Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics

About the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics

UNSW’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics is offered by one of the world's top institutions in Economics. Ranked #2 in Australia and #40 globally for Economics and Econometrics (QS World University Rankings, 2025), we will equip you with the expertise needed to become a globally focused and socially engaged researcher.

You’ll be joining a cohort of high-achieving research students in tackling modern-day challenges at the forefront of economics, working alongside leaders in the field. This is your opportunity to become integrated into the UNSW Business School’s community of scholars.

The program is comprised of two components. You’ll begin by undertaking rigorous coursework covering microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics and applied economic analysis. As part of your doctoral program, you’ll also be involved in research projects even from an early stage. This research training will equip you with the skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems in the field.

You’ll then pursue independent research under the supervision of high-profile UNSW academics, culminating in a doctoral thesis. Your PhD thesis will allow you to showcase your research skills and enable you to make an original contribution to the field of Economics. There will also be exciting opportunities throughout to interact with industry leaders, and to develop your teaching portfolio.

Our training is geared toward preparing you for a career in academia, although other career paths (e.g., consulting, government, industry, non-profit) are also enabled.

The vast majority of our higher degree research students are supported through a tuition waiver and stipend of around A$35-45K per year.

Before formally applying or contacting potential supervisors, you must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) by sending the required material to econ.hdr@unsw.edu.au, opens in a new window. Please read the "Instructions for Applicants" section below.

PhD program structure

Stream 1: 1-year of Masters’ Coursework + 3-year PhD Program (fully funded for coursework and PhD)

Key Information:

1-year of Masters’ Coursework + 3-year PhD Program (fully funded both for coursework and PhD)
The program starts in Term 1 (early February)
No part-time option is available

Year One: Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies (MPDBS)

Year one will equip you with the skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems in the field, while helping you formulate your research agenda and identify potential thesis supervisors for the PhD component of the program.

You will undertake coursework covering microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics and applied economic analysis. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop practical research skills by assisting in research projects. Upon successful completion of the first year, you’ll be awarded a Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies.

A brief overview of the first year is presented below. Please visit the UNSW Handbook for full course structure details.

Term 1: COMM8100, opens in a new window +ECON7001, opens in a new window + ECON7004, opens in a new window
Term 2: COMM8102, opens in a new window + ECON7002, opens in a new window + Research Assistance Work
Term 3: COMM8103, opens in a new window + ECON7101, opens in a new window + ECON7102, opens in a new window

Year Two: Specialised Coursework and Identification of Thesis Topic

Year two will help you in further developing skills specialized towards dealing with the challenges relevant to your research topic. You’ll continue in the Economics stream with a further year of advanced coursework.

You’ll choose up to eight additional research courses from a range of electives in consultation with your supervisor and PGRC, with the opportunity to take subjects outside of your specialised discipline. In year two, you’ll also be identifying your thesis topic with the aid of your supervisor.

You’ll engage in literature review and research design and present your research proposal to the School of Economics at the end of the year.

Years Three – Four: Original Research and Your Doctoral Thesis

In the final three years of the program, you will be focused on conducting full-time research and completing your doctoral thesis.

This is your opportunity to address some of the biggest challenges at the frontier of Economics and make a significant contribution to the field. Your research will offer new ways of critical thinking and withstand critical analysis from expert researchers in the area.

Stream 2: Direct Entry into the 3-year PhD Program

Key Information:

Direct Entry into the 3-year PhD Program
Note: it requires outside scholarship (or ARC Funding Support from your selected supervisor) AND a degree in Economics with research component (e.g., First-class Honours or Master’s in Economics)
You are expected to start in Term 1 (early February)
A part-time option may be available (subject to approval)

Year One: Coursework and Identification of Thesis Topic

Year one will equip you with skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems relevant to your research topic.

You’ll choose up to eight research courses from a range of electives in consultation with your supervisor and PGRC, with an opportunity to take subjects outside of your specialised discipline.

These will include the four core courses listed below (unless you are exempted from taking them). You’ll also be identifying your thesis topic with the aid of your supervisor.

You’ll engage in literature review and research design and present your research proposal to the School of Economics at the end of the year.

Term 1: ECON7001, opens in a new window + ECON7004, opens in a new window
Term 2: COMM8102, opens in a new window + ECON7002, opens in a new window

Years Two – Three: Original Research and Your Doctoral Thesis

In the final three years of the program, you will be focused on conducting full-time research and completing your doctoral thesis.

This is your opportunity to address some of the biggest challenges at the frontier of Economics and make a significant contribution to the field.

Your research will offer new ways of critical thinking and withstand critical analysis from expert researchers in the area.

Instructions for Applicants

Before formally applying or contacting potential supervisors, you need to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) process by sending the following material to econ.hdr@unsw.edu.au, opens in a new window. The EOI process opens 1 May 2025 and closes 31 July 2025. Only selected applicants will be invited to apply via the UNSW central portal.

Important: make sure that you satisfy the UNSW academic and language entry requirements before submitting your EOI. Please read the Entry Requirements section below.

Subject: MPDBS Application

Main Body:

Your name, citizenship, and whether you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.

Your degree(s), institution(s) and year(s) of completion of previous studies.

A list of advanced economics, mathematics and statistics courses taken and the grades you obtained for these courses.

Names of two references (recommendation letter writers) and their contact details (e.g., affiliation, title, email).

Names of two academics you wish to work with at UNSW.

Three to five academic papers you have recently read that relevant for your research interest.

Attachments (in PDF):

Your academic CV.

Your official academic transcripts from previous degree(s).

Your official GRE results.

A research proposal or statement of purpose.

