uni of melbourne phd economics

Doctoral Program in Economics

Study level, course detail, intake time, standard duration, about the course.

The Doctoral Program in Economics at the University of Melbourne is the leading PhD program in the region and sits among the world’s top graduate research programs. This program is jointly offered by the Department of Economics and Australia’s pre-eminent economic and social policy research institution, the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research. The diversity and depth of available research advisors and research topics in theoretical and applied economics in Australia is unparalleled in the region.

Requirements

Average score.

At least 75% in the final year

Overall 7.0 with 7.0 in writing (no band less than 6.0)

Background requirements, the university of melbourne.

Institute Ranking

#41 in qs world university rankings 2021, #3 in australia, program ranking, #1 in australia for economics & econometrics, #23 in the world. *qs world university rankings by subject 2020.

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• Doctor of Philosophy - Business and Economics

Doctor of Philosophy - Business and Economics (DR-PHILBE)

Doctorate by Research Year: 2021 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)

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About this course

• Entry and participation requirements
• Attributes, outcomes and skills
• Course structure

Associate Professor Anish Nagpal Assistant Dean (Graduate Research)

Melbourne Business School [email protected]

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy signifies that the holder has undertaken a substantial piece of original research, which has been conducted and reported by the holder under proper academic supervision and in a research environment for a prescribed period.

The PhD thesis demonstrates authority in the candidate's field and shows evidence of command of knowledge in relevant fields. It shows that the candidate has a thorough grasp of the appropriate methodological techniques and an awareness of their limitations. The thesis also makes a distinct contribution to knowledge. Its contribution to knowledge rests on originality of approach and / or interpretation of the findings and, in some cases, the discovery of new facts. The thesis demonstrates an ability to communicate research findings effectively in the professional arena and in an international context. It is a careful, rigorous and sustained piece of work demonstrating that a research 'apprenticeship' is complete and the holder is admitted to the community of scholars in the discipline.

In scope, the PhD thesis differs from a research Masters thesis chiefly by its deeper and more comprehensive treatment of the chosen subject. It is written succinctly, in English, unless approval has been given for the thesis to be written in a language other than English. The normal length of a PhD thesis is 80,000 words, exclusive of words in tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Footnotes are included as part of the word limit. The thesis should not exceed 100,000 words (or equivalent) without special approval from the Research Higher Degrees Committee.

Last updated: 4 June 2022

PhD in Economics

The PhD program in Economics is offered by the Research School of Economics (RSE), and caters to candidates of the highest academic ambition. RSE offers a diverse and stimulating intellectual environment, attracting candidates as well as faculty from all over the world. The School values open academic discourse, encourages collaboration, and is continuously searching for ideas that push and shift the research frontier. Our world-class faculty teach, supervise and support candidates on their journeys to become thought leaders in academia, government, national and international research institutions, think tanks, and business.

CRICOS #: 048345A

Duration: 2 to 4 years full time (4 to 8 years part time)

Before you submit an application for entry to the program, you should:

• ensure you meet the admission requirements outlined below.
• identify potential supervisors – that is, one or two academic economists at ANU who conduct research in your area of interest.

You can find information on researchers and their research areas in the  ANU researchers database  and  RSE staff directory .

While other ANU schools may recommend contacting potential supervisors before submitting an application,  this is not required  for entry into RSE’s PhD program. Instead, you only need to list the name(s) of potential supervisors in your online application form.

Potential supervisors cannot guarantee entry into the PhD program. Admission will depend on the strength of your application relative to others in the pool.

After you’ve completed the steps above, you can proceed with an  online application .

Application deadlines

The first semester of the ANU academic year starts in February, and the second semester starts in July. In general, successful applicants will start their PhD program with RSE in Semester 1 of the following year. While all applications for first semester entry must be submitted  before 31 October,  international applicants wishing to be considered for an  ANU scholarship  should submit their applications  before   31 August .

To be considered for a scholarship, your application must be accompanied by all the supporting documents listed below, including the referee reports. Request for referee reports are triggered and sent to your nominated referees at the time of submission of program application. It is thus important that you submit your application in advance (2-3 weeks) to allow time for your referees to provide their reports prior to the scholarship deadline.

If you’re currently completing an academic degree and haven’t yet received your final results and transcript, you should still submit all available documents before the deadline, and forward remaining results once you receive them. We won’t make a final decision on your application until we’ve received all the required documents.

If you’re admitted to the program, you’ll be expected to attend the pre-PhD summer course, Mathematical Techniques for Advanced Economic Analysis, which is offered during January and February, before the start of the semester.

Due to the sequencing of the coursework required for our PhD program, we’ll only consider applications for entry in the second semester (starting in July) if you have completed the ANU Master of Economics, or if you have a strong background in mathematical and statistical techniques.

ANU Master of Economics students interested in applying for entry into our PhD program should discuss their applications with the RSE Masters convenor  after completing the first year of the Master coursework ). All applications for entry in Semester 2 must be submitted  before  31 March .

