phd in quantitative economics

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PhD in Econometrics and Statistics

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The Econometrics and Statistics Program provides foundational training in the science of learning from data towards solving business problems. Our students engage in extensive collaborative research on cutting-edge theory in Econometrics, Statistics and Machine Learning as well in applied research from a variety of fields within Booth (such as finance, marketing or economics).

Our program builds on a long tradition of research creativity and excellence at Booth.

Our PhD students become active members of the broad, interdisciplinary and intellectually stimulating Booth community. The program is ideal for students who wish to pursue an (academic) research career in data-rich disciplines, and who are motivated by applications (including but not limited to economics and business). As our PhD student, you will have a freedom to customize your program by combining courses at Booth (including business-specific areas such as marketing, finance or economics) with offerings at our partnering departments at the University of Chicago (Department of Statistics and Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics). You will acquire a solid foundation in both theory and practice (including learning theory, Bayesian statistics, causal inference or empirical asset pricing).

Our Distinguished Econometrics and Statistics Faculty

Chicago Booth’s Econometrics and Statistics faculty are committed to building strong collaborative relationships with doctoral students. We serve as research advisors and career mentors. Major areas of departmental research include: learning theory; causal inference; machine learning; Bayesian inference; decision theory; graphical models; high dimensional inference; and financial econometrics.

Bryon Aragam

Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Statistics and Robert H. Topel Faculty Scholar

Nabarun Deb

Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Statistics

Christian B. Hansen

Wallace W. Booth Professor of Econometrics and Statistics

Tetsuya Kaji

Associate Professor of Econometrics and Statistics and Richard Rosett Faculty Fellow

Mladen Kolar

Associate Professor of Econometrics and Statistics

Tengyuan Liang

Professor of Econometrics and Statistics and William Ladany Faculty Fellow

Nicholas Polson

Robert Law, Jr. Professor of Econometrics and Statistics

Veronika Rockova

Professor of Econometrics and Statistics, and James S. Kemper Foundation Faculty Scholar

Jeffrey R. Russell

Alper Family Professor of Econometrics and Statistics

Ekaterina (Katja) Smetanina

Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Statistics and Asness Junior Faculty Fellow

Panagiotis Toulis (Panos)

Associate Professor of Econometrics and Statistics, and John E. Jeuck Faculty Fellow

Dacheng Xiu

Professor of Econometrics and Statistics

A Network of Support

Booth’s Econometrics and Statistics group has been partnering with several (data science and interdisciplinary) research centers and institutes that facilitate the translation of research into practice. Through these venues, our PhD students can foster a strong research community and find additional resources including elective courses, funding for collaborative student work, and seminars with world-renowned scholars.

Data Science Institute at the University of Chicago The Data Science Institute executes the University of Chicago’s bold, innovative vision of Data Science as a new discipline by advancing interdisciplinary research, partnerships with industry, government, and social impact organizations. Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence The Center for Applied AI incubates transformative projects that fundamentally shape how humans use AI to interact with each other and the world. The Center’s innovative research uses machine learning and behavioral science to investigate how AI can best be used to support human decision-making and improve society. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago (TTIC) is a philanthropically endowed academic computer science institute, dedicated to basic research and graduate education in computer science. Its mission is to achieve international impact through world-class research and education in fundamental computer science and information technology. The Institute is distinctive to the American educational scene in its unique combination of graduate education and endowed research.

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics With a mission of turning evidence-based research into real-world impact, the Becker Friedman Institute brings together the University of Chicago’s economic community. Ideas are translated into accessible formats and shared with world leaders tasked with solving pressing economic problems. Committee on Quantitative Methods in Social, Behavioral and Health Sciences This is an interdisciplinary community of faculty and students interested in methodological research in relation to applications in social, behavioral, and health sciences. The goals are to create an intellectual niche, exchange research ideas, facilitate research collaborations, share teaching resources, enhance the training of students, and generate a collective impact on the University of Chicago campus and beyond. The Institute for Data, Econometrics, Algorithms, and Learning The Institute for Data, Econometrics, Algorithms, and Learning (IDEAL) is a multi-discipline (computer science, statistics, economics, electrical engineering, and operations research) and multi-institution (Northwestern University, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, and University of Chicago) collaborative institute that focuses on key aspects of the theoretical foundations of data science. The institute will support the study of foundational problems related to machine learning, high-dimensional data analysis and optimization in both strategic and non-strategic environments.

The Fama-Miller Center for Research in Finance Tasked with pushing the boundaries of research in finance, the Fama-Miller Center provides institutional structure and support for researchers in the field. James M. Kilts Center for Marketing The Kilts Center facilitates faculty and student research, supports innovations in the marketing curriculum, funds scholarships for MBA and PhD students, and creates engaging programs aimed at enhancing the careers of students and alumni.

Scholarly Publications

Our PhD students' research has been published in top journals including Econometrica, Journal of Royal Statistical Society, Journal of Econometrics, Neural Information Processing Systems and Journal of Machine Learning Research. Below is a recent list of publications and working papers authored by our PhD students. Modeling Tail Index with Autoregressive Conditional Pareto Model Zhouyu Shen, Yu Chen and Ruxin Shi, Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, (40) 2022 Online Learning to Transport via the Minimal Selection Principle Wenxuan Guo, YoonHaeng Hur, Tengyuan Liang, Chris Ryan, Proceedings of 35th Conference on Learning Theory (COLT), (178) 2022 FuDGE: A Method to Estimate a Functional Differential Graph in a High-Dimensional Setting Boxin Zhao, Samuel Wang and Mladen Kolar, Journal of Machine Learning Research, (23) 2022 Approximate Bayesian Computation via Classification Yuexi Wang, Tetsuya Kaji and Veronika Rockova, Journal of Machine Learning Research (In press), 2022 Reversible Gromov-Monge Sampler for Simulation-Based Inference YoonHaeng Hur, Wenxuan Guo and Tengyuan Liang, Journal of the American Statistical Association (R&R). 2021. Data Augmentation for Bayesian Deep Learning Yuexi Wang, Nicholas Polson and Vadim Sokolov, Bayesian Analysis (In press), 2022 Pessimism Meets VCG: Learning Dynamic Mechanism Design via Offline Reinforcement Learning Boxiang Lyu, Zhaoran Wang, Mladen Kolar and Zhuoran Yang, In Proceedings of the 39th International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML), (162) 2022 Optimal Estimation of Gaussian DAG Models Ming Gao, Wai Ming Tai and Bryon Aragam, International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Statistics (AISTATS), (151) 2022 Multivariate Change Point Detection for Heterogeneous Series Yuxuan Guo, Ming Gao, and Xiaoling Lu, Neurocomputing, (510) 2022 Disentangling Autocorrelated Intraday Returns Rui Da and Dacheng Xiu, Journal of Econometrics (R&R), 2021 When Moving-Average Models Meet High-Frequency Data: Uniform Inference on Volatility Rui Da and Dacheng Xiu, Econometrica, (89) 2021 Efficient Bayesian Network Structure Learning via Local Markov Boundary Search Ming Gao and Bryon Aragam, Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS), (34) 2021 Structure Learning in Polynomial Time: Greedy Algorithms, Bregman Information, and Exponential Families Goutham Rajendran, Bohdan Kivva, Ming Gao and Bryon Aragam, Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS), (34) 2021 Variable Selection with ABC Bayesian Forests Yi Liu, Yuexi Wang and Veronika Rockova, Journal of the Royal Statistical Association: Series B, (83) 2021  A Polynomial-time Algorithm for Learning Non-parametric Causal Graphs Ming Gao, Yi Ding, and Bryon Aragam, Advances in Neural Information Processing System (NeurIPS), (33) 2020 Uncertainty Quantification for Sparse Deep Learning Yuexi Wang and Veronika Rockova, International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Statistics (AISTATS), (2018) 2020 Direct Estimation of Differential Functional Graphical Models Boxin Zhao, Samuel Wang and Mladen Kolar, Advances in neural information processing systems (NeurIPS), (32) 2019

The Effects of Economic Uncertainty on Financial Volatility: A Comprehensive Investigation Chen Tong, Zhuo Huang, Tianyi Wang, and Cong Zhang, Journal of Empirical Finance (R&R), 2022

Spotlight on Research

Econometrics and statistics research from our PhD students and faculty is often featured in the pages of Chicago Booth Review.

