Economics
- PhD
Overview
The University of Bristol's School of Economics is a thriving centre for teaching and research in the major fields of economics.
A strong research environment is a major contributing factor for successful PhD study. Bristol is in the top 5 UK universities for research and 97% of our Economics and Econometrics research is rated "world leading" or "internationally excellent" (REF 2021). We have an active and successful Economics PhD programme, and a faculty of over 50 research-active staff.
The School of Economics, with research output that places it in the top 5 economics departments in the UK (REF 2021), has a distinctive focus and reputation. It combines innovative, policy-focused research and a firm commitment to public and policy engagement with high-level advances in economic theory, structural modelling and econometrics. More information can be found on our economics research pages.
We have a long tradition of excellence. Groundbreaking economists Alfred Marshall and Mary Paley were among our earliest academics in the late 19th century, with Marshall the first Professor of Economics and Paley one of the first female lecturers in the UK. In the late 20th century, future Nobel Prize winner Angus Deaton was the first Professor of Econometrics.
Today, you will be joining an academic community that is international, forward-thinking, collaborative, and committed to helping all our students reach their full potential. We are home to the Economics Network, which improves the teaching and learning of economics in universities throughout the UK and Europe. We are also home to the Economics Observatory, which helps the public understand the most pressing economic issues we face today.
Programme structure
We offer both full-time (up to 4 years) and part-time (up to 8 years) PhD study.
For successful PhD study, a good match between your research interests and those of your supervisors is vital. Our supervisors are active in research and have expertise across a wide variety of fields.
Our research students are encouraged to interact with staff across the faculty and attend our term-time seminar series, including external and internal speakers. PhD students also present their work once a year in a dedicated, internal seminar series which is attended by both students and faculty.
As well as supporting PhD study within the school's main disciplines, we also have a strong track record in supervising interdisciplinary research across a broader range of areas.
Entry requirements
The standard entry route into the PhD is from our MRes Economics programme, dependent on academic results and the availability of supervision. We will also consider you for direct entry into the PhD programme if you have an MRes or MPhil Economics degree from another institution. If your masters-level studies took place outside Europe, the US or Canada, you are strongly recommended to provide GRE scores in your application.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
Go to admissions statementIf English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £4,850 per year
- Home: part-time
- £2,425 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £21,300 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
A number of scholarship and other funding opportunities are available for Economics doctoral students. Please visit our postgraduate research in economics page for more information.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
Our PhD programme develops well-rounded, innovative researchers - providing you with skills to advance to a high-level career in academia, research, finance, business management, public service or elsewhere.
Meet our supervisors
The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
Research groups
Most research is carried out within five main research areas:
- econometrics;
- economic theory;
- labour economics;
- macroeconomics, growth and development;
- public organisation and applied microeconomics.
Please see our economics research groups pages for further details of the current research and supervision interests of individual members of staff.
Contact us
- Contact
Graduate Studies PGR Team
- Phone
- +44 (0)
117 394 1518
econ-pgr@bristol.ac.uk
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