Academics

Certificate in IEF

Deepen your knowledge and build your resume with a Certificate from the leading economics research institute in Central Europe.

Deepen your knowledge of economics and finance  ‍

Through courses taught by leading economists and practitioners with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe, IEF Certificate students gain new insights and deeper perspectives on the field. IEF professors have distinguished academic backgrounds and impressive teaching credentials, and are leaders in their fields and industry specialists. They come from academia and institutions such as the Czech National Bank, financial firms, consulting companies, and government ministries.

IEF courses follow two broad specializations: One set of courses covers economics topics with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe, such as the economic history of the region, economic growth and development, and the economic transition from planned to market economies. Another set of courses offers insights into cutting-edge topics in modern economics, such as behavioral finance or digital currencies and cryptocurrencies, taught by leading professors and practitioners.

Access the region’s top economists‍

The AEP program is based at CERGE-EI, part of Charles University and the Czech Academy of Sciences. CERGE-EI is the top-ranked economics institution in Central and Eastern Europe, and serves as a hub for discussion, research, and practice of economics and economic policy. CERGE-EI economists serve as top advisors across the Czech government and on corporate boards throughout the region. 

Build your resume while studying abroad‍

Certificate students deepen their academic understanding of economics and finance in a Central European context, while also building their network and broadening their understanding of the professional applications of these fields of study.

Eligibility 

  • Students from all majors are welcome
  • Successful completion of university-level introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics courses or equivalent before enrolment
  • Recommended minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0. Students with a GPA below this cutoff will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

How to Apply

Apply to AEP through the regular application, select the checkbox indicating your interest in the IEF Certificate, and complete a short essay question. If you decide to pursue the certificate after you have already submitted your AEP application, do not worry - you can still earn your certificate. See FAQs below.

Certificate requirements

Take 3 IEF-designated courses, in addition to the Czech language (required for all AEP students) and one additional AEP course in any subject
Attend 3 guest lectures by visiting economists and complete a short analysis paper
Participate in a networking lunch with a current CERGE-EI Ph.D. student
Attend the Czech National Bank excursion and/or other professional site visits
Present at the IEF Final Symposium on an economic or financial topic of your interest
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I'm incredibly grateful to have completed the Certificate in International Economics & Finance. Engaging with PhD students in economics, attending research seminars, and presenting to my cohort on the use of cryptocurrency as a tool for humanitarian aid distribution were especially rewarding experiences that would not have been possible without this program.
Mary
University of Michigan
I’m incredibly grateful to have completed the Certification in International Economics and Finance through this program. This program not only broadened my academic perspective but also gave me the confidence to see a future for myself in research and academia. I’m leaving with new knowledge, new questions, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Jazmin
Lewis & Clark College
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FAQs

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Can I still apply after I submit my AEP application?
Yes! You will have a chance to indicate your interest in IEF during the course registration or anytime before the start of the semester. The only thing to keep in mind is to be registered for at least three economics courses.
Where can I find more information about the assignments?
At the beginning of the semester, we will hold an information session where we discuss all details.
Do I have to be considering graduate school in economics to pursue the certificate?
Not at all. This certificate is open to any ambitious student who has completed university-level introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics courses or equivalent before enrollment. We also recommend a minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0.