analyze the risks and opportunities associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy. Students will engage in hands-on exercises, case studies, and project work to develop the skills needed to apply these models in real-world scenarios. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of how to use numerical models to support strategic planning and policy-making for sustainable development.

The Diploma Seminar prepares students for developing their own diploma thesis by providing essential guidance and support. Students will receive counseling on how to formulate research questions and develop a comprehensive project description for their thesis. The seminar offers valuable insights into various tools for gathering information and literature. Additionally, students will gain experience with academic writing techniques. This comprehensive preparation ensures that students are well-equipped to undertake and complete their diploma thesis successfully.

Selection of Diploma Thesis Seminars is here: https://www.wne.uw.edu.pl/en/students/study-programmes/diploma-seminars 

You can choose a minimum of 3 ECTS elective courses from any of the MSc level courses offered by the Faculty of Sociology (3500-…), Faculty of Psychology (2500-…), or Faculty of Philosophy (3800-…). (3ects).

Policy Principles and Constraints at National and International Level** (3 ECTS)

The course explores the frameworks and challenges involved in policy-making for climate and energy at both national and international levels. Key topics include assessment cycles of International Panel on Climate Change and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), focusing on how nations formulate and revise their climate and energy strategies. Students will study the intricacies of national policy-making processes, with real-world examples of international cooperation and the role of global conventions in shaping policy. The course emphasizes the constraints and opportunities that arise from both national interests and international obligations. Practical case studies will be used to illustrate the principles discussed, providing students with insights into effective policy design.