PhD in Economics - Barcelona

The PhD in Economics at the University of Barcelona is addressed to students interested in pursuing advanced study and conducting original research in economics, offering research training and close supervision by faculty members prominent in their fields.

We provide a dynamic and stimulating environment offering weekly research seminars, PhD seminars, workshops, conferences, courses and research activities in which students are invited to participate.

Overview of the course

Students enrolled in the programme will be assigned one or two supervisors specialised in their chosen research field. Throughout the programme, students are required to participate in a number of complementary activities. These include research seminars, workshops, courses and conferences. PhD candidates are also encouraged to publish their research and to seek temporary research placements at other universities or research institutions.

The programme prepares PhD students for the academic job market. Former PhD students have been placed in academic research institutions in the US and Europe such as Toulouse School of Economics (France), Uppsala University (Sweden), Università degli Studi di Milano (Italy), KU Leuven (Belgium), University of Bath (UK), Bruegel (Belgium), Eurac Research (Italy), PUC-Rio (Brasil), London School of Economics (UK), Korea University (South Korea), Universidad Carlos III (Spain), Institue of Economics – Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Hungary), Booking (Netherlands), Yale University (US), University of Sussex (UK)… As well as international organizations and governmental institutions.

Financial support

Entry funding opportunities starting in October 2025 will be published in January 2025.

Calls for full PhD scholarships, provided by both public and private institutions, will be announced in Autumn 2025 for prospective candidates who join the PhD programme in the academic year 2025-2026. The earliest commencement for these scholarships is May 2026.

Our admissions team collaborates closely with admitted students requiring financial assistance. We assist them in evaluating their options and eligibility, providing support throughout the application process for full PhD scholarships. 

Study Options: Full-Time (4 years) / Part-Time (7 years). All students might request a one-year extension.

Application requirements

• Master’s degree in Economics with a satisfactory average grade, a solid foundation in economics and analytical skills (advanced Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics and Mathematics), field courses and a research Master Thesis.
• Proof of proficiency in English. Unless you are a native English speaker or have undertaken a university study programme in English, you need to provide evidence of your English proficiency. Preferred certificates are the Cambridge, TOEFL (Code C085 for all UB School of Economics programmes) or IELTS. Please upload a copy of it in the application form. Additionally, you can also report the score to us directly via your test center.
• References. Once your application is reviewed by the admissions team, you will receive an email to provide the name and contact email of two scholars that support your application. They will receive an automated email with general questions about your profile. Only references received before the 7th day after the corresponding period application deadline will be considered.