If applicable, proof of your English Language requirement.
Subject: Direct Entry PhD Application

Main Body:

Your name, citizenship, and whether you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.

Your degree(s), institution(s) and year(s) of completion of previous studies.

A list of advanced economics, mathematics and statistics courses taken and the grades you obtained for these courses.

Names of two references (recommendation letter writers) and their contact details (e.g., affiliation, title, email).

Names of two academics you wish to work with at UNSW.

Three to five academic papers you have recently read that relevant for your research interest.

A description of your Honours or Master’s thesis.

Your funding source: outside scholarship, external grant, or support from potential supervisor.

Attachments (in PDF):

Your academic CV.

Your official academic transcripts from previous degree(s).

Your official GRE results.

A research proposal or statement of purpose.

If applicable, proof of your English Language requirement.

A copy of your Honours or Master’s thesis.
Academic Entry Requirement

The minimum academic entry requirement for Stream 1 is the equivalent of a four-year UNSW Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (Economics, Finance, and related subjects) with first or upper second class honours. The minimum academic entry requirement for Stream 2 is the equivalent of a four-year UNSW Bachelor’s degree with an Honours year (research), or the equivalent of a UNSW Masters’ degree with substantial research component with first or upper second class honours.

Note: an upper second class honours is equivalent to a weighted average mark of at least 75/100 (i.e., a Distinction) at UNSW and is allocated to roughly the top 30% of students. Grading systems vary across countries. For more information, read this guide for grade equivalencies between countries, opens in a new window.

If you are unsure if you satisfy the academic entry requirement, contact us at econ.hdr@unsw.edu.au, opens in a new window and we will provide feedback.

English Language Requirement

UNSW recognises the follow countries as English-speaking: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada, Fiji, Gibraltar, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, The Gambia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

If you are not a citizen of an English-speaking country, then you will need to establish that you have sufficient English language fluency. There are four ways to establish sufficient English language fluency: English Tests (including IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson and Cambridge), UNSW Global English Course, Prior Study, or an English Waiver. For details on each of these, please review our English language requirements, opens in a new window.

If you are unsure if you satisfy the academic entry requirement, contact us at econ.hdr@unsw.edu.au, opens in a new window and we will provide feedback.

Placement

University of Bologna, Department of Economics, Research Fellow

The National University of Singapore, Asia Competitiveness Institute, Research Fellow

Monash University, Centre for Global Business, Research Fellow

University of Oxford, Magdalen College, Research Fellow, then ETH Zurich, Department of Management, Technology and Economics, Assistant Professor

Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data, Research Fellow

Monash University, Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, Research Fellow

The University of Melbourne, School of Mathematics and Statistics (Lecturer)

University of New South Wales, CEPAR, Research Fellow

University of Sydney, School of Economics, Research Fellow

Wuhan University, Economics and Management School, Assistant Professor

Australian National University, ANU College of Business and Economics, Associate Lecturer

East China University of Science and Technology, School of Business, Lecturer

University of Toronto, Department of Economics, Research Fellow

South China Normal University, School of Economics and Management, Lecturer

University of Sydney, Research Fellow, then University of Technological Sydney, Economics Discipline, Chancellor's Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

University of Geneva, Faculty of History, Economics and Society, Research Fellow, then South Mediterranean University, Mediterranean School of Business, Assistant Professor

Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, School of Public Administration, Associate Professor

International University of Japan, Graduate School of International Relations, Assistant Professor

University of New South Wales, School of Economics, Research Fellow

University of New South Wales, CEPAR, Research Fellow

Shanghai Tech University, School of Entrepreneurship and Management, Assistant Professor

University of New South Wales, School of Economics, Research Fellow

University of Bath, Department of Economics, Lecturer

University of New South Wales, CEPAR, Research Fellow

Sun-yat Sen University, Department of Economics, Assistant Professor

University of Technology Sydney, Research Fellow, then Macquarie University, Centre for the Health Economy, Honorary Research Fellow

Zurich University of Applied Sciences, ZHAW, Research Fellow

Jinan University, Institute for Economic and Social Research, Assistant Professor

University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, Research Fellow

Curtin University, School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Lecturer, then Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School, Lecturer

University of Technology Sydney, CHERE, Research Fellow

University of Peradeniya, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Professor

University of Technology Sydney, CHERE, Research Fellow

University of Technology Sydney, CHERE, Senior Research Fellow

Monash University, Centre for Health Economics, Research Fellow

Monash University, Monash Business School, Research Fellow

UNSW, School of Economics, Research Fellow

Durham University, Business School, Lecturer

UCL Australia, Faculty of Engineering Science, Lecturer

Shandong University, School of Economics, Assistant Professor

University of Sydney, Charles Perkins Centre, Research Fellow

University of Mannheim, Department of Economics, Research Fellow, then Monash University, School of Economics, Lecturer

University of Tasmania, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, Lecturer

City University of London, Department of Economics, Lecturer

Shangdong University, School of Economics, Lecturer

University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, Research Fellow

Fukushima University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Associate Professor

Your PhD will set you on the path to a career in a premier research institution, anywhere in the world. Throughout your research degree, you’ll also have many opportunities to develop your teaching portfolio.

Beyond academia, there’s also significant demand in the private and public sectors for people with deep knowledge and sound research and analytical skills*.

Whether you’re looking to pursue a career in academia, or take your research skills out to industry, a PhD in Economics from UNSW will get you there.

* Source: 2019 Advancing Australia’s Knowledge Economy Report

The UNSW Business School is ranked within the Top 50 worldwide for Economics and Econometrics.

An increasing number of PhD graduates find employment in business, government, and the non-profit sector. Nineteen of the largest ASX companies have PhD graduates on their senior executive teams.