48 monthsProgramme duration
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Economics and Econometrics
Degree
PhD
Study Level
PHD
Study Mode
On Campus
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.
In our triple-accredited, world-ranked Management School, you can benefit from excellent academic supervision, interact with respected economists and be part of a thriving research community of staff and students. We aim to prepare you for a successful research-driven career in academia, government, research organisations, or business.
About the Department
The main specialisms of Lancaster University's Department of Economics 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.
PhD supervisors Please read our research and supervisor pages to match your research interests with those of available supervisors.
As a student in the Economics 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.
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, 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.
Programme structure This is a four-year programme. Your first year typically includes core training in economic theory and econometrics:
Typical PhD modules
- Microeconomic theory
- Macroeconomic theory
- Microeconometrics
- Applied macroeconomics
From student to researcher As you move into the research stage of the PhD, you will receive training in research methods to support your development as an independent researcher. During the final three years, you will focus primarily on developing your independent research under the guidance of your supervisory team.
You will be encouraged to present your work, receive feedback, and take part in relevant research activities where appropriate.
Research focus 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 didn't take in the first year, and attend courses, masterclasses and workshops outside the NWSSDTP Economics pathway.
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.
Research activities Departmental seminars, workshops and conferences The Department runs three seminar series: an internal, a PhD, and an external. These seminar series provide an invaluable opportunity for PhD students to be exposed to cutting-edge research in their field, present their work and obtain feedback. The Department also organises conferences and workshops that PhD students are invited to attend. Visit our events listing for more information.
NWSSDTP PhD Conference in Economics Every year in May, the Departments of Economics of the Universities of Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester organise the NWSSDTP PhD Conference in Economics. This two-day event consists of keynote speeches by prominent economists, presentations from PhD students from the three institutions, and a conference dinner. Past keynote speakers include Professor Jeffrey Wooldridge from Michigan State University, Professor Daniel S. Hamermesh from the University of Texas at Austin, Professor Rachel Griffith from the University of Manchester, and Professor Ed Karni from Johns Hopkins.
NWSSDTP Summer School in Economics The NWSSDTP Summer School is an intensive, one-week event that consists of a series of lectures and seminars/labs taught by world-leading academics. It provides an excellent opportunity for PhD students to further enhance their skills and knowledge in a specific area of economics/econometrics, and facilitates interactions across PhD students, faculty and course lecturers.
Research partnerships The Department has strong links with non-Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and several of our PhD students have worked on research projects in collaboration with these organisations. Below is a list of our non-HEI partners, together with current and past PhD projects.
- Department of Work and Pensions, “Child Support and Separation: Effects on Parents and Children”
- Bank of England, “Housing Markets and the Macroeconomy”
- Gambling Commission, “Understanding Gambling”
- Department for Business Innovation and Skills, “Drivers of Efficiency in Higher Education”
- Office of Manpower, Economics, “Labour Supply and Incentives in the Medical Profession”
- RAND Europe, “Alcohol, Habits and Prices”
- Department for Business Innovation and Skills, “The Returns to Higher Education: Some Further Analysis”
- The Work Foundation, “Transitions from Schools and Youth Unemployment”
Programme overview
Main Subject
Economics and Econometrics
Degree
PhD
Study Level
PHD
Study Mode
On Campus
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.
In our triple-accredited, world-ranked Management School, you can benefit from excellent academic supervision, interact with respected economists and be part of a thriving research community of staff and students. We aim to prepare you for a successful research-driven career in academia, government, research organisations, or business.
About the Department
The main specialisms of Lancaster University's Department of Economics 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.
PhD supervisors Please read our research and supervisor pages to match your research interests with those of available supervisors.
As a student in the Economics 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.
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, 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.
Programme structure This is a four-year programme. Your first year typically includes core training in economic theory and econometrics:
Typical PhD modules
- Microeconomic theory
- Macroeconomic theory
- Microeconometrics
- Applied macroeconomics
From student to researcher As you move into the research stage of the PhD, you will receive training in research methods to support your development as an independent researcher. During the final three years, you will focus primarily on developing your independent research under the guidance of your supervisory team.
You will be encouraged to present your work, receive feedback, and take part in relevant research activities where appropriate.
Research focus 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 didn't take in the first year, and attend courses, masterclasses and workshops outside the NWSSDTP Economics pathway.
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.
Research activities Departmental seminars, workshops and conferences The Department runs three seminar series: an internal, a PhD, and an external. These seminar series provide an invaluable opportunity for PhD students to be exposed to cutting-edge research in their field, present their work and obtain feedback. The Department also organises conferences and workshops that PhD students are invited to attend. Visit our events listing for more information.
NWSSDTP PhD Conference in Economics Every year in May, the Departments of Economics of the Universities of Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester organise the NWSSDTP PhD Conference in Economics. This two-day event consists of keynote speeches by prominent economists, presentations from PhD students from the three institutions, and a conference dinner. Past keynote speakers include Professor Jeffrey Wooldridge from Michigan State University, Professor Daniel S. Hamermesh from the University of Texas at Austin, Professor Rachel Griffith from the University of Manchester, and Professor Ed Karni from Johns Hopkins.
NWSSDTP Summer School in Economics The NWSSDTP Summer School is an intensive, one-week event that consists of a series of lectures and seminars/labs taught by world-leading academics. It provides an excellent opportunity for PhD students to further enhance their skills and knowledge in a specific area of economics/econometrics, and facilitates interactions across PhD students, faculty and course lecturers.
Research partnerships The Department has strong links with non-Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and several of our PhD students have worked on research projects in collaboration with these organisations. Below is a list of our non-HEI partners, together with current and past PhD projects.
- Department of Work and Pensions, “Child Support and Separation: Effects on Parents and Children”
- Bank of England, “Housing Markets and the Macroeconomy”
- Gambling Commission, “Understanding Gambling”
- Department for Business Innovation and Skills, “Drivers of Efficiency in Higher Education”
- Office of Manpower, Economics, “Labour Supply and Incentives in the Medical Profession”
- RAND Europe, “Alcohol, Habits and Prices”
- Department for Business Innovation and Skills, “The Returns to Higher Education: Some Further Analysis”
- The Work Foundation, “Transitions from Schools and Youth Unemployment”
Admission Requirements
We may also consider non-standard applicants; please contact us for information.
Additional requirements As part of your application, you also need to provide a viable research proposal of up to 5000 words, which has the potential to make a significant contribution to prior literature. Guidance can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.
Please see our website for more details.
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