We encourage applications for PhD study from suitably qualified candidates with research interests that align closely with at least one of our faculty members. Normal entry to a research degree is for PhD study, but you can also study for an MPhil, a DBA and an MRes.
The research focus of the Department of Economics is on policy-relevant applied economics research, and we have specialists in applied microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics.
The Department is home to the Fraser of Allander Institute, a leading independent economic research institute focused on the Scottish economy giving PhD students the opportunity to become part of a department with strong links to the world of policy and business. We have a lively PhD programme in economics with a regular inflow of new students each year.
You'll benefit from a team of two supervisors with specialist knowledge in your field.
You'll join our economics research community, engage with our regular seminar series of external speakers, our brown bag workshop series to explore early research ideas, and with our annual Postgraduate Research Conference where you'll present your research.
Find out more about our research areas and the expertise of our staff:
We offer an excellent academic environment in which to undertake your research degree. You'll benefit from:
Please check that you meet the academic entry requirements before contacting potential supervisors.
This project will investigate the relationship between population ageing and the energy transition. It aims to quantify the impact of ageing on energy uses and emissions at the macro level by using a large-scale computational model. The project will be undertaken in collaboration with Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid.
To respond swiftly to sudden shifts in global economic conditions, policymakers require timely forecasts informed by different types of data. This research will develop new econometric methods to incorporate short data with missing values (for example, capturing developing and emerging economies or global developments) into a multi-country forecasting model. This new model will be used to evaluate the relative importance of global, regional and domestic information in improving forecasts.
Strathclyde Business School is offering up to 15 PhD fee-only awards.
These will be competitively awarded to outstanding applicants for PhD study with a start date of 1 October 2024.
Applicants must have an excellent academic track record with appropriate external recognition and be able to demonstrate commitment to their chosen field of study. Applications are welcome in all of our subject areas but we particularly welcome applicants interested in any of our areas of research expertise. The awards will apply for each year of study, up to a maximum of 36 months of full-time study.
John Anderson Research Studentship Scheme (JARSS) doctoral studentships are available annually for excellent students and excellent research projects.
There are two main sources of funding:
The JARSS 2023/2024 competition will open in October 2023 and students successful in this competition will commence studies in October 2024. Faculties will set their own internal deadlines for the competition.
Academics/Supervisors make the applications for this scheme and there are various deadlines across the Department and Faculties, therefore, in the first instance, all interested students should contact the Department where they would like to carry out their research.
I love the variety of research that goes on in economics: research into causes of unemployment, behavioural economics, research into how salaries affect productivity, environmental and energy economics, the list is endless.
All fees quoted are per academic year unless otherwise stated.
Entrants may be subject to a small fee during the writing up period.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.
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| England, Wales & Northern Ireland |
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| International |
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| Additional costs | Placements & field tripsThe cost of fieldwork or research trips would usually be met by the student. Students can apply for funding to cover conference participation. Funding will be provided to a student to present a paper at one UK/European conference a year from year 2 onwards, for those that do not have this covered by their funders (ie those without access to a research council research training budget), students can apply to the Department’s Research Committee for approval of such expenses. Study abroadIf a student chooses to study overseas, the costs would be met by the student. This is not a requirement for our programme. International studentsInternational students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. Other costsGraduation gown hire. |
| Funding | Take a look at our funding your postgraduate research web page for funding information. You can also view our scholarships search for further funding opportunities. |
| Postgraduate research opportunities | Search for all funded and non-funded postgraduate research opportunities. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
ESRC awards cover full fees and include a maintenance grant and a research support grant.
If you're applying to the Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics MSc and wish to continue to PhD level study, you can apply to the SGSSS-DTC for a 1+3 (MSc+PhD) studentship.
If you're applying for a PhD in Economics and already hold, or are currently studying for, an MA or MSc in Economics or Econometrics, you can apply to the SGSSS-DTC for +3 (PhD) funding. To be eligible your MA or MSc must be deemed equivalent to the Scottish Graduate Programme’s MSc (ie another ESRC recognised masters programme studied elsewhere in the UK, or a similar programme from outside the UK, typically including core classes in Microeconomics Theory, Macroeconomic Theory and Econometrics as well as relevant options and a dissertation).
As an ESRC funded PhD student, in addition to receiving research training from one of the UK’s top Doctoral Training Centres in social science, you'll have access a Research Training Support Grant to cover the costs of additional training, conference attendance and fieldwork. You'll be eligible to apply for a number of additional ESRC-funded opportunities, from overseas institutional visits to internship opportunities.
There are two stages to the application and both have strict deadlines:
Full information on the application process, including relevant deadlines, can be found on the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science's website.
The British Council offers scholarships to overseas students. Availability is dependent upon your home country and you're advised to contact your local British Council office or have a look at Education UK for more information.
This grant helps fellows advance their doctoral research work through a residency period of five to 10 months in an institution in another country. Have a look at the World Bank website to find out more.
Commonwealth scholarships are available for students from commonwealth countries for PhD study here in the UK.
Search for all funded and non-funded postgraduate research opportunities.
I would describe the research community at the University of Strathclyde as inclusive and diverse.
Below is a list of potential supervisors in Economics.
