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.

Expressions of Interest from Prospective PhD in Economics Candidates:

From October 19 to December 11, 2026, the PhD in Economics programme welcomes Expressions of Interest from prospective candidates interested in pursuing doctoral studies within our research areas.

This initiative provides an opportunity for candidates to share their academic background, research interests, and preliminary project ideas with the PhD programme ahead of the formal admission period.

It aims to facilitate early academic engagement, including the exploration of potential alignment with research groups supervisors Where relevant, the process may also help explore potential funding pathways compatible with the candidate’s profile.

Expressions of interest from motivated candidates can be submitted from October 19 to December 11, 2026, through this link.

To complete an expression of interest you’ll be required to submit the following supporting documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Academic certificates: transcripts of grades of your bachelor’s degree and master’s degree/s, all merged in a single pdf
• Grade equivalency declaration/s: For each of your university studies completed outside Spain, it is compulsory to issue the grade equivalency declaration from the Spanish Ministry of Universities. It is done online here, free of charge and can be downloaded right away. You will need one single pdf (merged). Instructions in English.
• Research interests: Write and submit a short document (one page max.) to let us know about your research interests.

You will also be required to provide us with the contact details of two former professors who can act as referees.

Formal applications for the 2027-2028 academic year

Applications for the 2027-2028 academic year have two periods:

First period: From February 15 to February 25, 2027. Resolutions on April 6, 2027.
Second period: From February 26 to April 22, 2027. Resolutions on June 1, 2027.

Important: To apply for the doctoral programme in Economics at the University of Barcelona, the candidate must follow two steps: Application Form and References Form. For further information about the process and the application platform use, please refer to this Application Handbook.

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

Information on funding and grants is available at the following link to the webpage of the University of Barcelona. In addition, the University of Barcelona provides students with information on new opportunities as and when calls are announced.

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. As part of the application procedure, you will need to fill in a form to provide us with the name and contact email of two scholars that support your application. They will receive an automated email, and they will be able to choose between answering three short questions about your profile or attaching a recommendation letter.