If you are an undergraduate student of economics, the prospect of a Master’s, MRes or PhD can feel hard to picture. You might be wondering what the pace is like, how mathematical the first term really is, and what “graduate-level” expectations look like day to day.One practical way to find out is to take part in a summer school designed specifically as a bridge into postgraduate study. These courses introduce more advanced methods than most undergraduate programmes cover in depth, and they help you identify what to strengthen before you apply.

The Royal Economic Society has awarded the 2025 Prize to Grischa Perino, Robert Ritz, and Arthur van Benthem for their significant contribution in understanding climate policy interactions.

Dr. Vera Songwe, an African development expert, has been appointed by the Vatican to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Dr. Songwe boasts an impressive career, including leadership roles in international organizations and significant contributions in climate finance.

At a ceremony held on March 3, 2026, at the Library of Congress, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) awarded Dr. David L. Ortega the 2025 Borlaug CAST Communication Award for his significant contributions to agricultural science communication. The event also recognized Suraksha Baral as the recipient of CAST’s Science Communication Scholarship.

We all know that AI models are becoming increasingly commonplace, with hundreds of software companies now offering AI-powered tools, and dozens of iterations of ChatGPT and similar LLMs popping up every year. While some bemoan AI tools, they’ve also been lauded as powerful and helpful tools that we ought to be using every day.Regardless of where you stand on the AI-usage spectrum, one thing is certain: AI models are reshaping education, even at the highest levels. Economics is no exception. Even for PhD students like me, AI tools are becoming a feature of student life — and when used smartly, can be a great asset to learning.