Program Overview

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Economics

Overview

The economics group is an energetic and enterprising research cluster that continuously strives for excellence in both its teaching and its scholarship. The group's research strengths cover economic theory, applied economics, and econometrics. The group has a particular interest in game theory and economic history. Aside from gaining close research advice and direction from their supervisors and other academics in the group, research students benefit from attending courses and tailor-made reading groups to complete their background preparation in economics.

Subject Summary

You’ll be researching topics including economic theory, applied economics, econometrics, game theory, and economic history, economics of networks and institutions, business, empirical economics and econometrics, and economic growth. You’ll benefit from close research advice and direction from your supervisors and other academics in the group, plus you’ll attend courses and tailor-made reading groups to complete your background preparation.

Student Testimonials

• My research focuses on the entrepreneurial function in socially structured economies. I use insights from network science to explain the economic prosperity and demise of individuals, firms, and markets. The resources provided are fantastic, especially in the areas of game theory and economic history. The programme is small, which allows me frequent contact with my supervisors and other academics.
  • Owen Sims, Final-Year PhD Student

Course Content

There is no specific course content as such. Students are expected to take research training modules that are supported by the School, which focus on quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students are also expected to carry out their research under the guidance of their supervisors.

Research Information

• Associated Research
  • Institutional and relational economics
  • Social networks
  • Strategic formation of coalitions and networks
  • Banking crises
  • Crime and conflict
  • Political economy
  • Methodology and history of economics
  • Behavioural and experimental economics
  • Economics of education
  • Financial econometrics
  • Health economics
  • Labour economics and social policy
  • Panel data
  • Demography and economic growth
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Long-run development

Career Prospects

The School has a proven track-record of placing its PhD graduates in tenure-track research and teaching posts at top universities in the UK and elsewhere.

People Teaching You

• Postgraduate Administrator
  • Business School

Course Structure

• There is no specific course content as such. Students are expected to take research training modules that are supported by the School, which focus on quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students are also expected to carry out their research under the guidance of their supervisors.
• Over the course of study, students can attend postgraduate skills training organised by the Graduate School.
• Students will normally register, in the first instance, as an ‘undifferentiated PhD student’, which means that they have satisfied staff that they are capable of undertaking a research degree. The decision as to whether students should undertake an MPhil or a PhD is delayed until they have completed ‘differentiation’.
• Differentiation takes place about 9 months after registration for full-time students and about 18 months for part-time students. Students are normally asked to submit work to a panel of up to two academics and this is followed up with a formal meeting with the ‘Differentiation Panel’. The Panel then make a judgement about the student’s capacity to continue with their study. Sometimes students are advised to revise their research objectives or to consider submitting their work for an MPhil qualification rather than a doctoral qualification.
• To complete with a doctoral qualification, students are required to submit a thesis of approximately 80,000 words and attend a viva voce [oral examination] with an external and internal examiner to defend their thesis.
• A PhD programme runs for 3-4 years full-time or 6-8 years part-time. Students can apply for a writing-up year should it be required.

Entrance Requirements

• Graduate
  • Normally a UK 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) and a UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline with a final result of 60% (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University). In cases where applicants have not completed a Master's degree, applications may be considered where applicants hold a 1st class Honours undergraduate degree from a high-ranking, research-focused university and have demonstrated an ability to conduct academic research.

International Students

• For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

• Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI) | £5,006
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) | £5,006
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB) | £5,006
• EU Other | £20,500
• International | £20,500

Additional Course Costs

• There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Funding and Scholarships

• The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study-related expenses.

How to Apply

• Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a Supervisor

• If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.
• To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.
• You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.