phd economics london

PhD/MPhil Economics

Postgraduate research degree

Your Economics PhD/MPhil programme will focus on rigorous economic and econometric modelling and its practical applications in the private and public sectors.

Research centres and groups

• Applied Microeconomics
• Economic Theory and Experiments
• Health Economics (CHEC)
• Competition and Regulatory Policy
• Macroeconomics and Finance

Key information

Affiliations

City, University of London is part of the South East Network for Social Sciences, an ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership.

Economics Postgraduate research degrees PhD/MPhil course Overview

Our Economics research programme will develop your knowledge of advanced economic theory and econometric methods. Enabling you to produce pioneering research papers. We provide expert academic support and supervision alongside a commitment to your economics research. You can apply for funding to attend specialised training courses and research conferences. Most research undertaken here at City involves internal and external collaboration. You will join one of our research groups in the following:

• Financial Economics
• Health Economics
• Behavioural Economics
• Political Economy
• Decision Making and Behavioural Economics
• Competition and Regulation

We are part of the South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Doctoral Training Program Partnership . A consortium of ten leading UK universities offering cutting-edge social science research, training and collaborative projects.

All research students are initially registered as MPhil students. Students can study both full-time and part-time. Full-time students will be required to take four taught modules in their first year. This includes Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, and one elective module.

Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics modules are jointly taught by City, Birkbeck, and Royal Holloway.

The upgrade to the PhD will be conditional on passing the compulsory modules. Part-time students will be expected to pass these modules during their first two years.

Course Outlines

Econometrics

• ARMA and VAR processes
• Kalman filter and Markov switching processes
• Financial econometrics topics
• Models for discrete and limited variables
• Panel data models

Macroeconomics

• Fiscal and monetary policies
• Bayesian Estimation of DSGE Models
• Simulation and estimation of models using Dynare Data, parameter, and model uncertainty
• Macroeconomics and Medium Run

Microeconomics

• Individual decision making
• Demand, production, choice under uncertainty
• Equilibrium and its basic welfare properties
• Game theory

After 18 months on the programme you will be upgraded to PhD subject to satisfactory progress and approval by the Research Committee. In order to get upgraded to PhD, you need to demonstrate progress on your dissertation by submitting a written piece of academic staff.

Following the Upgrade, your progress on the dissertation will be evaluated annually. Full-time (Part-time) students will be expected to complete their dissertations within four (seven) years from the date of registration. A dissertation usually consists of three chapters / papers.

For full details about the City PhD programme structure, please see the Guide for Research Students .

Requirements

Entry requirements.

Applicants should have a track record of high academic achievement as demonstrated by at least a 2.1 honours degree and a merit-level Master’s degree in a relevant subject (or international equivalent).

English requirements

Students whose first language is not English should hold one of the following qualifications:

A degree from a UK university or from the Council for National Academic Awards.

A degree from an overseas institution recognised by City as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions in Australia, Canada or the USA. An overall score of 6.5 in the English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum of 6.0 for each subtest.

For more information see our English language proficiency requirements at City.

Visa requirements

• If you are not from the European Economic Area / Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.
• The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
• Students on courses of more than six months
• Students on courses of less than six months
• Students on a pre-sessional English language course.

For more information see our main Visa page .

Fees and funding

Full-time Home/UK: £5,110 per year

Part-time Home/UK: £2,560 per year

Full-time International: £13,630 per year

Part-time International: £6,810 per year

Fees for doctoral candidates are charged annually and cover registration, supervision and examination.

Fees are subject to review each year and may vary during your period of registration. Where applicable, fees for City's programmes will be subject to inflationary increases in each academic year of study commencing in September . Our policy for these increases is set out in our terms and conditions of study .

We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).

Support for PhD study

Prospective students are encouraged to explore doctoral Grants and funding opportunities such as:

• SeNSS Doctoral Training Partnership
• The National Institute of Health Research offers doctoral fellowships in health economics. These fellowships enable individuals with the potential to become future health research leaders to undertake a PhD in an area of NIHR research.
• Research Council studentship awards , if available.

Our bursaries are non-repayable sums of money granted by the University, usually based on need.

