ucl phd in economics

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Economics MRes and MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london), different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Course type.

UCL Economics has an outstanding international reputation in the areas of game theory, fiscal policy, econometrics, applied microeconomics, development and labour economics. The department is a global leader in policy-oriented research, with members directing and holding senior positions in research centres involved in policy design and evaluation. UCL Economics was the top-ranked department in the UK for Economics and Econometrics in the Research Excellence Framework 2014, as well as the top-ranked department in any field in any UK university, according to the grade point average on the overall score. This reflects the high quality of policy-relevant academic research being undertaken by staff, and the excellent research and teaching environment for graduate students.

In recent years, our PhD students have obtained posts in leading universities and research centres such as University of Chicago, University of Arizona, Carlos III University, Edinburgh University, University of Manchester, NYU Stern School of Business, Pompeu Fabra University, Princeton University, Singapore Management University, Sogang University, Stanford University, Stockholm University, UBC, UCLA, University of British Columbia, University of Essex, University of Mannheim, University of Oxford, University of Rochester, University of Texas at Austin and University of Wisconsin. They have also done very well in policy institutions, such us the Bank of England, EBRD, IFS, McKinsey, RAND Corporation and the World Bank.

Employability

Undertaking the UCL Economics doctorate programme affords students excellent networking opportunities from the outset, and outstanding employment options upon completion. The department is committed to maximising PhD students’ ability to gain employment in leading academic departments, research centres and financial and public policy organisations worldwide. The rigorous doctoral programme ensures students graduate with a wide range of highly valued technical, analytical, teaching and research skills. Senior PhD students have the option to go on the Economics Job Market.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

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.

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world, conducting leading research across a wide range of subject areas. Throughout its long and prestigious history, it has inspired and educated countless minds and produced 30 Nobel prize recipients. With one campus located in the heart of Bloomsbury and a second campus in vibrant east London, the university is home to around 42,000 students... more

Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment MSc

Full time | 1 year | 23-SEP-24

Population Health MSc

Sustainable resources: economics, policy and transitions msc, economy, state and society: politics and the international economy ma (international).

Full time | 2 years | 23-SEP-24

Philosophy, Politics and Economics of Health MA

Centre for Finance

Phd in financial economics.

The MRes and PhD in Financial Economics is a joint programme between the UCL Department of Economics and the UCL School of Management. The MRes programme will provide you with training in research methods together with an advanced understanding of financial economics and shares modules with the MRes in Economics. The Mphil year covers topics such as Corporate Finance, Asset Pricing, Financial Intermediation, Financial Econometrics, and Market Microstructure. Funding : Admitted students are fully funded, including full fee waiver and a competitive stipend. To apply : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/apply , after clicking 'accept and apply', you need to use the search by Department function. Under 'UCL School of Management' you'll see MRes Financial Economics listed as one of the options. More details on the programme can be found here: https://www.mgmt.ucl.ac.uk/phd-financial-economics Deadline:  mid-February (but we’ll keep considering applications until all scholarships are awarded).

For more information, please contact Prof. Frederic Malherbe at [email protected]

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About the UCL Journal of Economics

The UCL Journal of Economics is the official peer-reviewed, student-run journal of the UCL Department of Economics. In line with UCL’s philosophy of a research focused approach to education, it aims to provide a platform for undergraduate economists at UCL and worldwide to showcase their rigorous economic research, regardless of background or previous experience. 

The journal adds value to students at UCL by offering a chance to extend the research they undertake within and outside university modules. It will always be free to read and submit papers to us and we aim to maintain high standards of content, editing, and peer-review to uphold the reputation of our authors. We believe this makes the journal an important institution for undergraduate students across the world. 

We publish one issue a year, to which any undergraduate student can submit a paper for consideration. 

The journal is now open to submissions for Volume III

Deadline: Monday 15th April 2024, 23:59 BST

Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023

Introductions & foreword.

Ananya Ashta

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 1–1

A Note from the New Director

Phineas Godfrey

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 2–2

Explore Econ Research Papers

Investigating the Distributional Effect of the UK Carbon Price Floor

William Nguyen

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 4–11

Score! What is it Good for? Why Football Managers Need to Look Beyond Results

Iain Simmons

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 12–17

Labour Market Concentration and Worker Mobility: Evidence from Online Vacancies

Matias Makiranta

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 18–25

Research Fellow Research Papers

Returns to Longevity? The Effects of Life Expectancy on Labour Productivity in Singapore.

Wei Yang Shaun Ng

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 27–35

The Influence of Market Dynamics on Retail Investor Attention

James Symons-Hicks

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 36–64

Non-UCL Research Papers

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Maternal Treatment and Death: Evaluating the Role of Hospital and Physician Effects

Maura Rose Hogaboom

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 66–84

Negotiating Justice: Examining Restorative Justice Through the Coase Theorem

Andrei Comlosan-Pop

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 111–119

UCL Research Papers

Demand for Informal goods in Africa: Demand System Estimation with Quality Effects and its Limitations

2023-10-02 Volume 2 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • 85–110

Latest News Posts

Launch of issue 1 of the uje, posted by uje student management team on 2022-08-25.

