phd economics york

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Through the Economics program at York I've gotten to know the interaction of the Canadian economy to the changes in government and central bank policies. It's been interesting to find out how fiscal and monetary policies effect the supply and demand of resources in the economy and businesses and how it effects individuals on the level of consumption and investment. Furthermore, because the program is so broad, as you progress there are courses to fulfill everyone's interest. Whether that's learning how to smartly invest your money into businesses for the greatest return or learning how to start or operate your own business efficiently in the wake of scarcity.

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The graduate program in Economics at York University provides the advanced and specialized skills that are invaluable in solving today’s economic problems.

Key sectors in the economy now have a greater appreciation and demand for advanced economic skills to solve any economic or business problem. The Economics Department at York has made sustained efforts to ensure that our Master’s (MA) and PhD programs continue to rank among the top programs in Canada, with strengths in Econometrics, Industrial Organization, International Money and Finance, International Trade and Applied Economic Theory. Our programs offer applied courses associated with professional economic skills useful for work in the private or government sector, as well as technical and theoretical courses and dissertation work for a career in academia.

  Careers with an Economics degree

Our program’s location in Toronto helps students establish employment networks with many firms and institutions in Canada’s largest commercial and financial centre.

Major employers visit our MA and PhD students for recruiting, including the Department of Finance in Ottawa, the Ministry of Finance in Toronto, the Competition Bureau in Ottawa, as well as Canadian and international universities for those interested in the academic route.

Glendon College’s Vincent A Hildebrand talks on TalentEgg about how his graduate degrees in Economics took him back to teaching at York.

Some helpful resources for those interested in a career in Economics include:

• Canadian Economics Association (CEA)
• Economics Research Network (ERN)
• American Economic Association (AEA) , including its JOE (Job Openings for Economists) Network
• EDIRC (Economics Departments, Institutes and Research Institutes), Canadian section

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Fully Funded PhD Programs in Economics

Last updated May 13, 2022

Following ProFellow Founder Dr. Vicki Johnson’s article on How To Fully Fund Your PhD , we began a series on fully-funded PhD programs in various disciplines. In this article, you’ll learn about the many fully-funded PhD Programs in Economics that are available.

We have many fellowships for doctoral study and dissertation research in the ProFellow database ; however, external doctoral fellowships are highly competitive and are usually short-term. Therefore, we recommend researching PhD programs that provide full funding to all incoming PhD students. “Full funding” typically includes full tuition and a stipend for living expenses for the four to six-year duration of the student’s doctoral studies. Not all universities provide full funding to their doctoral students, which is why we recommend researching the financial aid offerings of all the potential PhD programs in your academic field, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad.

Below is a list of universities that offer full funding to all of the admitted students to their PhD Programs in Economics:

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

1. Cornell University, Department of Economics

(Ithaca, NY): Financial aid packages for incoming students are typically guaranteed, given satisfactory performance, through the Spring semester of the fifth year of study. Graduate research and teaching assistantships cover tuition, as well as an academic year stipend and medical insurance.

2. Harvard University, Department of Economics

(Cambridge, MA): Economic students receive full tuition and stipend support while they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward their PhD degree.

3. University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, PhD in Applied Economics

(Philadelphia, PA): All admitted Wharton doctoral students are provided guaranteed funding for five years that covers the cost of tuition, fees, health insurance, and a stipend. In contrast with other top Economics PhD programs, Wharton only requires one semester of teaching assistant work during the program’s third year, and one semester of research or teaching assistant work during the fourth year.

4. Vanderbilt University, PhD in Law and Economics

(Nashville, TN): Students are fully funded by a competitive package of fellowship support covering tuition and stipend for both degrees.

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, PhD in Economics

(Cambridge, MA): Scholarship offers include full tuition for the academic year, health insurance, and a stipend/salary to cover living expenses for the nine-month academic year. Continuation of financial aid for years two through five is dependent on satisfactory academic progress. In the third through fifth year, financial aid typically takes the form of a Teaching or Research Assistantship. The 9-month stipend for teaching assistantships is about $35,000.

6. Fordham University, PhD in Economics 

(New York City, NY): Fordham offers a 3-year fellowship package with optional funding for two to three additional years.

7. Binghamton University, PhD in Economics

(New York, NY): Approximately two-thirds of full-time Ph.D. students in the Economics Department are supported by fellowships and assistantships carrying an annual stipend plus a tuition scholarship and medical insurance. These awards are based exclusively on academic merit.

8. Duke University, PhD in Economics

(Durham, NC): 90 percent of admitted students or more receive six years of funding, so long as they remain in good academic standing.

9. Rice University, PhD in Economics

(Houston, TX): All admitted students receive an offer of financial support covering five years in return for a teaching or research assistantship. Continuation of the financial support beyond the first year is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. Funding may be available beyond the fifth year for students who show exceptional promise.

10. Emory University, PhD in Economics

(Atlanta, GA): Students in the Economics Ph.D. program at Emory typically receive full funding for five years through the Laney Graduate School, as long as they make good academic progress.

11. Columbia University, PhD in Economics

(New York, NY): Columbia offers multi-year financial aid packages to admitted students that include fellowships and appointments to teaching and/or research positions. PhD students receive an annual stipend, tuition, and health fees for five years if they remain in good academic standing.

12. University of Kansas, PhD in Economics

(Lawrence, KS): Each year, a class of 7-10 students is awarded full funding. The five-year financial support package typically includes a full tuition waiver, a paid assistantship position, funding for conference travel, and more.

13. University of Wisconsin-Madison, PhD in Economics

(Madison, WI): All students will automatically be considered for five years of funding during their doctoral studies. Admitted students receive a guarantee of support for years two through five, contingent on maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

14. Johns Hopkins University, PhD in Economics

(Baltimore, MD): The department guarantees financial support for a minimum of five years of graduate study through a teaching or research assistantship conditional on satisfactory performance. The departmental fellowship covers full tuition costs plus an annual stipend of $33,000 and full student health insurance coverage.

15. University of California-Santa Barbara, PhD in Economics

(Santa Barbara, CA): The Department expects to offer a full financial aid package to all accepted Ph.D. students, which will cover full tuition, health insurance, and a stipend. Financial aid packages, which are a combination of Teaching Assistantships and fellowship money, are guaranteed for five years for students making satisfactory progress.

For application tips on applying to a PhD program, see  How To Get Into a Fully Funded PhD Program: Contacting Potential PhD Advisors .

© Victoria Johnson 2020, all rights reserved.

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Fully Funded PhD Programs , PhD in Economics

ProFellow’s 2014 Year In Review

The german chancellor fellowship: 3 questions with kari foss, 1 thought on “fully funded phd programs in economics”.

Thanks for this article, I found it helpful.