Our loans are repayable sums of money granted by the University or other body.

Our scholarships are when the University pays towards your Study fees. You may also be eligible for further funding.

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans

The Government has introduced a new Postgraduate Doctoral Loans scheme which can provide a loan of up to £25,000.

This will be over three years to support study for a doctoral degree.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study. It can be used alongside any other forms of support you may be able to receive.

For more information, please see our Postgraduate Doctoral Loans page .

Additional expenses

Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses .

Academic support

City has a well-established structure and processes to support your research .

Supervision

Your main contact person within the Department will be your principal supervisor whom you will meet on a regular basis. You will also be allocated a secondary supervisor(s).

Your Supervisor will provide guidance to in the writing of the dissertation. They can also assist with the acquisition of additional training, presenting at conferences, searching for jobs, and other matters.

Research support

The Department of Economics is committed to providing support to our research students for the facilitation and dissemination of their research. This includes presenting at conferences, payments to experimental subjects, attending training courses, and purchasing software (subject to approval).

Additional doctoral training opportunities for postgraduate research students are offered by the School of Policy & Global Affairs and the South East Network for Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership.

Research students may take modules in this Programme free of charge if they are relevant to their research.

The City Doctoral College offers City-wide research and teaching related activities, which contribute to research student development.

Research Environment

The Department of Economics comprises of close to 30 academic staff members, visiting lecturers, and undergraduate, postgraduate and research students.

Our academic staff members are experienced economists. They in addition to teaching, undertake research and lead research projects in a wide range of topics. They also act as consultants to public institutions and private companies.

You can approach all staff members, not only your supervisors, to talk about your research or career planning.

Department seminars

The Department of Economics runs two active seminar series – one external and one internal. Both seminar series run in Autumn and Spring terms. The attendance of both seminar series by full-time research students is compulsory, and active participation in discussions is encouraged.

How to apply

Preliminary enquiries.

When considering potential applicants, we attach great importance both to the applicant's academic profile. We also consider the fit between their research proposal and the expertise of the academic staff.

Before submitting an application, you may want to approach an academic staff member to enquire if they would be willing to supervise you. Send them your CV, degree transcripts, and Research Proposal in your introductory email. If the academic staff member expresses interest in supervising you, indicate so in your application.

Applications

We accept applications until the end of June for entry in October. To apply, you should submit the following:

• Your research proposal.
• Reference letters from at least two academic referees.
• Copies of your degree transcripts and certificates (originals or certified copies). If your application is successful we will need to verify the original hard copies before a final offer is made.
• Proof of your English language proficiency (if English is not your first language).

Please note that we will not consider incomplete applications. You can find general information about the applications at City here .

For further information please see how to prepare your research proposal .

If you have any questions about the application process or scholarships, please contact the Director of PhD Programme Dr Xiaogang Che .

For more information please see How to prepare your application at City .

• Full-time 30 th Sep 2024
• Part-time 30 th Sep 2024
• 30 th Sep 2024

For further application enquiries please contact our PGR enquiries team .

Find a supervisor

See our full list of academic staff and potential supervisors in Department of Economics.

Professor Giulia Iori

Professor in Economics

• Department of Economics

Dr Alice Mesnard

Reader in Economics

Professor Michael Ben-Gad

Professor of Economics

Useful links

• Doctoral College
• School of Policy & Global Affairs
• Student wellbeing
• Terms and conditions

Contact details

School of policy & global affairs.

[email protected]

Economics MRes + MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UCL Economics is a world-class academic department with a commitment to research excellence. The Economics MRes and MPhil/PhD programmes attract, educate and develop students of the highest academic calibre. Our graduates are employed by the world's foremost academic, international and governmental institutions.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications closed

• Entry requirements

Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Economics or closely related subject with distinction-level performance. Applicants must demonstrate that they are qualified to proceed to research work. The GRE General Test is a required part of the application, except for applicants with an Economics MSc from UCL or those currently enrolled on the UCL Economics MSc programme.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The MRes programme is designed to train and prepare you to conduct research in pursuit of a PhD degree. In joining this programme, you are embarking on a career as a research-focused academic. 

