Triangle

Research overview

Our MRes is the normal route to PhD Economics at Nottingham. It is an integrated one year Masters in Research, from which students progress to the PhD in Economics lasting four years.

The programme includes: 

  • a one-year MRes during which you will attend a number of modules covering the tools, techniques and literature necessary to allow you to conduct research at the forefront of the economics discipline
  • four years (maximum) PhD during which you will conduct your independent research under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty
  • two supervisors who will help ensure smooth progress of your research work
  • support and resources to enable you to participate in the scientific community and achieve a top job market placement

If you wish to apply for a PhD in economics, you are normally expected to apply to our MRes/PhD programme. In exceptional circumstances (for example, having already completed an MRes or having substantial research experience), you may ask to be admitted directly to the first year of the PhD without completing the preliminary MRes year. The school's Admissions Officer, Maria Garcia de la Vega, can provide advice on your eligibility for this route. 

Course content

During your MRes year, you will complete advanced-level taught modules, coursework and a research dissertation designed to ensure you acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for research in economics. All elements of the programme are examined and you must pass them all in order to progress to our four-year PhD programme.

Once admitted onto the PhD, you will focus in more detail on your research while continuing to have access to research and generic skills training provided by the School of Economics and the Researcher Academy. Training is provided for the preparation of articles for submission to academic journals and for applying for jobs in the international market for research economists.

Term one

Core MRes modules taught in the first term are in:

  • microeconomics 
  • macroeconomics 
  • econometrics 

Term two

In the second term, you will be expected to take three from a selection of advanced MRes modules, for example:

  • macroeconomics 
  • microeconomics
  • applied econometrics 
  • behavioural economics 
  • computational economics 

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

QualificationMRes/PhD
Degree

A good grade at Merit or Distinction level in a masters degree (or international equivalent) in economics (including training in advanced micro, macro and econometrics). Evidence of academic excellence in previous taught courses is required.

QualificationMRes/PhD
Degree

A good grade at Merit or Distinction level in a masters degree (or international equivalent) in economics (including training in advanced micro, macro and econometrics). Evidence of academic excellence in previous taught courses is required.

International and EU equivalents

We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world.

For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.

IELTS6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
English language requirements

As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications.

This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.

Applying

Find a supervisor

Our selection process

After an initial check by central admissions, applications are passed on to the admissions tutor in the school, who will assess whether you have the potential to succeed on our programme. One aim of the MRes year is to identify a topic, and appropriate supervisors, for the PhD. This means you do not need to find a supervisor or write a very detailed proposal when applying. Having said that, a brief statement of your research interests – and a check that there are academics in the school who are also interested in the same broad field of research - is useful even at this stage.

If you are in any doubt about the application process, you can contact the our Postgraduate Research Administrator, Dr Natalia Bas.

If you have any questions regarding the admission process, you can contact the Recruitment and Admissions team, or the school's Admissions Tutor, Maria Garcia de la Vega.

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

How to apply

Fees

QualificationPhD and MRes
Home / UK£5,350
International£23,000

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.

You should be able to access most of the books you'll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles which could cost up to £50-60.

The school contributes to some costs relating to conference attendance and job market activity; however there may be additional costs such as visas, travel insurance, transport and food which can amount to approximately £150-200 pounds per conference.

Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.

Funding

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Support

Presenting at conferences 

You will be encouraged to present papers at external conferences, and funds are available to support you with this. There is also an annual conference where you will present your work to academic staff and fellow students. There are also many opportunities to attend conferences, workshop and seminar events within the school. 

Teaching opportunities 

Teaching is an important part of your training as a future researcher/academic and is strongly encouraged in the PhD part of the course. 

Research seminars 

The school provides an exciting environment where you will be exposed to a rich variety of innovative research. Our seminar series attracts internationally acclaimed academics from top economics departments and many run on a weekly basis during term-time. These include seminars in: 

  • Behavioural and experimental economics (CeDEx seminar series) 
  • Macroeconomics and financial markets (CFCM seminar series) 
  • International economics (GEP seminar series) 
  • Development economics (CREDIT seminar series) 
  • Econometrics (Granger Centre seminar series) 
  • Political economy (NICEP seminar series) 

In addition, the school runs a number of generalist seminars, including: 

  • Senior Academic Seminar Series 
    Recent speakers include Dough Bernheim (Stanford), David Laibson (Harvard), Gerard Padró i Miquel (Yale University), Gianluca Violante (Princeton University) and David Atkin (MIT) 
  • Public lectures and conferences 
    Recent public lectures were given by Colin Camerer (California Institute of Technology), Giovanni Maggi (Yale University) and Johanna Rickne (Stockholm University and University of Nottingham) 
  • School of Economics brown bag seminars 

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

  • studying
  • socialising
  • computer work
  • seminars
  • kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

  • academic and disability support
  • childcare services
  • counselling service
  • faith support
  • financial support
  • mental health and wellbeing support
  • visa and immigration advice
  • welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

  • international students
  • black and minority ethnic students
  • students who identify as women
  • students with disabilities
  • LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

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Where you will learn

University Park Campus

University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, sports village and a health centre.

You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

Careers

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Our PhD students have gone on to a wide range of careers. View some of the career destinations of our latest completed PhD students.

100% of postgraduates from the School of Economics secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £36,000.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time, postgraduate, home graduates within the UK.

Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

  • The School of Economics is ranked 5th in the UK for economics and econometrics
  • 99% of the School of Economics' research output was considered world-leading or internationally excellent
  • 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
  • 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
  • 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 19 September 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.