Program Overview

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in Applied Economics is a collaborative program offered by the departments of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Economics, and the Edwards School of Business, and the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan. This program combines advanced courses in applied economics with a major research dissertation, focusing on microeconomic theory and quantitative methods, with one advanced course in macroeconomics.

Program Details

• The program is expected to be completed within 4 years.
• Students are not required to identify a faculty supervisor before applying.
• The core of the program focuses on microeconomic theory and quantitative methods with one advanced course in macroeconomics.
• The student and their advisory committee determine the remainder of the student’s field courses.

Research Areas

The applied economics Ph.D. program offers a wide variety of focus research areas, including:

• Applied econometrics: Application of novel empirical methods to applied economics questions.
• Behavioural and experimental economics: Understanding decision-making at the level of individual consumers, firms, and organizations.
• Environmental and resource economics: The application of economic theory and empirical methods to environmental and resource management and policy issues.
• Finance and financial economics: Empirical research in areas such as corporate finance, asset pricing, banking, financial derivatives, and risk management.
• Health and labour economics: Applications to the analysis of labour markets, health care provision and costs, income inequality, and economics of nutrition.
• Industrial organization, strategy, and firm behaviour: Analysis of firm behaviour and decision-making and industry structure.
• International economics: International trade, including trade theory and policy, international finance, and international macroeconomics.
• Policy and governance: Analysis of the economic welfare outcomes of policy decisions, and public policy formation.
• Regional and development economics: Understanding how economies operate at the national, sub-national, and local level and understanding how decision-making at the household, firm, and community level influences development outcomes.

Research Supervisors

A list of potential research supervisors is provided, along with their areas of specialization. It is not necessary to find a potential supervisor before applying, but the list may be helpful in learning about the research interests of the faculty.

Tuition and Funding

• Highly qualified students engaged in the program on a full-time basis are eligible for financial support in the form of scholarships, teaching, and research assistantships allocated on a competitive basis.
• All complete applications received by January 15 will be automatically considered for funding.
• Doctoral students pay tuition three times a year for as long as they are enrolled in their program, with both international and domestic Ph.D. students paying the same rate.
• The tuition rate is $1,812.00 CAD per term, with a total of $5,436.00 CAD per academic year.
• In addition to tuition, students also pay fees for programs like health and dental insurance, a bus pass, and other campus services.

Admission Requirements

• Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English.
• Master's degree, or equivalent, from a recognized university in a relevant academic discipline.
• A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of full-time study.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): Submission of the GRE and/or the GMAT is recommended for all applicants.

Application Process

• Submit an online application, which takes about 30 minutes to complete and requires a non-refundable application fee.
• Upload required documents, including unofficial PDF copies of academic transcripts, proof of English language proficiency (if required), a curriculum vitae or resume, and a statement/letter of intent outlining research interests.
• The statement/letter of intent should describe why the applicant wants to pursue a Ph.D. in Applied Economics, their research background and preparation, and the areas of applied economics they are interested in researching.