Economic studies research degrees

An overview of our postgraduate research in economic studies and entry requirements for PhDs and other research degrees.

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Economic Studies (School of Business), has a reputation for research excellence, having hosted talented academics including the 1991 Economics Nobel Prize winner – Ronald Coase. Research conducted by the department is diverse, but with focus around empirical and policy-oriented content. The department also has a history of good PhD placements. The department participates in the Crieff PhD programme (involving other Scottish Universities).

To read more on their research interests and actives, please visit the School of Business research pages.

Research fields

The department has competence and expertise in the following fields: 

Applied Microeconomics 

  • Agricultural and Environmental Economics 
  • Health Economics 
  • Labour and Education Economics 

Applied Macroeconomics 

  • Macroeconomics and Monetary Policy 
  • International Trade 
  • Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Modelling 

Finance and Financial Economics 

  • Behavioural Economics and Finance 
  • International Finance  
  • Asset Pricing 
  • Macro-Finance 
  • Banking and Financial Markets   

Development Economics 

  • Energy Economics and Sustainable Development 
  • Climate Change 
  • Sustainable Tourism management 
  • China Economic Studies 
  • Distribution and Inequality 

and also 

  • Business and Economic History 
  • Research in Business Education (pedagogies, student experience, internationalisation of business education) 
  • Heterodox Economics 

Supervisors

The school provides you with a first and second supervisor, whose research interests will align with your proposed research. You will be meeting with your supervisors at regular intervals, who will provide useful advice. You are encouraged to check the research interests of potential supervisors and their relevant works before submitting an application. 

Propose your own PhD topic

If you want to propose your PhD topic, you can use the contact details below to contact a staff member to discuss your proposal.

How to write your best postgraduate research proposal

Entry requirements

You should have an honours degree at 2.1 or above, and/or a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS (overall) Reading Listening Speaking Writing
6.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.0

We also accept other English language qualifications

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of certain countries.

Don't meet the English language requirements?

English language programmes

Prepare for university study and benefit from extra English tuition with an English language programme.

Economic studies PhD tuition fees

Academic year of entry Scottish/Rest of UK fee status International fee status
2023/24 £4,712 
per year of study		 £20,895 
per year of study
2024/25 £4,786
per year of study		 £21,940 
per year of study

Tuition fee per year of study (subject to a 3% annual increase for Scottish/Rest of UK students and a 5% annual increase for International students).

Part time study, where available, is charged on a pro-rata basis.

Scottish/Rest of UK fee status annual increase

Each year, UKRI sets a recommended fee and stipend level for Scottish/Rest of UK students, which we use as the basis for fees charged to this group.

UKRI usually increases its fee and stipend levels in line with inflation, based on the Treasury GDP deflator. 

Therefore, the Scottish/Rest of UK fees detailed in this table for 2025/26 (and beyond) can only be estimated according to the typical increase. 

The fee charged to you may differ, though only slightly, from the figure given.

Apply for a research degree

You can apply for a PhD or other postgraduate research degree using our Direct Application System.

We have three start dates per academic year.

PhD Economics (3 year)

PhD Economics (part time)

PhD Economics (4 years)

Business (non-graduating) (research)

The University of Dundee welcomes applications from disabled students.

Enquiries

Dr Sudhu Paramati
+44 (0)1382 384845
PhD-Business@dundee.ac.uk