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for applicants with a master’s degree in economics or related subject who wish to undertake independent research.

What this course will give you

UCL Economics has an outstanding international reputation in key areas of current research. The research excellence demonstrated in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) result is matched by the department's provision of a stimulating, intellectual and supportive research environment.

The department will provide all new MRes students with the opportunity to attend a Maths Camp course to help you prepare for the programme.

Our doctoral students often take up visiting research posts in leading economics departments worldwide, participate in the European Network for Training in Economic Research (ENTER) exchange programme and gain valuable teaching experience as departmental teaching assistants.  

The foundation of your career

In recent years, our PhD students have been appointed to posts in leading universities and research centres including University of Oxford, Princeton University, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Chicago, Carlos III University of Madrid, Pompeu Fabra University, Stockholm University and Sogang University. Graduate destinations also include policy institutions including the Bank of England, EBRD, IFS, McKinsey, RAND Corporation and the World Bank.

Employability

The community of postgraduate and academic economists is well connected and close. Many of our PhD students continue to work with their supervisors and academic faculty on collaborative research projects and visit the department for research meetings and events.

UCL Economics has several active research seminar series in which leading scholars from around the world present their research. Our graduate students attend and participate in seminars, workshops and conferences in the department and interdisciplinary research centres across UCL, providing opportunities to network with leading academics across a variety of research fields. We encourage PhD students to visit and study at prominent research institutions on a temporary basis (for up to one year) to experience different research environments and form new research partnerships. UCL Economics has several active research seminar series in which leading scholars from around the world present their research. Our graduate students attend and participate in seminars, workshops and conferences in the department and interdisciplinary research centres across UCL, providing opportunities to network with leading academics across a variety of research fields. We encourage PhD students to visit and study at prominent research institutions on a temporary basis (for up to one year) to experience different research environments and form new research partnerships.

Teaching and learning

Through Terms 1 and 2, the main teaching methods are conventional lectures and classes in Macro, Micro theory, Econometrics and Real Analysis.

The dissertation encourages students to consider the topic they plan to write a PhD thesis on by surveying the literature and forming a research plan.

Students benefit by being taught by faculty staff actively researching in the areas they will write a thesis on.  

Term 1 modules are assessed by the submission of coursework for microeconomics and mid-term written examinations for Real Analysis, Macroeconomics and Econometrics.

Term 2 modules are assessed by written examinations.

Term 3 is assessed by the dissertation.

Module Credits 15 UCL credits = 7.5 ECTS and 150 learning hours

Research areas and structure

UCL Economics is host to, and affiliated with, numerous research centres conducting cutting-edge research of national and international importance. These include:

• Centre for Research and Analysis on Migration (CReAM)
• Centre for Finance (CfF )
• Centre for Macroeconomics (CfM)
• The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
• Centre for Microdata, Methods and Practice (Cemmap, Institute for Fiscal Studies)
• Centre for Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy (CPP, Institute for Fiscal Studies)
• Centre for the Evaluation of Development Policies (EDePo, Institute for Fiscal Studies)
• New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Co-operation in Europe (NORFACE)

Research environment

The Department of Economics placed #1 for research environment and outputs in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) and ranked #3 overall. UCL Economics was first for 4* world-leading research outputs and research environments, with scores of 72% and 100% respectively. The doctoral programme at UCL aims to teach economists to conduct research of high academic merit and make original contributions to the subject. The department has a lively and active research environment, with a strong emphasis on team research, based around a number of major research groups and centres. With close ties to several research centres, students are surrounded by some of the best researchers in their field.

The MRes programme is one year of full-time study.

The MRes programme will provide you with training in research methods in Real Analysis and Probability, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics.

You will be required to write a dissertation. The dissertation is an individual research project, supervised by a faculty member, to assess your self-reliance and capacity for independent research in preparation for the subsequent MPhil/PhD years.

The subsequent years (for students who are admitted to the MPhil/PhD programme) will focus on the skills you will need to conduct your own research projects and present research findings to specialised audiences. Teaching skills will also be developed.

MPhil/PhD The MPhil/PhD programme is normally three years of full time study; however, students typically take four years to complete it.