You can add Yale and Princeton to this list (based on information available on October 13, 2016).

http://economics.yale.edu/graduate/application-info (under Financial Assistance) https://gradschool.princeton.edu/costs-funding (paragraph beginning with “Princeton guarantees funding…”)

These might even apply more broadly than just the economics PhD program too!

Comments are closed.

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The Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree.  It signifies that the recipient is able to conduct independent research and has both a broad basic knowledge of all areas of economics and a comprehensive knowledge of one area in particular.  The Ph.D. program equips its graduates with modern economic techniques, enabling them to take leadership positions in economic research in the academic, business, and government worlds.

The Department of Economics has risen to prominence in recent years by attracting internationally renowned scholars to its faculty and by carefully selecting its student body.  There are many reasons to believe that we can offer students an outstanding intellectual environment.  Seven members of our department are Fellows of the Econometric Society, and one is a Nobel Laureate.  Many currently serve or have served on the editorial boards of major journals, including the  American Economic Review ,  Econometrica , the  Review of Economic Studies , and the  Journal of Economic Theory .  Perhaps most significantly, the department placed among the top ten in the Tilburg University  ranking  of economics departments.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to graduate studies in economics is limited to students of outstanding promise. All applicants must submit scores from Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which is administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, N.J. 08540, to complete their application and be considered for admissions. All international students must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Exceptions to this rule include students who attended English speaking college-level institutions. Students from English speaking countries, such as the U.K. or Ireland are also exempt from taking the TOEFL or IELTS exams.

The Ph.D. program is designed for full-time students only. In evaluating applicants for this program, members of the departmental admissions committee consider the following criteria: previous academic performance, quantitative GRE scores, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and background in economics and mathematics. Because of the diverse nature of such information, we do not adhere to strictly defined cut-off points on grade-point averages or GRE scores. Applicants should also remember that the Ph.D. and the M.A. programs are very different and have different objectives and  admissions criteria. Admission into the M.A. program does not guarantee eventual admission to the Ph.D program. Those interested in the Ph.D. program are encouraged to apply directly to the Ph.D. program, and not to the M.A. program.

DEPARTMENTAL FELLOWSHIPS, PRIZES, AND AWARDS

There are various sources of funding for students in the Ph.D. program. Our top students receive MacCracken fellowship awards. These fellowships guarantee funding for five years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) in the form of payment of the basic tuition fee as well as a living allowance for the year. Many other students work as teaching adjuncts, sometimes assisting a professor and sometimes teaching a course of their own. Many professors also have research grants from a variety of sources (National Science Foundation, C.V. Starr Center, etc) which provide research assistantships (R.A.'s) to graduate students.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A Ph.D.

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General Admission Contact The New School for Social Research Office of Admission 72 Fifth Avenue, 1st floor New York, NY 10011 212.229.5600 or 800.523.5411 [email protected]

Admissions Liaison Yuki Tada

Department of Economics 6 East 16th Street, room 1124A New York, NY 10003 Tel: 212.229.5717 x3044 Fax: 212.229.5724

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The PhD in Economics is designed for students who have completed the Economics MA at The New School for Social Research or a comparable master's degree from another university.

Core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics are supplemented by courses in Marxian, post-Keynesian, and neo-Ricardian theory. Students develop two areas of concentration prior to beginning work on a dissertation.

• Degree Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Credits 60 credits
• Format Full-time or part-time, on campus
• Start Term Fall

View current tuition and fees View fellowship and funding opportunities

STEM Designation for International Applicants 

This program is  STEM-designated . After graduating, eligible F-1 students in this program can apply for an additional 24 months of Optional Practical Training at the end of their Post-Completion OPT. 

A full account of degree requirements and procedures is contained in the Economics student handbook .

PhD candidates must earn 30 credits in addition to the 30 credits taken in the Economics MA program, for a total of 60 credits. Three minimum conditions must be fulfilled for the subcommittee to consider a petition to continued study toward the PhD:

• At least 18 credits must have been completed in residence at The New School for Social Research.
• The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better.
• The student must have completed at least one course in the PhD theory core and one graduate-level econometrics course with a grade of 3.5 or better.

Transfer students who already have an MA from or have completed graduate work in economics at another institution may be assigned credit for all or part of their previous graduate studies up to a maximum of 30 credits. If admitted, transfer students must complete a minimum of 12 credits at The New School for Social Research with a grade point average of 3.5 or better, including at least one PhD core course (see below) with a grade of at least 3.5.

PhD Course Requirements To earn the PhD in Economics, a student must complete 30 credits beyond the MA, including four core courses as well as elective courses:

• Advanced Microeconomics I (GECO 6200)
• Advanced Macroeconomics I (GECO 6202)
• Advanced Econometrics I (GECO 6281)
• Advanced Political Economy I (GECO 6204) or Post-Keynesian Economics (GECO 6206)
• Up to nine credits may be taken as Directed Dissertation Study (GECO 7991)
• Electives up to the total of 60 credits

Students must receive grades of 3.0 or better in all four core courses to continue. (A student who receives a grade of less than 3.0 in a core course is permitted to retake the examination in that course within one year of the end of the semester in which the course was taken. No core course examination can be taken more than twice.) Students are not required to take a PhD qualifying examination in the core course material, although they are free to select advanced macroeconomics, advanced microeconomics, advanced political economy, or advanced econometrics as elective fields from the areas of concentration.

Areas of Concentration In addition to the core theory curriculum, each student chooses two areas of concentration, which will be the subjects of the student's comprehensive examinations. The Department of Economics regularly offers the following areas of concentration:

• Advanced macroeconomics
• Advanced microeconomics
• Advanced political economy
• Economic development
• History of economic thought
• International economics
• Labor economics
• Money and banking

Other areas of concentration may be available subject to faculty availability:

• Class and gender
• Economic history
• Industrial organization
• Race and class
• Public finance

All students must select one concentration from the list above. The second concentration can also be selected from the list or students may, if they wish, define their own second concentration or define an interdisciplinary concentration by combining concentrations from the list above. Individually defined concentrations are subject to approval of the department, which may depend on faculty availability.

Graduate Minors Students can use elective courses toward completing one of the university’s  graduate minors . These structured pathways of study immerse master's and doctoral students in disciplines outside their primary field and expose them to alternative modes of research and practice. Completed graduate minors are officially recorded on students' transcript.

Seminar Requirement Three credits must be fulfilled in the form of seminar requirements. Seminar credits can be earned only after a student has completed Advanced Microeconomics I, Advanced Macroeconomics I, and Advanced Econometrics I. Seminar credits can be earned only from work associated with an upper-level course, but not through directed dissertation study. All seminar credits require faculty approval. Transfer credit cannot be used to fulfill the seminar requirement.

PhD Qualifying Exam Students can request permission from the department to take the PhD qualifying examinations after they have:

• Completed 45 credits with an overall grade point average of 3.5 or better in courses taken at The New School for Social Research
• Satisfactorily completed the three-semester requirement in economic analysis and the econometrics core requirement.