The admission requirements for the PhD program in Economics reflect the advanced knowledge in economics that candidates will need to undertake the coursework component of the degree, and the research experience and skills needed to successfully undertake and complete the research thesis.

The minimum qualification requirement for admission to the PhD program in Economics is:

• a Bachelor degree with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Division A in economics from an approved university, or
• a Bachelor degree with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Division A in mathematics and/or statistics from an approved university, which includes a major or equivalent in economics, and a final grade at least of distinction in a third-year economics course, or
• an ANU Master of Economics, or an equivalent postgraduate qualification  in economics  from an approved university, with results that the convenor deems to be at least equivalent to Second Class Honours Division A at ANU.

Additionally, you will have to show evidence of your:

• advanced knowledge of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory and econometrics
• adequate background in mathematical methods and mathematical economics (at a minimum, at the level of the book  Mathematics for Economists  by Simon and Blume)
• research experience, e.g. in the form of an honours or Master thesis or research project, at a standard equivalent to a Second Class Honours Division A degree.

Admission to the PhD program in Economics is competitive and we can only admit a limited number of applicants each year. Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee you a place in the program.

If you don’t satisfy the eligibility criteria, or if you have the required qualifications but would prefer to have a refresher before applying to enter the PhD program, you can choose to first complete the  Master of Economics .

English language requirements

All applicants must satisfy the University’s  English language admission requirements . An international applicant who is not a native English speaker may satisfy these requirements by submitting evidence of an  IELTS  overall score of at least 6.5, and with no component less than 6.0, or a paper-based  TOEFL  score of at least 570, with at least 4.5 in the essay component.

Application and supporting documentation

You must submit your application online via the  ANU Application Manager .

In addition to the standard information required in the online application, you must submit the following supporting documents as part of your application:

• transcripts from previous study
• a brief research proposal that outlines your proposed area of research and the questions that you plan to address as part of your PhD thesis – see guidelines on how to  prepare a persuasive research proposal
• a copy of your honours or Master thesis
• details about your previous study in economics (e.g. course outlines of advanced economic theory and econometrics courses taken, including details of textbooks used)
• official  TOEFL  or  IELTS  results (where applicable) to demonstrate that you satisfy the University’s  English language requirements
• nomination of three referees. A referee report form will automatically be sent to the referees you list in your online application. Your application will be complete and ready for assessment once we receive all documents, including referee reports.

GRE requirement

As part of your application, you must also submit your  GRE General Test  results. The GRE  designated   institution code  for the  ANU College of Business and Economics  is  7833 . You should use this code to submit your official GRE results.

You’re exempt from the GRE requirement if you’ve already completed some of the coursework required for the PhD as part of an ANU Master of Economics or ANU Honours in Economics degree. Similarly, you’re exempt if you’ve completed an Honours in Economics degree from an Australian or New Zealand university, but we encourage you to provide GRE results to improve your chances of admission and scholarship support.

Offers of admission

The HDR (higher degree by research) convenor will review all complete applications submitted by the relevant deadline.

If your application is short-listed, you may be required to attend an interview (face to face or online).

We may send you an offer of admission if you satisfy the eligibility criteria and your area of interest matches those of RSE academics with supervisory capacity. However, since admission is competitive and supervisory capacity is limited, we won’t send any offers of admission until  after the relevant application deadline , irrespective of the date when you submit your application.

The PhD program in Economics consists of two components –  coursework  and  research .

Candidates undertake the research component after successfully completing the required coursework.

PhD coursework component

Pre-phd course.

All admitted candidates are expected to arrive in Canberra four to six weeks before the beginning of the semester and attend the pre-PhD course in Mathematical Techniques for Advanced Economic Analysis.

Candidates undertaking a PhD are normally required to successfully complete eight semester-length courses (including five compulsory courses) over two consecutive semesters of full-time study. Candidates holding the ANU Master of Economics degree may be exempt from part of the coursework requirement, at the discretion of the HDR convenor.

The coursework for the PhD in Economics consists of:

• ECON8011  Microeconomic Theory
• ECON8022  Macroeconomic Theory (Master)
• EMET8014  Advanced Econometrics I
• ECON8021  Topics in Microeconomic Theory
• ECON8001  Topics in Macroeconomics
• EMET8008  Advanced Econometrics II
• ECON8053  Game Theory
• ECON8076  Topics in Game Theory
• ECON8080  Advanced Behavioral Economics
• ECON8050  Economic Growth 
• ECON8009  International Monetary Economics
• ECON8070  Political Economy of Macroeconomic Policy
• ECON8014  Computational Methods in Economics
• EMET8001  Applied Micro-Econometrics
• EMET8010  Applied Macro and Financial Econometrics
• EMET8012  Business and Economic Forecasting
• MATH6110  Analysis 1: Metric Spaces and Applications
• MATH6212  Analysis 2: Lebesgue Integration and Hilbert Spaces
• MATH6214  Advanced Functional Analysis, Spectral Theory and Applications
• ECON8002  Applied Welfare Economics
• ECON8003  Economic Policy Issues
• ECON8010  The Economics of Taxation and Redistribution
• ECON8034  Public Sector Economics
• ECON8041  Labour Economics and Industrial Relations
• ECON8039  Health Economics
• ECON8037  Financial Economics
• ECON8038  Industrial Organisation
• ECON8047  Law and Economics
• ECON8040  Resource and Environmental Economics
• ECON8015  International Economics
• ECON8006  International Trade Theory

PhD research component

Upon successful completion of the compulsory courses and electives, PhD candidates proceed to the research component of their program. PhD candidates with two or more fails in their coursework cannot proceed to the research component.