The UJE team is proud to announce the release of its very first issue after a year of work in its preparation. The first issue of the UCL Journal of Economics has no set theme, something that speaks of the versatility within the field and of the journal itself. Our inaugural issue includes fourteen thought provoking papers written by authors from across the world. These papers have been written [...]

The global distribution of college graduate quality

Firm-embedded productivity and cross-country income differences, parental investments and socio-economic gradients in learning across european countries, land misallocation and productivity, monopsony in the u.s. labor market, technical change and superstar effects: evidence from the rollout of television, generational wealth accounts: did public and private inter-generational transfers offset each other over the financial crisis, tax revenues in low-income countries, technological change and the consequences of job loss, stock market wealth and entrepreneurship, should we tax capital income or wealth, intergenerational mobility in the very long run: florence 1427–2011, the evolution of work from home, technology gaps, trade and income, misallocation and capital market integration: evidence from india, u.s. inequality and fiscal progressivity: an intragenerational accounting, the long-term distributional and welfare effects of covid-19 school closures, spillover effects of intellectual property protection in the interwar aircraft industry, unemployment and endogenous reallocation over the business cycle, wealth taxation and wealth accumulation: theory and evidence from denmark, can workers still climb the social ladder as middling jobs become scarce evidence from two british cohorts, the long-run evolution of absolute intergenerational mobility, why do (some) ordinary americans support tax cuts for the rich evidence from a randomised survey experiment, the impact of international students on housing markets, income composition inequality, distributional preferences in larger groups: keeping up with the joneses and keeping track of the tails, what caused racial disparities in particulate exposure to fall new evidence from the clean air act and satellite-based measures of air quality, effective tax rates and firm size, breastfeeding and child development, national accounts in a world of naturally occurring data: a proof of concept for consumption, globalization and factor income taxation, racial discrimination and housing outcomes in the united states rental market, skill formation with siblings, train to opportunity: the effect of infrastructure on intergenerational mobility, interactions with powerful female colleagues promote diversity in hiring, heterogeneous dynasties and long-run mobility, misallocation or mismeasurement, measuring racial discrimination in bail decisions, top wealth in america: new estimates under heterogeneous returns, predictably unequal the effect of machine learning on credit markets, can you move to opportunity evidence from the great migration, informational barriers to market access: experimental evidence from liberian firms, within-firm pay inequality, trade and informality in the presence of labor market frictions and regulations, intergenerational mobility in socio-emotional skills, old boys' clubs and upward mobility among the educational elite, the impact of covid-19 on formal firms: micro tax data simulations across countries, intergenerational mobility of immigrants in the us over two centuries, winners and losers the effect of gaining and losing access to selective colleges on education and labor market outcomes, on decentralized affirmative action policies and their duration, city limits: what do local-area minimum wages do, uneven growth: automation's impact on income and wealth inequality, the distributional effects of trade: theory and evidence from the united states, beyond pangloss: financial sector origins of inefficient economic booms, home values and firm behaviour, prices, non-homotheticities, and optimal taxation: the amplification channel of redistribution, subjective beliefs and inclusion policies: evidence from college admissions, inference for ranks with applications to mobility across neighborhoods and academic achievement across countries, unions and inequality over the 20th century: new evidence from survey data, calamities, common interests, shared identity: what shapes social cohesion in europe, robots, labor markets, and universal basic income, inequality as experienced difference: a reformulation of the gini coefficient, the impact of immigration on wages, internal migration and welfare, inequality and network structure, shocks, frictions, and inequality in us business cycles, the farming-inequality nexus: new insights from ancient western eurasia, race-related research in economics and other social sciences, who should get vaccinated individualized allocation of vaccines over sir network, stone centre team.

Taking care of the day-to-day operations of the Centre.

Advisory Board

Providing strategic advice on the Centre’s activities.

Postdoctoral Fellows

The Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme appoints postdocs for a period of one-year to conduct research projects and develop educational resources on wealth concentration and income inequality under the guidance of the Centre's Co-directors.

Visiting Fellows

The global Visiting Fellows Programme hosts academics and researchers working on themes relevant to the Stone Centre. Visitors can be based at the Centre for up to one year. The programme will build relationships and collaborations and provide space and facilities for visitors to carry out their research in the heart of London, integrated within one of the World's leading Economics departments at UCL.

PhD Scholars

PhD students in Economics at University College London who have received a Stone Centre scholarship.

Students or early careers academics interested in wealth concentration or inequality, whose work is supported by the Stone Centre at UCL.

Contributing their expertise to the Centre.

Subscribe to the Stone Centre newsletter

Subscribe to receive updates on the Stone Centre's output, funding calls, events, positions available, and more.

About the Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. Program in Economics at UCLA prepares students for careers as economists in academia, business and government. The program combines rigorous work in economic theory and careful study of real-world problems and institutions. Graduates from this program work at major universities around the world, national and international government agencies, banks, research centers and in private businesses. Some of our graduates have achieved great prominence, such as William Sharpe , who earned both his B.A. and Ph.D. degrees at UCLA, and was co-recipient of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on the capital asset pricing model.

The department includes internationally recognized scholars in economic theory, econometrics, and all the major applied fields. These outstanding scholars form one of the foremost departments of economics in the world.

