PhD with Coursework (Economics)
Overview
The PhD program will equip you with the necessary skills for a professional career in economics at academic institutions, government and international agencies, or in industry. The program emphasises independent, original work in economics or econometrics, and encourages collaboration with our leading scholars.
Research in the Department of Economics spans most branches of economics, econometrics and actuarial studies. Particular strengths of the Department include microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, industrial economics, econometrics, labour economics, Asian economics, monetary and financial economics, international economics and actuarial studies.
The emphasis of the program is on the theoretical core of the discipline. To supplement this core, advanced programs, seminars, and research opportunities are offered in all of the usual specialised fields.
Program structure
The PhD with Coursework (Economics) consists of three years of full-time or six years of part-time study.
- First year: two semesters of coursework consisting of six semester-length subjects normally comprising four core subjects, two elective subjects and a year long (double subject) Thesis Workshop.
- Second and third years: full-time thesis research
- Please visit the Course and Subject Handbook for current subject information
Admission requirements
To be eligible for entry to the PhD with Coursework (Economics) you must:
- Hold a four-year honours degree in economics or econometrics at minimum H2A (75-79%) from an Australian university; or
- Hold a qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the Research and Higher Degree (RHD) Committee to be equivalent. This may consist of a three year undergraduate degree followed by a masters majoring in economics/econometrics.
In addition, you must:
- Satisfy the University's English language requirements; and
- Have prior academic research experience, for example, a completed research project/component that accounts for at least 25% of the assessment at 4th year or masters level; and
- Provide results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Preparing your application
- Mathematical proficiency is looked upon favourably for PhD admission. It is desirable that you provide details of any studies in mathematics you have undertaken or other evidence of your mathematical preparation.
- It is helpful to provide evidence to evaluate the research requirement for admission. If your transcript does not include the weight given to the research component in your honours/masters program, we may require that you provide documentation from your university to verify this. If your transcript does not include a mark for the research component (other than "pass" or "satisfactory") then you should provide other evidence such as examiners' reports to attest to the quality of your research. Research completed outside an academic degree will need thorough documentation to fulfil the requirement.
- It may also be necessary to provide information about the subjects in your masters / honours degree, especially those in the final year, to verify that you qualify to enter the subjects in the PhD coursework. Documents such as course outlines and textbook lists will help us to assess the academic level of your subjects.
Assessment
Students are required to attain an average mark of at least 75% in their coursework in the first year and satisfy the requirements of a confirmation seminar. The award of the PhD is based solely on the result of the thesis.For more information on the confirmation and assessment process please refer to the PhD Handbook.
More information
- How and when to apply
- Scholarships
- Fees
- Download the Melbourne GSM 2010 Prospectus (PDF 7458 Kb)
- Visit the Department of Economics website
- Visit the School of Graduate Research website
- Queries about research programs should be directed to research-melbgsm@unimelb.edu.au
- Before submitting a formal application, you are welcome to email the Economics PhD coordinator Chris Skeels (Chris.Skeels@unimelb.edu.au) to discuss any issues related to your application. Please provide as many of the items listed under 'Admission Requirements' as possible with your email.
- All successful candidates for admission in 2010 will be required to arrive at the University of Melbourne by the end of February 2010 to participate in the induction program.