PhD programmes are aimed at those who wish to become experts in a specialised field. We provide research students with challenging training in the theory and practice of research in economics.
As a research graduate, your PhD thesis will contribute to academic debate in your chosen field and you will be equipped to design and conduct high-quality research and to communicate your results. A PhD from the Department of Economics at Strathclyde Business School will prepare you either for an academic career or will equip you to excel in business or public policy decision making.
You can find details of staff research interests and areas in which they supervise on the Department's Research Pages.
Once you have prepared a draft research proposal , you are encouraged to make contact with an appropriate potential supervisor who will generally be willing to discuss the refinement of your proposal before you finalise your formal application.
The Department of Economics at Strathclyde Business School has a strong focus on policy-relevant research particularly in international trade, globalisation and regional economics, applied econometrics, energy, environmental economics and sustainable development. We contribute to the Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics and are part of the Scottish Institute for Research in Economics.
We currently have a very active group of PhD students working on a variety of topics. Take a look at of our current PhD students, their research areas, and supervisors and our recent PhD graduates.
While you are a PhD student within the Economics Department at Strathclyde Business School, you will have opportunities to:
• present and discuss your work in progress with colleagues and staff members within a regular scheduled PhD workshop programme and at lunchtime ‘brown-bag’ seminars;
• attend the Department’s Research Seminars;
• participate in the Scottish Institute for Research in Economic’s Forum for Young Researchers;
• become a Graduate Teaching Fellow, delivering tutorials to undergraduate students;
• present papers at academic conferences;
• submit work for publication in academic journals.
You will be supervised by appropriate members of staff and, through the Department’s Postgraduate Research Committee, your progress will be monitored on a regular basis, with feedback provided.
In contrast to a taught degree programme in which students are awarded credits according to successful performance across a number of courses through examination or coursework, the PhD is a research-based degree that is assessed entirely on examination of the completed thesis. However, throughout your period of PhD study you will be offered appropriate training.
Students can expect to have the opportunity to attend a variety of appropriate subject specific training courses, such as:
• Advanced classes offered by the Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics;
• A range of specialist workshops and masterclasses organised by the Scottish Institute for Research in Economics often in collaboration with the Department;
• Other externally offered and relevant short courses and summer schools, recent examples include courses offered by CEMMAP and a variety of ESRC funded data workshops.
Our Research Methods training brings together students from across the Business School, allowing opportunities to share research ideas and experiences.
You will also benefit from the University of Strathclyde’s sector leading Researcher Development Programme, which encourages and supports research students to fully realise their potential through selecting from a portfolio of short courses aimed at multidisciplinary skills development. This training will be relevant from the start of your PhD, through to your PhD viva and into your career beyond.
Those students who take up the opportunity to become involved in undergraduate teaching receive appropriate training from the University’s Centre for Academic Practice and Learning Enhancement and are encouraged to participate in Graduate Teaching Assistant workshops offered by the Economics Network of the Higher Education Academy.
Our PhD graduates have gone on to hold academic posts in Universities in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Greece, Japan, Jordan, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Botswana, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. Graduates currently include full Professors at Birmingham, Birkbeck and CASS Business School in the UK, Rawalpindi in Pakistan and in Pretoria, South Africa.
Some have taken up research posts, at the Universities of Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester and Vienna Universities and in Research Institutes in Aberdeen, London, Malaysia and Kenya.
Others have taken up posts as Economists within Government in Ethiopia, Ghana, India and Iran as well as the in UK Government’s Department for International Development and National Audit Office. Within the Scottish Government, where one is now acting head of the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser and another is Director of the Scottish Local Authorities Public Services Improvement Service.
Our PhD alumni have worked, or are currently working, at the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Bank of England, the Central Bank in the Netherlands and the African Development Bank, they are also represented among Economists at Nomura, Capital Economics, Experian, Halcrow Group Limited, Hermes Pension Management, Thomson Reuters Point Carbon and BAE Systems.
Finally, some of our PhD graduates are founders and MDs of their own companies, including Hiper Limited, an IT and Communications Consultancy; Career Development China Co. Ltd, a Career Planning company; and SMAR Azure Ltd, software developers and technology partners for Sailmakers, Designers and Racers.
We welcome applications from ambitious students with an excellent academic record to our PhD programme. Students without an MSc in Economics or an associated subject area would normally be expected to apply to the Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics (SGPE), to which the University of Strathclyde is a contributing member. Those who already hold a suitable MSc, which includes a dissertation element, may register directly at Strathclyde. Suitability is judged in terms of both required standard and breadth of coverage in economics. To be considered for this option, please contact us (details below).
An important part of your application will be your research proposal. Some guidance on how to write your research proposal is offered here .
To accompany your online application you must upload the following documentation:
- Research proposal (see Guidance on writing a Research Proposal)
- Full academic transcripts
- Two academic references
- CV
- English Language qualifications
- Proof of Funding/Scholarship
Online applications are available by clicking on the Apply link to the right.
Information about fees can be found on the Fees link to the right.
Information on funding and scholarships can be found on the Scholarships link to the right.
Fiona McIntosh is the administrative contact for the PhD programmes offered by Economics and is happy to provide guidance and information to those enquiring about our programmes. Fiona can be contacted by email Fiona McIntosh or by telephone to +44 141 548 3871
