phd economics lse entry requirements

Last Updated on July 29, 2023

Economics graduates from LSE can go on to do a huge range of jobs after graduation. Some move into the business world and start careers in finance, others choose to pursue an academic career or research. Economics graduates from LSE can also move into government, working for the Treasury, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), or HM Revenue and Customs.

Minimum entry requirements for MRes/PhD in Economics and Management

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree in any discipline or the equivalent, with evidence of preparation in economics and a strong mathematics background.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our Information for International Students to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

GRE/GMAT requirement

The GRE/GMAT is required for all applicants. We do not require a specific GRE/GMAT overall score but the test gives us an indication of your aptitude for our programmes. There is no preference for GMAT or GRE but all applications must submit scores at the time of application. Your score should be less than five years old on 1 October 2022.

Please see LSE information on GRE and GMAT for more detail on our requirements and submission of test scores, including information on LSE’s institution codes.

How to apply

lse phd economics fees

Every research student is charged a fee in line with the fee structure for their programme. The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students’ Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2022/23 for MRes/PhD Economics
Home students: £4,612 for the first year (provisional)
Overseas students: £20,928 for the first year

The fee is likely to rise over subsequent years of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with the level of fee that the Research Councils recommend. The fees for overseas students are likely to rise in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, 4 per cent per annum).

Table of fees

Fee status
The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding
The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for LSE PhD Studentships, and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding. Selection for the PhD Studentships and ESRC funding is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.

For the MRes/PhD Economics, the funding deadline is the same as the application deadline for the programme: 17 December 2021.

The Economics Department also has a number of scholarship packages for direct entry MRes/PhD students. After the first year of the MRes/PhD Economics, there are teaching and research assistantships available in the Department. Read more about funding opportunities through the Economics Department.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas. Find out more about financial support.

External funding
There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well

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