The Economics Department is situated within one of the world’s most youthful and vibrant universities. Founded in 1919, UCLA first developed into a major university in the 1950’s. After so short a history, the university was ranked second in the United States among public research universities by the Conference Board of Associated Research Councils in 1982. Thirty-one of its Ph.D. programs are currently ranked in the top 20 in their field–third best in the nation.

The Ph.D. is the degree objective of the graduate program. This degree is awarded to students who demonstrate professional competence by passing written qualifying exams and by completing a major piece of individual research (the Ph.D. dissertation).

Preparation for the qualifying exams through coursework and independent study occupies most student time for the first two years. Thereafter the focus shifts to independent research and finally to the writing of a Ph.D. dissertation. Research in progress by our graduate students as well as our faculty is presented at workshops that meet weekly throughout the academic year. Currently, the Dept. has workshops in Theory and Mathematical Economics, International and Development Economics, Labor and Population Economics, Business Organization and Regulation Economics, Economic History, Econometrics, and Monetary Theory. In addition, many graduate students work as research or teaching assistants for faculty members. The normal time to degree is six years.

This degree program classifies as STEM (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics).

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PhD Economics admissions FAQs

LSE has a well-established infrastructure for admitting and funding PhD students in the Department of Economics. We have a Chair and committee for both PhD Admissions and PhD Recruitment. In addition we have a dedicated professional staff at School and Department level dealing with funding and admissions. Applications are processed centrally through the  Graduate Admissions Office .

There is a strict application deadline for the PhD Economics 2024 entry. All applicants are advised to read the  MRes/PhD Economics 2024 prospectus page .

Admissions FAQs (2024 entry)

Below you will find various FAQS categorised by application , post application , funding and programme queries.

Application queries

1. when is the application deadline for the phd economics .

For direct entry to the PhD Economics programme there is an application deadline of  14 December 2023 . Complete applications must be received by the LSE Graduate Admissions Office by 23.59hrs (UK time) on 14 December 2023. We will not be able to accept any materials that arrive after the deadline; only complete applications supplied with all required supporting information by 14 December 2023 will be considered.

2. How should I apply?

Applications must be submitted via  LSE’s Online Application System  and are processed through LSE’s central  Graduate Admissions Office . All applicants are advised to read the  Department of Economics 2024 prospectus page  (for entry in 2024).

3. When should I apply?

The deadline to submit an application is 23.59hrs (UK time) 14 December 2023. Candidates are encouraged to apply early rather than wait until very close to the deadline to avoid unforeseen circumstances (eg. technical issues) preventing timely submission. Applicants who are considering re-taking the GRE test to improve their scores should do so in time to submit their new scores by the application deadline.  The Department cannot accept new GRE scores after the application deadline. 

4. What are the entry requirements? 

Entry requirements for the PhD Economics are stated on the departmental prospectus page . See also the LSE Minimum Entry Requirements including information for international students .

For details about the programme itself, see the Department of Economics Research Programmes  and the prospectus pages. See also details of the PhD Economics coursework requirements .

5. What should my application include?

Your application should include:

• An application form
• Application fee
• Statement of academic purpose
• Transcripts
• Two academic references
• Research statement (see guidance on the Research statement below)
• A separate list of all the courses you are currently taking and/or will be taking (if you are currently undertaking a degree programme)
• English language test scores (if applicable - see English language requirements )

For a full explanation of what you need to supply, please see Graduate Admissions advice on  How to Apply and guide to Supporting Documents .

6. How can I get help with the application process?

Questions about the mechanics of the application process should be submitted to LSE’s central Graduate Admissions Office . See how you can Contact the Graduate Admissions Office . A full range of Graduate Admissions guidance and information is available via their Graduate Knowledge Base  page. If you do not find the answer to your question there, please follow the “ I Need Help ” link which allows you to contact the Graduate Admissions Office by email or Live Chat.  

7. Do I need to submit a written sample? 

No, applicants to the PhD Economics are not required to submit a sample of their written work. We will, however, require a research statement.

8. Do I need to submit a Statement of academic purpose as well as a Research statement? 

Yes, the Statement of academic purpose is a school-wide requirement as it helps our academic selectors understand your personal motivation for undertaking the programme and gives you the opportunity to explain your academic strengths, relevant interests and tell us what you can bring to the programme. This Statement can be brief (ideally not exceeding 1000 words). 

9. 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 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.

10. 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.

11. Should my application include a diversity statement?

LSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive university, a vision the Department of Economics fully supports. We believe strongly in expanding the diversity of our graduate student body and invite you to share your experiences, values, perspectives, and/or activities that shape you as a PhD candidate and align with these commitments as part of your statement of academic purpose.

Should a candidate submit a diversity statement as part of their statement of academic purpose the information provided will help the selection committee to contextualise the application; however, it will not play a part in assessing a candidate’s suitability for the MREs/PhD Economics programme. 

12. Can I contact faculty in advance, with a request to be my PhD supervisor? 

This is neither necessary nor desirable. Applicants must submit a complete application by the published deadline. There is a formal review process whereby the Department will decide if we can offer candidates a place on the programme. The allocation of a supervisor is done after completion of Year 1 of the programme, based on each student's area of interest and availability of faculty. There is no presumption that a student will be allocated the supervisor of their own choice, or any member of faculty they may have contacted before/during the application process.