The research component normally takes 36 months of full-time research. During this time, candidates write their thesis.

In each of the three years of research (when studying full-time), each candidate is expected to present their research at one of the  seminars run by RSE .

Research supervisory panel

When a PhD candidate is admitted to the program, a provisional supervisor – usually the HDR convenor – oversees the candidate’s progress until a primary supervisor is appointed. The Director of the School and the HDR convenor determine the primary supervisor and supervisory panel in consultation with the candidates.

Sometimes candidates change their topic, and this could necessitate changes in the supervisory panel. These changes are coordinated by the primary supervisor or the HDR convenor. All supervisory changes have to be approved by the convenor of the program and the Delegated Authority in accordance with ANU HDR policies and procedures.

RSE research seminar program

The RSE  research seminar series  consists of weekly seminars presented by national and international researchers. PhD candidates are expected to attend and participate regularly in the seminars throughout their candidature. Beginning with their thesis proposal review, candidates are also expected to present in the seminar series at least once every year.

Research integrity training

Within three to six months of enrolment, all PhD candidates must complete the  Research Integrity Training  and pass the exam. Completion of this course and exam is a compulsory milestone for all PhD candidates.

Thesis proposal review

In their second year of study, PhD candidates must submit a thesis proposal for review by their supervisory panel. The purpose of the review is to assess the originality, significance, adequacy and achievability of the candidate’s thesis plan.

The candidate generally submits their thesis proposal in conjunction with their first seminar presentation. The proposal includes a description of the research to be undertaken in the thesis, and a summary of the thesis structure and time plan. Successful completion of the thesis proposal review is required to continue in the program.

Annual progress review

It is University policy that each candidate’s progress be reviewed periodically. In each year of their program, PhD candidates are required to submit an  annual plan and report  as a basis for periodic progress review. This document provides details on work completed by the candidate since the previous review, current progress, and any problems that may impact their research. It also outlines the coursework and research the candidate intends to undertake in the following 12 months.

Oral Presentation

In their final year, candidates are required to give a final  oral presentation  on their research, usually three months before submitting their thesis.

Read more about  research candidate milestones .

Thesis submission and examination

The culmination of the PhD in Economics is a written thesis which, upon completion, is submitted for examination. The thesis is examined by two or three experts in the relevant field.

The PhD degree is awarded on the basis of the examination of the thesis. The examiners would be aware that the candidate has completed coursework requirements, but the level of performance in coursework is not taken into account in examining the candidate’s thesis for the award of the degree.

For more information on the process, visit our page on  submitting a thesis .

For information about scholarships available to HDR candidates, visit our page on  scholarships and fees .

Read details of some of our alumni’s recent  job placements .

A list of current PhD candidates in Economics is available on the RSE website .

• Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
• Centres & Institutes

Centre for Health Policy

Melbourne Health Economics

Melbourne Health Economics undertakes a range of health economics work, including economic evaluation, measuring and valuing health and wellbeing, health systems research, economic modelling and risk prediction, health inequality, and methodological research. We use health economics research and training to support national and international improvements in health and health equity.

Our projects have informed policy-making decisions in a range of areas, at State, Commonwealth and International levels. We work within the Centre for Health Policy at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health .

Our Research Units

Four Melbourne Health Economics Research Units were announced in November 2023

Child Health Economics Unit

Economics of global health and infectious diseases unit, economics of genomics and precision medicine unit, health economics and simulation modelling for chronic disease unit, our applied research spans the following key areas, child health.

Our Unit works with clinicians and other researchers on a broad range of child health themes.

Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases cause nearly three-quarters of all deaths globally.

Genomic Medicine

Genomics is an area within medical science that examines the ‘genome’—the complete set of our genetic information.

Global Health

Our Unit works with clinicians and other researchers on a range of global health themes across low- and middle-income countries.

Infectious Diseases and Infections

Our research on infectious diseases and infections

Mental Health

Our team are involved in a variety of research projects related to Mental Health

Social Care and Vulnerable Populations

Our research includes the Social Care Sector and vulnerable populations.

Health Technology Assessment

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a systematic process of evaluating the safety, clinical outcomes, and cost effectiveness of new and existing health technologies, including drugs, medical devices, procedures, and models of care.

