Economic development is a study that prepares students to use economic theories to create policies that help a nation’s people prosper economically and socially. This area of economics focuses on the growth of a country and its citizens.

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of twelve provinces in North-West Europe and three islands in the Caribbean. English speaking students will have no problems finding suitable courses. For international students applying to universities in the Netherlands, several scholarships are available.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.

Part-time learning allows one to obtain a degree or qualification even if one cannot attend school on a full-time basis. One can learn at one's own pace, gradually accumulating credits that count towards a final qualification.