13. Do I need to submit a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score? 

All applicants must have taken the GRE General Test  and must include the test score with their application. For details of how to take the test, see the ETS website. The GRE has three sections: Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical. High GRE scores, especially in the Quantitative section, will further strengthen a good application. Most successful PhD Economics applicants have scores of 166 or more in the quantitative section. Applicants must enter their full and percentile GRE scores for all three sections. The test scores should be less than five years old on 1 October 2024.

14. Can I request an exemption on the GRE score requirement? 

GRE is a compulsory requirement, irrespective of the MRes/PhD Economics applicant’s academic background. Normally, no GRE waiver is possible.  However, applicants faced with exceptional and  unavoidable  circumstances may submit a waiver request by email, with relevant supporting information, to the Department’s admissions team .  The Selection Committee will consider such requests on a case-by-case basis and the GRE waiver cannot be guaranteed. NB. Please note that booking a late GRE test date will normally not be considered sufficient grounds for a waiver.

15. Can I submit an application solely for the MRes?

No, the MRes is an integral stage of the PhD Economics programme, and may only be taken by students who are committed to completing a PhD, subject to satisfying progression requirements.

16. Can I transfer from a PhD programme at another University?  

Applicants who commence/are already undertaking a PhD programme in another institution will not normally be allowed to transfer directly into a later stage of our PhD Economics. Such applicants would be expected to submit a full application to the programme like any other candidate and, if offered a place, would be required to undertake all parts of the course from the start of the programme, i.e. they would be registered as MRes students and undertake both years of the taught MRes programme along with the rest of the cohort. Exemption from parts of the PhD Economics, on grounds of having studied certain topics at a previous institution, will not normally be permitted.

17. Who should I contact for further information and advice?

If you have a query about our postgraduate Economics programmes that is not addressed above, or on the departmental website, contact the  Department of Economics postgraduate admissions team .  Please note that we are not able to reply to questions that constitute a request for an informal assessment. Applicants who have questions about their eligibility should consult the   Department of Economics prospectus page .

All enquiries about the application process must be addressed to LSE’s central  Graduate Admissions Office .

Post application queries

18. do you hold an open day.

As part of our recruitment process successful offer holders are invited to attend an Open Day where they will be able to meet and network with faculty and current MRes/PhD Economics students.

Applicants are, of course, very welcome to visit LSE on their own and attend a guided or self-guided tour – see more details about a visit to LSE . 

LSE also has many  public events  which are often open to all, although some do require a ticket.  There are also LSE Virtual Open Day events - for more information and to register your interest please visit the LSE Webpage .

19. What happens to my application after I click submit?

During this phase, the Graduate Admissions team conducts checks to ensure you have included all of the required documents with your application. Please note, the Department will not receive your application until you have supplied all of the required documents, which must be submitted by the application deadline. 

Once the deadline passes and the Department receives all complete applications the Selection Committee begins its review of all applications, until they arrive at a final shortlist of candidates. This process usually takes around 4 weeks at the end of which the Committee holds its final meeting to decide on who to make an offer to.

NB: The Department of Economics does not hold interviews as part of its selection process. 

After the Selection Committee meeting, all applicants who are offered a place on the PhD Economics programme are reviewed by the Funding committee for consideration of all funding at our disposal. The Department cannot guarantee that all of those offered places to study will also be offered funding. 

From early March onward, formal offers will be sent out by the LSE Graduate Admissions Office after carrying out its standard checks. The Department will also contact candidates to whom we wish to offer a place on the PhD Economics. At that stage, each candidate will be advised if they have been awarded funding, waitlisted for funding or have not been allocated funding at all. 

Candidates who are unsuccessful will be informed of the final decision by the Graduate Admissions Office. We typically expect this decision to be communicated to you around the beginning of March. 

20. When will I get my decision on my PhD Economics?

Admissions decisions will be made by a committee in the Department of Economics. Applicants will be informed of the decision by early March 2024. If your application is successful, we expect you to let us know by 15 April 2024 whether you are planning to enrol.

21. What are my chances of admission?

The admission committee reviews all applications and offers a place to those candidates with sufficient research potential.

Applicants who have questions about their eligibility for applying to research programmes at LSE should consult the  LSE Minimum Entry Requirements   and the  programme-specific  page for the programme to which they intend to apply. Also see  additional information for international students . Meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission. In fact, most successful candidates exceed one or more of the requirements.

We regret that we cannot provide any further information or comment on an individual's chances of admission prior to receiving a complete formal application. The committee will make their decision based on all the information submitted with the application, which should be submitted online to the central  Graduate Admissions Office .

Funding queries

22. is there a separate process to apply for phd economics funding.

There is no separate process to apply for any funding which is administered and awarded by LSE - as a matter of normal procedure, all applicants who are offered a place on our PhD Economics would be considered for all types of funding at our disposal and for which they are eligible, on the basis of the information submitted in their application - see  Costs and financial aid  

As competition for places is very high and competition for funding is even more intense, we may not be able to offer funding to all PhD Economics students, hence applicants are advised to actively explore all sources of potential funding – see information in the School's  Financial Support Office  pages  (please check regularly for 2024 information updates) . 