The PhD qualifying examination will consist of either:

• A three-hour written exam in each of the two areas of concentration
• A three-hour written exam in one area of concentration and an original research paper of high scholarly quality in the second area. Permission to submit a paper in lieu of examination must be obtained from a faculty supervisor and from the department chair.

Dissertation Oral Examination Dissertation Defense A student is considered a doctoral candidate only after passing a dissertation proposal defense, which also serves as an oral examination. Students must first submit a dissertation proposal to the supervisor of their dissertation committee. This proposal must be approved by the three members of the dissertation committee prior to the oral examination. Students are also responsible for scheduling a date for their oral exam through the University Records Office six weeks prior to the oral defense date. The student must pass this examination in the area of the proposed dissertation research. The written dissertation and its defense in front of a committee of four faculty members constitute the remaining requirements for the PhD.

Mathematics Requirement Although there are no formal requirements in mathematics, students must have sufficient competence to pass all courses that use mathematical techniques, such as the PhD theory core courses.

Foreign Language Requirement All PhD candidates must demonstrate reading knowledge in a foreign language appropriate to their dissertation topic by passing a language examination administered by the department. Alternatively, a student may satisfy the language requirement by showing competence in mathematics, as demonstrated by a grade of 3.5 or higher in GECO 6189 or the equivalent.

MPhil Degree With the permission of the department chair, the Master of Philosophy degree will be conferred upon a registered student who has fulfilled satisfactorily all the requirements of the department for the PhD except the dissertation and dissertation proposal defense. Registered students in satisfactory academic standing who have fulfilled the requirements for the MPhil can petition for the degree and receive it en route to the PhD, or they may take it as a terminal degree. Students cannot be re-admitted or re-enrolled for the purpose of receiving the MPhil.

At any time within ten years from the date the MPhil degree was awarded and subject to approval by the department chair, a recipient of the MPhil in Economics who has not continued studies in residence at the university may present to the university a substantial body of independent and original published scholarly work in lieu of a sponsored dissertation toward completion of the requirements for the PhD degree.

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Ph.D. in Economics

The Ph.D. program in the Department of Economics at Columbia University trains students to do cutting edge research in economics.  Students in our program do research in all major areas of economics including microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, international economics, labor economics, public finance, industrial organization, development economics, and urban economics.  Our department provides strong training both in theoretical economics and in applied and empirical economics.  The Ph.D. program is primarily designed for students that are interested in pursuing a career in teaching and research within academia but is also useful for student interested in certain positions within governments, research organizations, or private businesses.

The first two years of our Ph.D. program is largely devoted to rigorous coursework. After the second year, however, students devote most of their time to their own research under the supervision of faculty advisors. Students in our program generally complete their Ph.D. in 5 or 6 years.

Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly selective.  We receive approximately 1,000 applications each year for an incoming class of roughly 25 students.  We place a high value on attracting the very best minds, and recruiting members of groups who will both enhance the diversity of research in the field and contribute to the diversity of the university’s academic and professional community.

The Ph.D. program has a long and illustrious history.  Alumni of the program include some of the most distinguished economists of the last century – including Nobel Prize winners Kenneth J. Arrow, Milton Friedman, Simon Smith Kuznets, and William S. Vickrey.

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Thinking of Pursuing a PhD in Economics? Info on Graduate School and Beyond

Kasey Chatterji-Len and Anna Kovner

Becoming a PhD economist can provide a fulfilling and financially secure career path. However, getting started in the field can be daunting if you don’t know much about the preparation you’ll need and the available job opportunities. If you’re wondering what it means to be an economics researcher or how to become one, please read on. We’ll review how to prepare for a career in economics research, what an economics PhD program entails, and what types of opportunities it might bring. Economic education is a core component of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s mission to serve the community. To empower would-be economists, this post provides information for students who seek a career in economics research. We hope this information will be helpful to students interested in economics, regardless of their background and economic situation.  This information is most applicable to students applying to programs in the United States.  

The Breadth of Economics Research  

Academic disciplines conduct research in different ways, so it’s important to have a basic understanding of the types of questions economists ask and how they approach answering them. There are many definitions of economics, but a broadly useful one is the study of how people, organizations, and governments make decisions under different constraints, and how those decisions may affect their outcomes. 

When answering these questions, economists seek to ground their analyses in models and to be quantitatively precise about the effects they assign to any given cause. The range of topics economists can study is wide, but the accepted approaches to answering questions are stricter. Some examples of what economists might ask: 

• How do different public housing programs affect the children who live there? 
• Does a certain type of law encourage businesses to innovate? 
• How will a change in the interest rate affect inflation and unemployment rates? 
• How much does affordable health insurance improve people’s health? 
• How can poor countries eradicate poverty? 

There are many different subfields within economics, including, but not limited to behavioral, econometrics, energy/environmental, development, financial, international, monetary, public, and urban economics. You can familiarize yourself with the latest work in economics by subscribing to working paper series, such as NBER’s New This Week or the New York Fed’s Staff Reports . To get an idea of the breadth of questions economists can answer, you could listen to Stephen Dubner’s “ Freakonomics Radio ” podcast. You may also want to explore the Journal of Economic Perspectives , the New York Fed’s Liberty Street Economics blog, VoxDev , or VoxEU .  

What Is a PhD Program Like?    

Economics PhD programs typically last five to seven years. Unlike masters programs, they are often fully funded with a stipend, though most require students to complete teaching assistant and/or research assistant (RA) work as part of their funding package. In the first two years, students take classes, many of which are mathematically demanding. The rest of the program can include additional classes but is primarily devoted to original research with the aim of producing publishable papers that will constitute the dissertation.  

Faculty advisors are a central part of PhD programs, as students look to them for guidance during the research process. Economics PhD programs are offered within university economics departments, but there are similar programs in public policy and business schools. You can look at their websites to understand any differences in coursework and subsequent job placements. 

What Can You Do with an Economics PhD?  

Upon graduation, students can obtain jobs in a variety of industries. Many PhD students hope to become university professors. Governments and public policy-related institutions such as the Federal Reserve System, the U.S. federal government, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also hire economists to work on policy, lead programs, and conduct research. Finally, economics PhD graduates can also find employment at a variety of private sector companies, including banks, economic consulting firms, and big tech companies. The pay for these different positions can vary. According to the American Economics Association (AEA), the average starting salary for economics assistant professors in 2022-23 was approximately $140,000 at PhD granting institutions and $98,000 at BA granting institutions. 

Programs often publish the placements of their PhD graduates, so you can look online to see specific employment outcomes. See, for example, the University of Maryland’s placements . Ultimately, economists are highly regarded as authorities on a variety of topics. Governments, nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, financial institutions, and non-financial businesses all look to economists to answer important questions about how to best achieve their goals. Thus, earning an economics Ph.D. can potentially help you to influence issues that are important to you. 

