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PhD in Economics

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Course closed:

Economics is no longer accepting new applications.

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 ).

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, faculty of economics, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding Deadlines

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

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PhD in Economics - Key Facts

Applications, previously completed the mphil in economic research, nationality, 8 uk 11 eu/overseas, 2 uk 12 eu/overseas, 4 uk 4 eu 7 overseas, 2 uk 5 eu 4 overseas, 0 uk 5 eu 5 overseas, 5 female 14 male, 5 female 9 male, 3 female 12 male, 3 female 8 male, 4 female 6 male, funding offered (full or partial), 4 esrc dtp 13 other, 5 esrc dtp 6 other, 2 esrc dtp 12 other, 3 esrc dtp 14 other, 4 esrc dtp 1 gates trust 10 other.

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Course type

Qualification, university name, postgraduate economics courses at university of cambridge.

2 courses available

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About Postgraduate Economics

Given the current state of our global finances, Economics is a fascinating subject which offers graduates a wide range of career opportunities, Whether you are interested in macroeconomics or environmental economics you’ll be able to find the perfect course on Postgraduate Search

Related subjects:

• Applied economics
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MPhil in Population Health Sciences

University of cambridge.

The overall aim of the programme is to provide course participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to serve as a foundation for a Read more...

• 10 months Full time degree: £13,554 per year (UK)
• 22 months Part time degree: £6,777 per year (UK)

PhD in Land Economy

Land Economy offers a full-time and a part-time PhD programme. The Department currently has over 70 PhD students at different stages of the Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £9,858 per year (UK)
• 4 years Part time degree: £5,915 per year (UK)

Course type:

Qualification:, related subjects:.

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The Business Ec…

The Business Economics PhD pathway

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Master of Research (MRes)

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Economic, technological, regulatory and institutional environments are changing rapidly and being reshaped the world over, creating complex challenges for business managers and policy-makers. These challenges open up new windows of opportunity for business economists to carry out deeply engaged and practically relevant research into business and public policy questions. 

The Economics and Policy group at Cambridge Judge Business School is energised and motivated by these opportunities. Current research by group members spans, inter-alia, business performance, industrial organisation, innovation, technology, energy, environment, regulation and managerial decision-making under ambiguity, risk and uncertainty.

The pathway

To start on the Business Economics pathway you must take one of the following 9-month masters programmes:

in exceptional cases, the Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research

Essential reading

Download detailed information about the 9-month + 4-year programme structure and content.

• What we expect from you What you can expect from us PhD supervisors
• What you can expect from us What we expect from you PhD supervisors
• PhD supervisors What we expect from you What you can expect from us

What we expect from you

You will need to have a masters degree with significant economics content from a highly regarded university, and to have performed within the top 5% of your class. See the Master of Research (MRes) academic requirements for more details. Your masters training will be benchmarked against the MPhil in Economic Research at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Economics.  

We will want to see evidence of the quality of your training and your potential to conduct original research, as well as your commitment to an academic research career. You will be ambitious and highly motivated to make significant contributions to knowledge in the broad areas of economics and policy as they relate to business and management. 

For more details, please see the academic requirements for the:

MPhil in Economic Research

What you can expect from us

Your entry point to a hugely rewarding academic research career. 

• Become part of our team from the outset, in which you will be treated as a junior colleague rather than a student. 
• Begin your research career with a phase of joint research in close collaboration with faculty.  
• Hone your research capabilities and learn how to arrive at robust research conclusions.  
• Develop a substantial research programme of your own with our assistance.  
• Enjoy the flexibility to tailor your training through a variety of courses and seminars. 
• Gain confidence in using the leading tools and insights in economics to address the challenges in your research agenda independently.  
• Benefit from ample opportunities to contribute to teaching.  

PhD supervisors

Your principal supervisor will be a senior academic from within the Economics and Policy subject group. You will benefit from their guidance and counsel throughout the programme, and beyond in helping you to succeed in the job market and in gaining a faculty position at a leading business school. Your principal supervisor will take an active role in your research programme and will assemble a group of faculty (your advisory committee) who will co-author papers with you. 