Is There a Ceiling for Gains in Machine-Learned Arbitrage?

In a recent paper by Chicago Booth’s Stefan Nagel and Dacheng Xiu and Booth PhD student Rui Da, findings suggest that there are limits to statistical arbitrage investment.

How (In)accurate Is Machine Learning?

Three Chicago Booth researchers quantify the likelihood of machine learning leading business executives astray.

Would You Trust a Machine to Pick a Vaccine?

"If we understand why a black-box method works, we can trust it more with our decisions, explains [Booth's] Ročková, one of the researchers trying to narrow the gap between what’s done in practice and what’s known in theory. "

Inside the Student Experience

Damian Kozbur, PhD ’14, says PhD students at Booth have the flexibility to work on risky problems that no one else has examined.

Video Transcript

Damian Kozbur, ’14: 00:01 I went to graduate school in order to develop econometrics tools in conjunction with machine-learning tools in conjunction with economic theory in order to do inference for economic parameters. When you work in high dimensional estimation and you're dealing with problems where the number of variables you're looking at can potentially be in the millions, there's no way to visualize what's going on. Demands now really require that you can handle huge datasets. There's something really satisfying about studying a problem and studying it well. I would say Booth is an excellent place to do it. You have the flexibility to work on really risky problems where you're trying to navigate this landscape that nobody's ever really looked at before. You have an opportunity to dig deeper. You have an opportunity to be rigorous. The faculty is there to help you. They're trying to figure out the same kinds of problems. Things that you figure out cannot always be visualized and it cannot always be easily understood. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's not practical or not useful.

Damian Kozbur, ’14: 01:08 There's an incredible explosion in terms of the amount of data we have on everything. There is an incredible explosion in terms of our understanding of high dimensional econometrics. If you're doing innovative work right now, it will have an impact.

Current Econometrics and Statistics Students

PhD students in econometrics and statistics apply statistical methods to a wide range of business problems, from the effectiveness of machine-learning tools to video-game preferences. Our graduates go on to work in high-profile institutions, generally in academia, finance, or data science.

Current Students

Y ifei Chen Rui Da

Chaoxing Dai

Wenxuan Guo

Shuo-Chieh Huang

Shunzhuang Huang So Won Jeong

Boxiang (Shawn) Lyu Edoardo Marcelli

Zhouyu Shen

Shengjun (Percy) Zhai

Current Students in Sociology and Business

Jacy Anthis

Program Expectations and Requirements

The Stevens Program at Booth is a full-time program. Students generally complete the majority of coursework and examination requirements within the first two years of studies and begin work on their dissertation during the third year. For details, see General Examination Requirements by Area in the Stevens Program Guidebook below.

Download the 2023-2024 Guidebook!

PhD Program

Year after year, our top-ranked PhD program sets the standard for graduate economics training across the country. Graduate students work closely with our world-class faculty to develop their own research and prepare to make impactful contributions to the field.

Our doctoral program enrolls 20-24 full-time students each year and students complete their degree in five to six years. Students undertake core coursework in microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics, and are expected to complete two major and two minor fields in economics. Beyond the classroom, doctoral students work in close collaboration with faculty to develop their research capabilities, gaining hands-on experience in both theoretical and empirical projects.

How to apply

Students are admitted to the program once per year for entry in the fall. The online application opens on September 15 and closes on December 15.

Meet our students

Our PhD graduates go on to teach in leading economics departments, business schools, and schools of public policy, or pursue influential careers with organizations and businesses around the world. 

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Economic Analysis & Policy

Our doctoral program in the field of economic analysis and policy prepares students for research careers in economics. The program offers rigorous training and has several distinct advantages:

Low Student-to-Faculty Ratio

First, enrollment in the program is small. This encourages close faculty-student contact and allows students to become involved in research very early. Students work first as assistants on faculty research projects and, as their interests and skills develop, on their own research. Students often begin their publishing careers before completing their degrees.

Flexible and Innovative Program

Second, the program is flexible and innovative; students can draw on both the school’s and the university’s distinguished faculty. In addition to the faculty in the economics group at Stanford GSB and in the university’s economics department, students have access to faculty in political and behavioral sciences; accounting and finance; mathematics, statistics, and computer science; and many other disciplines.

A Top-Ranked School

Third, the program is part of a top-ranked professional school. This setting allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the actual processes of business decision-making and public policy formulation.

Preparation and Qualifications

Students who enroll in this program have a substantial background in economics and mathematics. They are expected to have, minimally, mathematical skills at the level of one year of advanced calculus and one course each in linear algebra, analysis, probability, optimization, and statistics.

The faculty selects students based on predicted performance in the program. Evidence of substantial background or ability in the use of mathematical reasoning and statistical methods is important. Most successful applicants had quantitative undergraduate majors in economics, mathematics, or related sciences.

In addition to evidence of ability and letters of recommendation, the faculty considers carefully the applicant’s statement of purpose for pursuing the PhD degree. The successful applicant usually has clearly defined career goals that are compatible with those of the program.

Acceptance into the program is extremely competitive. Admitted applicants compare very favorably with students enrolled in the top economics departments of major universities.

Economic Analysis & Policy Faculty

Mohammad akbarpour, claudia allende santa cruz, susan athey, lanier benkard, jeremy i. bulow, modibo khane camara, sebastian di tella, rebecca diamond, yossi feinberg, guido w. imbens, charles i. jones, michael ostrovsky, garth saloner, yuliy sannikov, kathryn shaw, andrzej skrzypacz, paulo somaini, juan carlos suárez serrato, takuo sugaya, christopher tonetti, shoshana vasserman, ali yurukoglu, weijie zhong, emeriti faculty, alain c. enthoven, robert j. flanagan, david m. kreps, peter c. reiss, john roberts, a. michael spence, robert wilson, recent publications in economic analysis & policy, an economic framework for vaccine prioritization, pricing power in advertising markets: theory and evidence, career: a foundation model for labor sequence data, recent insights by stanford business, nine stories to get you through tax season, a.i. can help “personalize” policies to reach the right people, stanford gsb faculty share their holiday reading lists, placement director.

