london school of economics phd application

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How to apply

Guiding you through the process, we understand that applying for graduate study can be an anxious time, but we have put together some helpful information to guide you through the process..

Please read carefully the information in this section and follow the instructions given sensibly; this will help to ensure that everything runs quickly and smoothly.

You will be able to track the progress of your application online. Most delays and confusion are caused when applicants do not follow our instructions.

You must apply early, as competition for programmes at LSE is intense. Your application will not be considered until we have received all your supporting documents. Wherever possible you should submit all of your documents with your online application. You should expect to wait an average of 8 weeks for a decision when applying for a taught programme; decisions for a research programme may take longer than this.

Important: LSE expects all applicants to complete their application materials without the use of paid agents or other paid professional assistance. The use of such services may lead to the rejection of application materials, the revocation of an admissions offer, cancellation of admission, or involuntary withdrawal from the University.

Unscrupulous agents have been known to charge large sums to applicants, and then to submit fraudulent transcripts and references. They have refused to allow applicants access to their own records on our Graduate Applicant Portal Applicants have been left unable to attend LSE and having to sue the agent for financial redress. Agents who claim to 'guarantee' entry to LSE are lying. All applications are considered on their own merits and all applicants can and should submit their own information.

NOTICE: Please be aware of an issue that has come to our attention regarding email junk/spam filters. Some email software is filtering LSE emails to the spam/junk or ‘Deleted Items/Bin’ folder so please make sure to check there for important information regarding your application. If you do find any of our emails in any of these folders, please make sure to add the domain @lse.ac.uk to your ‘Safe Senders’ or ‘Never Block’ list . Emails will be sent to you automatically from our database system once you have begun your online application and as your application progresses through each step in the process (application created; application submitted; application downloaded for processing). We will then send you a further email each time there is an update to the status of your application, including any requests for further information and the programme selectors’ decision on your application . It is essential that you ensure you can successfully receive our emails as soon as you begin your application.

Online application

You will need to create an account in the online application system using your email address. You should use the same email address for your application and any enquiries to us. You do not need to complete the online application form at one sitting; you can return to your partially completed application by logging back into the system using the email address and password you create at the start of the process.

You may submit an application via the online application system only ONCE within the application cycle (October 2024 to September 2025), so before submitting your application you should ensure that you have included all of the information you would like the selectors to review. Any further changes after your application has been submitted must be requested via the Graduate Applicant Portal and will be subject to our current processing times .

You must upload all of your supporting documents and nominate two referees via the online application system. The online application allows you to submit your complete application securely and quickly. Your submitted application will not be processed and considered until we have received all the required supporting documents, including a reference from each of the referees you nominate on your online application.

If you encounter any technical issues while completing your application, please use the “technical support” link located in the bottom-left corner of the application portal to contact us. If you begin a further new application you will not be able to transfer any information, documents, or references between them.

Additional programme choices

When completing your initial online application, you may choose up to two programmes in order of preference. If you are applying for two programmes, please submit a separate statement of academic purpose for each programme . Your choices will be considered in sequence, and it is only possible to hold one offer of a place, so if you are offered a place on your first-choice programme you will not be considered for your second-choice unless you specifically request it. If you receive an offer on your first choice, and wish us to send your second choice to be considered too, please use the Add/Amend programmes form on the Graduate Applicant Portal, selecting your current second choice programme as the programme you wish to be considered for.

If you are unsuccessful in your application to both of your initially chosen programmes and you wish to be considered for further, additional choices, you may do this by submitting the Add/Amend programmes via the Graduate Applicant Portal and paying an additional administrative fee of £105. You should not use this form to add choices 3 and 4 before receiving a decision on each of your original programme choices, unless you wish to withdraw your initial programme choices.

Please note that changing your programme choices after you have submitted your online application may cause significant delays to your application being considered.

You are not permitted to submit an application using the online application system more than ONCE in the same admissions cycle. If you submit a second online application within the same admissions cycle, it will not be considered. To apply to further programmes after you have submitted your initial online application, you must use the process above.

Supporting documents

All applications must be accompanied by supporting documents. Some of these are required by all applicants, others are only needed for specific programmes. Details of specific requirements are given on the programme pages .

Please consult our guide to supporting documents for full information about what you will need.

Use common sense when reading this information. We are being as clear as we can about our requirements and there are no trick questions or hidden traps.
We ask you to provide the documents as requested (or as close to them as you can manage) so that we can make a good decision on your application.
Don't overload your application with extra documents - the selectors won't have time to read them and we really don't need them.
Don't panic about the length of your statement of academic purpose or research proposal - your statement of academic purpose should be typed and no longer than two sides of A4 paper. There is no fixed word limit, but we expect this to be no longer than 1,000 - 1,500 words. Some programmes have specific requirements which are different to this; please check the relevant programme page for information.
We offer guidance to help you. Read it and act sensibly on it.

Please do not send supporting documents directly to departments as this will delay your application.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that your application is complete, including both references, your statement of academic purpose and CV, your transcript(s), the application assessment fee, and, where applicable, GRE/GMAT scores, your research proposal and/or your sample of written work.

Double Degree programmes

LSE has developed a number of programmes which are administered jointly with other institutions such as Peking University in China and University of Southern California in the USA. Any additional requirements for these programmes will be listed on their individual programme pages. Selectors from both institutions consider your application, and this means that it may take a bit longer for a decision to be made on these programmes than on the single centre programmes, however we do expect the decision to be communicated to you within the 8 week turnaround window. We will advise you of the decision as soon as possible.

