PhD in Economics | Universitat de Barcelona School of Economics

PhD in Economics

KEY DETAILS

Director: Ció Patxot

Duration: 4 years full-time / 7 years part-time

Fee level: One year €540,92

Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will open from January 13 to April 30, 2025.

The University of Barcelona (UB) offers you the opportunity to undertake research in a wide range of fields of economics taking part of an international PhD programme in the vibrant city of Barcelona.

 

The PhD in Economics has been accredited with Excellence after an exhaustive and rigorous external evaluation by the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU), which acknowledges the quality and impact of the research carried out within the PhD framework.

 

We offer an active and stimulating environment organizing weekly research seminars, PhD students’ seminars, workshops, conferences, courses and research activities in which students are invited to participate.

 

The programme prepares PhD students for the academic Job Market. Former PhD students have been placed in academic research institutions in the US and Europe: Bruegel (Belgium), Eurac Research (Italy), PUC-Rio (Brasil), London School of Economics (UK), Korea University (South Korea), Universidad Carlos III (Spain), Institue of Economics – Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Hungary), Booking (Netherlands), Yale University (US), University of Sussex (UK)… As well as international organizations and governmental institutions.

Who should apply?
Programme overview
International Experience
Student Guidance
Fees and funding
How to apply?

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026

Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year have two periods:

First period: From January 13 to March 17, 2025. Resolutions on April 29, 2025.

Second period: From March 18 to April 30, 2025. Resolutions on May 30, 2025.

HOW TO APPLY

Step 1: Check that you meet the entry requirements (Who should apply?).

Step 2: Fill in the online application form and upload supporting documents :

1. ID/Passport
2. CV
3. Bachelor’s degree transcript of grades and diploma certificate*
4. Master’s degree transcript of grades (provisional or final version) and diploma certificate (if you have it)*
5. Research statement: should include your motivation for pursuing the PhD in Economics at the University of Barcelona and a description of your research interests and goals (at most 1,500 words). Please note that you should not contact potential advisor/s. You could instead check their profiles published on our website and indicate the name of a potential advisor/s at the UB that fit with your research interests.
6. Master thesis (if you are currently working on your Master thesis, please send an extended abstract in English — typically around 1,500 words)
7. Proof of English level (not compulsory if you are a native speaker or you hold a university degree taught in English)
8. GRE test result (not compulsory)

*Applicants who have fully or partially completed the studies outside of the Spanish university system must submit their grade equivalency declarations issued by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. Online platform | Instructions in English

Step 3: In order to provide us with your references, you must fill in this form, where you will be required to state the name and contact email of two scholars who support your application. They will receive an automated email with general questions about your profile. Only references received before the 7th day after the corresponding period application deadline will be considered.

Step 4: Once you complete steps 1 to 3, your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will receive an email to let you know if everything is in order or if any additional documents or information are required. Please, take into account that only complete applications will be assessed by the Academic Committee.

The PhD in Economics programme typically receives over 200 applications and admits between 12 and 15 students each year. Consequently we encourage candidates to apply as early as possible.

ACADEMIC RESOLUTIONS

Academic resolutions will be notified by email. If you are admitted, you will be required to find a potential advisor/s and provide us with the required documents in order to get the final approval and formalize the enrolment. Students in possession of academic documents issued outside Spain will be required to pay a fee of €218.15 for the administrative review.  More information will be provided to admitted students.

ADMISSION DEFERMENT POLICY

Students admitted to the programme that are unable to attend may request a deferment of the admission to the following academic year (only once).

Requests must be send by email to school.economics@ub.edu before October 31st. Each request is reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Please note that deferments are not guaranteed.