Overview
Top reasons to study with us
- 11th for research quality: Economics
- The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2027)
- 19th for Economics
- The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2027)
- Lancaster University is top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2027
As the most research-intensive business school in the UK, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework, there really is no better place to gain a deeper insight into economics.
In our triple-accredited, world-ranked Management School, you can benefit from excellent academic supervision, interact with respected economists and be part of a thriving research community of staff and students. We aim to prepare you for a successful research-driven career in academia, government, research organisations, or business.
About the Department
The main specialisms of Lancaster University's Department of Economics are
- Behavioural and Experimental Economics;
- Labour, Education and Health Economics;
- Macroeconomics and Financial Markets;
- Political Economy and International Trade; and
- Industrial Organisation and Economic Theory.
The Department also hosts LExEL (a modern experimental lab) and the UK Housing Market Observatory.
PhD supervisors
Please read our research and supervisor pages to match your research interests with those of available supervisors.
As a student in the Economics Department, you will have access to advanced research training courses delivered by us and the ESRC-funded North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP). These courses are continually updated to remain at the forefront of research.
You will benefit from close research supervision and feel an active member of the department’s research environment by attending a vibrant weekly seminar series, research workshops and conferences. You will also have access to state-of-the-art databases, office space, scientific computing facilities and IT support. In addition to your thesis, an oral examination will form an integral part of the assessment of your doctoral research.
Programme structure
This is a four-year programme. Your first year typically includes core training in economic theory and econometrics:
Typical PhD modules
- Microeconomic theory
- Macroeconomic theory
- Microeconometrics
- Applied macroeconomics
In addition to these modules, your first year will include an induction workshop covering topics such as research integrity and ethical research.
From student to researcher
As you move into the research stage of the PhD, you will receive training in research methods to support your development as an independent researcher. During the final three years, you will focus primarily on developing your independent research under the guidance of your supervisory team.
You will be encouraged to present your work, receive feedback, and take part in relevant research activities where appropriate.
Research focus
During your final three years, you will focus almost entirely on research and work on your research papers/chapters. You will be encouraged and financially supported to present your work in seminars, conferences and workshops to obtain feedback, interact with other researchers and establish research networks. If deemed beneficial by the supervisory team, you can also participate in NWSSDTP Economics modules, which you didn't take in the first year, and attend courses, masterclasses and workshops outside the NWSSDTP Economics pathway.
In your final year, you will be expected to complete your main research paper, the job market paper, and start preparing for the following year’s job market. The Department supports you during this stage through introductory talks, mock interviews and job market presentations.
Research activities
Departmental seminars, workshops and conferences
The Department runs three seminar series: an internal, a PhD, and an external. These seminar series provide an invaluable opportunity for PhD students to be exposed to cutting-edge research in their field, present their work and obtain feedback. The Department also organises conferences and workshops that PhD students are invited to attend. Visit our events listing for more information.
NWSSDTP PhD Conference in Economics
Every year in May, the Departments of Economics of the Universities of Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester organise the NWSSDTP PhD Conference in Economics. This two-day event consists of keynote speeches by prominent economists, presentations from PhD students from the three institutions, and a conference dinner. Past keynote speakers include Professor Jeffrey Wooldridge from Michigan State University, Professor Daniel S. Hamermesh from the University of Texas at Austin, Professor Rachel Griffith from the University of Manchester, and Professor Ed Karni from Johns Hopkins.
NWSSDTP Summer School in Economics
The NWSSDTP Summer School is an intensive, one-week event that consists of a series of lectures and seminars/labs taught by world-leading academics. It provides an excellent opportunity for PhD students to further enhance their skills and knowledge in a specific area of economics/econometrics, and facilitates interactions across PhD students, faculty and course lecturers.
Research partnerships
The Department has strong links with non-Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and several of our PhD students have worked on research projects in collaboration with these organisations. Below is a list of our non-HEI partners, together with current and past PhD projects.
- Department of Work and Pensions, “Child Support and Separation: Effects on Parents and Children”
- Bank of England, “Housing Markets and the Macroeconomy”
- Gambling Commission, “Understanding Gambling”
- Department for Business Innovation and Skills, “Drivers of Efficiency in Higher Education”
- Office of Manpower, Economics, “Labour Supply and Incentives in the Medical Profession”
- RAND Europe, “Alcohol, Habits and Prices”
- Department for Business Innovation and Skills, “The Returns to Higher Education: Some Further Analysis”
- The Work Foundation, “Transitions from Schools and Youth Unemployment”
We also offer a five-year Integrated Economics PhD for students who have not previously studied at master's level.
Postgraduate Online Open Event
Join us online on Wednesday 18 November to hear about postgraduate study at Lancaster, and choose a taster session based on your intended subject.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A relevant UK Master's degree with a minimum of 65% overall and 65% in the dissertation, or a non-UK Master's degree, graded at the equivalent level.
We may also consider non-standard applicants; please contact us for information.
Additional requirements
As part of your application, you also need to provide a viable research proposal of up to 5000 words, which has the potential to make a significant contribution to prior literature. Guidance can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.
English Language requirements
We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.
We also consider other English language qualifications and if your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.
Help from our Admissions team
If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.
We also have more details on our website about:
Pre-master's programmes
Delivered in partnership with Lancaster International Study Centre, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit Lancaster University International Study Centre for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for students with Home fee status are set in line with the standard fee stipend provided by the UK Research Councils. The tuition fee for 2027/28 has not yet been set. For reference, the 2026/27 fee stipend was full-time £5,238.
2027/28 tuition fees for new students with International fee status are full-time £23,300.
Meet your programme directors
Professor Efthymios Pavlidis
Centre for Financial Econometrics, Asset Markets and Macroeconomic Policy, Economics Research Group, Macroeconomics and Financial Markets
C171, C - Floor, Management School
Dr David Rietzke
Economics Research Group, Industrial Organisation and Economic Theory
Alumni profiles
Anwen Zhang
PhD Economics, 2015
This supportive atmosphere the Economics Department creates for their students is what made my PhD such a pleasant journey.
Ayesha Ali
PhD Economics, 2016
My favourite thing about living in Lancaster was the laid back pace of life on campus.
Important information
The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.
