Economics

Entry requirements

• • Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Distinction).
  • If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.
• • Applicants must hold (or be expecting) a Distinction-level Master’s degree in Economics – of an equivalent level to the Faculty’s MPhil in Economic Research.
  • Specifically, candidates must have advanced technical training in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. In addition, through optional papers, they should have some knowledge of the work at the frontier of their research areas of interest. Successful applicants should display some independent research skills and should have experience putting them into practice.
  • We strongly encourage applicants to include information about their ranking within their academic years, at both undergraduate and master’s degrees.

Months of entry

October

Course content

This is the most advanced programme of graduate studies in Economics at Cambridge which offers the opportunity for detailed research on a specific topic within the broad field of Economics under the supervision of leading experts. Upon its completion, candidates are awarded a PhD degree for producing a thesis of high-quality, original, and publishable research.

Our PhD students receive high-quality training on a variety of research methods and are exposed to cutting edge research conducted by our own Faculty members, as well visitors to the Faculty (via the Janeway Institute Cambridge, seminars, PhD workshops, locally organised conferences, etc.). Faculty members can supervise a wide range of topics from six broadly defined research areas: microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, econometrics, applied microeconomics, economic history and alternative approaches to economics.

PhD students in Cambridge benefit from a high faculty-to-student ratio and therefore form close relationships with many Faculty members. They also forge strong links with our post-doctoral researchers, and they actively participate in the Faculty’s vibrant research life. They have access to a wide range of facilities, such as their own desk/office space in the same building as regular Faculty members, computing equipment, a variety of software and access to a wide range of databases.

Please see the University ranking in the world and the UK at The World University Rankings 2022.

PhD students are encouraged to attend academic conferences and showcase their research work in a variety of ways. Upon completion of their studies, many of our PhD students become academics, or researchers at international or government research institutions (see recent job market placements on Faculty website).

Information for international students

Language Requirement

IELTS (Academic)

Element Score

Listening 7.0

Writing 7.0

Reading 7.0

Speaking 7.0

Total 7.5

TOEFL Internet Score

Element Score

Listening 25

Writing 25

Reading 25

Speaking 25

Total 110

CAE

Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)

CPE

Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).