Economics (combined) DPhil

University of Oxford

The Department of Economics offers an integrated MPhil-DPhil (PhD) in Economics. Students admitted to the joint MPhil DPhil in Economics will first complete the two-year MPhil in Economics and then (subject to satisfactorily passing) automatically progress to the three- to four-year DPhil in Economics.

If you intend on studying the MPhil followed by the DPhil in Economics at Oxford, and if you have had substantial economics training and exceptional results in your prior studies, this is the right programme for you. Automatically progressing from MPhil to DPhil (subject to satisfactorily passing) reduces the uncertainty regarding the transition from MPhil to DPhil.

A DPhil at Oxford is the equivalent to a PhD at most other institutions. The structure of the MPhil DPhil programme is similar to that of the integrated five-year PhD (sometimes called MRes-PhD) at leading economics graduate schools worldwide.

Students who have experience in graduate work in economics or related fields, or for example have completed the MSc in Economics for Development may wish to apply directly to the DPhil in Economics.

MPhil DPhil students will join one or more of the department's research groups, becoming part of a vibrant educational research community with an active set of doctoral student-led events, seminars and conferences. You will have opportunities to present your work at a variety of seminars and sessions in the department.

To enable the new joint programme to offer more rigour and exposure to the research frontier for future DPhil students, the department has made the MPhil programme more flexible.

MPhil

First year

The first year of the MPhil in Economics programme starts with a non-examined preparatory course in mathematical methods. The first two terms of the academic year focus on three compulsory courses in the central areas of microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. The three courses are offered on two levels. Though most MPhil students will take the courses on the "core" level, MPhil DPhil students will be expected to take one or more of the three courses at the "advanced" level in the first year and to take additional advanced courses in the second year. In the third term of the first year, you will choose from two entirely new courses in Empirical Research Methods and Further Mathematics Methods. These courses will provide the specialised skills needed for academic or non-academic careers in our data-rich world and the technical tools for research in economics.

Second year

In the second year, you will take four option courses. The option courses build on the first-year training and provide deeper and broader training in your areas of interest. You can take advanced-level courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, econometrics and empirical research methods covering recent developments in theory and analytical techniques. Other option courses are designed to develop knowledge and understanding of theory, empirical techniques and debates within specialist fields of economics. These include behavioural economics, development economics, economic history, financial economics, international trade, labour economics and public economics.

The second important component of the second year is the required thesis, supervised by a member of the department.