Take a look at the faculty who may serve as your principal supervisor or on your advisory committee and view their research interests: 

Christos Genakos

Professor of economics, read more about christos.

Research interests

Christos Genakos researches applied microeconomics; industrial organisation; competition policy and regulation; productivity and management; incentives and performance; behavioural economics.

VIew Christos' profile

Paul Kattuman

Read more about paul.

Paul Kattuman researches applied econometrics and statistics; industrial organisation; corporate performance; system dynamics; India; China.

VIew Paul's profile

Michael Kitson

Associate professor in international macroeconomics, read more about michael.

Michael Kitson researches macroeconomic policy and performance; international trade; regional economics; corporate performance; innovation and the commercialisation of science.

View Michael's profile

Kamiar Mohaddes

Associate professor in economics & policy, read more about kamiar.

Kamiar Mohaddes researches macroeconomics; global and national macroeconometric modelling; energy economics; climate change; economics of the Middle East.

VIew Kamiar's profile

Michael Pollitt

Professor of business economics.

Michael Pollitt researches industrial economics; privatisation and regulation of utilities especially in electricity; the measurement of productive efficiency; the relationship between Christian ethics and best practice business behaviour.

David Reiner

Professor of technology policy, read more about david.

David Reiner researches national climate change policies; social and political acceptability of low-carbon technologies; public views of the subsurface including fracking and carbon capture and storage technologies, energy demand, international environmental negotiations; policy design; public perceptions of energy technologies, regulatory policy; competition policy; science policy and communicating science and technology.

View David's profile

Lucia Reisch

El-erian professor of behavioural economics & policy, read more about lucia.

Lucia Reisch researches the theory and application of behavioural insights to promote behavioural change of individuals and organisations towards societal welfare and sustainable development; behavioural economics and policy; consumer behaviour and policy.

View Lucia's profile

Jochen Runde

Professor of economics & organisation, read more about jochen.

Jochen Runde researches decision-making under extreme uncertainty, social ontology and the ontology of technology; explanation in the social sciences; innovation and entrepreneurship.

View Jochen's profile

Khaled Soufani

Management practice professor of financial economics & policy, read more about khaled.

Khaled Soufani researches on the economics and business models of the circular economy; economic growth through sustainability policies and strategies; corporate finance and the economics and finance of SMEs.

View Khaled's profile

Economics and Policy faculty

Learn more about the faculty that teach on this pathway.

Learn more about the Economics and Policy subject group

Learn more about the application process and deadlines

Explore fees and funding options

Contact the admissions team

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PhD in Land Economy

Any questions about the PhD in Land Economy should be directed to the Department's Postgraduate Admissions Office via the following email address:

The course director for the PhD in Land Economy is Professor Jorge Viñuales , who can be contacted via the following email address:

Application Information

When applying to study for the PhD in Land Economy applicants are required to submit a detailed research proposal outlining their intended research topic, objectives and proposed methodology. The topic of research is the Candidate’s own choice and will be provisionally approved by the Degree Committee when accepting the applicant to the course.

Applicants are advised to consider carefully the topic of their PhD research. The research proposal submitted with the application should be sufficiently developed to give a clear indication of the research to be undertaken and to show that the topic is suitable for research at PhD level. It must cover the background and aims of the research; the methodology and data to be applied (if relevant); the analysis to be adopted; the possible conclusions to be reached.   The PhD is independent, student-led research and the Department does not provide applicants with suggestions for research topics or provide guidance on how an initial research idea should be developed.

In all cases a suitable and available supervisor must be identified before the Department will make an applicant an offer of a place. Normally, it will be a member of the Department.

The Department expects applicants to investigate the research interests and expertise of the academic and research staff prior to making a formal application. More information on the research interests of academic staff in Land Economy can be found at:  https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/listing-page/academics

The name(s) of academic and research staff who have been identified by the applicant as possible supervisors for the research should be clearly stated in the relevant field of the application form.  Information on the Department’s research and the work of academic staff are available from this website.  The Department will not accept a student whose proposed research falls outside its areas of interest or if it believes that Cambridge is not the most appropriate place to undertake the research both in terms of location and the expertise available. If a suggested supervisor is unable to accept a candidate, the Department will ensure the application is reviewed by any other members of staff who may be suitable.