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Purdue’s Daniels School offers a PhD in Economics which develops core competencies in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, while allowing students to choose specialized study in a variety of different fields. The Economics PhD is well-suited for those interested in rigorous application of mathematical tools to better understand decisions made by individuals and firms, and to evaluate economic policies.

By collaborating with renowned faculty in the areas of econometrics, experimental and behavioral economics, industrial organization, international trade, labor economics, macroeconomics, and public economics, our doctoral students go on to conduct frontier research at leading universities, shape public policy and influence business strategy.

Grounded in a strong methodological and quantitative orientation, our PhD program broadens students’ understanding of economic issues, provides an opportunity for individualized research and specialization, and sharpens critical thinking skills.

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Most Trusted #4

Morning Consult, 2022

Best Value School #7

The Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education, 2022

Most Innovative School in the U.S. Top 10

US News and World Report, 2023

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Ph.D. Program

Make an impact: The intellectual rigor from researchers associated with Yale Economics drives innovations in domestic and international policy.

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Yale's Department of Economics offers a challenging and rigorous academic program, a distinguished and accessible faculty, and a friendly, supportive environment for study.

Our core teaching faculty of 66 is supported by a diverse group of visiting professors and graduate student teaching assistants, making it one of the largest economics departments in the United States with one of the highest teacher/student ratios for the 130 Ph.D. students in residence.

The Department of Economics also has close ties with professional schools in related fields, such as the Yale School of Management, the Yale School of the Environment, and the Yale School of Public Health, where many of its secondary faculty members teach. It also works with affiliated centers, including the Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, the Economic Growth Center, and the newly created Tobin Center for Economic Policy . 

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Our Program

Yale's economics faculty embraces a broad range of research and teaching interests. Courses and seminars span a wide spectrum of economics, from dynamic structural models to field experiments. Our students apply econometric and data analytic methods to a variety of subjects in macroeconomics, labor economics and finance. Our courses examine critical economic policy issues, including antitrust and environmental regulation. Our focus is global, spanning the United States and developed economies to the developing nations of Latin America, Asia and Africa. Whatever your interest, our faculty is ready to guide you through a wide offering of more than a hundred regular courses, seminars or workshops, combined with individually tailored reading and research courses to best prepare you for your Ph.D. research and dissertation.

Our faculty is eclectic in methodologies and views of economics. There is no Yale dogma or school. You will acquire a critical perspective on the full range of approaches to macroeconomics. You will be well trained in neoclassical theory and in the theory of public choice, externalities and market failures. You will master the skills of sophisticated modern econometrics and understand pitfalls in its applications. You will gain respect for the power of contemporary mathematical models and also for history and for the insights of the great economists of the past.  

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Ph.D. in Economics

The Ph.D. program provides thorough training for future economists through graduate courses, seminars, tutorial instruction and research workshops. It is designed to give students a solid foundation in economic theory, quantitative methods and fields of specialization in preparation for careers in universities, research organizations, industry and financial institutions.

Currently offered fields of specialization are health economics, labor and human resources, and industrial organization. The Ph.D. degree offered by the economics department is a scholarly degree. It indicates not only a superior knowledge of economics but also intellectual initiative and an ability to design and carry out independent research.

Our Ph.D. curriculum is solidly grounded in techniques of economic analysis, with important applications in a wide variety of applied fields. The program usually involves three years of coursework, followed by one to two more years of effort on doctoral research. Because the program is rigorous and adheres to strict timetables, it is unusual to combine doctoral study with full-time employment. Ph.D. graduates are in demand at universities, corporations, financial institutions, and government agencies.

Requirements

Ph.D. students must successfully complete 90 semester hours of graduate study, 60 in course work plus 30 in dissertation research. They must pass sequences in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and quantitative methods, acquire a basic knowledge of the history of economic thought, and demonstrate competence in multivariate calculus.

Two of the following specialized fields must be elected for study:

• Health economics
• Industrial organization
• International economics
• Labor and human resources
• Applied macroeconomics

The department, in rare cases, will approve one special area in economics or one cognate field outside of economics in place of one of the above areas of specialization. Students achieve Ph.D. candidacy by passing the written and oral qualifying examinations in economic theory and their two elective fields and by completing a dissertation outline approved by the department and the graduate division.

For more information, please see the Economics Ph.D. Graduate Handbook .

Visit Ph.D. admissions for specific graduate admission criteria and requirements.

A limited number of teaching and research assistantships providing tuition, stipends and health insurance are available each year to new Ph.D. students.

For more information, please contact the  director of graduate studies .

Career insights

This tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.

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The European Doctoral Program in Quantitative Economics

A long-running  network of six of the top Economics Departments  in Europe allowing for the exchange of their PhD students for a period between three months and one year.  

This is  an exchange programme for PhD students  who are  already enrolled in one of the partner institutions. Its aim is to allow PhD students to benefit from these institutions’ strengths in the various research areas of economics. PhD degrees are awarded by the applicant’s home institution. In addition, the network provides a certificate stating that the degree is awarded under the European Doctoral Program. 

EDP students are required to spend at least three months abroad in an EDP institution different from that in which they are registered. EDP exchanges typically do not come with any fee requirement from the host institution, and students may be able to access the host institutions’ student housing. However, the host institutions do not provide any funding for the visit (these exchanges are typically funded by programs in the student’s home institution or by applications for research funding). 

The spirit of the program is to  encourage the European mobility of PhD students  and by doing so help them to produce better research. Students will be provided with office space in the host institution, have access to all seminars and workshops, and will have a named local researcher as their contact in the host institution. EDP students are also encouraged to take an active role in local research activities, including seminar presentations and joint research projects. Last, all EDP students will take part in the annual EDP Jamboree, a two-day workshop with other EDP exchange students that takes place annually in one of the EDP Member Institutions, and present at least once. 

Member institutions

Université catholique de Louvain – Economics School of Louvain (Belgium)  

Paris School of Economics (France)  

University of Bonn – Bonn Graduate School of Economics (Germany)  

European University Institute, Florence – Economics Department (Italy)  

Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona – Department of Economics and Business (Spain)  

Exchange partner :   

Tel Aviv University – The Eitan Berglas School of Economics (Israel)  

About the Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. Program in Economics at UCLA prepares students for careers as economists in academia, business and government. The program combines rigorous work in economic theory and careful study of real-world problems and institutions. Graduates from this program work at major universities around the world, national and international government agencies, banks, research centers and in private businesses. Some of our graduates have achieved great prominence, such as William Sharpe , who earned both his B.A. and Ph.D. degrees at UCLA, and was co-recipient of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on the capital asset pricing model.

The department includes internationally recognized scholars in economic theory, econometrics, and all the major applied fields. These outstanding scholars form one of the foremost departments of economics in the world.

The Economics Department is situated within one of the world’s most youthful and vibrant universities. Founded in 1919, UCLA first developed into a major university in the 1950’s. After so short a history, the university was ranked second in the United States among public research universities by the Conference Board of Associated Research Councils in 1982. Thirty-one of its Ph.D. programs are currently ranked in the top 20 in their field–third best in the nation.

The Ph.D. is the degree objective of the graduate program. This degree is awarded to students who demonstrate professional competence by passing written qualifying exams and by completing a major piece of individual research (the Ph.D. dissertation).