MPhil Year One: On successful completion of the MRes year, you will start working on your thesis and undertaking research as an MPhil student. You will continue taking advanced training and methodology courses.

You can find a list of field courses here.

At the end of this year, you will present your research at an Upgrade Seminar and a panel of faculty members will determine your progression to PhD status.

PhD Year Two: You will continue to work on your research and thesis. 

PhD Year Three: You will work on your Econ Job Market paper. By the end of this year, you will be expected to take up Completing Research Status (CRS).  

Students wishing to study the MRes programme on a part-time basis will be required to register for two core modules in the first year, one of which must be the Real Analysis module. In your second year, you will complete the remaining compulsory modules and write your dissertation.

Several of our PhD students undertaking research in applied fields have successfully applied for funds to conduct their own fieldwork, while many others have done so through collaborations and research assistance work with their supervisors.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (ROS)

Deadline: 12 January 2024 Value: UK rate fees, a maintenance stipend, conference costs and professional development package (3 years) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: UK

The GRE General Test is a required part of the application, except for applicants with an Economics MSc from UCL or those currently enrolled on the UCL Economics MSc programme.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

[email protected]

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MPhil/PhD Economics

Content navigation menu, why study mphil/phd economics at goldsmiths.

Training future economists who combine imaginative approaches with rigorous analysis.

• Goldsmiths offers a unique and exciting environment for in-depth research in economics. The Institute of Management Studies (IMS) has scholars working on frontier topics in economics, and a strong tradition of boundary-breaking, imaginative research in topics related to all aspects of the economy and society.
• MPhil/PhD Economics is a distinctive, pluralist programme with an interdisciplinary approach.
• We're committed to training skilled researchers who can conduct rigorous and imaginative research in economics.
• You'll be encouraged to conduct research that employs non-mainstream approaches to address economic problems.
• You'll engage in conceptual, empirical and methodological exploration throughout the programme.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Rachel Doern .

2–4 years full-time, 4–8 years part-time

Entry requirements

Taught masters in a relevant subject area (Merit or above)

Institute of Management Studies

You'll research

• You will attend and contribute to research seminars, and through departmental and Goldsmiths-wide modules you will also be encouraged to develop practical skills such as public speaking, poster preparation, scientific writing, and how to interact with the media. 
• You will meet regularly with your supervisor, and develop a structured approach to designing, executing, analysing and writing up your research. 
• You will have access to the IMS staff who have expertise in a wide range of areas at the interface with economics (management, innovation, entrepreneurship, marketing, occupational psychology).  
• You will also have an annual allowance to contribute towards your research expenses and/or conference attendance.

Types of research you could do

Supervision can be offered in any of the areas of research  actively pursued in the department. The Institute of Management Studies department has a particular concentration of economics expertise in four areas:

• Algorithms and society
• History and methodology of economic thought
• Structural economic analysis
• Sustainable futures

Students are often attracted by the research interests of our staff and may decide to undertake a project that relates to their ongoing research. To explore these or other research ideas, you can start by emailing the member of staff whose research interests you and arrange to discuss research ideas.

We are also open to students who have already formulated specific research ideas before they apply and we can support them in finding a supervisor in the department who is able to help them develop these into a doctoral research programme if suitable.

Applicants should normally possess the following qualifications:

• A first degree in a relevant subject area (normally of upper second-class honours standard or above), or an equivalent qualification.
• A taught masters in a relevant subject area (normally at the Merit standard or above).

Applications may still be considered where an applicant possesses non-standard qualifications or equivalent experience.

In all cases, final decisions about admissions will be made on the basis of a written proposal and interview to determine the applicant's preparedness for their proposed research and the availability of appropriate supervision.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about  the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or  equivalent English language qualification ) of  7.0   with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.0  to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of  courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees.

These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office , who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment .

Funding opportunities

Find out more about  postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities . If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our  study costs page .

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments.  Please check the programme specification  for more information.

Similar programmes

MPhil/PhD Management

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MPhil/PhD Psychology (IMS)

MSc Business Management

Gain the skills and knowledge you need to be an effective manager in increasingly uncertain and technology-dominated environments.

