Skip to main content

Applying to the Ph.D. Program in Economics (EN75)

Thank you for inquiring about admission to the Ph.D. program in Economics.

The admissions application for fall 2024 will open September 6, 2023. Please visit the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs’s website which includes the application for admission, fellowships for incoming students, and campus resources for students.

The UC San Diego Graduate Program in Economics has long been recognized for the strong preparation its students receive in econometrics and microeconomic theory. During the last few years, our Department has expanded dramatically, with rapidly growing strengths as well in macroeconomics and applied microeconomics. Among the fields we now cover are behavioral economics, development, environmental economics, finance, labor economics, international trade, macroeconomics, political economy, and public finance, in addition to econometrics and microeconomic theory.

Information about the graduate program including program requirements, faculty, and job placement history are on this web page.

Please review all resources thoroughly, including our FAQ, and should you have additional questions, please e-mail us at econ-phdadmissions@ucsd.edu.

Transcript Policy

Please do not send hard copies of your transcripts at this time. You may upload your unofficial transcripts to the online application. We will only require official, hard copies of your transcripts if admitted and you decide to attend UC San Diego. For international students, please make sure to upload a translated copy of your transcripts.

Contact Info:

Website: http://economics.ucsd.edu 

Email: econ-phdadmissions@ucsd.edu 

Mailing address:

University of California San Diego

Department of Economics

9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0508

La Jolla, CA 92093-0508

Program Info

Area of Study School of Social Sciences
Department Economics
Major Economics
Degree Doctor of Philosophy
Admissions Terms Fall
Additional Notes

Carefully evaluate your qualifications against the criteria below before paying the application fee and submitting your application.

Undergraduate GPA: 3.5 minimum on 4.0 scale. For international applicants, equivalencies will be determined.
The Department recognizes different colleges have different grading standards and will take this into account in reviewing applications. In particular, the Department notes that there are a small number of prominent colleges whose grading standards are substantially harder than most colleges and may consider applicants from those institutions that narrowly miss the 3.5 minimum standard.

For additional information and FAQs on admission to our Ph.D. program, please consult our admissions webpage. For information on program requirements, please consult our program requirements webpage.

Application Deadlines December 6, 2023 (Fall 2024)

 

Program Info

Basic Requirement

Admissions Tests

GRE General is required.

English Proficiency Exams

(international applicants only)

A test of English language proficiency is required for international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not studied full-time for one uninterrupted academic year at a university-level institution in which English is the language of instruction and in a country where English is a dominant language.

The following test(s) are accepted by this department:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
PTE (Pearson Test of English)

Letters of Recommendation

Minimum of 3 recommendations required.

3 letters of recommendation required. Accepts online letters of recommendation ONLY

Statement of Purpose

Required

Accepts only the online Statement of Purpose; 2500 word limit

Writing Sample

Required

Writing sample should be an original piece of research, paper written as part of coursework, or other written material authored by the candidate.

Resume/CV

Recommended

Including your resume as part of your application is optional but recommended.