Preparing for an Economics PhD Program  

There are several components to an economics PhD program application: college transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Please download the Appendix linked below to learn more about transcripts and letters of recommendation. The Appendix details ways in which you can select coursework, obtain research experience, and develop relationships to position yourself for success as a PhD applicant.  

If you feel that you are too far along in your academic career to take enough of the classes described in the Appendix, this does not necessarily preclude you from pursuing an economics PhD. For example, it’s possible to take some of these classes through a master’s program, or through a pre-doctoral RA job. Some pre-doctoral RA jobs, such as the one here at the New York Fed , may enable you to take classes in preparation for graduate school. If you are concerned about your transcript, reach out to an economist at your university for advice; program standards for coursework and grades vary, and it’s a good idea to get more personalized advice. 

Research Experience   

If you’re interested in becoming an economics researcher and applying to PhD programs, it’s best to get research experience as soon as possible. Working as an RA is a great way to learn how to conduct research and get a better idea of whether it’s the right career path for you. Additionally, it can help you obtain a letter of recommendation for graduate school applications and improve your qualifications.  

All types of academic research can be enriching, but it’s beneficial to gain experience working directly with an economist. To find a position, you can reach out to professors whose work you find interesting or find an RA program at your school. Typical RA tasks may involve data collection and cleaning, as well as running analyses and creating charts to represent results. This is where coding skills become crucial; having taken math, statistics, and econometrics courses will also enable you to take on more responsibilities. 

You may also have the opportunity to conduct your own research, possibly under the supervision of a professor at your university. This research could be self-initiated or part of a course such as a thesis workshop. Self-directed research is a great opportunity to learn about all stages of the research process. It’s also an excellent opportunity to create a writing sample for graduate school applications. Ultimately, though, your motivation for conducting your own research project should be that you want to answer a question.  One thing economists have in common is a love of answering questions using data and theory. 

Research experience is also often obtained after completing an undergraduate or master’s degree. Taking on a full-time RA position before applying to PhD programs is very common and can make you a more competitive applicant. You may either get an RA job working for a professor or participate in a pre-doctoral RA program.  

Research assistant programs are more structured than positions with individual professors or projects, which could be helpful. Universities, parts of the government, think tanks, research organizations, and the Federal Reserve System are all good places to look for research assistant programs. To help you decide which opportunities are most desirable, you may want to ask potential employers : Where do people in this program tend to go afterward? Will I be working directly with an economist? How much of my time will be spent on academic research work? Will I be able to take classes as part of this program? Considering whether an economist will be able to evaluate your performance is an important factor for recommendation letters. The ability to take classes, either through tuition reimbursement or waivers, can also be an important benefit. 

The Research Analyst program here at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one example of these programs and you should check it out here . The Federal Reserve Board of Governors also has a large program, and many other regional Federal Reserve Banks have similar programs. In addition, the PREDOC website and the  NBER post listings of RA opportunities. J-PAL and IPA also tend to recruit RAs for economic development projects. Another source of RA opportunities is the @econ_ra account on X. 

Who Should Get a PhD in Economics?  

A PhD may not be for everyone, but it is for anyone—people of all genders, religions, ethnicities, races, and national origins have PhDs in economics. Many economists majored in economics, but others majored in math, physics, or chemistry. Because economics is such an integral part of policymaking, it is important that economists come from a wide range of backgrounds so policy can be stronger and more effective. The inclusion of differing perspectives helps ensure that the contribution of economists to work in public policy, academia, and beyond effectively serves the broadest range of society. 

• Coursework Appendix

Kasey Chatterji-Len is a research analyst in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Research and Statistics Group.

Anna Kovner is the director of Financial Stability Policy Research in the Bank’s Research and Statistics Group.

How to cite this post: Kasey Chatterji-Len and Anna Kovner, “Thinking of Pursuing a PhD in Economics? Info on Graduate School and Beyond,” Federal Reserve Bank of New York Liberty Street Economics , May 31, 2024, https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2024/05/thinking-of-pursuing-a-phd-in-economics-info-on-graduate-school-and-beyond/.

You may also be interested in: AEA: Resources for Students

PREDOC: Guidance for Undergraduates

RA Positions-Not at the NBER

Disclaimer The views expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the author(s).

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The editors are Michael Fleming, Andrew Haughwout, Thomas Klitgaard, and Asani Sarkar, all economists in the Bank’s Research Group.

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• PhD Program

The Ph.D program is a small, highly selective and tightly focused program. Graduate training begins with a sequence of required core courses in the student's first three semesters; after that point, the students choose major and minor areas of specialization, with courses offered in the second year of study, and then proceed to the thesis. The core courses are capped by comprehensive examinations, and students also take an examination in their major specialization. In choosing among specialized areas of concentration, students at Stony Brook may select from among game theory, macroeconomics, industrial organization, labor economics, economic demography, and health economics . These areas represent the important specializations in which Stony Brook faculty possess excellent national and international reputations, and in which the department as a whole is committed to emphasizing in the future.

The Ph.D  program has STEM designation, which permits  F-1 visa students to remain in the United States for up to 36 months to work in their field of study. For more information, please visit the Department of Homeland Security webpage linked  here . 

The First Year

In the first year of graduate school, students acquire the foundation for further study of economic theory and quantitative methods. This foundation is provided by what are termed "core" courses. Students take a review course in mathematics, two core courses in microeconomic theory, two in macroeconomic theory, and two in mathematical statistics and econometrics. They also take a course in teaching economics. The econometrics sequence includes an applied econometrics course in the second year. Students with exceptionally strong backgrounds equivalent to Ph.D. core courses may progress more rapidly through the core sequences by omitting courses, as appropriate, with the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.

There are comprehensive examinations in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics (including probability and statistics). The comprehensive exams are written but may be supplemented by oral examinations at the discretion of the examining committee.

All students whose GPA is 3.0 or above must take and pass the comprehensive exams in order to stay and be funded in the program. Students whose GPA is less than 3.0 will not be funded in the next academic year. They will be automatically accepted into the M.A. program and not allowed to continue into the PhD program.

All students who take the comprehensive exams must do so in late May/early June. If they fail, they can take the comps again in August but support for the Fall semester is not guaranteed even if they pass.

