Economics PHD Programme By Turan-Astana University |TopUniversities
Tuitionfee

4,800 USDTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

25 Jul, 2026Application Deadline

Starting Month

Jan, SepStarting Month

Programme overview

Main Subject

Business Analytics

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The doctoral educational program 8D04101 "Economics" is a comprehensive research-oriented model for training Doctors of Philosophy (PhD), aimed at developing students' ability to independently conduct original fundamental and applied scientific research in the field of economic science. The program focuses on the development of theoretical and methodological thinking, scientific reflection, and research autonomy in the context of contemporary challenges such as digitalization, sustainable development, and the structural transformation of socio-economic systems in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the global economy.

The structure and content of the educational program are developed in strict accordance with the Dublin Descriptors for the third cycle of higher education, the state mandatory standard for postgraduate education, as well as international requirements for doctoral programs. The program ensures in-depth mastery of modern economic theory, epistemology and research methodology, advanced quantitative and qualitative methods of economic analysis, econometrics, modeling and forecasting, as well as the development of competencies in academic writing, scientific argumentation, and publishing activity in peer-reviewed journals.

The high level of quality and academic sustainability of the educational program is confirmed by the presence of international and specialized accreditation (ACQUIN (Germany) No. 41601508-240064-1 for 7 years), compliance with the principles of the Bologna Process, and the best international practices in organizing doctoral education. The implementation of the program ensures the training of competitive graduates capable of carrying out research, academic and pedagogical, as well as expert and analytical activities in academic, educational, governmental, and international institutions.

The mission of the educational program is to train highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel who possess a well-developed methodological culture, systematic economic thinking, and the ability to produce, interpret, and disseminate new scientific knowledge aimed at theoretical understanding and practical solutions to strategic tasks of socio-economic development in the context of globalization and digital transformation.

Features and Uniqueness of the Doctoral Educational Program
The doctoral educational program 8D04101 "Economics" is characterized by a pronounced research-methodological focus, a commitment to the development of independent scientific activity among doctoral students, and the integration of modern theoretical paradigms of economic science with advanced methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis. The uniqueness of the program lies in the systematic combination of in-depth economic theory, modern econometrics, big data analysis, and the digital economy, as well as the institutionalized involvement of doctoral students in national and international research projects.

Doctoral students are involved from the early stages of their studies in carrying out initiative and grant-funded research projects supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as in the activities of the university's scientific schools. Significant attention is given to the participation of doctoral students in international scientific seminars, methodological colloquiums, round tables, and scientific conferences, which contributes to the development of strong competencies in critical analysis, scientific argumentation, and academic discussion.

The educational program is characterized by a high degree of flexibility and individualization of educational trajectories, allowing for consideration of the scientific interests of doctoral students, the topics of dissertation research, and priority areas of development in economic science. Within the program, elective modules are offered, focused on advanced economic analysis and forecasting, institutional and behavioral economics, government economic policy, as well as international and regional economics.

A significant competitive advantage of the program is its practical-research focus, manifested in the conduct of dissertation research based on empirical data from the real sector of the economy, financial and credit institutions, and government bodies. The doctoral students' research is aimed at addressing pressing socio-economic issues and involves the development of scientifically grounded recommendations that have both theoretical and practical significance.

Field of Professional Activity of Graduates.
The field of professional activity for doctoral graduates includes research, academic-teaching, and expert-analytical work in the field of economics. Graduates carry out professional activities in research institutes, higher and postgraduate education organizations, government bodies, international organizations, analytical and consulting structures, as well as in large corporations and financial institutions.

Objects of Professional Activity of Graduates
The objects of professional activity for doctoral graduates are:
• socio-economic systems and processes at the micro, meso, macro, and mega levels;
• institutional structures and mechanisms of economic functioning;
• markets for goods, services, capital, and labor in the context of digital transformation;
• macroeconomic, financial, and socio-economic data and indicators;
• strategies, programs, and scenarios for socio-economic development;
• investment, innovation, and transformation projects.

Expected Outcomes of the Implementation of the Educational Program
As a result of completing the doctoral educational program 8D04101 "Economics," graduates will be able to:
• independently formulate and solve complex scientific problems in the field of economic science;
• develop and apply modern methods of economic analysis, econometrics, modeling, and forecasting;
• collect, process, and interpret large sets of socio-economic data;
• generate scientifically significant results with elements of scientific novelty;
• publish research findings in peer-reviewed national and international scientific journals;
• engage in scientific-pedagogical and expert-analytical activities;
• effectively present research results in the international academic and professional community.

