27 Best Economics Doctoral Degree Programs for 2025

Wharton’s Ph.D. program in Applied Economics gives students the tools and training to get jobs in business schools, public policy programs, and applied-oriented economics departments. Drawing on a large faculty of applied economists across multiple Wharton departments and the Law School, the program allows specialization in a number of areas.

The DIW Graduate Center (GC) at the German Institute for Economic Research welcomes applications from highly qualified post-graduate students from around the world to enroll in its structured doctoral program in Economics.

The Ph.D. Programme on Innovation, Economics, and Governance for Development (IEGD) is a multidisciplinary course offered by UNU-MERIT and its School of Governance. The programme focuses on research skills and methods, training fellows to become both scholars and practitioners in the fields of governance and the economics of technology. The programme provides advanced training in the knowledge and skills most relevant to the economics of technology and innovation, and to governance, social protection, and migration. Built around a core of courses on innovation and development, the programme also features modules on the economics of technological change, complex social systems, governance and policy evaluation, social protection, and migration. During their first year, fellows complete an intensive programme of required and elective courses, taught by leading scholars of UNU-MERIT and our partner universities. These courses are taught in English, in Maastricht, and spread across two semesters, starting in September each year. The course work is followed by three years of dissertation research and writing, ending with a completed Ph.D. thesis. At the end of the programme, the doctoral degree is awarded by Maastricht University upon successful defense of the thesis. Our students pursue a wide variety of dissertation topics, fitting into any of the institute’s eight research themes: 1. Economics of Knowledge and Innovation 2. Structural Change and Economic Development 3. Economic Complexity and Innovation 4. Governance and institutions 5. Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Sustainability Transitions 6. Migration and Development 7. Social Protection 8. Population, Development and Labour Economics

Start your academic career in one of our full-time residential Ph.D. programs in Economics or Business (with specializations in Accountancy, Finance, Management, or Marketing). Our research and teaching assistantships provide you with valuable hands-on experience where you collaborate closely with faculty committed to your success.

Economics Analytics and Decision Sciences is one of the three PhD Programs offered by the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca.

The PhD in Economics and Finance offers advanced training in economic and financial research. Students delve into topics such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, financial markets, and risk theory. The program emphasizes the development of skills to analyze and solve complex economic and financial problems, culminating in an original thesis that makes a significant contribution to the academic literature, preparing them for high-level academic, research, or professional roles.

The aim of the Ph.D. in Regional Science and Economic Geography is to address issues related to local and regional development. The methodological perspective of research and teaching is multidisciplinary, combining regional and urban economics, economic and human geography, spatial planning, and sociology.

The Ph.D. program in Economics at SMU is the oldest Ph.D. program at the University and has a long track record of providing students with rigorous training in a broad range of fundamental methodologies for conducting economic research. The program is relatively small which allows for an open and friendly environment, and a low student-faculty ratio. Few programs can match the careful supervision, faculty contact time, and individualized mentoring that our Ph.D. students receive.

This PhD program is jointly run by the Universities of Trento and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. This 4-year full-time Ph.D. program is jointly run by the Universities of Trento and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and includes one year of core courses as well as individualized training depending on the specific research interests and objectives of the Ph.D. student as recommended by the supervisor.

The PhD Program in Development Economics and Local Systems (DELoS) is a new doctoral program launched in academic year 2020-21 by the University of Florence focusing on development economics and local development. For contents and organization, please visit the Program webpages.

Ph.D. students complete an independent research project under the guidance of a supervisory team. The research is normally completed over a maximum period of 3 to 3.5 years (full-time) or 6 to 6.5 years (part-time).

This PhD focuses on the intersection of climate sciences and environmental management. Students study climate change through scientific models and data analysis while acquiring skills to develop and implement mitigation and adaptation strategies. The program prepares experts capable of addressing global climate challenges with an integrated approach between science and environmental management policies.

The PhD in Management focuses on advanced research and theory in business management. Students explore topics such as strategy, organization, behavior, and innovation. The program develops skills to analyze and solve complex problems in enterprises, preparing graduates for academic or research and consulting careers in the field of management. Emphasis is placed on creating new knowledge and innovative approaches in management.

The PhD in Economics provides in-depth training in economic theory, quantitative methods, and data analysis. Students develop skills to examine and solve global economic issues, such as public policies, financial markets, and economic growth. The program prepares graduates for academic, research, or consulting careers, offering tools to shape and influence economic decisions on a national and international scale.

This PhD focuses on the analysis of the interactions between law, economics, and individual rights. It explores how legal regulations influence markets and the well-being of individuals, and how market dynamics impact rights and regulations. The program offers advanced skills to understand and solve complex interdisciplinary problems between law, economics, and social issues.

The PhD in Economics focuses on theoretical and quantitative analysis to understand and model complex economic phenomena. Students explore areas such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, finance, and public policy, applying statistical methods and economic models. The program trains researchers capable of contributing to economic theory and policy practice through in-depth studies and empirical analysis.

The Ph.D. in Economics degree program provides cutting-edge education in economic theories and the development of a rigorous toolkit of mathematical and econometric techniques. The program is particularly strong in the areas of public economics, applied microeconomics, macroeconomics, data analysis, and the economics of conflict.

The PhD is a programme of independent, self-directed academic research degree, supported by a team of supervisors that makes an original contribution to knowledge written up in a publishable dissertation. The PhD programme also supports the development of research and generic skills to equip you to operate successfully as a professional researcher in any setting.

Postgraduate research in the School of Social and Political Sciences is informed by the expertise of its team of academics, who have long-standing links to industry, government, research organisations, and the voluntary sector.

This PhD program explores institutions, economic systems, and legal regulations through a comparison of different nations and contexts. Students analyze the variations and interactions between political, economic, and legal institutions, developing skills for comparative research and policy formulation. The program trains experts capable of understanding and improving complex and multidimensional systems.