Application procedure
Information about applying for a postgraduate research degree in the School of Economics.
Apply online
To apply for a PhD in the department you will need to complete an online application form.Submit your application
We are seeking talented and enthusiastic students to join the PhD programme in Economics at the University of Sheffield from September 2025. Applications are welcomed in all economics fields. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with research interests in Applied Microeconometrics, Behavioural Economics, Economic Theory, Household Finance, Macroeconomics, Time-series Econometrics, and Urban, Trade and Environmental Economics. Please read the detailed description of the research topics that the school can support here.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree that is equivalent to upper second-class honours (2:1) or above in the UK.
Applicants should also have or expect to obtain a master’s degree with merit (or international equivalent) in Economics or a related subject.
Applicants whose first language is not English and who do not hold a degree from an English-speaking university will need to take an English language test. Applicants must achieve one of the following minimum test scores:
- 6.5 in IELTS with at least 6.0 in each component
- 90 overall in the TOEFL iBT test
What to prepare before applying
- Study the specialty areas of the school members and identify potential supervisors who work in your field and could guide you thought the PhD journey. You may also use the Research Supervisors tool to familiarise yourself with the research interests of our school members. We strongly suggest to discuss your proposal with a potential supervisor in the department before applying through the online system.
- Develop a research proposal using the provided template.
- Explore the available funding opportunities and make sure that you meet their eligibility requirements and deadlines.
What to attach to your online application
- An academic CV that summarizes your education and other relevant information.
- Certificates and academic transcripts from your bachelor’s and master’s studies. If you have already completed your master thesis, please upload a copy of it. If you are still a student, please upload an interim transcript.
- Contact details or reference letters from two academic referees who could comment on your academic ability and suitability for the PhD programme.
- A research proposal and any other documents that could support your application.
- English language evidence for the applicants whose first language is not English and who did not receive a degree from a programme taught in English.
Application deadlines
To be considered for a PhD scholarship, you should apply no later than the 15th of January 2025. We strongly recommend submitting the application by the end of December 2024. Applications without a scholarship are accepted all year round.
After you submit your application
Your application will be reviewed by school members who work in your area. If your application is evaluated positively, you will be invited for an interview (either online or in-person). Following a successful interview, the potential supervisors will work with you to improve the research proposal for the grant application.
If you have any questions, please contact econphd@sheffield.ac.uk or the PhD programme directors Prof. Alberto Montagnoli (a.montagnoli@sheffield.ac.uk) and Dr. Enrico Vanino (e.vanino@sheffield.ac.uk).