• In each of the first three years of the Ph.D. program, students are required to attend at least 10 seminars during the academic year.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS POLICY FOR PHD STUDENTS

• All eligible (see below) PhD students are required to take the comprehensive exams offered at the end of the Spring semester of the first year of study, and if necessary then retake before the beginning of the Fall semester of the second year of study. If a PhD student does not take one or more of the comps in the Spring it will count as a failed exam.
• Only students who have a cumulative GPA (only counting the classes taken in the department of economics) of 3.0 or better by the end of the Spring semester, will be eligible and allowed to take the comprehensive exams. PhD students who do not fulfill this requirement will be dropped from the program, but can still choose to enroll in the MA program in the Fall and Spring of the following year in order to obtain their MA degree, assuming they maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better.  
• Students who do not pass one or more of the comps in their first try (right after the Spring of the first year) will be allowed to retake those exams in early August, being this the last opportunity to prove proficiency in this requirement. PhD students who do not pass one or more of the comps in the first try might lose their funding for the second year in the program, regardless of their outcome in the retake (In the past, most students who have failed one or more of the comps in the first try did not get funded in the second year.) Additionally, PhD students who do not pass one or more of the comps in their second (and last) try will not be allowed to register as PhD students in the Fall of their second year on campus, and therefore will be dismissed from the PhD program, and will only be allowed to register as MA students, which requires paying tuition.
• The Comprehensive Exams are regularly scheduled during the month of June. The exact schedule of subjects will be provided to you well in advance. The retakes, when necessary, will take place on August. Again, the exact schedule of the subjects will be provided well in advance.
• Students will be informed of the results of their comps by e-mail from the Graduate Program Director or the Graduate Program Coordinator.  
• Students will have the right to review their marked exams, and discuss them with the professors who graded them, in person or by other means of communication.

The Second Year

In their second year of the Ph.D. program, students finish their core coursework with an applied econometrics course which must be completed with a B or better. In addition, they choose field courses from the variety of fields offered in theoretical and applied economics. A field consists of two related courses designated by the department. It is through these courses that a breadth and depth of economic knowledge is acquired. The fields currently offered by the department are: macroeconomics, industrial organization, game theory, labor economics, and health economics. At the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies and the relevant professors in the fields some combinations of two advanced courses not offered as a sequence could be considered a field.

Two fields, that is, two courses in each of two fields, and an additional two elective courses (also chosen from the field courses, but not necessarily from the same field) are required for the Ph.D. All of these courses must be passed with a grade of B or higher. Typically, 5 of these 6 courses are taken in the student's second year. Each field can be completed by achieving an average grade of B+ or better in the two-course sequence for that field. 

The Third Year

At the beginning of their third year students are typically advanced to candidacy in the Ph.D. program unless they are judged not to be making satisfactory progress. In the third year of graduate study, students choose a Thesis Advisor and two committee members, finish their elective and field courses, take the mandatory third year research workshop, and defend a Dissertation Proposal. See the Summary section below.

A student in his/her third year must make a presentation in one of the seminars by the end of the first semester of the third year. The presentation must include an oral presentation and a well-written document, discussing the proposal of the student, how it fits into existing literature and improves on it, and at least an outline of how to perform the work proposed. The document must be signed by at least one faculty member in the Economics Department, and it must be sent to the Graduate Coordinator for general distribution at least one week prior to the oral presentation. A faculty member's signature implies that the faculty member commits to working with the student at least until the Dissertation Proposal. The goal of the seminar presentation is to provide the student with feedback especially on the value and viability of the proposed work. The student may present in the seminar as many times as is feasible given seminar time constraints.

A student in his/her third year must defend a dissertation proposal by the end of the second semester of the third year. The presentation must include an oral presentation and a well-written document, discussing the proposal of the student, how it fits into existing literature and improves on it, and at least an outline of how to perform the work proposed. The oral presentation and the written document should convince the committee that the proposed work is a contribution to the field and can be accomplished by the student. The document must be signed by each faculty member on the student's committee prior to the oral presentation. The student may propose as many times as his/her committee allows prior to the end of the third year. If the student fails to propose a dissertation topic to the satisfaction of the committee, then the student must leave the program. However, the student's committee can petition the Graduate Committee to provide the student with another chance to propose. If approved, then the student has until the end of the first semester of the fourth year to present a successful proposal. No extensions are allowed if the student has not passed by then.

A Typical Program of Study for the Third Year

Dissertation

To complete the Ph.D., a dissertation that presents the results of original and significant research must be approved. This involves two formal steps. First, a dissertation proposal must receive the approval of the thesis advisor and members of the thesis committee as a result of a public defense of the proposal in the third year. Second, final approval of the dissertation will be made by a committee including the candidate's principal advisor, two other department members, and one member from outside the department. The dissertation must be presented and defended at a public colloquium convened by the Thesis Committee for that purpose. This defense must be announced at least three weeks in advance with copies of the thesis available for faculty and graduate students at least one week before the defense.

Preliminary research to develop a dissertation topic normally begins in the second year of study and the third and fourth years are devoted to developing and refining this research. Throughout this phase students must interact closely with their faculty thesis supervisors and dissertation committees. Seminars organized by the graduate students provide an opportunity to present thesis material to other students and faculty.

• The time limit for a doctoral degree is seven years for a student who has a previous graduate degree or 24 credits of graduate study in such a degree program.
• For all other students, the time limit for a doctoral degree is seven years after completion of 24 graduate level credits at Stony Brook University.

Evaluation for First- and Second-Year Ph.D. Students The Graduate Program Director (GPD) will collect final grades in all first- and second-year classes. He/she will identify those students who are at risk of losing funding or having to leave the program. Each semester, for such students, the GPD will write a report documenting performance in classes, meet with the student, and construct a plan for improving performance. The plan should be thought of as a guide for improving performance. Actual loss of financial aid or dismissal from the program depends on the rules discussed in a different part of this document. Evaluation for Ph.D. Students beyond the Second Year Each semester, the student and his/her committee should meet to measure progress and construct a "progress report." The process should consist of two steps: a) Evaluate progress on the goals specified in the previous report and b) develop goals for the upcoming semester. The progress report should be signed by the committee members and the student. Then, it should be sent to the GPD. The GPD should monitor progress through the progress reports and confer with committees where the student is consistently missing goals, where the goals are not consistent with department deadlines, or where performance evaluation is inconsistent with other measures of performance (e.g., seminar presentations). This process is meant to help students and committees measure and achieve progress; decisions concerning dismissal from the program or similar outcomes are still made by the committee. However, it is critical for students performing poorly to receive critical reviews during the evaluation process so that the student is not surprised by imposition of penalties.  

Dismissal Policy

A student may be dismissed from the program at the end of any semester in which he or she does not achieve a B average or fails to meet the pertinent requirements for the Ph.D. as detailed above and summarized below.

Students are considered to be making "minimum satisfactory progress" if their progress is consistent with the formal requirements listed below. These requirements are intended to ensure analytical competence, breadth of knowledge, and timely completion of the dissertation. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress results automatically in Departmental probationary status, with continuation in the program permitted only at the discretion of the Department's Ph.D. committee. A student must petition the committee for such an exception, giving detailed reasons justifying such an exemption. In no case a student will be allowed to continue in the program beyond his or her sixth year of study.

• Maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, in Economics courses, equivalent to a B average.
• The mathematical foundations course (590), microeconomics core sequence (500,501), the macroeconomics core sequence (510,511), and the mathematical statistics and econometric core course (520, 521, 522) must be completed as scheduled above with a grade of "C" or above in each. The Applied Econometrics course (522) must be completed with a B or better.
• Comprehensive exams in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and probability and statistics/econometrics must be taken the week after the end of the Spring semester of the first year of study (dates to be announced before the end of the Fall semester of every year). All exams must be passed then or at the set of exams given before the beginning of the third semester of study.
• Two fields must be satisfactorily completed by the end of the sixth semester.  The student must have at least a B+ average in both chosen fields.
• A designated 3rd year research workshop, Economics 695, must be completed in the first semester of the third year.
• A minimum of l5 courses in economics (including core courses and the 3rd year research workshop but not including the teacher training course) must be completed, with a grade of B or better in the applied econometrics course (see above) and in each course that is not one of the core courses designated in the second requirement above or the 3rd year research workshop in which an S is required. However, the Ph.D. committee  may  approve a waiver of part of the l5-course requirement in the case of students with graduate work elsewhere.
• The designation of a thesis committee of three members must be made by the end of October of the fifth semester. The student must successfully defend a Dissertation Proposal by the end of the sixth semester of study. This Dissertation Proposal defense is a public defense of a written dissertation proposal and an examination on the proposal and related material held by the student's dissertation committee. This defense must be announced at least one week in advance with copies of the thesis proposal available for faculty and graduate students at that time.
• A dissertation, presenting the results of original and significant research, must be approved by the Ph.D. thesis committee, composed of the thesis advisor, two committee members from the department, and a faculty member outside the department. This defense must be announced at least three weeks in advance with copies of the thesis available for faculty and graduate students at least one week before the defense.

Travel, Purchase, and Reimbursement Guidelines 

To provide assistance to Graduate Students who must travel and/or make research-related purchases.  Please use link to the guidelines provided by the  Graduate School:   https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/english/graduate/graduate-life/fundingopportunities.php   

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Department of Economics | PhD

Phd program.

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MRes/PhD Economics

• Graduate research
• Department of Economics
• Application code L1U4
• Starting 2024
• Home full-time: Closed
• Overseas full-time: Closed
• Location: Houghton Street, London

This programme offers you the chance to undertake a substantial piece of work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to the field of economics. You will begin on the MRes degree, and will need to meet certain requirements to progress to the PhD.

The Department of Economics pioneered the development of systematic research training in economics in Britain and our MRes/PhD Economics aims for the highest international standard of achievement and professional competence. The programme offers structured research training and supervision by faculty prominent in their fields. It begins with two years of rigorous coursework, equipping you with the theoretical knowledge and analytical techniques necessary to proceed to the research component of the programme. 

Many research students are associated with the work of one of LSE's research centres. You could work with the Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines on areas ranging from development economics to public policy; or on research technology, growth and globalisation as part of the Centre for Economic Performance . You could contribute to major research programmes addressing the key issues of unemployment, inflation, fiscal and monetary policy, macroeconomic development and growth, financial markets, and changes in the world economy at the  Centre for Macroeconomics ; or specialise in risk management, asset pricing, financial institutions and corporate finance as part of the Financial Markets Group .

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for mres/phd economics.

An upper second class honours (2:1) degree (or equivalent) in any field. Some preparation in economics, a strong mathematics background and evidence of research potential are essential. The goal of the MRes/PhD Economics is to train first class researchers. We will use all available information to assess research potential.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission. 

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our  Information for International Students  to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

GRE/GMAT requirement

GRE is required for all applicants. This must be no more than five years old on 1 October 2024 and must show full and percentile scores for all three sections. Most successful MRes/PhD Economics applicants score 166 or above in the quantitative section.

Find out more about GRE/GMAT

Assessing your application

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School, and we recommend that you investigate  staff research interests  before applying.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications) - statement of academic purpose - references - CV - research statement - GRE/GMAT

See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do.  See our English language requirements  for further information.

When to apply

The application deadline for this programme is 14 December 2023 . However, to be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must also have submitted your application and all supporting documents by this deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details.

Research statement

An application for entry to the MRes/PhD Economics should include a Research Statement, along with other required information  (Note: A separate sample of written work is not required as part of the MRes/PhD Economics application).

What should my Research Statement contain?

Your Research Statement should be submitted in place of the Outline Research Proposal, along with your application form and other required supporting documents, via the LSE online application system.

Please answer the following questions clearly and concisely. Max 200 words per question.

• Why do you want to do research in economics?
• Can you explain how your studies and experience make you suitable to do research in economics?
• Which aspect of the PhD do you think you will like the most? Which will you dislike the most? Why?
• Tell us about your favourite paper in economics. What do you like about it? How would you improve it?
• Write a comment for a general audience on ONE of the following topics  (i) Is inequality good for growth?   (ii) Do immigrants take the jobs of native workers?   (iii) Is CEO compensation excessive?  (iv) Is universal minimum income a good idea?  (v) Overall, has central banks' move to inflation targeting has been a success?  (vi) Is culture an important determinant of differences in income per capita across countries?  (vii) Markets function well as information is aggregated efficiently through prices.  (viii) Elections are effective at disciplining politicians who do not have the public interest as their main goal.

How can I demonstrate research potential?

If you have served as research assistant for an economist please ask that person to write a letter focussing on your research skills and describe your experience – reference point 2 (above) of the research statement.

If not, please list any evidence you think would be valuable. Examples include but are not restricted to: experience working autonomously under stress without any guidance, demonstration of creativity in any form, experience of writing original research.

Fees and funding

Every research student is charged a fee in line with the fee structure for their programme. The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover  living costs  or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MRes/PhD Economics

Home students: £4,786 for the first year Overseas students: £22,632 for the first year

The fee is likely to rise over subsequent years of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with the level of fee that the Research Councils recommend. The fees for overseas students are likely to rise in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, 4 per cent per annum).

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding

The School recognises that the  cost of living in London  may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for  LSE PhD Studentships , and  Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding . Selection for the PhD Studentships and ESRC funding is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline. 

For the MRes/PhD Economics, the funding deadline is the same as the application deadline for the programme: 14 December 2023

The Economics Department also has a number of scholarship packages for direct entry MRes/PhD students. After the first year of the MRes/PhD Economics, there are teaching and research assistantships available in the Department. Read more about funding opportunities through the  Economics Department .

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.  Find out more about financial support.

External funding

There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well.

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students . 

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

Introductory course (mres).

In early September, before the academic year commences, you will begin your degree programme by taking the Introductory Mathematics and Statistics course.