23. Will there be funding options available once I've started the PhD Economics

Offer holders are expected to only take up a place on the PhD Economics if they have funds in place to finish their degree; please be aware that it's very unlikely there will be any funding available from the Department of Economics to fund PhD Economics students after they have started their degree. While there might be limited sources of funding at later stages of the PhD, e.g. from teaching or research assistant positions, these cannot be guaranteed nor can specific amounts (if any) be estimated at this stage. 

24. Will my financial status be a factor in the selection process?

Admissions decisions are made on the basis of academic merit alone, without any reference to an applicant’s financial situation. Applicants who are able to fund themselves or succeed in securing a scholarship or sponsorship from any source will be considered for entry to the programme in exactly the same way as applicants who have no funding in place. The same procedures and standards apply to all applicants competing for entry.

Programme queries

25. What can you tell me about the structure of the programme?

See the prospectus page for the PhD Economics programme – section “ Programme structure and courses” . The PhD Economics programme is grounded in two years of coursework through the MRes component followed by three to four years of research through the PhD.

Also see the LSE A cademic Calendar  for all Research Students at LSE, where clicking on “Programme Regulations” and “Research Course Guides” will give you detailed insight into the topics covered in each programme of study. 

26. Is the PhD Economics offered on a part-time basis?

The PhD Economics is only offered on a full-time basis.

27. How does the programme differ from the US and European programmes?

The programme has the standard structure of top US programmes with compulsory coursework in the first two years and research thereafter.  As in most US programmes, students take core courses in year one and field courses in year two.

28. Can I progress to the PhD Economics via an MSc programme at LSE?

There will no longer be automatic and direct progression from any LSE programme into our MRes/PhD Economics from the 2024/5 academic cycle.  Students registered in the LSE Department of Economics during the 2023/4 academic year, who wish to be considered for 2024 entry to the MRes/PhD Economics would need to submit the standard full application package by the deadline for 2024 entry (14 December 2023).  All applicants - including LSE students - will be given equal consideration, as part of the MRes/PhD Economics' standard process for admission as well as funding.  

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Ph.D. in Economics

Louvain-La-Neuve

The Ph.D. in economics of UCLouvain prepares candidate for research and teaching positions in academia and private or public organizations across the world. The Ph.d.D program is built as a three-year training program (180 ECTS).

The school offers doctoral students a broad choice of advanced courses in various fields of economics.

The objective is twofold: confronting students with the latest developments in their own field of research and exposing them to recent developments in at least one other field of research. The choice of courses is enlarged thanks to a collaboration with the University of Brussels (ULB) , the University of Namur (UNamur)  and the  Katholieke Universiteit Leuven . Beyond courses, that collaboration also opens the possibility of joint supervisions of thesis and the organisation of a yearly meeting of doctoral students from the three institutions.

The Economics School of Louvain also co-organizes the European Doctoral Program . The EDP is a  network of top economics departments in Europe offering an outstanding breath of courses and research topics, within different research traditions, opening to a great variety of views unified by deep and rigorous thinking, with an emphasis on creativity and intellectual excellence, through high quality supervision and exchanges and mobility between member institutions leading to a large academic and professional alumni network.

The admission to the doctoral school constitutes the FIRST MANDATORY STEP in the doctoral process.

The admission application is to be sent to the Doctoral Bureau in Economics through its administrator  in electronic format (PDF, in a single file)

Admission application The following elements must be contained in the electronic admission file :

• Identity, full name (scanned copies of identity card and/or passport) 
• Contact information (address, telephone and email) 
• CV and copies of obtained university degrees 
• Proof of completion of Master’s degree in economics 120 ECTS with honors or equivalent, terminating undergraduate and graduate university studies of at least 300 ECTS.
• A student with a Master’s degree 120 ECTS obtained with honors or equivalent in a different field may be granted access after validating up to 60 ECTS of graduate coursework in management or equivalent. 
• Documentation showing proficiency in English
• Letter of support from a faculty member to act as supervisor.
• Research proposal 
• Proposal for supervisory panel
• Proposal for a research training programme

Confirmation

The confirmation procedure is a mandatory INTERMEDIATE STEP in the doctoral process with the purpose to assure adequate progress towards the thesis defense in order to meet the statutory objectives in terms of time and quality. The confirmation serves several objectives:

• the confirmation is the critical stage where the candidate has to convince his/her supervisory panel about the prospects of terminating the thesis as initiated. In passing the confirmation, candidate gets an endorsement from the supervisory panel to continue the research along the undertaken direction until the private defense (at least one year later).  
• the confirmation is the occasion for the supervisory panel to more precisely fix objectives and limitations for the candidate and the project, given the intermediate results from the 1-2 years of research. These guidelines are important to focus the final work at fruitful areas for scientific contributions, opportunities for publication and/or data availability.
• the progress and status at the confirmation allows the supervisory panel to identify and isolate potential barriers for the candidate in the realization of the project. These barriers could be both linked to material resources (access to financial resources, tools and proprietary data) and human resources (personal capacity of the candidate to master parts of the methodology, supervisory capacity, international connections, etc). The guidelines from the confirmation should address any potential barriers identified as to ensure that the objectives can be achieved in due time with highest quality.  

