Economics PhD

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.