Preparation for the qualifying exams through coursework and independent study occupies most student time for the first two years. Thereafter the focus shifts to independent research and finally to the writing of a Ph.D. dissertation. Research in progress by our graduate students as well as our faculty is presented at workshops that meet weekly throughout the academic year. Currently, the Dept. has workshops in Theory and Mathematical Economics, International and Development Economics, Labor and Population Economics, Business Organization and Regulation Economics, Economic History, Econometrics, and Monetary Theory. In addition, many graduate students work as research or teaching assistants for faculty members. The normal time to degree is six years.

This degree program classifies as STEM (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics).

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Ph.D. in Economics

The Ph.D. program at Berkeley is designed for students interested in pursuing advanced study and conducting original research in Economics. The Ph.D. degree is awarded in recognition of the recipient's qualifications as a general economist and of the ability to make scholarly contributions in fields of specialization.

In advancing to the Ph.D. degree, students pass through two major stages:

• Preparation for candidacy typically takes two to three years. During the first two semesters, students take courses to achieve competence in econometric methods, methods of economic history and fundamentals of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. During the next two years, students prepare for examination in two fields of specialization of their choosing, prepare a dissertation prospectus, and take an oral examination. When these steps are completed, students are advanced to candidacy.
• Completion of a dissertation after advancing to candidacy typically takes one to two years. The dissertation must be based on original research and represent a significant contribution to the body of Economic knowledge.

The entire process takes approximately five to six years, although some students are able to complete the program in less time. Below is an overview of the program requirements by year and other pertinent information.

The UC Berkeley College of Letters & Science   provides students helpful resources, links, and tools for successfully completing the Ph.D. in Economics.

ECONOMICS GRADUATE STUDENT SERVICES

The economics student services mission is to advise our students holistically by providing a high standard of service in a supportive and collaborative environment.  professional and peer advisors work as a team to provide accurate information in a timely manner.  we partner with faculty to assist students in engaging with the campus and the global economic community.  we value fairness, diversity, and the important roles our students, faculty, and staff in the department of economics play at the university of california, berkeley..

If you or someone you know is experiencing financial, food, housing or other basic needs challenges - you can find support and services at:  http://tinyurl.com/UCB-BNC-C19 .

Meet the members of the Economics Graduate Student Services advising team!

Graduate Office Address:

The Ph.D. Program in Economics emphasizes analytical and quantitative skills and exposes students to a broad range of contemporary policy issues to prepare them for careers in academic, business, or government careers. In their first two semesters of study, students receive rigorous training in three core areas: microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics.

After completing the core sequences, students choose three fields of specialization for intensive study. For most students, work on the dissertation begins in the third year and occupies them through the fourth or fifth year of residence.

STEM Designation Our PhD program has recently been reclassified as STEM (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics). Students in STEM degree programs can apply for a 24 month STEM extension of F1 Optional Practical Training (OPT).

For more information or questions regarding the PhD program – e-mail us.

DO NOT E-MAIL FACULTY MEMBERS DIRECTLY. THEY WILL NOT RESPOND TO YOUR REQUESTS. Please submit ALL your inquiries to the e-mail link above.

Core Courses

The core courses form an integrated sequence of courses that develop the theoretical and quantitative tools students will build on later in their careers. These courses include two semesters of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics.

An undergraduate major in economics is not a requirement, but students are expected to have taken some economics courses, including at least intermediate theory courses. Students should also have a solid background in mathematics. The recommended math courses are calculus, linear algebra, and mathematical statistics, but more math is generally considered an advantage. A master’s degree is not required for admission to the Ph.D. program, nor for completing the Ph.D. degree.

Field Courses

After a highly structured first two semesters, students have more choice as they select three areas of specialization. The field courses are intended to broaden and deepen the students’ understanding of economics and to encourage students to develop more specific interests. The fields and their associated courses include:

• Advanced Theory/Special Topics: ECON 689
• Behavioral and Experimental Economics: ECON 655, ECON 656, ECON 659
• Econometrics: ECMT 677, ECMT 678, ECMT 679
• Labor Economics: ECON 609, ECON 610
• Industrial Organization: ECON 649, ECON 650
• International Economics: ECON 651, ECON 652
• Advanced Macroeconomics: ECON 635, ECON 637, ECMT 638
• Public Economics: ECON 603, ECON 604

Sample Five Year Program

First semester.

ECMT 675 – Econometrics I ECON 629 – Microeconomic Theory I ECON 636 – Macroeconomic Theory I

Second Semester

ECMT 676 – Econometrics II ECON 630 – Microeconomic Theory II ECON 646 – Macroeconomic Theory II Qualifying Exams

Second Year

Two or Three Field Courses – (Part 1)

Two or Three Field Courses – (Part 2) Field Presentation/Proposal

Any remaining Field Course – (Part 1) ECON 690 – Theory of Research / Workshop ECON 691 – Research Submit Degree Plan and Advisory Committee

Field Course – (Part 2) ECON 690 – Theory of Research/Workshop ECON 691 – Research Research Paper Presentation (3rd Years)

Fourth Year

ECON 690 – Theory of Research/Workshop ECON 691 – Research Preliminary Oral Defense File Dissertation Proposal Approval Page

ECON 690 – Theory of Research/Workshop ECON 691 – Research Research Paper Presentation (4th Year)

ECON 690 – Theory of Research/Workshop ECON 691 – Research Job Market Ready

ECON 690 – Theory of Research/Workshop ECON 691 – Research Final Defense (Oral) Final Dissertation Submitted

Steps to Fulfill Doctorate Degree Requirements

There are many steps that each student need to complete in order to graduate with a PhD. Many of these steps require the student filling out paperwork and getting necessary approvals (some require months of lead time). To see all of the steps and access links to download necessary forms, please  CLICK HERE

Beginning in the third year and extending through the fifth year of residence, students participate in departmental workshops. Workshops are commonly offered in theory, macro, money, international, applied micro, and econometrics. The workshops are designed to acquaint students with research methodology and to provide opportunities for them to present their own research.

Department Qualifying Exams and Field Exams

Students must pass qualifying examinations in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and econometrics following completion of the core sequences. The exams are given in late May and late July or early August. Students must also pass examinations in one field of specialization following completion of the appropriate field sequences. The field exams are given in January and May. Please consult the Graduate Catalog for additional requirements by the Office of Graduate Studies for the Ph.D. degree. You may find this in the Graduate Handbook on the web site  ogs.tamu.edu .

Dissertation

Students normally begin research on their dissertations in their third year. The dissertation is intended as a demonstration of the student’s ability to perform original research.

Teaching & Research

In their first and second years of Ph.D. study, students receiving financial support are normally assigned as research assistants to faculty members to aid them in teaching and research activities.

In their third and fourth years, students may become teaching assistants and have the opportunity to instruct undergraduates at Texas A&M. Both types of assistantships are viewed as integral parts of the educational process, preparing students for careers in teaching and research.

Funding Opportunities

Gail frey monson memorial scholarship.

The Monson Memorial Scholarship provides a one-time stipend ( typically $500 ) to a fourth-year female Ph.D. student in the Department of Economics. Applicants must be full time graduate students in good standing in the Department of Economics, have been admitted to Ph.D. candidacy, and demonstrate good citizenship in the department. Assessment criteria also include quality of research. Applicants must submit the following materials to the Scholarship Committee: (a) a cover letter, (b) a copy of her CV, (c) a copy of her dissertation proposal, and (d) a letter from her main advisor concerning the student’s eligibility and qualification for the award. Deadline to apply is April 15 of the applicants’ 4th year. 

