The University of Antwerp’s Bachelor of Social-Economic Sciences is an unusual fit for students who do not want to separate social questions from economics and business. It is a three-year, 180-ECTS bachelor taught in English, delivered across the Faculty of Social Sciences and Faculty of Business and Economics. The programme describes an international focus on social-economic policy and lets students choose a major in economics, sociology, business or socio-economics during the later years.
What you study
The 2026–27 model path combines sociological analysis with economic analysis and quantitative reasoning. Published courses include Sociology and Sociological Theory, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Descriptive Statistics and Probability Theory, and Mathematical Methods. Depending on choices and prerequisites, the course catalogue also lists Financial Management, Introduction to Financial Markets, Economic Policy, International Economics, Econometrics, and comparative social or political topics. Students study English and choose another language, with French, German or Spanish among the options. This mix can help those interested in policy, research, business analysis or organisations working across social and economic issues.
The degree is not a professional licence and the university’s career page should be read alongside your own plans for a master’s. Antwerp notes that graduates can continue to a range of master’s programmes, including English-taught routes in economic policy, political science and business economics. Ask admissions which master prerequisites apply to each intended next step.
Costs and application planning
For 2026–27, Antwerp states the non-EEA tuition rate for standard bachelor’s programmes as €1,000 plus €55 per credit, or €4,300 for 60 credits. The university separately estimates €507.62 annually for manuals and course material in the first part of this bachelor, based on previous years; real costs can differ. Add rent, utilities, food, transport, health cover, residence documents and travel to estimate the year. Fee exceptions may apply to some nationalities or residence categories.
Before applying, check foreign-diploma equivalence, deadlines, English-language evidence and document requirements. Confirm the 2026–27 study plan rather than relying on an old prospectus, and ask how majors, electives and thesis choices work in practice.
How the curriculum shapes the degree
The University of Antwerp model path is worth reading course by course because the programme crosses disciplinary boundaries. Its 2026–27 plan begins with core work in sociological analysis and economics, then adds quantitative methods and later options. Students do not simply take a collection of unrelated electives: the major helps organise later study around economics, sociology, business or socio-economics. The programme is therefore most attractive to someone curious about how social structures, markets and public choices interact, and willing to work with data as well as texts.
Before applying, open the model path and make a small “interest map.” Put each required course into one of three groups: subjects you already enjoy, methods you are willing to learn, and topics you would need to explore further. For example, a student drawn to inequality and labour policy may find sociology and economic-policy modules relevant but should also inspect statistics and econometrics requirements. Someone focused on business may value management and finance options while asking whether the degree offers the depth in accounting or quantitative business methods needed for a particular master’s. This is a planning exercise, not an admission assessment; the university decides prerequisites.
A broad bachelor can preserve options, but it does not automatically qualify its graduate for every master’s. Antwerp lists possible continuation routes and individual master’s programmes set their own entry conditions. If you already have a next step in mind, compare its prerequisites with the bachelor plan now. Ask the receiving programme whether particular mathematics, economics, language or research-method credits are expected. Keep the answer with your course planning, especially if a major or elective choice affects those prerequisites.
Understand workload and assessment
A 180-ECTS degree normally represents three full-time academic years, but the lived workload is distributed across lectures, readings, assignments, independent study and examinations. Read individual course descriptions for contact hours, assessment formats and semester placement. A course with a modest number of classroom hours can still require substantial preparation or group work. Ask the programme team how the first year is structured and which subjects tend to require the most preparation, rather than assuming that a listed credit total predicts your weekly timetable.
Also check how language is used in the complete course sequence. The degree is described as English-taught, but applicants should verify the current model path, assessment language and language-course options for their intake. If an additional language is part of your plan, ask whether it is a required component or an elective, which levels are available, and whether a beginner can enter. This matters for time planning as well as future internships.
What the degree can and cannot promise
The programme’s interdisciplinary content can prepare students for analytical roles or further study in areas such as policy, research, social analysis and business. Those are directions to investigate, not guaranteed job outcomes. Employers set their own requirements, and some roles need a master’s degree, local-language ability or professional experience. Use the university’s career information to identify realistic next steps, then check current job descriptions and master’s admission pages for the skills they ask for.
If your goal is a regulated profession, confirm separately whether the bachelor meets any required professional pathway. Social-Economic Sciences is not a regulated clinical or legal qualification. If your goal is research, ask about thesis supervision and methods preparation. If you want business employment, identify internships or project experience you can pursue while studying. This turns a broad course into a deliberate profile without overstating what the credential alone provides.
Questions to take to Antwerp
Before accepting an offer, ask which 2026–27 modules are compulsory, when major choices are made, how electives are allocated, what English evidence is accepted, whether your prior mathematics background is sufficient for quantitative courses, and what formal conditions apply to moving into a particular master’s. Request a current tuition calculation for your nationality and credit load, and clarify any separate costs for books, student services or course activities. Save the replies with the official curriculum page so your decision reflects the intake you will actually join.
Questions students often ask
Is the bachelor fully English-taught? The programme page identifies it as English-taught; verify course-specific language in the current plan.
Does “social-economic” mean only economics? No. Its plan spans sociology, economics, quantitative methods and optional business/policy directions.
Primary sources
Editorial note
Requirements can change and may differ by institution, programme and applicant. Recheck current university and government guidance before paying or travelling.
For comparisons, we assess the stated student brief, current route availability, discovery breadth, application ownership, progress visibility, support, costs and duplicate-application risk. Univs publishes this page and may have commercial relationships with institutions; those relationships do not determine admission decisions. Read our editorial standards.
