The Doctor of Philosophy in Economics program at CEU prepares you to conduct cutting-edge original research that addresses the fundamental economic questions of the 21st century. 

You will learn the essential skills of leading economists, including methodologies and tools required to carry out complex empirical research in the fields of economics, financial markets, political economy and policymaking. Students build upon the knowledge gained in bachelor’s and master’s level degrees with advanced coursework in macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics and become familiar with the practical applications of the key concepts and formal methodologies in real-world scenarios.  

During this doctoral program in economics, you will select two areas of specialization within the broad field of applied economics and choose supervisors from the internationally recognized faculty with PhD degrees from some of the world’s leading universities, including Harvard, MIT and Princeton. You will be guided through developing, conducting and presenting an independent doctoral research project according to the highest academic standards.   

How the PhD in Economics Program Works:

During the first year of the Economics doctoral program, you will focus on coursework in the advanced theoretical and practical aspects of economics and prepare for the comprehensive exam. Upon completing all requirements in the first year, you will formally be admitted to a PhD candidacy in Economics at CEU.  

Students choose two specializations from the annually reviewed list of possible tracks. Each track entails a specific combination of mandatory and elective courses to help students engage with topics through the lens of interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning in the first two years of the program. The specializations are formulated based on the skills and competencies necessary to succeed in the specific fields of academic research and practice. In 2024, students selected from four tracks:  

• Applied, Labor and Public Economics 
• Behavioral and Financial Economics  
• Econometrics  
• Macroeconomics and International Economics 

In the second year, you will focus on research, choosing from several options for carrying out your research depending on the subject of your study. Students may be granted an exemption from the principal residency requirement in Vienna to conduct their research or spend a semester abroad. You can apply for a field research grant in your second year before the research period starts.  

In the third year, you will return to CEU after completing your data collection activities and research and focus on writing your PhD dissertation in close consultation with your supervisors. In the first three years of your program, you will actively review and apply what you have learned during the departmental PhD Research Seminars, where you will present academic papers in your area of research and gradually transition to discussing and receiving feedback on your doctoral research.   

As a PhD student, you will be required to serve as a teaching assistant in a master's level course in the third year of your doctoral studies to acquire teaching experience as part of the mandatory teaching assistantship. This involves regular participation, independent teaching of at least one course unit in agreement with the professor or leading discussion groups within the course. 

In the fourth year, you will continue writing your PhD dissertation in residence at CEU. You will register for the dissertation submission and defense, even if you submit and defend later.