S. Charles Maurice Graduate Fellowship in Economics

This fellowship is established by a generous gift from Niccie L. McKay, wife of late Professor S. Charles Maurice. This scholarship ( typically $2,500 ) is awarded to a 4th year Ph.D. student in Economics.  Applicants must be full time graduate students in good standing in the Department of Economics, and will be assessed based on evidence of independent scholarship and promising research leading to a high quality dissertation. Applicants must submit the following materials to the Scholarship Committee: (a) a cover letter, (b) a copy of their CV, (c) a copy of their dissertation proposal, and (d) a letter from their main advisor concerning the student’s eligibility and qualification for the award by April 15 of the applicants’ 4th year.

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Wharton’s PhD program in Finance provides students with a solid foundation in the theoretical and empirical tools of modern finance, drawing heavily on the discipline of economics.

The department prepares students for careers in research and teaching at the world’s leading academic institutions, focusing on Asset Pricing and Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, International Finance, Financial Institutions and Macroeconomics.

Wharton’s Finance faculty, widely recognized as the finest in the world, has been at the forefront of several areas of research. For example, members of the faculty have led modern innovations in theories of portfolio choice and savings behavior, which have significantly impacted the asset pricing techniques used by researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Another example is the contribution by faculty members to the analysis of financial institutions and markets, which is fundamental to our understanding of the trade-offs between economic systems and their implications for financial fragility and crises.

Faculty research, both empirical and theoretical, includes such areas as:

• Structure of financial markets
• Formation and behavior of financial asset prices
• Banking and monetary systems
• Corporate control and capital structure
• Saving and capital formation
• International financial markets

Candidates with undergraduate training in economics, mathematics, engineering, statistics, and other quantitative disciplines have an ideal background for doctoral studies in this field.

Effective 2023, The Wharton Finance PhD Program is now STEM certified.

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PhD in Economics

PhD students take 16 courses, roughly half of which are spent acquiring the core analytic tools of the profession (microeconomics, macroeconomics, and quantitative methods), with the balance spent applying those tools in particular fields of specialization. All PhD students must complete a doctoral dissertation (thesis).

The PhD in Economics is a STEM designated degree program.

View the complete PhD Rules here

Program Requirements

Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 16 semester courses (64 credits). They are required to successfully complete the core courses by the end of the first year.

Theory and Quantitative Core Requirements

These core courses must be passed by the end of the first year with a grade of at least B- in each course.

• EC 701 Advanced Microeconomics I (4 credits)
• EC 702 Advanced Macroeconomics I (4 credits)
• EC 703 Advanced Microeconomics II (4 credits)
• EC 704 Advanced Macroeconomics II (4 credits)
• EC 707 Advanced Statistics for Economists (4 credits)
• EC 708 Advanced Econometrics I (4 credits)

Students must also take EC 705 Mathematical Economics in the first semester, unless a waiver is granted, and EC 709 Advanced Econometrics II (4 credits) in the third semester.

In addition, students must pass a qualifying examination in both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Students have at most three opportunities to take the qualifying examinations; failing may result in termination from the PhD program.

Field Requirements

All students must pass 2 2-course fields, each with a minimum grade average of B.

In addition, students must take at least 2 other courses. The following fields are generally offered each year:

• Development
• Econometrics
• Economic Theory
• Empirical Finance
• Financial Econometrics
• Industrial Organization
• International Economics
• Labor Economics
• Money/Macroeconomics
• Public Economics

GPA Requirements

All courses must be passed with a grade of B– or higher. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be attained in all courses taken after enrollment in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Time Requirement

The PhD program is designed so that a typical student can complete all requirements within 5 to 6 years. International students may be subject to additional restrictions imposed by the terms of their visas, as governed by the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO).

Students are expected to meet the following milestones each year:

By the end of the 1st year:

• Finish and pass all core first-year courses, as well as EC 705 (unless exempted through placement exam).
• Sit for the first attempt at the micro and macro qualifying exams in June. The second attempt, if necessary, is in August.

By the end of the 2nd year:

• Pass EC 709, a required course in Advanced Econometrics.
• Continue and, if possible, complete remaining coursework, including a two-course sequence in each of two fields. A B average (3.0) is required in each of the field course sequence.
• Achieve an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
• If both qualifiers are not passed, the third and final attempt is in June of the second year.
• Each student must prepare a research paper during the second year and the following summer. By April 1 of the second year, the student must ask a faculty member to serve as an advisor on this paper; have this faculty member agree to serve in this manner; and inform the DGS of the topic of the paper and the advisor’s name. The paper is due in the third year as described below.

By the end of the 3rd year:

• Submit the second-year paper by October 1. By October 15, the faculty advisor must provide (i) a grade for the paper; and (ii) a brief written evaluation the paper. These documents will be sent to the DGS and the student. A student must receive a passing grade on the research paper.
• Complete all coursework with GPA of at least 3.0.
• Continue work on research for the dissertation.
• Attend and present at least annually in one of the research workshops until completion of all degree requirements.

Years 4, 5, and (if necessary) 6:

• Student carries out thesis research, defending the thesis no later than the end of the sixth year.

Dissertation

Under the supervision of two faculty advisers, a student prepares a dissertation proposal for presentation at a proposal seminar. If the proposal is approved, the student proceeds to research and write the dissertation. When the dissertation is completed, the student must defend it at a final oral examination. The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences requires that the dissertation be completed within seven years of initial enrollment in the program.

For more details, view the complete PhD Rules here and check out our past PhD Placements here .

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Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

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Institute of Economics

• Doctoral Programme Quantitative Economics

Established in 2002, the programme is associated with the Institute of Statistics and Econometrics and the Department of Economics , by which it is linked to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy .

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PhD in Economics

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The mission of the PhD in Economics program is to produce professional economists by providing graduates with a modern, balanced and high-quality education in both theoretical and applied economics. The department is also committed to examining and improving its program and enhancing the research efforts between faculty and graduate students.

The PhD in Economics program trains students in the core areas of economics (macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics) and in quantitative methods, improving their mathematical and econometric skills in the first year. In the second year students gain exposure to several applied fields of economics such as labor, urban and public economics and industrial organization. After the second year students define a field of their choice in which they commence PhD dissertation work. You may read recently completed  PhD dissertation s  topics, as well as selected PhD alumni  bios.

The PhD program in Economics is classified as a STEM degree (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics). This designation reflects the quantitative orientation of the program and makes international students on F-1 visas eligible for a total of 3 years of Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation.

The incoming PhD stipend will be at least $20,000 for our departmental funded students.

Learning Outcomes

Every fall, the department welcomes approx. 9-14 new doctoral candidates. The PhD degree can take anywhere from four to eight years to complete, depending on the student's individual progress. Upon successful completion of the PhD in Economics, students will:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of microeconomic and macroeconomic theories and methods of analysis.
• Demonstrate mastery of the issues, theories and latest advances in one of the sub-fields of economics offered by the program.
• Demonstrate ability to conduct independent and original basic and applied research in economics.
• Achieve a high level of competence understanding the most recent theoretical and quantitative methods in economics.
• Acquire employable skills (i.e. teaching experience) to further professional endeavors. Most graduates pursue academic teaching and research careers, while others find rewarding careers in federal, state or local government, or in the private sector, both at home and abroad. 