Health Economics Methods

In our work we apply and pioneer key health economics methods, including ways to measure and value health, decision and choice modelling

Latest HEU News

Newsletters.

Further highlights and updates from the Health Economics Unit can be found in our past newsletters

Past newsletters

Upcoming Opportunities

We offer a range of short courses in health economics, from one-day introductory level courses to three-day practical courses in economic evaluation.

More information

Virtual Visitor Program

We have established a Virtual Visitor Program to enable PhD students and early career researchers from low and middle-income countries (LMIC) to be selected to participate online for free in our selective academic activities.

Our research aims to improve health and healthcare delivery in Australia and internationally.

For more information on the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health 's research, visit their research page .

Applied Research Areas

We specialise in the application of health economics across many areas, including Child Health, Genomic Medicine, Global Health, Mental Health and more.

Methods Research Areas

Our methodological expertise spans across health economics, policy, and econometrics.

Publications

Our Unit produces consistently high-quality peer reviewed publications.

Working Paper Series

This series offers a timely and accessible platform for sharing research and insights at the intersection of health and economics.

Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned professional, we have Health Economics study options to suit your needs and schedule.

For more information on the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health 's research, visit their study page .

Graduate Certificate in Health Economics

The Graduate Certificate of Health Economics and Economic Evaluation offers students the opportunity to develop core skills and knowledge in health economics. Students will learn the fundamental principles of health economics, gain an awareness of the Australian health care system and the complexities of health care finance and resource allocation within a global context.

Health Economics/Economic Evaluation Stream within the Master of Public Health

We offer specialisation in health economics within the Master of Public Health. The health economics/economic evaluation (HE/EE) stream is for students who want to specialise in health economics and economic evaluation. There is no prior background knowledge in economics required to select this stream.

PhD in Health Economics

We are a world class group of researchers producing cutting-edge research of high quality and impact. We provide an active and growing PhD program with structured mentoring and an active seminar series. A talented and dynamic current PhD cohort provides a great community of support and will enhance your PhD experience. Here is why you should study a PhD with the Health Economics Unit.

The Health Economics Unit has a range of Australian and international engagements.

These exist across the health sector and include other academic and research institutions, hospitals and healthcare delivery providers, industry, media, and government ministries and departments.

Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health research (MISCH)

The Health Economics Unit serves as the Health Economics arm of the Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health (MISCH) research platform for researchers requiring support with their research.

University of Melbourne Health Economics Group (UMHEG)

UMHEG is a cross-faculty network of over 50 health economists based at the University of Melbourne that conducts collaborative applied and methodological health economic research. The group aims to:  conduct high quality, policy relevant research across a number of areas of health economics; build capacity in health economics through post-graduate research supervision and teaching; create a supportive connected environment for health economists working across the University; and raise the profile of health economics across the University and Australia.

What We Offer

Introduction to Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Health In a climate of increasing budgetary pressures, organisations are required to take into account economic considerations when making decisions. Economic analysis provides information that can strengthen a case for funding and is designed to be directly relevant to policy makers. This is a 1-day course that provides an introduction to the application of cost effectiveness analysis in health. (1-day) More information

Designing Economic Evaluation Alongside Clinical Studies This 1-day course provides an overview of cost-effectiveness analysis and examples of economic evaluations that have been conducted of trials.  Practical information on methods for prospectively collecting costs and outcomes data through administrative data linkage and patient surveys will be provided.  It will also explain the techniques used to analyse economic data and illustrate this through examples. (1-day) More information

Evaluating Public Health Interventions using Economic and Epidemiologic Methods This 1-day course provides an overview of how modelling, in both epidemiology and economics, can be used to inform policy decisions for public health, using COVID-19 and other examples as a case-studies. (1-day) More information

Practical Methods for Health Economic Evaluation Economic evaluation is widely used to assess many new health care interventions and technologies and is routinely used to allocate scarce health care resources. This 3-day course aims to familiarise participants with the methods and techniques that are currently routinely used in evaluations with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness analysis. The course will cover the common steps in an evaluation, from methods for collecting cost and outcome data to analysing, reporting and interpreting the final results. (3-day)  More information

Introduction to Data Linkage for Research This 1-day course discusses the application of linked administrative data to real world problems, and outlines how data linkage can be used to provide valuable, policy-relevant evidence. (2.5 days) More Information

For more information about short courses offered by the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health , visit the short course website .

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics

About the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics

UNSW’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics is offered by one of the world's top institutions in Economics (ranked 42nd in QS Subject Rankings - 2023) and will equip you with the expertise needed to become a globally focused and socially engaged researcher. 

You’ll be joining a cohort of high-achieving research students in tackling modern-day challenges at the forefront of economics, working alongside leaders in the field. This is your opportunity to become integrated into the UNSW Business School’s community of scholars.

The program is comprised of two components. You’ll begin by undertaking rigorous coursework covering microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics and applied economic analysis. As part of your doctoral program, you’ll also be involved in research projects even from an early stage. This research training will equip you with the skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems in the field. 

