Program Overview

PhD Economics

The PhD Economics program at the University of Essex is a research-based degree that offers supervision in applied microeconomics and microeconometrics. The program is based in the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) and provides students with the opportunity to work with leading experts in their field.

Overview

The PhD Economics program is a 3-4 year full-time or part-time program that starts in April, October, or January. The program is based at the Colchester Campus and provides students with access to specialist resources, including the Hilary Doughty Research Library and various longitudinal and panel data sets.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for the PhD Economics program, students must have a good Master's degree or equivalent in a related subject. International students must also meet the English language requirements, which include an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.

UK Entry Requirements

• A good Master's degree or equivalent in a related subject
• A well-developed research proposal
• Attendance at an interview or Skype interview for acceptance

International & EU Entry Requirements

• A wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries are accepted
• English language requirements must be met, including an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent

Structure

The PhD Economics program does not have a taught structure, allowing students to investigate their chosen topic in depth. The program includes regular one-to-one meetings with a supervisor, supervisory board meetings, and the opportunity to attend training courses and research seminars.

Course Structure

• A research degree that allows students to investigate their chosen topic in depth
• Regular one-to-one meetings with a supervisor
• Supervisory board meetings every six months
• Opportunity to attend training courses and research seminars

Assessment

• Students invest time mainly working on their thesis under the supervision of one or two researchers
• Most theses in ISER are organized in three main chapters, plus introduction and conclusions
• Students are expected to produce a complete draft of a new main chapter by the end of each academic year

Fees and Funding

The fees for the PhD Economics program are Ł5,006 per year for home/UK students and Ł19,650 per year for international students. There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the program.

Home/UK Fee

• Ł5,006 per year

International Fee

• Ł19,650 per year

Scholarships and Financial Support

• There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the program

What's Next

After completing the PhD Economics program, students can pursue a career in academia, government, international organizations, or statistical institutions. Some of our PhD students now work at:

• Department of Economics, University of Chicago, US
• Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia
• Department of Economics and Public Finance, University of Turin, Italy
• Department of Economics, University of Linz, Austria
• Centre for Research on Social Dynamics, Bocconi University, Italy
• Applied Microeconomics Research Unit, University of Minho, Portugal
• World Bank, US
• School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Canada

Related Courses

The University of Essex also offers an MPhil in Economics, which is a research-based degree that provides students with the opportunity to work with leading experts in their field.

MPhil Economics

• A research-based degree that provides students with the opportunity to work with leading experts in their field
• Available full-time or part-time
• Based at the Colchester Campus