Anyone who is interested in Erasmus Mundus QEM master could "shoot" me:)

[fedosei]

Anyone who is interested in Erasmus Mundus QEM master could "shoot" me

I would say in general if your track is in Paris for most of the time, you will almost be ruined(waste a lot of time and have a good chance to get cancer because they force student to take class in a newly built "garage" or "warehouse").

Answers for potential FAQs:
1. Tend to choose people who do math in undergraduate level, and normally they could get a scholarship.

2. For the other students of normal undergraduate performance, your opportunity of getting a funding is around 10%. And they will ask you to do a so called MMEF program. That is quite a bad one. I will suggest you not waste your time.

3. extremely bad administration in Paris. The director of studies is quite notorious I could say; always not available, seemed to be always busy and focusing on enrolling more MMEF students so that they could earn more money.

People who are aiming at doing something rigorous, I suggest not to choose this one, especially the Paris track.

Some words: I will not deny I got strong personal views on them. If one has the same experience and knows everything I said here, you could criticize.

[greenox]

I read, at another post, that core courses were rigorous there, at least mathematically. Isn't it true?

And can you provide some information about the other options like Spain and Germany?

[Gecko]

How is the placement like. for students applying for the phd after it?

[fedosei]

Originally Posted by greenox

I read, at another post, that core courses were rigorous there, at least mathematically. Isn't it true?

And can you provide some information about the other options like Spain and Germany?

The core courses are OK, but most of them are far from the level of a rigorous PHD program. Some are even taught in French, because the majority are French student, but it depends on the professor.


In terms of Math:
Robin's applied Microeconometrics is a must-take, he is quite good.
Fontagne's International trade is also excellent.
Time series is bad.
Bonniseau might explain things very well, but I do not like him personally, because he almost never kept his promise.
Labor econ is fine, at this moment, but I think what Barcelona do is more rigorous.

So Barcelona is much better and consistent than Paris.
Biel is more finance I think, and courses are quite mathematical, you could learn a lot, but it is not famous.

[fedosei]

Originally Posted by Gecko

How is the placement like. for students applying for the phd after it?

Not good, in general not good, but it depends.

I could not say for sure, because of the letter of reference thing, there are visiting profs, so it depends.

At this moment, the best group consist of one to Tilburg, one to Swiss finanical institute, one in Florenca and some in UAB, as far as I know.

The placement is around the same as UAB.

For phd students, everyone complained that they almost have zero interactions with profs.

If I do not answer clearly your questions, just point out and I will add to make you satisfied

[lazyboy007]

Originally Posted by fedosei

For phd students, everyone complained that they almost have zero interactions with profs.

In ALL the universities?? That's sad.

[lazyboy007]

Originally Posted by fedosei

If I do not answer clearly your questions, just point out and I will add to make you satisfied

What's the profile of the guy that went on to Tilburg? Maybe he was already good to begin with?

[Palikari]

I must strongly disagree with your assessment of the program! I did the QEM program and found it to be a tremendously beneficial experience.

The fact that you are complaining about a brand new building in the center of Paris leads me to believe that you have some kind of axe to grind with the program administration. As for the "FAQ":

1) Yes, this is true. The program requires a fairly strong mathematics background and the most successful students tend to have a math major, or an economics major with a heavy mathematics component.
2) I don't know much about the MMEF (Mathematical Methods in Econ and Finance,) but as I understood there was a lot of freedom in regards to which courses MMEF students can take. The MMEF program is more for people with a weak math background. Obviously it is not as strong as the QEM program, but if someone's math background is weak and they feel unprepared for the QEM program, they can learn a lot in the MMEF. In my year about a quarter of the class flunked out or was made to repeat
3) There are some problems with the administration being unresponsive, but as I understand, this is the case anywhere in Europe, a continent where bureaucracy is a nightmare.

As for placements, UParisI: Pantheon-Sorbonne is top 5 in Europe (ideas.repec.org/p/ctl/louvec/2005041.html) . You can definitely place well coming from Paris I.

I also can't believe that people are complaining about lack of access to faculty. I did the QEM program, spent 3 semesters in Paris, and had several classes (around 4) with under 5 people in the course! In what other masters program can you take classes that small?

You may be right that the coursework is not as rigorous as a PhD program, but well, it is a masters program. Overall, I would highly recommend the program to those interested in improving their mathematics background with an orientation towards economics and finance.

[Gecko]

How was the placement from your batch, Palikari?

[fedosei]

Originally Posted by lazyboy007

In ALL the universities?? That's sad.

No, not all the universities, only in Paris, the others take good care of students.