MSc Management of Innovation

This programme will equip you with the fundamental business and social enterprise knowledge and skills needed to manage innovative product and brand or policy development, service delivery, and integration of emerging technologies in fast-paced industries.

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MRes/PhD in Economics and Management

• Graduate research
• Department of Management
• Application code L1MG
• 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 Managerial Economics and Strategy. You will begin on the MRes and will need to meet certain requirements to be upgraded to PhD status.

The MRes/PhD in Economics and Management is part of a rigorous and interdisciplinary graduate training programme. It is designed to stimulate critical thinking and provide you with the training to conduct research to advance the frontier of applied Economics in the field of Managerial Economics, broadly defined to include topics from organisational economics to personnel economics, to entrepreneurship, to political economy. It is a specialised programme closely aligned with the PhD in Economics (and including the same core sequence of courses) but allowing for the more specialised study of organisations and institutions, and for more personal supervision by scholars in these fields within the Department of Management.

As a research-led department of management at the heart of LSE’s academic community in central London we are ranked #5 in our field . The programme includes a comprehensive methodological training with the opportunity to specialise in the designated field of Economics and Managerial Economics.

You will work closely with international and world-class faculty as part of a vibrant doctoral student community, all of whom are pursuing varied research in different fields of management. The approaches employed by the Managerial Economics and Strategy group embody the rigour appropriate to scientific investigation. In addition to a group of economic theorists, a wide variety of empirical approaches flourish from lab experiments, to field experiments, to the analysis of administrative data. The group's research interests include entrepreneurship; insurance markets; incentives and communication within organisations; incentives within state bureaucracies; the economics of China; multinational firms; supply chains; firms and trade in developing countries; behavioural economics; and political economy.

The Department also has a limited number of studentships for students on the MRes/PhD in Economics and Management. These studentships will cover tuition fees and a stipend of approximately £24,000 for five years. In return, students are expected to teach in the Department over four years starting from the second year of the MRes.

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 in economics and management.

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree in any discipline or the equivalent, with evidence of preparation in economics and a strong mathematics background.

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 requirement

The GRE is required for all applicants. We do not require a specific GRE overall score but the test gives us an indication of your aptitude for our programmes. Your score should be less than five years old on 1 October 2024 and must show full and percentile scores for all three sections.

Please see LSE information on the GRE for more detail on our requirements and submission of test scores, including information on LSE’s institution codes.

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)
• academic statement of purpose ( see guidance on writing your statement of purpose )
• academic references ( see guidance on references )
• GRE ( how your scores are reviewed )
• outline research proposal ( see guidance on writing your research proposal )
• sample of written work

LSE Graduate Admissions 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.

When to apply

The application deadline for this programme is 15 January 2024 . See the fees and funding section for more details.

How to apply

To apply online go to the LSE Application System .

We do not require a specific overall score but the test gives us an indication of aptitude for our programmes. A strong GRE score will count in your favour, but other information, such as your research interests, your examination results, previous qualifications and references are central to our overall evaluation of your application. We recognise that if your first language is not English, the verbal test will be more demanding and we view your score on that basis.

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 in Economics and Management

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. Selection for the PhD Studentships is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.  

Financial Aid and Funding sorted by research degree programme for applicants in the Department of Management.

Funding deadline for LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2024

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.

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

First year (mres).

The first year of the MRes is focused on teaching and skills training in Micro and Macro Economics, Econometrics, Statistics and Modelling. Students will have to come from a strong background in Economics and be expected to participate in pre-sessional courses as required. These course begin before the start of the academic year, normally in late August. 

These courses are all taken in the Department of Economics.

Alongside courses taken in the Department of Economics, students take the seminar course A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management. The seminar provides an opportunity to work alongside other first year research students in the Department of Management and to develop critical analysis skills by interaction with academic colleagues in a diversity of management research fields on important current research topics.

Students are also invited and expected to attend the Managerial Economics and Strategy Faculty Research Group seminars.

Courses include: 

Two compulsory courses in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics for MRes students.