The implementation of the educational program is carried out on the basis of modern university campuses, equipped with advanced scientific and educational infrastructure, including academic buildings, a scientific library with a collection of contemporary domestic and foreign literature, specialized reading and research rooms, computer labs with access to statistical and scientometric databases, as well as scientific laboratories and research centers.

Turan-Astana University is actively integrated into the international academic community and develops sustainable partnerships with universities and research centers in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, China, the UAE, Turkey, Poland, Russia, and other countries. As part of international cooperation, Huawei ICT Academy and Cisco Networking Academy laboratories operate at the university, and doctoral students and research supervisors have access to global educational and research platforms, including Coursera, which contributes to the internationalization of doctoral education and the improvement of research quality.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Business Analytics

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The doctoral educational program 8D04101 "Economics" is a comprehensive research-oriented model for training Doctors of Philosophy (PhD), aimed at developing students' ability to independently conduct original fundamental and applied scientific research in the field of economic science. The program focuses on the development of theoretical and methodological thinking, scientific reflection, and research autonomy in the context of contemporary challenges such as digitalization, sustainable development, and the structural transformation of socio-economic systems in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the global economy.

The structure and content of the educational program are developed in strict accordance with the Dublin Descriptors for the third cycle of higher education, the state mandatory standard for postgraduate education, as well as international requirements for doctoral programs. The program ensures in-depth mastery of modern economic theory, epistemology and research methodology, advanced quantitative and qualitative methods of economic analysis, econometrics, modeling and forecasting, as well as the development of competencies in academic writing, scientific argumentation, and publishing activity in peer-reviewed journals.

The high level of quality and academic sustainability of the educational program is confirmed by the presence of international and specialized accreditation (ACQUIN (Germany) No. 41601508-240064-1 for 7 years), compliance with the principles of the Bologna Process, and the best international practices in organizing doctoral education. The implementation of the program ensures the training of competitive graduates capable of carrying out research, academic and pedagogical, as well as expert and analytical activities in academic, educational, governmental, and international institutions.

The mission of the educational program is to train highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel who possess a well-developed methodological culture, systematic economic thinking, and the ability to produce, interpret, and disseminate new scientific knowledge aimed at theoretical understanding and practical solutions to strategic tasks of socio-economic development in the context of globalization and digital transformation.

Features and Uniqueness of the Doctoral Educational Program
The doctoral educational program 8D04101 "Economics" is characterized by a pronounced research-methodological focus, a commitment to the development of independent scientific activity among doctoral students, and the integration of modern theoretical paradigms of economic science with advanced methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis. The uniqueness of the program lies in the systematic combination of in-depth economic theory, modern econometrics, big data analysis, and the digital economy, as well as the institutionalized involvement of doctoral students in national and international research projects.

Doctoral students are involved from the early stages of their studies in carrying out initiative and grant-funded research projects supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as in the activities of the university's scientific schools. Significant attention is given to the participation of doctoral students in international scientific seminars, methodological colloquiums, round tables, and scientific conferences, which contributes to the development of strong competencies in critical analysis, scientific argumentation, and academic discussion.

The educational program is characterized by a high degree of flexibility and individualization of educational trajectories, allowing for consideration of the scientific interests of doctoral students, the topics of dissertation research, and priority areas of development in economic science. Within the program, elective modules are offered, focused on advanced economic analysis and forecasting, institutional and behavioral economics, government economic policy, as well as international and regional economics.

A significant competitive advantage of the program is its practical-research focus, manifested in the conduct of dissertation research based on empirical data from the real sector of the economy, financial and credit institutions, and government bodies. The doctoral students' research is aimed at addressing pressing socio-economic issues and involves the development of scientifically grounded recommendations that have both theoretical and practical significance.

Field of Professional Activity of Graduates.
The field of professional activity for doctoral graduates includes research, academic-teaching, and expert-analytical work in the field of economics. Graduates carry out professional activities in research institutes, higher and postgraduate education organizations, government bodies, international organizations, analytical and consulting structures, as well as in large corporations and financial institutions.