Doctoral Defense

When the supervisory panel considers that the candidate’s work and doctoral research training have been satisfactorily completed, it proposes a composition of a doctoral jury. Usually, the private defense can be fixed earliest one year after the passed confirmation.

Research themes

Research in economics at UCLouvain covers the following fields:

• general equilibrium and games,
• industrial organisation, economic geography and international trade,
• growth and fluctuations,
• public policy: health, education, environment and natural resources,
• financial institutions and markets,
• labour markets, social policy and social economics,
• economic history and history of economic thought,
• ethics and social choice,
• econometric methods.

Diploma and certification

The programme leads to a degree of "Docteur en sciences économiques et de gestion" id est  "Doctor in Economics and Management"

Participating Entities

CORE : Center for operations research and econometrics. IRES :   Institut de recherches économiques et sociales ETES : Chaire Hoover d'éthique économique et sociale.

Doctoral Commission

Président : Per Joakim AGRELL Secrétaire académique : François MANIQUET Autre(s) membre(s) académique(s) : Nathalie DELOBBE Florian MAYNERIS Marthe NYSSENS Claude PECHEUX Membre(s) scientifique(s) : Mehdi MADANI

Administration Mrs Isabelle Portzenheim [email protected] SSH/ESPO/ECON Collège Léon Dupriez Place Montesquieu 3, bte L2.06.01 B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium) Tel: +32-10-47.39.54 Fax: +32-10-47.32.90Q

UCL School of Management

University college london, phd programme in financial economics.

Start date:  September 2024 Duration: 5 years (1 year MRes + 4 years PhD) Fees:  We offer fully-funded scholarships to all admitted students who have applied by the 31 January 2024 (see details below)  Application deadline:  31 January 2024, 17:00 UK time (late applications submited by the 05 April 2024 may still be considered, see details below) Entry:  Applicants must hold a distinction in a master’s degree in Economics or a closely related subject. Applicants must demonstrate a high level of analytical and quantitative skills (such as in mathematics and statistics), evidenced by strong performance in relevant modules taken on previous degree programmes and/or through relevant standardised test performance (such as GRE Quantitative of at least 160). International students, please note that UCL’s English language requirement for this programme is a ‘ Level 2 ’ (IELTS and TOEFL are the preferred test, however others on the UCL recognised test list will be accepted if required) - further details regarding this can be found on the  UCL English Language Requirements  page.

The MRes and PhD in Financial Economics is a joint programme between the UCL Department of Economics and the UCL School of Management.

The MRes programme is the first year of the five-year integrated MRes/PhD programme in Financial Economics. The MRes programme will provide you with training in research methods together with an advanced understanding of financial economics, to enable you to conduct insightful and original PhD level research in financial economics. 

The MRes will firstly provide quantitative training in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and finance. These will be taught in the context of cutting-edge research and relevant applications. Secondly, it will provide you with analytic frameworks and transferable skills that will allow you to identify relevant and promising research topics, present ideas in order to obtain feedback, and provide feedback yourself. 

The subsequent years (for students who progress from the MRes to MPhil) will focus on the skills you will need to run research projects to completion and to present completed research projects to various kinds of specialised audiences. Likewise, teaching skills will also be developed.

PhD Structure

• The MRes programme consists of taught modules (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics. Real Analysis and Probability with Economic Application), a hybrid module (Financial Economics) with taught components and research based components, and a research project in the final part of the year. For the MRes project, you work under supervision to design and carry out a substantial piece of original research. This enables you to gain a deep understanding of the entire research process.
• Superior performance is required for automatic progression from MRes to MPhil. In particular, students should achieve an average mark of not less than 60% in the independent, original research components of the programme, and not less than 50% in the taught element.
• Our highly selective and small-sized PhD programme ensures that each student receives personal attention and guidance from our faculty members throughout their doctoral study. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful academic career. At the same time, you will be part of both the School of Management PhD cohort and the Economics PhD cohort, with which you will share most of the taught modules.
• We expect our PhD graduates to have as their goal an academic career as a faculty member in a top business school or Economics department or in the research group of an international institution or a central bank.

Students take a total of 180 credits in the MRes year. This is made up of the MRes Research Project (MSIN0135) and 75 credits of compulsory taught modules. 

All modules in the MRes year are core modules, there are no optional modules. 

• ECON0107 - Macroeconomics, 15 credits  
• ECON0106 - Microeconomics, 15 credits  
• ECON0108 - Econometrics, 15 credits  
• ECON0118 - Real Analysis and Probability with Economic Applications, 15 credits
• MSIN0234 - Topics in Financial Economics, 30 credits  
• MSIN0135 - MRes Financial Economics Research Project, 105 credits  

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and class discussion. Student performance is assessed through presentations, coursework, projects, and examinations. 

Students will study 4 compulsory taught modules. A typical taught module is taught over two terms (2 x 10 weeks) with 4 hours of contact hours per week (3 hours of lecture + 1 hour of review session). In addition, students spend approximately 6-8 hours a week for each module on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars.  