First year (MRes)

In the first year of the programme you will take advanced core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, to equip you with the theoretical knowledge and analytical techniques necessary for research. Permission must be obtained to sit Econometric Analysis as it is intended for students with a strong econometric background and an interest in pursuing a PhD with econometrics as the primary field.

Microeconomics for MRes students Introduces the basic analytical tools that are necessary to conduct research in any field in economics.

Macroeconomics for MRes students Covers topics in advanced macroeconomics with emphasis on fundamentals and applications to recent theoretical advances. Either Econometrics for MRes students Covers inference, classical and generalised linear regression, generalised regression methods, time-series, panel-data, and microeconometric methods, and specialised econometric methods. Or Econometric Analysis Gives an advanced treatment of the theory of estimation and inference for econometric models.

Second year (MRes)

In the second year, you will typically take two PhD field courses and write a research paper in your major field. Currently, there are economics PhD field courses covering: econometrics, international, labour, public, development, industrial, microeconomics, macroeconomics, political economy. In addition, there are PhD field courses offered in Corporate Finance and Asset Pricing. From the second year onwards, you will also participate in a departmental research seminar and a work in progress seminar allied to your major research field.

Research Paper in Economics A research paper, between 5,000 and 10,000 words, related to the student's designated major field, to be submitted mid-way through the Spring Term.

Two courses from a range of options

Upon successfully completing the MRes and progressing to the PhD, you will work on your research and write your PhD thesis. You will also take one further PhD field course. You will also attend Work in Progress seminars, where you present your research, as well as the weekly departmental seminar series closest to your major field.

One course from a range of options.

Second and subsequent years of the PhD programme

You will continue to work on your research and write a PhD thesis. You will also continue to attend Work in Progress seminars, where you present your research, as well as the weekly departmental seminar series closest to your major field.

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page .

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.  

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s  Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the  updated graduate course and programme information  page.

Supervision, progression and assessment

Supervision.

You will be assigned a lead supervisor (and a second supervisor/adviser) who is a specialist in your chosen research field, though not necessarily in your topic. Lead supervisors guide you through your studies.

Progression and assessment

In order to progress to each subsequent year of the programme, and to progress to PhD registration, you will need to meet specific progression requirements, such as achieving certain grades in your coursework.

Your final award will be determined by the completion of an original research thesis and a viva oral examination.

More about progression requirements

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians   – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service  – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders  – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service  – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as  student counselling,  a  peer support scheme  and arranging  exam adjustments.  They run groups and workshops.  

IT help  – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.   

LSE Faith Centre  – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.   

Language Centre  – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers  ­ – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library   –   founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE  – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU)  – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.  

PhD Academy   – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice   – this   offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.  

St Philips Medical Centre  – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre  – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers   – we have a  Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)  and an  Adviser to Women Students  who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in  extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one  campus  in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think  London is a fantastic student city , find out about  key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about  London on a budget . 

Student stories

Hanwei Huang MRes/PhD Economics, 2018 China

I am a PhD student studying economics in the LSE. I am also affiliated with the Centre of Economic Performance (CEP), one of the largest research centres in the LSE. My main research interest is international trade.

One thing that I have learned from the faculties is that economics is not just about mathematics, it should answer interesting economics questions. Over the past few years in the LSE, I have been conducting a few research related to China. This is not surprising given my Chinese origin. Given the anti-globalization current that we have been witnessing, it is also quite relevant to the academic and policy circle to understand how China has become a global manufacturing power house and the champion of global trade.

My work features a close link between theory and empirics, another lesson I have learned in the LSE. My first piece of work done in the LSE focuses on the evolving structure of Chinese production and export. My second paper, which is a joint work with my supervisor Professor Ottaviano, studies how Chinese exporter producing multiple products respond to competition due to comparative advantage. My current research project studies how the domestic infrastructure construction boom that has been taking place in China has enabled China to make better use of globalization.

The most exciting part of LSE is that we are seated near the centre of the UK policy-making. I am fortunate enough to be able to be on a team from the CEP which has been studying various issues related to Brexit. It is only by doing this bit of work that I have seen how LSE research has shaped the debate in the media and the UK parliament.

As a one of the largest economics departments in the world, with numerous seminars and visitors every week, you bump into various people all the time. You might run into a workshop introducing machine learning. You might also hear people talking about big data in the Bean Counter, where we have our coffee. And I am very glad to be one of them here.

Stephan Maurer MRes/PhD Economics, 2017 Germany

I came to the LSE in 2011 after having completed my MSc in Economics at the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics. Already during my undergraduate studies in St. Gallen, I had gotten hooked to economics and to the idea of doing a PhD, and my time in Barcelona further confirmed this.

My research is in applied economics broadly, at the intersection of labour economics, political economy, and economic history. Economic history is for me both a tool and an end itself - I am interested in better understanding historical events, but I also frequently use exogenous variation provided by history to study questions in labour economics and political economy.

What I really like about research and the academic profession is that it offers a lot of freedom and allows me to work independently on a variety of issues. For example, I have studied determinants of city growth in Iron Age Europe, but also local economic effects of resource booms in the early 20 th century US South. I also enjoy teaching - during my time here, I have taught various courses and have found it very enriching. Being asked to explain concepts such that students can understand them often has deepened my own understanding. In this respect, I particularly enjoyed teaching in the MPA and MSc Programmes.

Research can also be frustrating. It involves a great deal of failed projects, ideas that do not materialize, and work that does not reap rewards. It is also very discontinuous - you can make great progress in few days, or feel like you’re banging your head against a wall for months. I was lucky to have two very dedicated supervisors to guide me through my PhD, helping me triage my ideas, strengthening my results by constantly questioning them, but also cheering me up when needed. My colleagues and friends at the LSE have also been a great help, not only but especially those from my cohort. Studying for the first year exams and going through the first research steps together has created a lot of cohesion and friendships that I am sure will continue to last for a long time.

After finishing my PhD, I will be joining the Department of Economics at the University of Konstanz as an Assistant Professor. I am very much looking forward to this new endeavour, but I will make sure to be back in London and at the LSE from time to time!

Preliminary reading

Readings are included in the respective course guides in the Calendar .

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Economics

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Financial and Professional Services              
• Education, Teaching and Research            
• Government, Public Sector and Policy   
• Consultancy      
• Advertising, Marketing, PR Media, Entertainment, Publishing and Journalism

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes.

Students who successfully complete the programme often embark on an academic career. See information on the placements of previous students on this programme . 

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Starting from the second year of the MRes, students are encouraged to undertake some class teaching in the Department, as this represents useful professional training. Additional information about teaching in the Department .

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the  support available to students through LSE Careers .

Find out more about LSE

Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home. 

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus.  Experience LSE from home . 

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.  Find out about opportunities to visit LSE . 

LSE visits you

Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders.  Find details on LSE's upcoming visits . 

How to apply

Virtual Graduate Open Day

Register your interest

Related programmes, msc econometrics and mathematical economics.