Meet our Graduate Ambassadors

Jameson Yu is the Assistant Director of graduate economics programs. He is responsible for recruiting students from around the world, answering program questions, processing applications and assisting our PhD students. Please feel free to contact Jameson by telephone, email or personal appointment with any questions or concerns. 

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Master's Programs | MSc in Quantitative Economics

Master of Science in Quantitative Economics

A Pioneering Program for Aspiring Researchers in Quantitative Economics

NYU’s new MS in Quantitative Economics provides a robust academic pathway for students with economics research-oriented ambitions, including a PhD or employment in the private or public sector. The cutting-edge program is offered jointly by the Economics departments at NYU’s Stern School of Business and Graduate School of Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Structure

• 6-week modules over 10 months
• July 2022 - May 2023

Program Flow

• Starts with fundamentals of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics
• Supplemented by mathematical and data science tools
• Followed by game theory, applied microeconomics, finance and international economics
• Concludes with a “capstone experience” in a chosen path toward original research

Quantitative Economics (MS)

Program description.

NYU’s Master of Science in Quantitative Economics is a cutting-edge program for students with research-oriented ambitions in economics, such as a demanding doctoral program, or employment in technology, finance and research in both the private or public sectors. Drawing on the combined resources of the Economics Departments of the Faculty of Arts and Science and NYU’s Stern School, the MS in Quantitative Economics is streamlined and sequenced to get you where you need to go with maximal stimulation, speed and efficiency.

Our ten month program starts with the fundamentals of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, supplemented by the mathematical and data science tools needed for investigating and applying each of those fields. Then game theory, applied microeconomics, finance and open economy considerations are introduced. The final two modules include a “capstone experience” in which students choose one of two paths toward original research (see the  FAQ ).

If you are ultimately headed for a top doctoral program in economics, the timing of our program was designed for you. Starting in July and ending in May, it offers a wealth of challenging material while moving you toward beginning the PhD in one academic year. Our STEM certified MS in Quantitative Economics is taught in intensive six-week modules. It allows you to interact with over 20 leading faculty members through coursework alone. By the time you are looking for recommendation letters at the end of November, you will have completed eight courses with eight instructors who can write the kind of informative letters that doctoral admissions committees (and prospective employers) take seriously. NYU’s MS in Quantitative Economics is a superb program in an exciting university, in one of the world’s greatest cities.

If you feel driven to do research, or seek out a demanding career that will use your analytical skills, consider applying to the MS in Quantitative Economics at NYU.

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the  general application requirements , which include:

• Academic Transcripts
• Test Scores  (if required)
• Applicant Statements
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation , and
• A non-refundable  application fee .

See Economics for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Sample plan of study.

This course is taken in the summer of the first year.

This course is taken in January (J-term).

Learning Outcomes

The main purpose of the program is to develop strong analytical and conceptual skills that can be applied to a subsequent PhD in economics or finance, or conceivably to top-level placements in a quantitative industry or policy position.

Additionally, graduates will:

• Be provided with a strong quantitative economics training and skill development in preparation for advanced research in Economics, with emphasis on the acquisition of analytical techniques in economic theory, econometrics, and mathematics.
• Develop deep skills in modern computational and econometric tools and management of economic data at the graduate level.
• Be familiarized with the research frontier in applied economics, developing skills to apply their research by working on research projects and in diverse teams throughout the program.

NYU Policies

Graduate school of arts and science policies.

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages .

Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page . 

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MS in Quantitative Economics

Drawing on the combined resources of NYU's Departments of Economics in the Graduate School of Arts and Science and the Stern School of Business.

If you aspire to pursue a research career in economics, or seek research-related employment in technology or finance, check us out. This cutting-edge program is offered jointly by the Economics Departments at NYU’s Stern School of Business and the Graduate School of Faculty of Arts and Sciences. As you pass through our site, do browse the detailed FAQ, the list of affiliated faculty, and above all, the program of courses. Notice that every course has an instructor already attached to it. These are all full-time faculty, many with extraordinary reputations as researchers and teachers in economics.

• Six intensive terms of coursework over 10 months; July 2023 - May 2024
• Over twenty professors you will interact with
• Ideal "core fitness" preparation for top doctoral programs or high tech employment

Program Flow

• The fundamentals of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics
• Along with mathematical and data science tools
• Leading to game theory, topics in applied microeconomics and macroeconomics, finance, industrial organization, and international economics
• Supplemented by a “capstone experience” in a chosen path toward original research

INFO SESSION

We are holding an information session (via Zoom) for potential applicants on  Nov 30 at 9am  (EST). Register below.

• Get in Touch

Get in touch with us at  [email protected] .

Department of Economics, Stern

Henry Kaufman Management Center 7-160 44 West Fourth Street New York, NY 10012

Department of Economics, GSAS

19 West 4th Street, 6 Floor New York, NY 10012

• Degree Programs

Ph.D. and MSQ in Quantitative Economics

The Ph.D. Program is designed to ensure that students acquire a thorough knowledge of economic theory, the structure of modern economies, as well as econometric and computational methods before beginning their own research under faculty supervision.

In the first year students attend core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and mathematical methods. At the end of that year they must pass qualifying examinations in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. In the second year students complete field courses in two to three fields of their election and begin to work on their own research with the support of a faculty advisor, whose main role is to help them to make the transition from coursework to research and to identify suitable dissertation topics. By the end of their third year students must have completed their first research paper. The dissertation is completed in the fourth year of the program. It must be a major piece of research and its chapters must have the potential for publication in an international scientific journal.

First-year students in the MSQ Program in Quantitative Economics enroll in the same set of courses as their peers from the Ph.D. Program in Economics. Those who complete their first year of studies with strong success are eligible and strongly encouraged to join the Ph.D. Program in Economics from their second year of studies onwards. The MSQ Program in Quantitative Economics is completed with a Master thesis written in the final months of the second year of studies.Students who decide to take part in both programs may earn both an MSQ and a Ph.D. degree in a total of four years.

Ph.D. Structure

Pre-Semester: Mathematics, Statistics and Econometrics

First Semester: Advanced Econometrics 1 (8 CP), Advanced Macroeconomics 1 (8 CP), Advanced Microeconomics 1 (8 CP), Mathematical Methods (8 CP)

Second Semester: Advanced Econometrics 2 (8 CP), Advanced Macroeconomics 2 (8 CP), Advanced Microeconomics 2 (8 CP), Programming Languages (4 CP)

Qualifying Examinations

First Semester: Field Courses, Workshop Attendance

Second Semester: Field Courses, Seminar, Workshop Attendance

Fields Offered:

Development and International Economics (including Cross-Country Studies, Development Microeconomics, Economic Growth, International Trade)

Econometrics (including Bayesian Econometrics, Dynamic Panel Models, Econometrics of Duration and Transition Data, Long Memory in Time-Series, Non-Parametric Econometrics)

Finance (including Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance Theory, Empirical Banking, Household Finance, Option Pricing, Taxes and Finance)

Macroeconomics (including Consumption and Saving, Economic Growth, Family Macroeconomics, Household Finance, Monetary Theory and Policy, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Numerical Methods in Macroeconomics)

Marketing (including Bayesian Modelling for Marketing, Customer Management and Social Media, Pricing and Online-Advertising, Structural Models and Competition)

Microeconomics and Management (including Behavioral Auction Theory, Behavioral Economics, Decision Making under Risk and Ambiguity, Economics of Taxation, Empirical Labor Economics, Empirics of Contracts, Experimental Economics, General Equilibrium Theory: History, Incentives in Organizations, Intergenerational Economics, Modeling Group Behavior Using Game Theory, Taxes and Finance)

Historical and Normative Foundations of Economics (including History of Economic Thought, Normative Foundations)

During either the third or fourth year in the program, students may spend one or two semesters abroad for a research stay at an internationally top ranked Ph.D. program. Such stays are facilitated by the faculty advisor.