Visiting Research Students

To apply as a visiting research student, you apply in the same way as for our MPhil/MRes/PhD programmes, with the same entry criteria.

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of our staff at LSE. For this reason, we recommend that you take a look at our staff research interests before applying.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your form, such as your:

academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications)
statement of academic purpose
GRE/GMAT (if applicable)
outline research proposal
sample of written work.

See further information on supporting documents .

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements .

Fraud prevention

We take active steps to scrutinise and verify documents received during the application process. If we are unable to verify independently the accuracy of information supplied, your application may be cancelled and any offer withdrawn.

Apply online LSE Application System

Video: How to apply for graduate study

Virtual graduate open events online events taking place between 11-22 november 2024, phd academy discover life as a research student at lse.

When to apply/deadlines Although admissions are rolling, there are some dates to bear in mind

Guide to supporting documents Making sure you upload the correct versions of each item with your application

Interviews for research students Find out what's involved in the interview process

Available programmes Check if your chosen programme is currently recruiting

Contact Graduate Admissions Our Knowledge base and getting in touch with our team by Zoom, email, and Live chat

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Research - PhD Economics Programme

We take pride in the Department of Economics’ outstanding placement record and it’s our ambition to place our PhD students in the best institutions worldwide. Our placement record is comparable with the top economics departments in the world, as shown by some of our recent placements which include MIT, UC Berkeley, Columbia, Stanford and Northwestern.

Professor Robin Burgess

The LSE Department of Economics is committed to an individualised and contextual review of each application to the MRes/PhD Economics programme.

Each year the Department of Economics admits around 20 funded students to join our vibrant doctoral programme, consisting of over 100 students from many countries and backgrounds. Our PhD students pursue research in all economic fields, closely supervised by a variety of faculty . We have a Chair and committee for both PhD Admissions and PhD Recruitment, as well as a dedicated professional staff at School and Department level managing funding and admissions.

The LSE Economics PhD Programme is grounded in two years of rigorous coursework through the MRes component and by a strong research element. You can find information about the individual research courses offered through our programmes.

As is the norm with top economic departments in the US, students entering the LSE PhD Economics programme are typically offered five years financial support; for more information please visit our Cost and Financial Aid page.

Research Centres in the Department of Economics

The LSE Department of Economics is somewhat unique for its major Research Centres . PhD students benefit from these centres both in terms of getting access to research funds as well as other facilities which complement their doctoral research.

Suntory and Toyota International Centre for Economics and Related Disciplines (STICERD)

Centre for Economic Performance (CEP)

Financial Markets Group (FMG)

Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE)

International Growth Centre (IGC)

Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM)

Programme Requirements

Follow the link below to access information about the PhD routes and coursework.

Programme and School Regulations for research students

Find out more .

Further information

How to apply.

PhD Economics - Admissions FAQs

How to Apply

General Information for prospective research students

Guidelines for submitting Research Statement

An application for 2025 entry to the PhD Economics should include a Research Statement, along with other required information (Note: A separate sample of Written Work is not required as part of the PhD Economics application).

Your Research Statement should be submitted in place of the Outline Research Proposal, along with your application form and other required supporting documents, via the LSE online application system (see the PhD Economics Admissions FAQs ).

What should my Research Statement contain?

Please answer the following questions clearly and concisely. Max 200 words per question.

1. Why do you want to do research in economics?

2. Can you explain how your studies and experience make you suitable to do research in economics?

3. Which aspect of the PhD do you think you will like the most? Which will you dislike the most? Why?

4. Tell us about your favourite paper in economics. What do you like about it? How would you improve it?

5. Write a comment for a general audience on ONE of the following topics (i) Is inequality good for growth? (ii) Do immigrants take the jobs of native workers? (iii) Is CEO compensation excessive? (iv) Is universal minimum income a good idea? (v) Overall, has central banks' move to inflation targeting been a success? (vi) Is culture an important determinant of differences in income per capita across countries? (vii) Markets function well as information is aggregated efficiently through prices. (viii) Elections are effective at disciplining politicians who do not have the public interest as their main goal.

How can I demonstrate research potential?

If you have served as research assistant for an economist please ask that person to write a letter focussing on your research skills and describe your experience – reference point 2 (above) of the research statement.

If not, please list any evidence you think would be valuable. Examples include but are not restricted to: experience working autonomously under stress without any guidance, demonstration of creativity in any form, experience of writing original research.

Financial information

Costs and Financial Aid

Financial Support Office

Job opportunities

Class Teaching Opportunities

Class teaching opportunities are available during the course of research degrees. They represent useful professional training and can be a valuable and important experience.

PhD Job Market

Towards the completion of a research degree the Department organises an orientation meeting for prospective job market candidates and offers advice as well as a platform for candidates to present their experience and research. Available soon: the page with our current job market candidates.

Current students

MRes/PhD Programme Director: Professor Maitreesh Ghatak
MRes/PhD Programme Manager: Emma Taverner
Teaching & Research Ops Assistant: Jide Gbadamosi
PhD Placement Officer: Matthias Doepke

You can find more information about the profiles of Faculty and Teaching Fellows or Graduate Teaching Assistants, in the People section.

Quick Links

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LSE Calendar : Regulations for Research Students
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