Our research is supported by numerous awards from a variety of sources including but not limited to the ESRC, EPSRC, Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise.
Many of our staff are engaged in networks of research economists, with collaborators based in other Scottish universities and universities across the rest of the UK and overseas.
You can study an MRes or an MPhil over the course of one year, a PhD over the course of three years or a DBA also over a three year period, or more.
You can study the degree of your choice within any of our four research areas:
ESRC Scottish Graduate School of Social Science Doctoral Training Centre studentships (SGSSS-DTC)
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).
Full awards are available on a competitive basis for applicants with established UK residency, international students and non-resident EU citizens.
Also, awards made through Economics are eligible for an additional £3,000 maintenance grant per year, taking the total maintenance grant to around £16,863 per year in 2014-15. You may also be able to apply to the interdisciplinary Environment, Climate Change and Energy pathway.
As an ESRC funded PhD student, and 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 and will be eligible to apply for a number of additional ESRC-funded opportunities, from iverseas institutional visits to internship opportunities.
There are two stages to the application and both have strict deadlines:
Research Council studentships (AHRC, BBSRC, ESPRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, STFC)
Full Research Council studentships can only be awarded to UK and EU students.
If you're an EU student, you're eligible for Research Council studentships if you've been living in the UK for three years, including for studying, immediately before starting your PhD.
If you're an EU student and you haven't been living in the UK for three years, you may be eligible for a 'fees only' studentship.
If you're an international student, you can only be funded by a Research Council if you have the Right to Abode (ie if your passport describes you as a British citizen), if you have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK or have the right of permanent residence in the UK under EC law.
If you have full Refugee status, you're eligible for fees and stipend.
British Council funding
The British Council offers scholarships to overseas students. Availablity 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.
The World Bank: Robert S McNamara Fellowship programme
This grant helps fellows advance their doctoral research work through a residency period of five to 10 months in an institution in another country.
Commonwealth scholarships
Commonwealth scholarships are available for students from commonwealth countries for PhD study here in the UK. See here for more details.
Royal Economics Society: one year junior fellowship awards
The Royal Economics Society offers one year junior fellowships to six students.
Applications must be submitted to the Head of Department and those awarded Fellowships must submit a report to the Secretary-General of the Society at the end of the academic year.
Universities will be invited by the Secretary-General of the Society to make application for the awards in the Spring of each year.
The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland offers a limited number of maintenance, fee, research and travel allowance awards each year for PhDs in any discipline.
Eligibility is restricted to applicants who are graduates of a Scottish university with a First Class Honours degree.
The deadline for applications is generally in March each year awards that begin the following September/October.
We look for a strong first degree in Economics, or a degree in which economics was a major part, and a Masters degree in Economics that includes the following core classes:
microeconomics
macroeconomics
econometrics
dissertation
a range of relevant options
DBA
You'll have a good MBA degree from an AMBA accredited institution, although other Masters degrees containing a significant amount of economics may be accepted.
You'll also have a significant amount of work experience as a manager or consultant and we expect you to continue in a senior practice role throughout the programme. Ongoing support from your employer is also required.
English language proficiency
If English isn't your first language, you'll need an IELTS score of 6.5.
The application
During the application you'll be asked for the following:
your full contact details
transcripts and certificates of all degrees
proof of English language proficiency if English isn't your first language
two references, one of which must be academic
funding or scholarship information
research proposal of around 1500 words in length, detailing the subject area and topic to be investigated. Please use our Postgraduate Research Proposal Outline.
By filling these details out as fully as possible, you'll avoid any delay to your application being processed by the University.
Before you apply
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 on, 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.
a range of specialist workshops and master classes organised by the Scottish Institute for Research in Economics, often in collaboration with the department
other externally offered and relevant short courses and summer school (recent examples include courses offered by CEMMAP, a variety of ESRC funded data workshops and specialised short advanced training courses provided by the SGPE and elsewhere)
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’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.
Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD)
Our PgCert RPD programme aims to ensure you get the most out of your current research activities at Strathclyde and help you prepare for your future career as a researcher.
We'll help you recognise and develop your transferable skills that'll have a positive impact on your research, now and in the future.