You’ll then pursue independent research under the supervision of high-profile UNSW academics, culminating in a doctoral thesis. Your PhD thesis will allow you to showcase your research skills and enable you to make an original contribution to the field of Economics. There will also be exciting opportunities throughout to interact with industry leaders, and to develop your teaching portfolio.

Our training is geared toward preparing you for a career in academia, although other career paths (e.g., consulting, government, industry, non-profit) are also enabled.

The vast majority of our higher degree research students are supported through a tuition waiver and stipend of around A$35-45K per year.

Before formally applying or contacting potential supervisors, you must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) by sending the required material to [email protected] . Please read the "Instructions for Applicants" section below.

PhD program structure

Stream 1: 1-year of masters’ coursework + 3-year phd program (fully funded for coursework and phd).

Key Information:

• 1-year of Masters’ Coursework + 3-year PhD Program (fully funded both for coursework and PhD)
• The program starts in Term 1 (early February)
• No part-time option is available

Year One: Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies (MPDBS)

Year one will equip you with the skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems in the field, while helping you formulate your research agenda and identify potential thesis supervisors for the PhD component of the program. 

You will undertake coursework covering microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics and applied economic analysis. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop practical research skills by assisting in research projects. Upon successful completion of the first year, you’ll be awarded a Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies. 

A brief overview of the first year is presented below. Please visit the UNSW Handbook for full course structure details.

• Term 1:  COMM8100  + ECON7001  +  ECON7004
• Term 2:  COMM8102  +  ECON7002  + Research Assistance Work
• Term 3:  COMM8103  +  ECON7101  +  ECON7102

Year Two: Specialised Coursework and Identification of Thesis Topic

Year two will help you in further developing skills specialized towards dealing with the challenges relevant to your research topic. You’ll continue in the Economics stream with a further year of advanced coursework. 

You’ll choose up to eight additional research courses from a range of electives in consultation with your supervisor and PGRC, with the opportunity to take subjects outside of your specialised discipline. In year two, you’ll also be identifying your thesis topic with the aid of your supervisor. 

You’ll engage in literature review and research design and present your research proposal to the School of Economics at the end of the year.

Years Three – Four: Original Research and Your Doctoral Thesis

In the final three years of the program, you will be focused on conducting full-time research and completing your doctoral thesis. 

This is your opportunity to address some of the biggest challenges at the frontier of Economics and make a significant contribution to the field. Your research will offer new ways of critical thinking and withstand critical analysis from expert researchers in the area.

Stream 2: Direct Entry into the 3-year PhD Program

• Direct Entry into the 3-year PhD Program
• Note: it requires outside scholarship (or ARC Funding Support from your selected supervisor) AND a degree in Economics with research component (e.g., First-class Honours or Master’s in Economics) 
• You are expected to start in Term 1 (early February)
• A part-time option may be available (subject to approval)

Year One: Coursework and Identification of Thesis Topic

Year one will equip you with skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems relevant to your research topic.

You’ll choose up to eight research courses from a range of electives in consultation with your supervisor and PGRC, with an opportunity to take subjects outside of your specialised discipline.

These will include the four core courses listed below (unless you are exempted from taking them). You’ll also be identifying your thesis topic with the aid of your supervisor.

You’ll engage in literature review and research design and present your research proposal to the School of Economics at the end of the year. 

• Term 1:  ECON7001  +  ECON7004
• Term 2:  COMM8102  +  ECON7002

Years Two – Three: Original Research and Your Doctoral Thesis

In the final three years of the program, you will be focused on conducting full-time research and completing your doctoral thesis.

This is your opportunity to address some of the biggest challenges at the frontier of Economics and make a significant contribution to the field.

Your research will offer new ways of critical thinking and withstand critical analysis from expert researchers in the area.

Instructions for Applicants

Before formally applying or contacting potential supervisors, you need to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) process by sending the following material to [email protected] . The EOI process opens 27 May  and closes 26 August . Only selected applicants will be invited to apply via the UNSW central portal.  

Important: make sure that you satisfy the UNSW academic and language entry requirements before submitting your EOI. Please read the Entry Requirements  section below. 

Subject: MPDBS Application

• Your name, citizenship, and whether you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
• Your degree(s), institution(s) and year(s) of completion of previous studies.
• A list of advanced economics, mathematics and statistics courses taken and the grades you obtained for these courses.
• Names of two references (recommendation letter writers) and their contact details (e.g., affiliation, title, email).
• Names of two academics you wish to work with at UNSW.
• Three to five academic papers you have recently read that relevant for your research interest.

Attachments (in PDF):

• Your academic CV.
• Your official academic transcripts from previous degree(s).
• Your official GRE results.
• A research proposal or statement of purpose.
• If applicable, proof of your English Language requirement.

Subject: Direct Entry PhD Application

• A description of your Honours or Master’s thesis.
• Your funding source: outside scholarship, external grant, or support from potential supervisor.
• A copy of your Honours or Master’s thesis.