Objects of Professional Activity of Graduates
The objects of professional activity for doctoral graduates are:
• socio-economic systems and processes at the micro, meso, macro, and mega levels;
• institutional structures and mechanisms of economic functioning;
• markets for goods, services, capital, and labor in the context of digital transformation;
• macroeconomic, financial, and socio-economic data and indicators;
• strategies, programs, and scenarios for socio-economic development;
• investment, innovation, and transformation projects.

Expected Outcomes of the Implementation of the Educational Program
As a result of completing the doctoral educational program 8D04101 "Economics," graduates will be able to:
• independently formulate and solve complex scientific problems in the field of economic science;
• develop and apply modern methods of economic analysis, econometrics, modeling, and forecasting;
• collect, process, and interpret large sets of socio-economic data;
• generate scientifically significant results with elements of scientific novelty;
• publish research findings in peer-reviewed national and international scientific journals;
• engage in scientific-pedagogical and expert-analytical activities;
• effectively present research results in the international academic and professional community.

The implementation of the educational program is carried out on the basis of modern university campuses, equipped with advanced scientific and educational infrastructure, including academic buildings, a scientific library with a collection of contemporary domestic and foreign literature, specialized reading and research rooms, computer labs with access to statistical and scientometric databases, as well as scientific laboratories and research centers.

Turan-Astana University is actively integrated into the international academic community and develops sustainable partnerships with universities and research centers in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, China, the UAE, Turkey, Poland, Russia, and other countries. As part of international cooperation, Huawei ICT Academy and Cisco Networking Academy laboratories operate at the university, and doctoral students and research supervisors have access to global educational and research platforms, including Coursera, which contributes to the internationalization of doctoral education and the improvement of research quality.

Admission Requirements

50+

The doctoral program accepts persons having a degree of «Master of Economic Sciences» and work experience of at least 9 months.
Persons entering doctoral studies, submit the following documents to the university:

List of documents for doctoral studies:

  • 1) An arbitrary declaration;
  • 2) a document on education (original, when submitting documents to the admissions committee);
  • 3) Proof of identity;
  • 4) Certificate of foreign language proficiency:

 1.English:

  • IELTS Academic ( International English Language Testing System Academic) threshold score - not less than 5.5;
  • TOEFL IBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test), threshold score - at least 46;
  • TOEFL PBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Paper-based test), the threshold score is at least 453;
  • TOEFL ITP (Test of English as a Foreign Language Institutional Testing Programm), threshold score - not less than 460;

2.German:
Deutsche Sprachprueufung fuer den Hochschulzugang (DSH, NiveauV2/level B2), TestDaF-Prufung (Niveau B2/level B2);

3.French:  TFI (Test de Franzais International™) - not lower than B2 in reading and listening sections),  DELF (Diplome d'Etudes en Langue franzaise) - level B2,  AISF (Diplome Approfondi de Langaise) - level B2,  Test Aisce de Françaisce Not less than 50 points;

25 Jul 2026
Jan
Sep

Tuition fees

Domestic
4,500 USD
Domestic (Out of State)
4,500 USD
International
4,800 USD

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Frequently Asked Questions

Turan-Astana University is one of the steadily developing universities in the region, making a meaningful contribution to the training of professionals in the fields of management, economics, law, and international relations. The University consistently strengthens its academic standing by aligning with international quality standards in education and expanding global cooperation.
Yes, Turan-Astana University can be recommended to students and academic partners as a reliable educational institution offering modern academic programmes, a practice-oriented approach to learning, and openness to international academic collaboration.
The University fosters a supportive academic and social environment that promotes both professional and personal development of students. The educational process is supported by a qualified faculty, modern infrastructure, and access to academic resources. The University also places strong emphasis on student engagement and the maintenance of an inclusive educational environment.
Turan-Astana University actively promotes the development of students’ intercultural and international competencies through participation in academic mobility programmes, cooperation with international partner universities, and the integration of internationalisation elements into academic curricula. This enables students to develop global perspectives and effective intercultural communication skills.
The University operates an internal quality assurance system that includes regular review of academic programmes, internal monitoring of learning outcomes, collection of feedback from students and employers, and participation in national and international evaluation and accreditation procedures. These mechanisms are aimed at continuous improvement of the educational process and compliance with contemporary academic standards.
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