The aim of the microeconomics course is to develop the basic tools for analysing problems of resource allocation used by economists working in research, government, and business. The first part of the course focuses classical theories of market behaviour and strategic interaction, and models of decision making under uncertainty and game theoretic solution concepts. The second part of the course focuses on models of imperfect competition and information economics.

In the macroeconomics course you will cover topics in advanced macroeconomics with emphasis on fundamentals and applications to recent theoretical advances in Economic growth, Search and Matching, Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Models and Monetary Economics.

Choice of either Econometrics for MRes students OR Econometric Analysis

You are required to choose one advanced econometrics course in discussion with your Programme Director.

A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management

Along with all MRes/PhD and MPhil/PhD students from across the Department of Management Research programmes you will participate in a seminar on the nature of scientific enquiry in the Social Sciences. The seminar series is led by members of the Faculty across the Department and provides an interdisciplinary collaborative perspective and the opportunity for students to develop academic presentation skills.

Second year (MRes)

In the 2-year MRes programme, you will engage in active research, called Research Practicums, with different members of Faculty within the Managerial Economics and Strategy Faculty Research Group . The rotation of practicum assignments will include one-to-one training and collaboration that provides you better understanding of the research process, e.g.:

• Literature reviews.
• Applied research methods and practices.
• Determining theory-driven.
• Testable hypotheses.
• Identifying appropriate methods and samples.
• Coding and data analysis.
• Conducting analyses.
• Evaluating findings and implications.
• Writing manuscripts for the academic peer-reviewed process with ultimate goal of publication in top-tier academic journal.

You will take compulsory courses in Institutional and Organisational Economics, and choose an additional elective course in Economics or Managerial Economics depending on your training and intellectual requirements and preferences. You will also write a research paper in your field of interest which will form an important element in your upgrade to PhD.

Courses include:

The Economics of Organisations and Institutions

The course studies from an economics perspective the major organisations and institutions in modern and historical economies. First, you will consider major organisations: firms and states. Second, you will focus on major institutions: market and non-market (political, legal, informal). The course will take an economic perspective to these organisations and institutions including selection, incentives, and information transmission within organisations.

Topics in Organisations and Institutions

A seminar course focused on reading and discussion of recent academic articles around the frontier of research in organisational and institutional economics from an economics perspective including international supply chains; firms in developing countries; entrepreneurship; social movements; the economics of crime and policing; robots and AI in the workplace.

Advanced Economics

A range of Economics course options taught within the Department of Economics, including International Economics for Research students, Labour Economics, Economics of Industry and Development Economics.

During the second year you will also start to attend the Work in Progress seminar, an opportunity to present your work to faculty and peers, listen to their work and engage with outside speakers are also invited from time to time.

Third, fourth and fifth year (PhD)

Upon successfully completing the MRes and progressing to the PhD, you will work on your research and write your PhD thesis.

In the first year of the PhD programme (Year 3 of registration) you will have the opportunity to select an additional course in either Economics or Management. Students are expected to continue to attend and engage in the Work in Progress seminars. Where relevant you may also attend the Department of Economics Work in Progress Seminars.

There are regular reviews on your research progress and in the final year you prepare a detailed plan of work for the successful submission of your thesis. 

Throughout your PhD you will be expected to show the continued development of research ideas for publication, participation in relevant training courses and career development activities.

For the most up-to-date list of 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 do not need to have identified a supervisor prior to application. During your MRes you will be supervised by the PhD Director of the MRes/PhD in Economics and Management programme for the duration of the MRes period.

During the second year of the programme, you will participate in Research Practicums, working in collaboration with different Managerial Economics and Strategy faculty mentors. Each research practicum will enable you to participate in research activities, understand Faculty research interests, and develop your own research skills.

Your PhD supervisor will be appointed when you upgrade to PhD. Your lead supervisor will be in the Department of Management, working with a second supervisor from either the Department of Management or the Department of Economics, depending on the interests of the student and Faculty.

Progression and assessment

You will need to meet certain criteria to progress to each subsequent year of the programme, such as achieving certain grades in your coursework and engaging in all aspects of the programme.

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

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Students who successfully complete the programme often embark on an academic career.