Academic Entry Requirement

The minimum academic entry requirement for Stream 1 is the equivalent of a four-year UNSW Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (Economics, Finance, and related subjects) with first or upper second class honours. The minimum academic entry requirement for Stream 2 is the equivalent of a four-year UNSW Bachelor’s degree with an Honours year (research), or the equivalent of a UNSW Masters’ degree with substantial research component with first or upper second class honours.

Note: an upper second class honours is equivalent to a weighted average mark of at least 75/100 (i.e., a Distinction) at UNSW and is allocated to roughly the top 30% of students. Grading systems vary across countries. For more information, read this guide for grade equivalencies between countries .

If you are unsure if you satisfy the academic entry requirement, contact us at [email protected] and we will provide feedback.

English Language Requirement

UNSW recognises the follow countries as English-speaking: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada, Fiji, Gibraltar, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, The Gambia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

If you are not a citizen of an English-speaking country, then you will need to establish that you have sufficient English language fluency. There are four ways to establish sufficient English language fluency: English Tests (including IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson and Cambridge), UNSW Global English Course, Prior Study, or an English Waiver. For details on each of these, please review our English language requirements .

• University of Bologna, Department of Economics, Research Fellow
• The National University of Singapore, Asia Competitiveness Institute, Research Fellow
• Monash University, Centre for Global Business, Research Fellow
• University of Oxford, Magdalen College, Research Fellow, then ETH Zurich, Department of Management, Technology and Economics, Assistant Professor
• Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data, Research Fellow
• Monash University, Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, Research Fellow
• The University of Melbourne, School of Mathematics and Statistics (Lecturer)
• University of New South Wales, CEPAR, Research Fellow
• University of Sydney, School of Economics, Research Fellow
• Wuhan University, Economics and Management School, Assistant Professor
• Australian National University, ANU College of Business and Economics, Associate Lecturer
• East China University of Science and Technology, School of Business, Lecturer
• University of Toronto, Department of Economics, Research Fellow
• South China Normal University, School of Economics and Management, Lecturer
• University of Sydney, Research Fellow, then University of Technological Sydney, Economics Discipline, Chancellor's Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
• University of Geneva, Faculty of History, Economics and Society, Research Fellow, then South Mediterranean University, Mediterranean School of Business, Assistant Professor
• Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, School of Public Administration, Associate Professor
• International University of Japan, Graduate School of International Relations, Assistant Professor
• University of New South Wales, School of Economics, Research Fellow
• Shanghai Tech University, School of Entrepreneurship and Management, Assistant Professor
• University of Bath, Department of Economics, Lecturer
• Sun-yat Sen University, Department of Economics, Assistant Professor 
• University of Technology Sydney, Research Fellow, then Macquarie University, Centre for the Health Economy, Honorary Research Fellow
• Zurich University of Applied Sciences, ZHAW, Research Fellow
• Jinan University, Institute for Economic and Social Research, Assistant Professor
• University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, Research Fellow
• Curtin University, School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Lecturer, then Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School, Lecturer
• University of Technology Sydney, CHERE, Research Fellow
• University of Peradeniya, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Professor
• University of Technology Sydney, CHERE, Senior Research Fellow
• Monash University, Centre for Health Economics, Research Fellow
• Monash University, Monash Business School, Research Fellow
• UNSW, School of Economics, Research Fellow
• Durham University, Business School, Lecturer
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Your PhD will set you on the path to a career in a premier research institution, anywhere in the world. Throughout your research degree, you’ll also have many opportunities to develop your teaching portfolio.

Beyond academia, there’s also significant demand in the private and public sectors for people with deep knowledge and sound research and analytical skills*.

Whether you’re looking to pursue a career in academia, or take your research skills out to industry, a PhD in Economics from UNSW will get you there.

* Source:  2019 Advancing Australia’s Knowledge Economy Report

The UNSW Business School is ranked within the Top 50 worldwide for Economics and Econometrics.

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Woman found dead in North Bondi – as it happened

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Destruction of woodlands begins for defence housing development in Darwin

Destruction of woodlands that are habitat for hundreds of bird species, including the endangered gouldian finch , has commenced at the site of a planned defence housing development at Lee Point/Binybara in Darwin.

Footage released by the Environment Centre NT shows bulldozers knocking down trees at the much-loved site that a community campaign had fought to protect.

Darwin community members who arrived at the site this morning were met by police and security guards:

The bulldozers destroying habitat for endangered Gouldian Finches, black-footed tree rats and over 270 bird species at Binybara/Lee Point. This is a place beloved by thousands of people across Darwin. Its loss is a failure of our environment laws, and deeply upsetting. pic.twitter.com/uvZEPXpBPq — Dr Kirsty Howey (@kirsty_howey) April 30, 2024

Second academic questioned over racism impacts during Faruqi-Hanson court case

The federal court hearing Mehreen Faruqi’s racial discrimination case against Pauline Hanson has just finished hearing from the University of Melbourne academic, Prof Kate Reynolds.

