PhD in Economics at Royal Holloway, University of London

About the department

The Department of Economics at Royal Holloway, University of London is a centre of research and teaching excellence. The department consists of approximately 30 academic staff members whose research interests include theoretical and applied microeconomics, labour economics, development economics and experimental economics, as well as multidisciplinary topics in collaboration with colleagues from the Computer Science and Psychology departments (see here). Over 98% of our research was rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” in the most recent UK research assessment (REF2021). Research activity is organised around the department’s research centres.

About the programme

The department has an active PhD programme which consists of approximately 25 PhD students. We offer a stimulating research environment where postgraduate research students become an integral part of our research community and enjoy a consistently high level of interaction with academic staff. During the four years of the programme, students take PhD courses that provide advanced economics training, attend research seminars from external speakers, present their work in the PhD seminar and PhD conference and, generally, participate in the academic life of the department.

Applying for admission and choosing a research topic

We offer full-time (4 years) and part-time (8 years) PhD programmes, that start in September, January, or April. Applicants should have an MSc in Economics or a related field. For specific information about the application process, consult the website of the PhD programme under “how to apply”.

For a successful PhD experience, it is important to find a good match between your research interests and those of your supervisors. You can find a list of potential supervisors on our directory and potential topics of study on our website under “research topics”.

Funding opportunities

Generous scholarships are available on a competitive basis that cover tuition fees and stipends for Home and International students. The scholarships are offered by the South-East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc). Information about applying for the scholarship is here. SEDarc DTP is a partnership of six leading UK universities with a strong focus on advanced quantitative skills and employability. It offers students a unique opportunity to engage in challenge-led research and provides financial support for 3-month job placement and other training and professional development activities. 

The research project on Social Norms offers PhD scholarships to students interested in topics related to the project. The project seeks to understand how social norms develop and are sustained, and involves psychologists, economists, and computer scientists. Topics of interest include, but are not limited, to: Social Norms, Game Theory, Experimental Economics, Microeconomic Theory. The scholarship provides support of UKRI rate with London Weighting over 3 years for a full-time student. Information about the project is here. Applicants should submit an application to the department and email the principal investigator Professor David Levine (david.levive@rhul.ac.uk).

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