u/CommonAgreeable4470

Hey everyone! Hope this isn’t too stupid of a question 😅

I’m starting the MSc Economics at LMU this October and was wondering what kind of software you guys usually use during the program. What’s the most demanding software you’ve had to run? R, Stata, Python, MATLAB, or anything else?

I’m asking because I’m not sure whether I should upgrade my laptop before starting. I’d really appreciate any insights on what kind of laptop specs are actually necessary for the coursework.

Would love to hear any advice from current/former MSc Economics students!
Thanks!

Hey everyone,

could really use some advice from people who know these programs or have studied at any of these unis. Per my long-term goal is to pursue a career in academia.

I just received my acceptance letter for the Master of Economics at the University of Mannheim, which I'm genuinely excited about. That said, nothing is fully settled yet. I'm still waiting for my test results from LMU Munich and a confirmation from Humboldt University. So this is a bit of a "planning ahead just in case" post.

Assuming I'm lucky enough to get into all three, I'd love to hear your thoughts on a few things:

- Reputation & program quality for Economics. How do Mannheim, LMU Munich, and Humboldt compare specifically for an Econ master's? I keep hearing Mannheim is one of the strongest for economics in Germany, but I'd love to hear real experiences rather than just rankings.
- Value for money. From what I understand, Mannheim charges around €1,500 per semester on top of the usual semester contribution. When you factor in tuition plus living costs, which one ends up being the best value overall?
- Cost of living in each city. Roughly how much should I budget per month for rent, food, transport, and the basics in Mannheim vs. Munich vs. Berlin? I've heard Munich is significantly more expensive, but I'd appreciate some realistic numbers from people actually living there.

For context, I'm trying to balance academic reputation with what's financially sustainable, so any insight on that trade-off would mean a lot.

Thanks so much in advance for any help! 🙏

Hey everyone,

I could really use some advice from people who know these programs or have studied at any of these unis.

I just received my acceptance letter for the Master of Economics at the University of Mannheim, which I'm genuinely excited about. That said, nothing is fully settled yet. I'm still waiting for my test results from LMU Munich and a confirmation from Humboldt University. So this is a bit of a "planning ahead just in case" post.

Assuming I'm lucky enough to get into all three, I'd love to hear your thoughts on a few things:

- Reputation & program quality for Economics. How do Mannheim, LMU Munich, and Humboldt compare specifically for an Econ master's? I keep hearing Mannheim is one of the strongest for economics in Germany, but I'd love to hear real experiences rather than just rankings.
- Value for money. From what I understand, Mannheim charges around €1,500 per semester on top of the usual semester contribution. When you factor in tuition plus living costs, which one ends up being the best value overall?
- Cost of living in each city. Roughly how much should I budget per month for rent, food, transport, and the basics in Mannheim vs. Munich vs. Berlin? I've heard Munich is significantly more expensive, but I'd appreciate some realistic numbers from people actually living there.

For context, I'm trying to balance academic reputation with what's financially sustainable, so any insight on that trade-off would mean a lot.

Thanks so much in advance for any help! 🙏