First Year Courses

The following list summarizes typical first-year course contents but t he details of the offerings may differ from year to year, depending on the faculty member teaching the course in question. For more details on these courses in any given year as well as the field courses, please consult the course syllabi typically retrievable on individual faculty members’ websites.

Mathematics and Statistics: real analysis, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, linear difference equation systems, introduction to MATLAB, static optimization, statistics, introduction to STATA, linear regression with STATA.

Advanced Econometrics 1: fundamentals of linear regression (OLS, SUR, 2SLS, 3SLS, GMM, QML), cross-section regression models with limited dependent variables, static panel data models.

Advanced Macroeconomics 1: dynamic optimization in models with representative and with heterogeneous agents, consumption, investment, saving and financial markets.

Advanced Microeconomics 1: theory of the household, theory of the firm, decisions under uncertainty, market equilibrium, static and dynamic games under alternative information structures.

Mathematical Methods: probability theory, measure theory, stochastic processes, topology, difference and differential equations, dynamic optimization, numerical methods.

Advanced Econometrics 2: integration and cointegration, single and multiple equation time-series models (ARMA, ARDL, VAR, VECM), spectral analysis, conditional heteroskedasticity.

Advanced Macroeconomics 2: structure of DSGE models, monopolistic competition and pricing, strategic complementarities, optimal monetary and fiscal policy, learning.

Advanced Microeconomics: contract theory (moral hazard, adverse selection, mechanism design, incomplete contracts), general equilibrium theory, welfare economics, externalities.

Programming Languages: major methods of programming (such as Python, R, and C) applied to research, specifically data analysis, in economics and business.

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Economics and Quantitative Economics Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2024

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Master in Public Administration in International Development

Join the next generation of global development leaders in this two-year, economics-centered program

Key Program Information

Program Length: Two years (varies for students pursuing joint or concurrent degrees)

Degree Awarded: Master in Public Administration in International Development

Admission Application Deadline: December 2024

Financial Aid Application Deadline: January 2025

Contact the MPA/ID Program

79 John F. Kennedy Street Rubenstein Building, Rooms 122, 124, and 126 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Be a leader in global development

The Master in Public Administration in International Development Program combines rigorous training in economics and quantitative methods with an emphasis on policy and practice.

The Master in Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID) Program offers unparalleled training for a professional career in development. The mix of theoretical rigor with practical approaches has proven to be a powerful combination. Our graduates hold influential policy, advocacy, and management positions at international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, and private sector companies.

The right fit

The MPA/ID Program may be the right fit for you if you:

• Demonstrate commitment to solving the economic, social, or political problems facing low-income communities, regions, or nations 
• Work in the development field, whether in government, nonprofits, central or regional banks, international development institutions, research organizations, or the private sector
• Want to deepen and broaden your understanding of development problems and acquire the analytical tools and global perspectives to design and implement effective solutions

“The MPA/ID Program expanded my perspectives and equipped me with a set of analytical tools to make the impact I seek to have in the world.” — Jiawen Tang MPA/ID 2021

About the MPA/ID Program

Training for development practitioners.

The MPA/ID Program is a rigorous, economics-centered program designed to train the next generation of practitioners and leaders in the field of global development.

Within a multidisciplinary core curriculum,  you will take advanced economics and quantitative methods sequences  with an emphasis on key policy applications to development. You will also complete core courses in economic development, politics, political philosophy, and management—integrated with the theory and practice of development.

In your second year, you’ll choose from elective options at HKS, at the other graduate schools at Harvard—such as  Business ,  Design ,  Education ,  Law , and  Public Health  as well as the  Faculty of Arts and Sciences —and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Core Curriculum

• Advanced Microeconomics ( API-109 ,  API-110 )
• Advanced Macroeconomics  ( API-119 ,  API-120 )
• Advanced Statistics and Econometrics ( API-209 ,  API-210 )
• Economic Development: Theory and Evidence ( DEV-101 ,  DEV-102 )
• Applications and Cases in International Development ( DEV-401 )
• The Politics of Development ( DPI-410 )
• Political Philosophy for Development ( DPI-411 )
• Getting Things Done: Management in a Development Context ( MLD-102 )
• Second Year Policy Analysis Seminar ( DEV-250 )

You will gain professional expertise through the case workshop and speaker series, a required summer internship , and an integrative capstone paper .

Second Year Policy Analysis : Using Your Toolkit 

The Second Year Policy Analysis (SYPA) serves as the capstone experience for the MPA/ID Program. You will choose a current development issue of interest to you; select your faculty advisor; and draw on the tools of economics, management, and political analysis to define the problem, analyze the evidence, develop alternatives, and provide specific policy recommendations for a concrete development problem.

Summer Internships : Out of the classroom, into the field

During the summer between your first and second year, you will engage in a development project, typically in a low- to middle-income country other than your own. This field experience allows you to apply the skills you’ve acquired during your first year and explore a new organization, substantive area of interest, or part of the world.

STEM Eligibility

The MPA/ID Program is a designated STEM-eligible program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Students with F-1 visas may apply to work in the United States for two additional years  beyond the standard 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT)  following graduation.

Degree Requirements

The MPA/ID Program consists of four semesters of full-time coursework in residence at HKS. The coursework includes the core curriculum, a minimum of six electives (24 credits), a development-related internship, and the Second-Year Policy Analysis.

To graduate, you must:

• Matriculate as a full-time, in-residence student and take 12-24 credits per semester
• Earn at least 76 credits, which must include the required courses, SYPA, and electives
• Finish with a GPA of B or better
• Earn a B- or higher in all required MPA/ID courses

Combined Degrees

You might consider  pursuing a second degree jointly or concurrently  if you’re interested in how the world’s challenges can be addressed at the intersection of international development and business, law, medicine, design, or other fields.

Pursuing a joint or concurrent degree reduces coursework and residency requirements and makes it possible to earn two degrees in a shorter amount of time.

Joint Degrees

As an MPA/ID student, you can pursue a  joint degree —either an MBA at  Harvard Business School  or a JD at  Harvard Law School —that involves carefully crafted and integrated coursework.

Concurrent Degrees

You can pursue a concurrent degree in business, law, medicine, design, or another field—as long as it is:

• A professional degree (for example, an MBA, MD, or JD; not a PhD or an academic master’s degree)
• At least a two-year program
• Completed at a partner school

The concurrent degree program allows you to pursue degrees at HKS and at a partner school; however, the coursework is not as closely integrated as the joint degree program. As a concurrent degree student, you are responsible for weaving together the two halves of your learning experience.