• Careers and placements of previous Department of Management PhD students

The Department aims to give all qualified doctoral students the opportunity to teach. Developing teaching skills and experience is an important component of the students' career development and prepare you for future academic roles. To make this experience as valuable as possible we draw on the support from the LSE's Teaching and Learning Centre.

Support for your career

Throughout the programme, you are expected to participate in Managerial Economics and Strategy Faculty Research Group research workshops, enabling you to grow familiar with the process of presenting and discussing academic papers with experienced faculty, and provide opportunities for networking. Funding is also available for you to attend and present papers at academic conferences.

LSE Careers has a team dedicated to PhD students offering a wide range of resources and advice. You will receive regular updates on career events and workshops offered by LSE Careers and the LSE’s PhD Academy. Research based employment opportunities are communicated to students in our newsletters and email updates.

Programme enquiries

Faculty members are unable to comment on your eligibility without viewing your full application file first. However, if you have any questions regarding the programme please contact the Department of Management PhD Office at [email protected]

Admissions enquiries

With questions related to the admissions process, please contact the LSE Graduate Admissions team via their  getting in touch page .

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Related Programmes

Mphil/phd in management - information systems and innovation.

Code(s) G5ZC

MRes/PhD in Management - Employment Relations and Human Resources

Code(s) N2Z1

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Application process

Applying for a phd, introduction.

Known as a research degree, the PhD is usually a four year (full-time) or five to seven year (part-time) course of independent and original research which is supervised by an academic specialist in the subject area. 

You will contribute new research in the form of a thesis suitable for publication which is usually around 100,000 words. It is examined by two examiners, one internal and one external who read your work and then ask you to defend it in an oral exam, the viva voce. 

PhDs are traditionally research based, although the integrated PhDs, also known as New Route PhDs, combine research with more vocational training. Increasingly taught courses are compulsory in the first year. 

Professional doctorates are useful for students interested in careers outside academia and consist of a taught core and incorporate both professional practice and academic knowledge. They are available in education (EdD), engineering (EngD or DEng) and business (DBA). 

Why do a PhD?

People complete PhDs for a variety of reasons: 

love of a particular part of their subject

springboard into a new career

access to excellent resources/training useful for non-academic careers

as a pre-requisite for academic careers.

As well as planning then conducting research and writing the thesis, PhD students will often teach undergraduate or master’s students, support more senior academics in their research work, publish articles, attend and present at conferences, work with business or other organisations to explore the value of their research in other fields outside academia (impact), collaborate with organisations or individuals (knowledge exchange) and contribute to their field in voluntary capacity (for example, as a reviewer, event organiser, network co-ordinator). 

When can I do a PhD?

You can do a PhD if you have at least an Upper Second relevant first degree or a relevant master’s. You must have in-depth knowledge of your subject area and be able to present a comprehensive research proposal. Some people start the PhD straight after completing a master’s, other people work outside academia for a few years and then apply for the PhD. 

Before starting a PhD you could apply for a job as a graduate research assistant where you would support the research of an academic in your department, teach, take part in laboratory work and complete your own research. You could also consider completing a PhD part-time whilst in a job. 

Researching into PhDs

Choosing the right programme takes time and research. It is important to apply to departments that specialise in your topic. Check the research quality assessed in the  Research Excellence Framework  (REF 2014) and also the quality of the teaching in the department via the  Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)  ratings. 

Talk to people who know the field about where they recommend is a good place to study. 

You can apply in one of two ways. You create the topic yourself, pitch it at your preferred institution in a Research Proposal and hope to gain funding via the institution. Alternatively, you can apply to work on a topic which has been agreed between a funding council and an institution and then advertised as a PhD position. If you are accepted funding will be assured. 

We recommend you take time to: 

ask for help from a current or recent academic tutor 

think about the people whose work you like, or who you read regularly, look at their department 

speak to the PhD administrator in departments that you think interest you 

use information on  Find a PhD

book on to a   LSE Careers further study event  

talk through your options with a careers consultant 

use the LSE Careers blog ,  So you’re thinking about a PhD? 5 tips for prospective PhDs .  

Making an application

Read the  LSE guidance on applying for a PhD .  

