PhD in Economics

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.

An application is only complete when:

1. you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
2. you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
3. your referees have provided their references.

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

Please read the Faculty's Entry Requirements and How to Apply pages before applying for this course.

This course allows you to use one professional referee, as well as one academic referee, even if you have only recently left higher education. If you have been out of higher education for more than 6 years, you may use two professional referees, in line with our general rules (see References to support your Cambridge application | Postgraduate Study).

Selection Process

We strongly advise applicants to apply by 18 November 2025 to have the best possible chance of securing a place. We may close early to applications after this first gathered field and before the deadline of 2 December 2025.

After the deadline, applications are considered a gathered field by the relevant research group, and decisions are expected to be sent out between January/March.

After this point, borderline applications may be put on hold and placed on a waiting list if places become available. You will be informed via email or Applicant Portal if you fall in this category and the final decision will be reflected on your Applicant Portal. These decisions will be finalised by the end of June.

Kindly note that the Faculty will not provide feedback to individuals on the quality and content of their application to postgraduate programmes within the Faculty of Economics.

Further information on How To Apply

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Things You'll Need

You should start preparing the things that you'll need when you apply. These will be mandatory, unless specifically flagged as optional.

• Two referees willing to give you a reference
  Either academic or professional – please see our References guidance for more information about which type you need. Your referees will need to have submitted their reference by the course deadline.
• Transcript  
• CV/resume
• Evidence of competence in English
  If required - please see our Competence in English guidance for more information.
• Project Title (250 characters) (mandatory)
• Research Summary (2500 characters) (mandatory)
• Multiple Proposed Supervisors (200 characters) (mandatory)
  The list of Academic Staff and their research interests can be found here.
• Research Experience (2500 characters) (optional)
• Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
• Reasons for Applying (5000 characters) (mandatory)
• Details of previous Master's (PhD)
  Please upload details of the topics covered, or topics to be covered, in your current or previous Master's degrees. The template that MUST be used can be downloaded here.
• GRE Questions
  Applicants whose previous university training has been in countries outside the UK or part of the University of London International Programme MUST submit the results of a recent GRE test. Please note that failure to upload a GRE Test (if required) may result in the automatic withdrawal of the application. For more information, please see the Faculty's website or contact us via email.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

If you wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:

• Gates Cambridge Reference  
• Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)

See Gates Cambridge for more information.

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How to Find a Supervisor

Prospective applicants are expected to contact potential supervisors from the Faculty of Economics before making a formal application. The purpose of this initial contact is to discuss your research proposal, enquire about supervisor capacity and willingness to supervise and determine if there is a good fit between your interests and theirs. When contacting a supervisor, it is recommended that you consider their research profile when writing to them. The Faculty Academic Staff Page outlines a broad range of staff and their research interest, which may provide a suitable basis for a PhD thesis.