Faculty & Research

Where ideas meet practice.

Our faculty members are changing the ways in which poverty and underdevelopment are analyzed and approached.

MPA/ID faculty members are scholars  and  practitioners working with governments, international organizations, and NGOs. They are  diagnosing economic woes and helping develop cures , bringing  real-world development and political experience  to bear on complex challenges, and helping people  escape poverty  by understanding what hinders development progress.

MPA/ID Faculty Research

Why taxes are vital to development

Economist Anders Jensen has long been intrigued by differences in state capacity and the role of public finance in building and boosting capacity. 

Looking at the world through a wider lens

The thread running through Professor of Public Policy Eliana La Ferrara’s work is an unwillingness to limit herself to traditional microeconomic models.

Diagnosing economic woes and helping develop cures

Professor Ricardo Hausmann’s Growth Lab is training students and practitioners to develop prescriptions for economic growth.

Bringing real-world experience to bear

Juan Jimenez MPA/ID 2010 has returned to HKS to share valuable wisdom gained from high-level development policy positions in the government of the Dominican Republic.

MPA/ID Core Faculty Members

Dani Rodrik

MPA/ID Faculty Chair; Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy

Matthew Andrews

Edward S. Mason Senior Lecturer in International Development

Arthur Applbaum

Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Values

Luis Armona

Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Jeffrey Frankel

James W. Harpel Professor of Capital Formation and Growth

Jeffrey Cheah Professor of South-East Asia Studies

Ricardo Hausmann

Rafik Hariri Professor of the Practice of International Political Economy

Anders Jensen

Associate Professor of Public Policy

Juan Jimenez

Lecturer in Public Policy

Asim Khwaja

Director, Center for International Development;  Sumitomo-FASID Professor of International Finance and Development

Eliana La Ferrara

Professor of Public Policy

Senior Lecturer in Public Policy

Celestin Monga

Adjunct Professor of Public Policy

Gautam Nair

Carmen Reinhart

Minos A. Zombanakis Professor of the International Financial System

Federico Sturzenegger

Our alumni do development differently

Around the world, MPA/ID graduates are in pivotal roles, leading development.

Inside governments and traditional development organizations, and outside the box in startups and social enterprises, MPA/IDs are changing the way development is done.

Our graduates hold influential policy and management positions in a wide range of international organizations, national governments, central and regional banks, nonprofit and research organizations, and private sector companies. 

Where do MPA/ID graduates work?

Learn more about how MPA/ID alumni are shaping development.

Dalia Al Kadi MPA/ID 2011

Dalia Al Kadi MPA/ID 2011 is a Senior Economist in the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the World Bank, Dalia worked as a Project Manager at the Abu Dhabi General Secretariat of the Executive Council.

Abdulhamid Haidar MPA/ID 2021

Abdulhamid Haidar MPA/ID 2021 is the founder of  Darsel , a non-profit aimed at bridging the digital divide. In Haidar’s words, “The [MPA/ID] curriculum, faculty, and incredible student community all played an integral role in Darsel’s development and its positive impact on education in developing countries.”

Katherine Koh MPA/ID-MBA 2008

Katherine Koh MPA/ID-MBA 2008 is the Principal Investment Officer and Global Climate Lead for Infrastructure at the International Finance Corporation (IFC).  In  Putting Climate at the Heart of IFC Infrastructure Business , she describes “the transition to a low-carbon and resilient global economy—and the need for climate-smart infrastructure solutions—(as) among the most urgent and important issues of our time.”

Johannes Lohmann MPA/ID 2017

Johannes Lohmann MPA/ID 2017 is an Executive Director at Pollination.  Johannes advises a range of public and private sector clients on their transition to net zero, and on decarbonization and nature positive strategies. Previously, Johannes worked as Head of Work and Financial Behaviour at the Behavioural Insights Team, advising public and private sector partners on topics such as green jobs and sustainable pensions.

He “Charlie” Tian MPA/ID 2015

He “Charlie” Tian MPA/ID 2015 is a Senior Professional/Project Team Leader at New Development Bank in the Project Sector Department. He joined the New Development Bank a few weeks after its establishment in 2015. Since then, he has worked on projects in renewable energy, green transportation, and social infrastructure, totaling $5 billion of the Bank’s investments.

Information sessions

Mpa/id at a glance.

*Statistics are based on a five-year average.

Featured MPA/ID stories

A mission to develop equality.

Economist Ganchimeg Ganpurev MPA/ID 2021 was moved to shift her focus by the startling inequality she saw in her homeland.

Complementing economics with soft skills

Isidro Guardarucci MPA/ID 2018 adds soft skills to his economics toolkit.

Delving deeper into development

A desire for more grounding in economic theory led Zainab Raji MPA/ID 2022 to  the HKS/HBS joint degree program.

“Every day is an opportunity to weave together economic theory and development practice using the insights from my professors and classmates’ own professional and personal experiences.”

Miguel ventura mpa/id 2024 (philippines), applying to the mpa/id program, what we look for, career focus.

Most students admitted to the MPA/ID Program have at least two years of development-related work experience in government, nonprofits, central or regional banks, international development institutions, research organizations, or private businesses. Usually at least some of the work has been in developing countries.

Quantitative Analysis

We also look for applicants who are interested in applying quantitative analysis and economics to development policy design.

Prerequisites

To apply to the MPA/ID Program, y ou must have:

• A bachelor’s degree with a solid academic record, including strong grades in economics and mathematics courses
• Completion of at least one university-level course each in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and calculus through multivariable calculus (usually part of a three-course college sequence). Applicants may satisfy some of these prerequisites after submitting an application as long as they are completed before the program starts. Statistics and linear algebra courses are desirable, but not required. 

How to Apply

A complete application to the MPA/ID Program includes: 

• Online application
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE or GMAT required; in general, you are most competitive for admission if your quantitative section score is 160 or above on the GRE, or 48 or above on the GMAT.
• Non-native English speakers who did not earn an undergraduate degree conducted in English must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge English exam results. We recommend an overall TOEFL score of at least 100 on the iBT or an overall band score of 7 on the IELTS.
• Academic transcripts
• $100 application fee or waiver

Read more about how to apply .

The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available in September 2024. There is one admission application deadline and one start date for each degree program per year. You may apply to only one master’s degree program per admissions cycle. 

Tuition & Fees

The cost of attendance for the 2024-2025 academic year is outlined in  Funding Your Master’s Education  to help you plan financially for our master’s degree programs. Living expense costs are based on residence in Cambridge. The 2025-2026 academic year rates will be published in March 2025. HKS tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. 

Financing your education is a partnership—we are here to help guide you. You are strongly encouraged to explore all funding opportunities .

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program

The MPA/ID Program is a  participating program  of the  Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program  (JJ/WBGSP). The scholarship provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance. The JJ/WBGSP is open to citizens of certain  developing countries  with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts.

Learn more about the HKS community

Center for international development (cid).

CID is the intellectual home of MPA/ID students and faculty members. It seeks to advance the understanding of development challenges and offer viable solutions to problems of global poverty.  Learn more from its director, Professor Asim Khwaja , and read about the work and perspectives of those in the CID community.

Student Life

Student stories, admissions & financial aid blog.