You will need to write a research proposal, personal statement and have a CV. 

The referees you choose are important as they will write about your academic achievements and potential. Get in touch with them early and ask for their advice too. 

Search  programmes with spaces at LSE . 

Useful publications in the LSE Careers physical library

Your PhD Companion, Stephen Marshall and Nick Green, 2004.

The PhD Application Handbook, Peter Bentley, 2006.

How To Get a PhD: third edition, Estelle Phillips and Derek Pugh, 2001.

Useful online information

Prospects.ac.uk:  postgraduate study and research . 

Find a PhD . 

The Fulbright Commission  for applications and funding in the USA.

Related pages

Watch our latest session on thinking about doing a PhD

Explore our further study events, book a one-to-one appointment to discuss your application.

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Duration: 4 years full time

Institution code: R72

Campus: Egham

UK fees * : £4,786

International/EU fees ** : £19,700

The Department of Economics at Royal Holloway is one of the top economics departments in the country with a wide range of expertise, including labour economics, development economics, microeconomic theory, and experimental economics. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF2014), we were ranked 9th in the UK in terms of world-leading and internationally excellent research.

The Department is home to about 30 research active staff and 30 PhD students from over 20 countries. We offer a stimulating research environment and a vibrant  PhD programme  with advanced economics training in the first year and a great placement record.

The PhD student community is relatively small, thereby ensuring a consistently high level of interaction between the students and academics. Our students benefit from advanced economics training in their first year and have an opportunity to present their ongoing research and receive feedback in our PhD seminar series.

From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Research facilities and environment

Our activities are organised around the department’s research centres which cover the main research areas in economics and multidisciplinary research that is conducted together with the departments of Computer Science and Psychology.

We organise weekly seminars with external speakers and advanced PhD students are encouraged to meet with our visitors. During the academic year we hold a PhD seminar and every spring we organise our Annual PhD conference where PhD students from other universities are invited to present and keynotes are given by prominent academics.

You will begin on the MPhil degree for the first two years and will need to meet certain requirements to progress – to upgrade - to PhD student status.

In your first year, you will have to take advanced economics training that provides skills and knowledge necessary to proceed to the independent research work (see  PhD Training Programme  for details). The PhD courses are taught by our own faculty, as well as by external experts. Additional training opportunities (such as external summer schools or workshops) can be funded by the Department according to individual students’ specific research needs. Finally,  generic research skills training  is provided at the College level. The remaining years of the programme are fully devoted to research.

Part of the training throughout the programme is attending internal and external seminar series. In addition, we run a PhD seminar series where students present their on-going research and receive feedback from their peers and the faculty.

The community is relatively small with about 30 students enrolled, thereby ensuring a consistently high level of interaction between the students and academics.

Entry requirements

Candidates for a place on the MPhil/PhD programme should have completed an undergraduate degree and a taught Masters in Economics, with a distinction or a high pass, in a relevant subject.

Your future career

The department actively supports the placement of PhD graduates in positions at universities, research institutes, government agencies, and private corporations. Examples of recent placements include:

• Bristol University
• London School of Economics
• University of Stirling
• Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Max Planck Institute, Germany
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• Institute for Employment Studies.

For more information about placements see the  PhD Job Market .

Fees & funding

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £4,786

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £19,700

Other essential costs***: There are no additonal costs greater than £50 per item.

…How do I pay for it? Find out more about   funding options,   including loans, grants,   scholarships   and bursaries. 

* and ** These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2024/25.

* Please note that for research courses, we adopt the minimum fee level recommended by the UK Research Councils for the Home   tuition fee. Each year, the fee level is adjusted in line with inflation (currently, the measure used is the Treasury GDP deflator). Fees displayed here are therefore subject to change and are usually confirmed in the spring of the year of entry.   For more information on the Research Council Indicative Fee please see the   UKRI website.

** This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2024/25.   

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually, based on the UK’s Retail Price Index (RPI). Please therefore be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree (if longer than one year’s duration), and that this also means that the overall cost of studying the course part-time will be slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year. For further information, please see our  terms and conditions .

***   These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2024/25 academic year and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included. 

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