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PhD

Economics

Our four-year PhD programme provides rigorous training for careers in professional and academic economics, and offers a stimulating, supportive, and structured environment in which highly-qualified graduates can develop economic research skills that will enable them to make an original contribution to economic knowledge.

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Economics

Key information

Start
September
Location
Canterbury
Study mode
4 years full-time, 6 years part-time
Fees (per year)
UK:
International:
Typical offer
MSc with 65% or above grade
All entry requirements

Overview

We aim to produce economists who are sought-after by leading economics departments and research institutions around the world. Recent PhD students have been highly successful in securing internships and employment in academia and the private sector.

Our Economics faculty includes leading researchers in several fields, including macroeconomics, labour and development economics, microeconomic theory and agri-environmental economics. All students will receive expert supervision by a research-active member of staff. PhD students also have the opportunity to contribute to the teaching and research activity of the School and are encouraged to participate in seminars and present their own work.

About the School of Economics

The School of Economics is dedicated to excellence in both teaching and research, as demonstrated by our results in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 and recent national student surveys. Our academic staff are active in research, and teaching and learning are informed by the School’s thriving research culture and strong cosmopolitan academic community.

We currently have 35 academic staff, with about 30-40 MSc and 40-50 PhD students, which has the benefit of a good community for interaction between students and that each student receives a good deal of individual attention in classes and workshops. It also means that we are able to offer excellent facilities for research.

Our postgraduate student community is global with many of the students originating from outside the UK and Europe. There are also a number of different nationalities represented within the academic staff. You will be able to integrate into this multicultural environment and build yourself an international professional network for the future.

The course

How you'll study

Postgraduate taught modules are designed to give you advanced study skills, a deeper knowledge of the subject, and the confidence to achieve your ambitions.

Entry requirements

MSc with 65% or above grade

A typical student will have studied for an MSc in Economics (or a closely-related discipline) in the UK with an average grade of 65% or above. We welcome applications from students who do not fit this norm, however, it is essential that students have a strong background in quantitative work.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

Fees and funding

The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for this course are:
  • Full-time (UK)
  • Part-time (UK)
  • Full-time (International)
  • Part-time (International)

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.

The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for UK postgraduate research courses have not yet been set by the Research Councils UK. This is ordinarily announced in March. As a guide only, the full-time tuition fee for new and returning UK postgraduate research courses for 2025/26 is £5,006.

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Funding

You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.

General additional costs

Find out more about student accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

International scholarships

Unlock your potential with scholarships up to £5,000

Research

Kent is a leading research university, meaning that you will be informed about new discussions and developments by the people making them. This means your work will have real potential to make a difference.

Staff research interests

Many of our academic staff serve as academic advisers and experts to UK and international agencies, including the World Bank, the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), HM Treasury and the Bank of England.

Staff publish regularly and widely in top academic journals, conference proceedings and books. Recent contributions include: Econometrica; American Economic Review; Journal of Political Economy.

Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.

Your future

A PhD in the area of economics is a particularly valuable and flexible qualification that can open the door to exciting careers in many professions. Our PhD programme provides rigorous training for careers in professional and academic economics. Our graduates have gone on to work as economists in international organisations, the financial sector, business, UK and overseas governments, and to academic careers at Kent and UK and overseas universities.

Postgraduates earn

£6,000
more per year than graduates (Graduate Labour Market Statistics, 2021).

A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over

£300,000
Graduate employment outcomes - Universities UK

Ready to apply?

All applications should include:

  • Official transcripts of your undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. These must be certified as original copies by the issuing institution. They must show the class of the degree for UK students, the final GPA for students in the US system or the final examination results for students in other systems.
  • References:  Either provide 2 professional/academic email addresses for referees to be contacted to provide a reference direct to your application online (not gmail/yahoo accounts).  Or, upload two letters of reference: references must be originals and they must be in English, on official letterhead, signed and dated. They can be submitted via your Kent portal. The references should normally be from teachers who are familiar with your academic achievement and suitability for postgraduate studies. In some circumstances, such as mid-career professionals, references from your line manager can also be accepted.
  • Evidence of proficiency in English, where applicable. For applicants whose English is not of a high enough standard, the University of Kent offers pre-sessional language courses.
  • An up to date CV.
  • A research proposal - an outline of approximately 1,500 words on the research project you wish to undertake.

Please note that students are not required to state a proposed supervisor as supervisors will be allocated during the PhD. The relevant question on your application can be left blank.

Learn more about the applications process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.

Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.

You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.

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