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Supervisor |
Topics |
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| Dr Grant Allan |
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| Dr David Comerford |
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| Dr Nikos Danias |
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| Professor Julia Darby |
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| Dr Alex Dickson |
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| Dr Gioele Figus |
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| Dr Markus Gehrsitz |
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| Professor Gary Koop |
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| Dr Otto Lenhart |
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| Dr Scott McGrane |
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| Professor Stuart McIntyre |
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| Dr Jonathan Norris |
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| Dr Agnese Romiti |
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| Professor Joseph Byrne |
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| Dr Sharada Davidson |
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| Dr Kevin Connolly |
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Dr Luigi Gufini |
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Dr Ping Wu |
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Dr Paul Telemo |
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We're a Department with a focus on applied, policy-relevant research, both across the UK and internationally. Faculty members have expertise in applied micro- and macroeconomics as well as applied econometrics. We also have a small team which forms part of a much larger cross-university specialism in energy and the environment.
Find out more about our research
As a postgraduate research student in the Department of Economics at Strathclyde Business School, you'll have the opportunity to attend a variety of appropriate subject-specific training courses, such as:
You'll also be expected to attend and participate in presentations and discussions of research work in progress with colleagues and staff members at lunchtime seminars, the Department’s Annual PhD Away Days and the research seminars.
During your studies, you'll be encouraged to submit and present papers to appropriate academic conferences. You'll also be encouraged to submit your work for publication in the Department’s discussion paper series, and work towards submitting your papers to be considered for publication in academic journals.
If you take up the opportunity to become involved in undergraduate teaching, delivering tutorials and/or supporting computer lab sessions, you'll receive appropriate training from the University and you'll also be encouraged to participate in the Graduate Teaching Assistant workshops offered by the Economics Network.
As part of your PhD degree, you'll be enrolled on the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methodology for Business and Management.
This certificate is designed to support you by developing your skills as a researcher. Your researcher training will provide you with the intellectual foundations that you will need for your journey into either the higher-level learning needed for advanced postgraduate research degrees or to work in a range of research focussed roles within organisational settings.
Course highlights:
Most students complete the PgCert in their first year but you can take courses throughout your degree.
The University Careers Service can help you with everything from writing your CV to interview preparation. Take a look at our Careers Service pages to get more information.
From financial advice to our IT facilities, we have a wide range of support for all students here at Strathclyde. Get all the information you need at Strathlife.
The Strathclyde Doctoral School provides a vibrant and comprehensive student-centred research and training environment in order to grow and support current and future research talent.
The School encompasses our four faculties and is committed to enriching the student experience, intensifying research outputs and opportunities, and ensuring training is at the highest level. As a postgraduate researcher, you'll automatically become a member of the Strathclyde Doctoral School.
Find out more about the Doctoral School
During my time at Strathclyde, I have been able to interact directly with officials in the Scottish Fiscal Commission and to see how the results of my research can be used to help inform better policymaking
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Visit our international students' section
For entry onto our postgraduate research programmes, we normally look for a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant business or social science related subject. For applications for MPhil and PhD study in Economics we also normally expect a Masters degree in Economics, or overseas equivalent, that includes core classes in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics and a dissertation or research project. When reviewing your academic achievements, we're particularly interested in grades which relate to independent research (for example, your research project or dissertation). A strong score in these elements may allow us to consider entry with a lower degree classification.
Strathclyde Business School is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive postgraduate research population. We make decisions on entry by assessing the whole person and not relying solely on academic achievements. On that basis, please ensure that your application (via your CV and covering letter) can evidence your resourcefulness, commitment and resilience as demonstrated by broader professional and life experiences. This evidence should be centred on your ability to undertake and complete a PhD and contribute to a positive PhD community.
You can prove your knowledge of English by:
During the application you'll be asked for the following:
By filling these details out as fully as possible, you'll avoid any delay to your application being processed by the University.
Before finalising your formal application, we can give you some help and guidance on refining your proposal.
Get in touch with a potential supervisor early in the process, preferably as soon as you've put together a draft proposal. You can find some information about our supervisors and their research interests under the 'Supervisors' tab.
When preparing your research proposal please use the following template:
1. Working title
2. Layman’s summary of proposed research [max. 250 words]
Give us a brief summary of your proposed research project written for members of the public, rather than researchers or professionals. Why is this research important? What global/societal issues does it solve? What impact could it have on business and management in the future.
3. Research aim and objectives (or question(s)) [max. 500 words]
What’s the question you want to answer? How will you attempt to answer this question?
4. Literature review [max. 500 words]
Provide a brief overview of relevant literature to indicate any debates the research aims to engage with; any gaps or problems that have been identified; or what models the project hopes to explore or test.
5. Methodology [max. 300 words]
Provide an outline of the proposed research methodology.
6. Timeline [max. 300 words]
A PhD is 36 months minimum study (full time). In 6 months increments, indicate what you think the main activities will be. This is important as we need to assess the achievability of your proposal. This should be presented in tabular format.
6. References
Please use Harvard referencing throughout.
We've put together some guidance to help you when obtaining your references.
It's important that you find a good match between your research interest and your potential supervisor. When you've identified a potential supervisor, based on how well your research interests match theirs, send them an email to introduce yourself. Make sure you attach a draft of your research proposal along with a copy of your CV. Don't worry about how rough your research proposal may be at this stage – you'll have help from the Department to refine it.
If your chosen supervisor is available to work with you, they'll confirm this and nominate a potential second supervisor. As soon as a second supervisor is confirmed, an offer of study will be sent to you through Pegasus, our online application system.
When you accept our offer, you'll receive a full offer in writing via the email address you provide.
Once you've accepted our offer, we'll need you to fulfil any academic, administrative or financial conditions that we have notified you of in your offer letter.
If you're applying as a Scottish, UK or EU student, you'll then be issued with your registration documentation.