Ultimately allocation of a supervisor is the responsibility of the Department's Degree Committee. Informal agreement between a member of staff and a student is therefore not in itself guarantee that an offer of a place will be made, or that the relevant member of staff will be the allocated supervisor.  This will only be confirmed following consideration of a formal application.

Please note the Department and its academic staff are not in a position to enter into lengthy discussion with applicants about potential research topics and/or supervision arrangements prior to receipt of a formal application.  

Structure of the PhD

Land Economy offers a full-time PhD programme. The Department currently has over 70 PhD students at different stages of the programme, working in a range of areas.

The Department is part of the University's  ESRC Doctoral Training Centre  for Social Sciences.

Candidates are not registered for the PhD programme in the first instance. They are required instead to come into residence and commence their research, and to be assessed towards the end of their first year of full-time study, or equivalent for part-time study. This assessment is based on a written report submitted by the candidate and a discussion with two assessors. The assessment will take stock of the progress made by the candidate to date, the scope and method of the research and the expected contribution to knowledge. For those then registered for the PhD programme, credit is usually given for all the terms of study successfully completed.

Early in the seventh term there will be a further formal assessment of progress. This assessment follows a similar format to the first year assessment.

Examination for the PhD is by submission of a thesis (up to 80,000 words) and oral examination. The Degree Committee will usually appoint one internal and one external examiner to undertake the examination. Depending on the time of year, the thesis can be “under examination” for between two to four months.

Whilst there are no mandatory taught elements to the PhD degree, on the recommendation of their supervisor Candidate’s may be required to undertake specific additional research training. This will usually be undertaken in the first year of the PhD and may range from advanced research methods to more generic skills. Such training may be desirable either to build upon existing skills, or to equip a Candidate with essential new skills (i.e. those not gained through their Masters course or other relevant prior experience). Students may draw upon modules offered by the Social Science Research Methods Centre (SSRMC) Training Programme, as well as those run by other Departments.

The Department also operates a series of weekly seminars throughout the Michaelmas and Lent terms aimed specifically at PhD students. These seminars cover areas such as the development of individual research programmes, choice of research methodologies, ethics, as well as other transferable skills such as presentation, career development and publication. This programme compliments the University’s own  Graduate Development Programme.

Land Economy offers a part-time route to the PhD. This might be suitable for someone who is employed in the Cambridge region and whose employer views such a programme of study as representing valuable staff development; or who works part-time, or who is home based for whatever reason, and wants to develop his-her research skills. Current employees of the University of Cambridge are also eligible to apply. Details on the terms of study are available on the University's website here .

Applicants should note that the part-time route is not a distance learning degree. Students will be expected to live close enough to Cambridge to fulfil attendance requirements and meet regularly with their supervisor. In all cases, applicants to the part-time route are required to undergo an interview before any formal offer of a place can be made.

Further information is available here .

MPhil to PhD

MPhil candidates wishing to pursue a PhD with the Department may apply to continue as a Graduate Student via the Board of Graduate Studies. Each application is considered carefully by the Department and by the Degree Committee. Approval of an application will depend on three criteria:

• availability of a supervisor;
• the approval by the Degree Committee of a research proposal; and
• the achievement of a minimum overall mark and minimum dissertation mark in the MPhil examination as prescribed by the Degree Committee.

Full details of the application procedure for continuing students are given on the  Graduate Admissions Office website.  Students wishing to continue are advised to apply early in the academic year and to be aware that funding deadlines are also often early in the applications cycle. In all cases, approval to continue is subject to the final examinations results and approval from the Degree Committee.

Course information

Course Length 

Full-time - a minimum of 9 terms of study (3 years)

The PhD can also be taken on a part-time basis - please see below for more information.