Reynolds also prepared a report which forms part of Faruqi’s evidence on the impacts of racism on health and wellbeing. Reynolds has a PhD in psychology and told the court:

I come from a discipline of social psychology, where we spend a lot of time trying to understand the role that people’s group memberships play in shaping their attitudes, their behaviour, and their wellbeing.

Reynolds says people can experience things as part of a group, or as an individual.

Hanson’s counsel, Sue Chrysanthou led most of the questioning of Reynolds, which centres around whether there was enough information to assess whether people experienced the Hanson tweet as racism. Reynolds:

What this expert opinion says based on the evidence that is available and discussed is that is that marginalised group members are likely to experience a tweet such as this as racist. And when that occurs, there’s a flow on effect to poorer physical and mental outcomes.

Reynolds had also reviewed the body of work around the health and wellbeing impacts of racism, which included international and domestic studies. Chrysanthou’s questions centre around whether negative outcomes are “possible” or “likely”. The difference, as Chrysanthou lays out is “likely is more probable than not. And possible is something less than that”.

Reynolds says in the expert opinion provided to the court, it is “likely”.

Reynolds says she has not interviewed, studied closely or examined the individuals involved in the case – and that she is showcasing the “high quality” evidence which is available, which “speaks to the relationship between experiences of racism and negative outcomes”. Reynolds:

I think likely is the word I would use to describe my assessment of this literature in the context of these kinds of instances.

Reynolds is excused from the court, which is now on break until 2.15pm. Hanson is expected to give evidence later this afternoon, once the court resumes.

Australia’s public service commission introduces CALD targets for public service

People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds hold only one in ten senior executive positions in the federal public service, despite making up one in four Australians. Now the government has promised to lift representation from the current average of 11% across the senior ranks of the public service to 17% by 2030 and subsequently to 24%, approximately in line with the national population. The industry, science and resources department has the lowest CALD representation at the senior executive level at 4%. Three other leading government departments have only 5% of senior positions filled by CALD employees, while even the most representative department ( foreign affairs and trade ) has only 19%. The targets are for the public service on average, and individual agencies will set their own benchmarks and plans to support the sector-wide target.

The Australian public service commission has announced the targets as part of a CALD employment strategy, which also includes improved training, recruitment and promotion processes to reduce discrimination within the public service.

Teen arrested after alleged stabbing in Melbourne

A teenager has been arrested following an alleged stabbing in St Albans this morning, in Melbourne’s north-west.

Emergency services were called to reports a 37-year-old man was located injured in a fast food outlet car park on St Albans Road about 6am. It is alleged a dispute occurred between the victim and another man before the victim was stabbed.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested at a Keilor Downs address today. It is further alleged he was involved in a stabbing at St Albans railway station yesterday.

It is alleged the victim was chased by three males before being stabbed. The 21-year-old Tarneit man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.

Queensland health warns of record-breaking Ross River detections

A spike in Ross River virus cases has coincided with a record-breaking number of detections in mosquito traps this summer season in Queensland.

Acting chief health officer Dr Catherine McDougall said in the year to date 2,065 people have had Ross River virus, which is the highest number of cases since the last significant outbreak of the virus.

Half of those cases were in south-east Queensland, which has seen case numbers between six to eight times higher than average this summer season (from November to April), McDougall said.

Cases peaked during the second week of March with 333 weekly cases recorded, she said.

Hospital and health service regions with the largest increases in Ross River virus cases compared to previous years were Sunshine Coast, Metro North, Metro South, Gold Coast, and Wide Bay.

Ross River virus is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, with symptoms including fever, rash and joint pain. There is no treatment available but most people feel better in a few weeks.

The last time there was a significant Ross River virus outbreak in Queensland was in 2020, when 3,381 annual cases were recorded.

The health department’s collecting and testing mosquito samples helps assess risk. They say the highest number of mosquito trap tests returned a positive result this summer since the surveillance program started in 2016.

Out of more than 1,225 mosquito traps tested for Ross River virus a record 116 traps have returned a positive result McDougall said. It is the latest warning from health authorities following previous notices of rising cases:

Man charged after alleged stabbing in Sydney’s west

Members of the public detained a man who had been chasing people with a knife in Sydney’s west on Monday afternoon, police say.

New South Wales police said in a statement that a 25-year-old had been charged with multiple offences after allegedly stabbing a man and chasing other people at Heber Park in Hebersham about 5.45pm.

When police arrived at the park, they found a man had “been detained by members of the public”, according to the statement.

NSW police said:

Police were told he allegedly chased several members of the public and stabbed a man in his 20s before bystanders disarmed and restrained him.

The injured man was treated for wounds to his neck and head before being taken to Nepean Hospital in a stable condition, police said.

The alleged offender was also taken to hospital for assessment, but was later released and charged at Mount Druitt police station with two counts of stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear or physical harm, common assault and wounding person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was refused bail to appear before Mount Druitt local court on Tuesday.

