Economics PhD

As the most research-intensive business school in the UK, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework, there really is no better place to gain a deeper insight into economics.<br/><br/>Our main specialisms are Behavioural and Experimental Economics; Labour, Education and Health Economics; Macroeconomics and Financial Markets; Political Economy and International Trade, and Industrial Organisation and Economic Theory. We also host LExEL (a modern experimental lab) and the UK Housing Market Observatory. Please read our research and supervisor pages to match your research interests to available supervisors.<br/><br/>As well as a traditional four-year PhD programme, we also offer an integrated PhD of a one-year Masters followed by four years of doctoral study. Management School and Economic and Social Research Council scholarships are available.<br/><br/>As a student in our department, you will have access to advanced research training courses delivered by us and the ESRC-funded North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP). These courses are continually updated to remain at the forefront of research.<br/><br/>You will benefit from close research supervision and feel an active member of the department’s research environment by attending a vibrant weekly seminar series, research workshops and conferences. You will also have access to state-of-the-art databases, dedicated office space, scientific computing facilities and IT support. In addition to your thesis, an oral examination will form an integral part of the assessment of your doctoral research.<br/><br/>**Programme Structure**<br/>This is a four-year programme. The first year includes a range of advanced modules, which are delivered by the Department or by our ESRC NWSSDTP partners at the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool.<br/><br/>The final three years of the PhD programme are dedicated to full-time research for the completion of the doctoral thesis. Upon completion of the programme, you should have a thorough understanding of economic theory and its applications, as well as an ability to think critically about, and apply quantitative methods to, economic problems.<br/><br/>**Typical PhD Modules**<br/>- Research Skills for Economists<br/><br/><br/>- Microeconometrics<br/><br/><br/>- Applied Macroeconomics<br/><br/><br/>- Microeconomics<br/><br/><br/>After completing the taught component of the programme, those students who perform well and pass qualifying coursework and examinations proceed to develop a substantive research proposal (ECON880) under the guidance of their supervisory team. The research proposal is essentially a preliminary draft of the student’s first research paper, which builds upon the advanced research training undertaken throughout the year (especially the Research Skills module). Students defend their research proposal in an upgrade/confirmation panel that takes place in September.<br/><br/>**Research Focus**<br/>During your final three years, you will focus almost entirely on research and work on your research papers/chapters. You will be encouraged and financially supported to present your work in seminars, conferences and workshops to obtain feedback, interact with other researchers and establish research networks. If deemed beneficial by the supervisory team, you can also participate in NWSSDTP Economics modules, which you didnt take in the first year, and attend courses, masterclasses and workshops outside the NWSSDTP Economics pathway.<br/><br/>In your final year, you will be expected to complete your main research paper, the job market paper, and start preparing for the following year’s job market. The Department supports you during this stage through introductory talks, mock interviews and job market presentations.