Economics: Economics PhD

The Department of Economics offers two PhD programs: a regular-entry program for students who have completed a master's degree in economics or a closely related field, and a direct-entry program for students with only an undergraduate degree. Both are full-time programs.

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Economics' additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Minimum B+ standing in an MA program in economics. Admission is competitive, so accepted applicants will normally have achieved a standing considerably higher than the minimum B+.

  • A strong preparation in advanced mathematics, statistics, and economics, including successful completion of MA-level microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and econometrics.

  • All applicants who do not hold a degree from a Canadian university must submit an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test score. Applicants who hold a degree from a Canadian university are strongly encouraged to submit an official GRE General Test score. See the departmental website for details.

Completion Requirements

  • Students must maintain a minimum average of B+ throughout their coursework and successfully complete a total of 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • Year 1: 3.0 FCEs, normally consisting of two half courses in each area:

    • Year 2: at least two half courses (1.0 FCE), including the required courses for a major field of specialization and a minor field of specialization.

      • Students must write an original paper in Year 2 and present it in the relevant workshop in the Fall session of Year 3.

      • Students must also take ECO4060Y Graduate Research Seminar in Year 2 and complete it by the end of Year 3.

      • Suitable PhD-level courses taken by a student in the MA program in the Department of Economics may, with the permission of the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies, fulfil a portion of the major and minor field requirements of the PhD program.

  • A thesis based on original research.

  • General examinations

    • Successful completion of theory comprehensive examinations. Students are required to take two comprehensive examinations in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory after the end of the Winter session (usually June) in Year 1 of their program. Performance on these exams is evaluated on a distinction/pass/fail basis. If a theory comprehensive examination is failed on the first attempt, it must be re-taken later in the Summer (usually in August) of the same year.

    • If a student does not obtain a minimum grade of A in every course required for their major field of specialization, or took some of the required courses during their MA in Economics program at the University of Toronto, the student is required to take a field comprehensive examination in their major field of specialization after the end of the Winter session in Year 2 (usually June). If the exam is failed, it must be re-taken later in the Summer (usually in August) of the same year. The major fields of specialization offered regularly are:

      • Behavioural Economics

      • Econometrics

      • Economic Development

      • Financial Economics

      • Industrial Organization

      • International Economics

      • Labour Economics

      • Macroeconomics

      • Microeconomic Theory

      • Public Economics.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Economics' additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Minimum A– standing in the last two years of study in a bachelor’s program in economics or a related field, such as finance, statistics, or mathematics. Because admission is competitive, accepted applicants will normally have achieved a standing considerably higher than the minimum A–.

  • A strong preparation in advanced mathematics, statistics, and economics.

  • All applicants who do not hold a degree from a Canadian university must submit an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test score. Applicants who hold a degree from a Canadian university are strongly encouraged to submit an official GRE General Test score. See the departmental website for details.

Completion Requirements

  • Students must maintain a minimum average of B+ throughout their coursework and successfully complete a total of 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • Year 1: normally two half courses in each area (3.0 FCEs), as follows:

    • Year 2: six half courses (3.0 FCEs), including the required courses for a major field of specialization and a minor field of specialization.

      • Students must write an original paper in Year 2 and present it in the relevant workshop in the Fall session of Year 3.

      • Students must also take ECO4060Y Graduate Research Seminar in Year 2 and complete it by the end of Year 3.

  • A thesis based on original research.

  • General examinations.

    • Successful completion of theory comprehensive examinations. Students must take two comprehensive examinations in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory after the end of the Winter session (usually June) in Year 1 of their program. Performance on these exams is evaluated on a distinction/pass/fail basis. If a theory comprehensive examination is failed on the first attempt, it must be re-taken later in the Summer (usually in August) of the same year.

    • If a student does not obtain a minimum grade of A in every course required for their major field of specialization, the student must take a field comprehensive examination in their major field of specialization after the end of the Winter session in Year 2 (usually June). If the exam is failed, it must be re-taken later in the Summer (usually in August) of the same year. The major fields of specialization offered regularly are:

      • Behavioural Economics

      • Econometrics

      • Economic Development

      • Financial Economics

      • Industrial Organization

      • International Economics

      • Labour Economics

      • Macroeconomics

      • Microeconomic Theory

      • Public Economics.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time

 

Economics