Graduate Admissions
Ph.D. in Economics
The Ph.D. Program in Economics is addressed to students of high promise who wish to prepare themselves in teaching and research in academia or for responsible positions in government, research organizations, or business enterprises. Students are expected to devote themselves full-time to their programs of study.
The Harvard Economics Department typically receives over 800 applications and admits between 30-33 students each year. Although the number of well-qualified candidates greatly exceeds the number of offers, we invite all who would like to study Economics at Harvard to apply for admission.
Student Qualifications
An understanding of economics: At a minimum, we expect some economics courses beyond the principles level. However, the ultimate objective of the Harvard Economics PhD program is to produce successful economic researchers, so demonstrating the ability to do research is an important criterion. This could be accomplished by either having done research previously or via experience as a research assistant. In the latter instance, a letter from the supervisor indicating the ability to do research is critical
Mathematical preparation: The minimum level of mathematical preparation to be considered includes calculus and linear algebra and demonstration of proficiency with mathematics. Increasingly, successful applicants will have taken more mathematics. In particular, most successful applicants now take real analysis, although that is not a requirement. The average GRE score among students admitted in the last few years was 797.
Application Information
Applications for the 2013-2014 academic year will likely open in late September, 2012. Applications, including reference letters and official GRE scores must be submitted by Monday, December 3, 2012 5:00 PM EST in order to be considered. Additional information on Admissions Requirements. Please also visit the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) to learn more about applying and submitting the on-line application.
Applicants whose native language is not English, and who have not received a bachelor's degree from an English language institution, must meet minimum score requirements on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Financial Aid
Economic students receive full tuition and stipend support while they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D. degree. The division strongly encourages applicants to apply for support from extramural agencies. Students who receive competitively funded extramural fellowships, which will be used toward our student support upon matriculating to our programs, may be eligible to receive an educational allowance from the division. If you have external funding, please be sure to state that in your application. If you don’t have funding when you apply but get it later, please make sure to communicate this to the department.Campus Visits
The department arranges for campus visits for all admitted students and we cover a portion the cost associated with these visits. We do not encourage visits prior to being admitted. Since the department receives an overwhelming amount of applications, it’s simply more efficient to arrange meetings with faculty after students are accepted rather than before.
Joint Programs
The Ph.D. in Business Economics is administered by a standing committee composed of members of the Department of Economics and the Graduate School of Business Administration. The Business Economics program description is available at the GSAS website, and additional information can be found at the Harvard Business School website: http://www.hbs.edu/doctoral/programs/busec/index.html.
The Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government is administered by a standing committee composed of members of the Department of Economics and the JFK School of Government. The PEG program description is available at the GSAS website, and additional information can be found at the Kennedy School of Government website:
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/degrees/phd.
Non-Degree Programs
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers offers two options for study within a non-degree program, the Special Student status and the Visiting Fellow status.* Special Student status is available to individuals who have sound reasons for not wishing to enter a degree program, who hold the bachelor's degree or its equivalent, and are able to present evidence of fitness for admission at the graduate level. Get more information click here. Persons holding the doctoral degree (or its equivalent), or those with comparable professional experience, may apply for Visiting Fellow status. This status is also open to advanced doctoral candidates who have completed all required coursework and would like to pursue dissertation research at Harvard. For more information click here
* The Department of Economics has a very selective process in admitting students to this status. Those who are admitted as special students are restricted from enrolling in the macroeconomic and microeconomic theory courses (Economics 2010a, 2010b, 2010c, and 2010d). Students applying to this program are encouraged to obtain sponsorship from a Harvard faculty member although it is not a requirement.
Contact Information
Department of Economics
Graduate Office
Littauer 201
1305 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02130
Telephone: (617) 495-8927
E-mail: bpiquet@fas.harvard.edu
© 2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College