Code(s) L1UB

MSc Economics

Code(s) L1U1

MRes/PhD Finance

Code(s) N4ZC

MPhil/PhD Economic Geography

Code(s) L7ZQ

MPhil/PhD Environmental Economics

Code(s) L7ZR

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Graduate Program

Our Ph.D. program field faculty consists of 91 economists drawn from the Economics Department and other departments and colleges across the university, offering students many opportunities. Students can focus their doctoral research on a wide range of economics-related topics provided at least two Ph.D. program field faculty members approve the topic and agree to supervise the student. 

To view our Ph.D. program field faculty, click here .

The Economics Department is committed to fostering an inclusive culture and positive climate for all at Cornell University and in the Economics profession more broadly.  Learn more about our diversity and inclusion initiatives here.

Job Market Candidates

The department is proud to support and promote the work of our Ph.D. students who are seeking employment following the completion of their doctoral program. At Cornell University, economists are trained in many departments, schools and colleges, and as a part of multiple graduate fields.  All Ph.D. job candidates with training in economics are listed here .  The following websites include the subset of students who are receiving their degrees in Fields outside of Economics:  Field of Policy Analysis and Management  and  Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management .

More About the Graduate Program

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New research initiative tackles pressing global development issues

CIDER unites 24 faculty across campus and the world, along with students, staff, researchers and external partners, to create and share knowledge.

Upcoming Events

Labor economics workshop: benjamin goldman, behavioral workshop: yan chen, law, economics, and, policy seminar (leap): jacob goldin, development workshop: manisha shah, joint macroeconomics and trade workshop: benny kleinman, george staller lecture: heidi williams.

Postgraduate taught

MSc Economics

Join a programme with a long-standing international reputation for excellence

Year of entry: 2024 (September)

1 year full-time

Department of Economics and Related Studies

September 2024 ( semester dates )

Apply for this course

Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.

Develop your skills in economic analysis and quantitative techniques.

This course emphasises problem-solving and practice in economic theory, applied economics and econometrics. You'll have opportunities to study areas of application at the frontiers of economics such as experimental economics, regulatory policy, industrial organisation, intertemporal and international macroeconomics, financial markets, and labour economics.

Pioneering academics

making groundbreaking contributions in areas including economic theory, econometrics, finance and macroeconomics.

Research Excellence

Our department ranks jointly in the top 10 for impact and is joint 14th for research in the UK according to the Times Higher Education ranking of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Notable international alumni

including Professor Anibal Cavaco Silva, former President of Portugal, Han Seung-Soo, former Prime Minister of South Korea, and Professor Daron Acemoglu who was awarded the Erwin Plein Nemmers prize.

Course content

You'll gain graduate-level skills in economic analysis and relevant quantitative techniques.

This course provides a sound training in best practice methods of mainstream economics, combined with the opportunities of studying optional areas in depth, will allow you to reach your full potential.

Taught by leading experts, you will complete a combination of taught modules - some core and some optional - and a dissertation.

• Dissertation

For the Masters, y ou will take core modules which may include :

• Advanced Microeconomics
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Econometrics

You will also study three option modules. Examples from previous years have included:

• Public Policy Analysis
• Principles of Emerging Market and Development Economics
• Evaluation of Health Care
• Information and Strategy
• Topics in Development Economics
• Public Economics
• Applied Microeconometrics
• Time Series Econometrics
• Money, Banking and Corporate Finance
• Macro Finance
• Design and Analysis of Mechanisms and Institutions
• Evaluation of Health Policy
• Economics of Health and Health Care

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

You'll complete a piece of independent research carried out over three months of the summer, guided by a supervisor. The dissertation, of up to 10,000 words, offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

• Read and understand important contemporary contributions in learned journals and be able to interpret them in a critical way, and not only grasp economics headlines but also explain them to a layperson. Be capable of skilfully identifying relevant literature through digital technology such as Internet and academic research databases.
• Effectively communicate with professional economists and policymakers about the major economic methods and principles of logical reasoning used by professional economists and academic researchers to analyse economic problems faced by households, firms, governments, and organisations, and to assess the effect of economic decision or policy
• Apply and adapt the techniques, methods and principles widely used in the field to real life economic problems and analyse them in a quantitative and critical manner. Develop a capacity for critical appraisal of those techniques, methods, and principles with a good understanding of the complexity of the reality
• Identify economic problems and their key factors in real world contexts and come up with sensible practical solutions, with a solid understanding of how crucial economic factors such as incentive, information, risk, uncertainty, environment, institutions, and policies influence economic performance
• Provide critical appraisals of the economic performance of a firm or an organisation, drawing on a good command of economic tools and measurements, and offer policy recommendation for performance improvement
• Independently plan, manage and carry out research projects by adapting and integrating relevant learned principles, methods and techniques to the contexts, and complete with written reports within a required time
• Locate and compile economic and financial data, and apply appropriate econometric, statistical and computer-based methods and techniques to analyse the data and present the results effectively with sound judgement.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25.

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees?  The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student.  Check your fee status .

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

• Postgraduate taught fees and expenses

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a  10% Masters fee discount .

Funding opportunities

• UK government Masters loans
• Funding for UK students
• Funding for international students

Living costs

You can use our  living costs guide  to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

This Masters combines a variety of different teaching methods, including:

• problem-solving classes
• practical computer-based sessions.

A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress.

The department also has a vibrant research community. You’ll be able to attend  seminars and research workshops  in which staff and invited speakers discuss their research.

Teaching location

You'll be based in the  Department of Economics and Related Studies on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in Alcuin College and elsewhere on Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's  easy to get around campus  - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

Formal types of assessment in this course include:

• Group project
• Seminar presentation

As you study modules you’ll take part in assessments that do not contribute to your final mark, instead giving useful feedback on your progress and understanding.

Typical offer Undergraduate degree 2:1 or equivalent in Economics. You may also be offered a place if you have a strong degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computing, Engineering or the sciences and are very keen to study Economics. Other international qualifications

Additional requirements

If you have been out of study for a while, or do not have a strong background in economics or mathematics and statistics but have other relevant qualifications or experience, you may be required to take the Summer Session in Economics and Quantitative Methods as a condition of your offer. Alternatively, the Session can also be taken as a stand-alone course.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

	Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator)	6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR	B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT	7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo	120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT	B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic	70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
KITE	459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English	B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic	61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL	87, minimum 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III	Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

• How to apply

Get in touch if you have any questions

• Professor Zaifu Yang
• [email protected]
• +44 (0) 1904 323788

• Postgraduate enquiries

Related courses

• Development Economics and Emerging Markets (MSc)
• Econometrics and Economics (MSc)
• Financial Economics (MSc)
• Economics and Public Policy (MSc)
• Health Economics (MSc)

Discover York

Accommodation

We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.

Student life

Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.

Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.

Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.