NSW police expect to speak to the media about the incident at 1pm on Tuesday.

Truckie in B-Double driving more than 50 km/h over the limit: police

A truckie has been fined and had his licence suspended after police detected him driving his B-double at 114km/h in a 60 km/h hour zone near a New South Wales country town.

NSW police said in a statement that the 25-year-old Queensland man was detected about 11am on Monday driving through roadworks south of Coonabarabran.

He was tested for drugs and alcohol but returned a negative result.

Police issued the man an infringement notice for exceed speed by more than 45 km/h and his licence was suspended.

Parliamentary group call for nuclear ban

A cross-party group has renewed calls for Australia to join a treaty that imposes a blanket ban on nuclear weapons, saying “history is calling”.

In a video message released today, members of the Parliamentary Friends of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons say Australia should join the 93 countries that have already signed up to the relatively new treaty.

The treaty, known as the TPNW, is opposed by all of the countries that have nuclear weapons, including the US.

But the treaty “has given countries, and citizens, across the world hope, and a new and promising pathway towards the abolition of these weapons”, according to MPs and senators including Labor government backbenchers Josh Wilson , Susan Templeman , Sam Lim , Louise Pratt , Sharon Claydon and Josh Burns .

Others to appear in the video are Russell Broadbent (former Liberal now independent), Jordon Steele-John (Greens), Lidia Thorpe (independent) and Monique Ryan (independent). The group says:

As members of the Parliamentary Friends of TPNW, we’re working together to see the nuclear weapons ban treaty signed and ratified. We are proud of our country’s commitment to getting rid of other inhumane weapons, like landmines, cluster munitions, biological and chemical weapons. We welcome Australia’s engagement with the TPNW under the Albanese government, and we pay tribute to the community activism being undertaken in support of Australia joining this treaty.

The acting director for International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Australia, Jemila Rushton , welcomed the video as as a “joint message of hope” at a time of “incredible global insecurity”. Rushton called on Labor to sign the treaty “without delay”.

Faruqi-Hanson court case continues

Sue Chrysanthou SC has finished her questioning of Prof Yin Paradies , so Mehreen Faruqi’s counsel Saul Holt KC has taken the opportunity to ask Paradies about Britishness as an ethnicity and whether criticising the colonial empire could be considered being racist to British people.

Holt is re-examining Paradies after Chrysanthou’s questioning yesterday in the first day of the hearing about whether it was possible to be racist against white people.

Paradies says from the research, “racism experienced when you’re white, has a weaker association between a weaker association with health outcomes. So you have to map it differently”.

Paradies then turns to another issue:

There is also of course, the issue of what is sometimes called white fragility. And in these cases people who experience racism can be particularly perturbed by the experience as they don’t really have much history of being subjected to the experiences themselves.

On the idea of Britishness as an ethnicity, Holt asks about the idea of Britishness including a colonial history and whether “to criticise a colonial history is to criticise the ethnicity of modern British folk”.

There were many nation states that engaged in colonisation, Britain was certainly one of those. And yes, some people certainly feel people of British descent certainly feel a kind of a guilt over that coloniality but in the end, people are not institutions. And so to critique the British Empire is not to critique any particular British person. … So I think there’s a difference between critiquing colonisation and being racist to British people.

Paradies is excused by the court.

See the full background to the case and yesterday’s hearings here:

Retail trade falls 0.4% from February to March as consumers continue to feel cost-of-living pressures

Australian shoppers cut back a little more than expected in March, with retail trade falling 0.4% from February.

The figures surprised markets, which had expected trade to pick up 0.2% over the month, a little below February’s monthly increase of 0.2% (which itself was revised below its previous 0.3% estimate). Today’s data from the Australian Bureau of statistics also showed NSW shoppers cut back the most, by 1.1%.

A key indicator of cost-of-living pressure on Australian customers, household goods trade, has now resumed its downward slide, falling to $5.61bn in the month compared to a $5.8bn trend at the end of 2023.

The figure has been slipping since the end of 2022, as steeper prices and interest rate rises ate away at the savings households would have spent on fridges and furniture.

Expect the sector to keep sliding as price rises prove hard to curb, after Australia’s inflation rate slowed less than expected in the March quarter. That led markets to fear the Reserve Bank could still hike interest rates further before the end of 2024.

But Sean Langcake , head of macroeconomic forecasting for Oxford Economics Australia, said today’s data confirmed rising costs were “still putting the squeeze on household budgets”.

Last week’s CPI data spurred concerns that the RBA may yet need to raise rates again to rein in inflation. But these data are a further confirmation that consumer demand is very restrained at present.

We’ll get a better sense of how the RBA views the data after its meeting next week.

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If you are looking for flexibility by completing a shorter graduate qualification in economics, the Melbourne Business School's Graduate Diploma in Economics provides this. You should acquire and be able to apply the skills of a professional economist at an honours level. Those with good results will be eligible for graduate level study in economics and econometrics at the Masters and Graduate Research levels.

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