PhD Entry Requirements and How to Apply

To apply for a PhD in the Department of Economics please complete all sections of the application form and submit this alongside a research proposal.

Application deadlines:

February 10th of the academic year preceding studies (for applicants who wish to apply for funding)

May 30th of the academic year preceding studies (for applicants who are self-funded or already have obtained funding)

Application checklist

1. Ensure you have completed all sections of the application form
2. Make sure you have included a complete research proposal
3. Ensure that you have signed the application form
4. Make sure you have included the following:

• Two copies of your completed application form
• Full transcript of all previous degree programmes
• Copy of degree certificates
• Document confirming funding
• English language certificate (if your previous qualification was not studied for in English)
• Two confidential references in sealed envelopes

Return your completed application form, research proposal and supporting documents to:

Postgraduate Admissions Office
The Graduate School
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Reading
Whiteknights
Reading, RG6 6AA, UK

Please allow several weeks for your application to be processed.

Entry requirements

In order to be considered for a place on our PhD programme you must have:

• A merit or 'B+' (at least 60%) in a masters qualification from an internationally recognised university
• An equally strong undergraduate degree, in any subject
• A strong research proposal that should:

1. outline your proposed research topics in the context of previous work
2. highlight current debates within the field
3. demonstrate a suitable level of analysis

Writing your research proposal

Your research proposal should include: 

1. Literature review

A thorough literature review identifying relevant gaps in current knowledge (these can be both theoretical and empirical).

2. Research hypotheses

A statement of research hypotheses that will be the focus of the proposed research, and will help addressing some of those gaps.

3. Methodology

Explaining how the research questions are going to be investigated: what type of theoretical/empirical model (just one or both of these approaches), what kind of data (if secondary, then from which sources; if primary, how is it going to be collected?); how is the data going to be analysed: qualitative (e.g. case study)/quantitative (econometric analysis) techniques are both required of an economist (training will be provided in both types of research techniques in the course of your PhD); knowledge of which techniques/models are used in relevant empirical/theoretical studies and reference to them are expected from the literature review too.

4. Policy implications

Explaining how the answers to the proposed research questions may help make policy more informed and more effective.

5. References

Containing relevant literature and data sources.