Students will also undertake a substantial research project, which would usually start in Term 2 and be completed over the Summer. The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the weekly activities being undertaken.

Why choose us

What makes us different:.

Unlike many PhD Programmes in finance, our programme has a full anchor in economics and econometrics. Hence, we offer a unique world-class environment that combines the best of a leading business school, located in Canary Wharf, the heart of London’s modern financial district, and the tradition of economic research and teaching of the Department of Economics, which is located in Bloomsbury, London’s historical intellectual centre.

If you want to become an academic economist conducting research in finance, this programme is for you.  

UCL School of Management and the Department of Economics  

Founded in 2007, UCL School of Management has forged a reputation for world-leading research in management studies with 95% of the School’s research deemed to be world-leading or internationally excellent, the second highest percentage of any business school in the UK, according to the 2021 REF . The PhD programme is an integral part of our School’s active and ambitious research environment where students receive rigorous academic training and personalised research mentorship. 

The UCL Department of Economics has an outstanding international reputation in key areas of current research. The Department ranked top in the UK for research environment and outputs in the field of Economics and Econometrics in the 2021 REF . 

Our research programme offers a unique education and research experience with the intent of preparing you for scholarly careers at the highest level. Our highly selective and small-sized programme ensures that you receive personal attention and an opportunity for guidance from our world-leading scholars. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful academic career. 

As a research student you will join a highly active research environment which involves frequent research seminars and visits by leading scholars worldwide, reading groups, brown bag seminars and panels in which PhD students and faculty members present and discuss their ongoing work. Such forums provide an excellent opportunity to receive critical constructive feedback on your research and to develop academic, generic and transferable skills.

Applications

Applying for our mres/phd programme.

Entry requirements and admissions criteria:

Applicants to the MRes+PhD programme must hold a distinction in a master’s degree in Economics or a closely related subject. Applicants must demonstrate a high level of analytical and quantitative skills (such as in mathematics and statistics), evidenced by strong performance in relevant modules taken on previous degree programmes and/or through relevant standardised test performance (such as GRE Quantitative of at least 160). Submitting a GRE test result is encouraged but not compulsory and is only one of the components used to assess the strength of applications. 

We only have a single intake in September. We accept applications throughout the year. Successful candidates who have submitted their MRes application by 31 January 2024 will receive a scholarship (full fee waiver plus a stipend). Successful candidates who have submitted their application after this date may receive a scholarship subject to availability, or will come with their own funding.

In your personal statement you are expected to suggest one or more faculty members as potential supervisors. On the application form you may see that it states that it is preferred that you contact potential supervisors beforehand. However, we strongly discourage applicants from contacting individual faculty members or potential supervisors when applying to our programme. All applications are first evaluated by a joint admissions committee, so contacting potential supervisors separately will not increase your chances.

We also require you to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores if English is not your first language. Our School requires a “Level 2” English language qualification which corresponds to:

IELTS: Overall grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the sub-tests.

TOEFL: Score of 96 overall, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing subtests and 22/30 in the listening and speaking subtests. 

Application Deadline

The application window closes 31 January 2024 (17:00 UK time) and a late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time). We advise those interested in the programme to apply before 31 January 2024, as those applying in the late submission window will only be considered if there are still places remaining.

Application Procedure

Apply via UCL Postgraduate Admissions System here . When starting the application, you must select the MRes Financial Economics option. In addition to filling out the online application form, please upload a copy of the following documents:

• Official Transcripts of Grades / Course marks
• A 1 page personal statement that clearly indicates: (i) your research interests and preliminary research ideas, (ii) potential faculty member(s) you may want to work with (this is a suggested list, you don’t need to contact potential supervisors beforehand), and (iii) your motivation to do a PhD.
• Your  GRE  score report, if you took the test.
• Your IELTS/TOEFL score report, if English is not your first language.

Funding/Scholarships

We offer fully funded five year scholarships to all admitted students who apply before the 31 January 2024. The scholarship is open to all nationalities. It covers all tuition fees, and includes an annual stipend of £25,000 which is tax-free. 

Successful candidates who have submitted their application after 31 January 2024 may receive a scholarship subject to availability or will come with their own funding.

Additional Costs

This programme does not have any compulsory additional costs outside of purchasing books or stationery, printing, thesis binding or photocopying.  Students may have the opportunity to participate in conferences in the UK and internationally. The UCL School of Management provides MRes/PhD students with an annual budget for conferences, which students will use to cover the travel, accommodation, food and other costs whilst at conferences, in line with UCL’s expenses policy. 

Further Information and Contact Details

The full-time MRes/PhD programme runs from September each academic year. Entrance is therefore every September. While we may accept applications until 05 April 2024 we encourage candidates to apply as early as possible. Our programme is very selective and we only admit a limited number of students, so applying before 31 January 2024 increases your chances.

How to Apply

For queries about the MRes/PhD Programme that are not addressed on our web pages, please contact [email protected] .

Video Library

Frequently Asked Questions about the UCL School of Management MRes/PhD Programme

Programme Information

Application process, admissions requirements.

