Discover 144 opportunities in PhD

Now, with the release of the INOMICS Salary Report – based on the salary data of almost 2,000 economists – any uncertainty can be laid to rest and the question answered: in financial terms, yes, having a PhD does matter. In fact, to say that it matters is something of an understatement – such is its influence on an economist’s future earnings.

Fortunately, the UK and the US aren't the only two places in the world with universities great for studying economics, and particularly in Europe, higher education hasn't yet been turned into corporate business, meaning not only are degrees cheap, some are completely free. And paying less (or even nothing) doesn't translate into a lesser experience. To the contrary, many of countries on this list can make legitimate claims to housing some of the most prestigious higher learning institutions in the world.

What does it take to succeed as a economics student? What qualities do you need to thrive at university, to enjoy your studies, and, then, once it's all done and dusted, to go and get yourself a good job?

It should be noted that a European-style motivation letter focuses on academic background and research history, avoiding too much personal information. The US-style personal statement, on the other hand, is much more 'life experience' based. Here, we focus on the European-style.

1. Isolation

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If you're an economics student currently doing your undergraduate or Master's degree, you might be considering doing a PhD at some point. The idea of dedicating another three years or more of your life to original research is both exciting and terrifying, and the experience of actually doing it can be both exhilarating and harrowing. Taking the step towards doing a PhD is a big decision, and one that shouldn't be made without the proper research and consideration. Once taken, however, it can be an extremely valuable experience and one that can set you up nicely in the future.

Check out our selection below: Timberlake Consultants / Lancaster University, London, United Kingdom Programs available:

Once you've handed in your thesis, you still have one big challenge to overcome before you're finished with your PhD: the thesis defense. This is an opportunity for you to present your research publicly and to answer questions about it from your thesis committee. The process can be tough going, especially if you've never had to do anything like this before. That being said, there are a few ways to make sure you survive – and even perform very well in – your thesis defense.

Doing a PhD will make you an expert in your research topic, but, beyond that, it will also teach you a number of valuable lessons which are applicable to other jobs and your personal life. Here are some of the most useful lessons that you'll learn from undertaking your own independent research project.