Students are required to possess a “Level 2” English language qualification if it is not their first language. This means: TOEFL: Score of 96, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing, and 22/30 in the listening and speaking subtests. IELTS: Overall grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the subtests.

Further Information

If you have any other questions regarding the programme that are not addressed on our web pages please email the programme team ( [email protected] )

UCL Department of Geography

Research Title

Homing to China: Transnational migrant parents from economically developed countries and their practices of parenting in Guangzhou 

Academic Background

• University College London (UCL) PhD in Human Geography  (09/2019 - Present)
• The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Visiting Scholar in the Hong Kong Institute of Humanities & Social Sciences  (10/2022 - 11/2022)
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) MSc in Sociology  (09/2016 – 12/2017)
• University of York BA in Sociology  (09/2013 - 06/2016)

Research Experience

• Invited researcher, Institute of Urban Internationalization, Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences, 05/2022 - 11/2022
• Research Assistant, Asian Development Bank, 12/2018 - 08/2020 

Other Experience

• UCL Department of Geography: PhD Student-Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC) Representative (09/2019 - 10/2021);
• Lead Department Student-Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC) Representative (09/2020 - 10/2021).
• UCL Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences: Postgraduate Research (PGR) Representative (09/2019 - 10/2020).
• Wine & Spirit Education Trust (London): Wine & Spirit Tasting Level 2: Pass and Merit (2015), Wine Tasting Level 3: Candidate (2017)
• York Museum Trust (Yorkshire): Volunteer (exhibition guide, model) in York Castle Museum (07/2015 – 04/2016)

I have taught on the following modules: 

Postgraduate

• Social Science Research: Methodologies and Methods (GEOG0155)
• Migration and Transnationalism (GEOG0039)
• Li, J. L. (2022). [Oral presentation] " “Schools do their jobs, but we are the most important”: Transnational migrant families' parenting logics and educational decisions in China",  The RGS-IBG Annual Conference 2022
• Greatrick, A., Al-Waeli, J., Sender, H., Maioli, S. C., Li, J. L., & Goodwin, E. (2022). Adapting to Crisis: Migration Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Migration and Society , 5(1), 115-123.
• Li, J. L. (2021). [Oral presentation] "(Im)mobility, Bordering and Parenting: Transnational Migrant Families in Post-COVID China”,  The RGS-IBG Annual Conference 2021
• Li, J. (2021). [CSSCI] Infection Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in the UK: Policy Analysis and Implications [In Chinese].  Chinese Public Policy Review , vol.18, pp. 142-165.

My doctoral research sits at the boundary between transnational family migration, everyday parenting, social reproduction and late modernity. My research interests encompass topics related to transnational mobility, migration from the Global North to the Global South, transnational spaces, embeddedness and the geographical imagination of China as a destination for international migration. My research is mainly empirical and qualitative; they usually explore transnational family migrants residing in China (usually from economically developed countries) and Chinese emigrants overseas. I mainly draw on Bourdieu’s theory of forms of capitals, Bauman’s theory of liquid modernity, Beck and Giddens’ theory of risk, and the geographical theories of transnationalism and cosmopolitanism to inform my empirical research. Besides, I also have a long interest in Foucault's theory of discourse, knowledge and the body.

Research Student

Research Student Office 303 UCL Department of Geography, North West Wing, London, WC1E 6BT

•  [email protected]

Supervisors

• Primary: Professor Johanna Waters
• Secondary: Professor Alan Latham

Research Students

Graduate Program

Our department offers a Ph.D. degree in Economics.  This website gives a complete list of our core program requirements, field options, areas of faculty research, current Ph.D. students, and placements of our recently-graduated students.  It also has a publicity video that introduces the department from the perspective of current graduate students and recent alumni/ae.  Our graduate program is STEM-approved.

We take pride in the value added by our program.  Our commitment to graduate student teaching and thesis supervision is unusually strong. While our program is oriented toward students who aim for faculty positions at universities and for research positions in the public sector and international agencies, in recent years a number of our graduates have chosen to take positions in the private sector, especially in financial and high-tech firms.

We admit those students who demonstrate the greatest promise for success not only in the Ph.D. program but also in their subsequent careers. We base our admissions decisions primarily on the standard criteria (academic preparation, grades, research experience, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores) but also look for personal traits such as joyfulness, resilience, creativity, and independence.

We encourage applicants from a variety of backgrounds, but a good understanding of intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, multivariate calculus, basic linear algebra, and probability and statistics is required before beginning the core requirements.  Training in econometrics and in more advanced mathematics and statistics is desirable but not necessary.

UCR is a rapidly expanding campus.  There are many exciting initiatives on campus, such as the School of Public Policy and the Global Studies Program, which offer opportunities for students interested in public policy.  The City of Riverside is a very livable community that was recently ranked among the best places to reside and do business in the United States.  Situated halfway between the City of Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and blessed with a Southern California climate,  Riverside is less than an hour away from the beach, the mountains, and the desert. Few places in the United States offer such a range of recreational opportunities.

Please contact Gary Kuzas, Graduate Student Affairs Assistant, if you have any questions about our program or the admissions process: [email protected]

Hiroki Nishimura, Graduate Advisor for Enrolled Students Siyang Xiong, Graduate Advisor for Admissions

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