If you would like to apply to the PhD program at RGS Econ, please note the following requirements/recommendations:

(1) Applicants should have an excellent academic record and should have obtained or expect to complete a Master's degree in Economics or related disciplines, such as business administration, mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering etc, before the start or our program in October. The degree program should include a written thesis, written or oral examinations, and course work. Successful participation in our PhD program does generally require some previous exposure to subjects like econometrics, micro-, and macroeconomics. This background in economics should be documented in your application (e.g. transcripts, recommendation letters). A lack in background in economics can in principle be compensated via a strong background in mathematics or statistics. We generally only accept students who are in the top 20% of their cohort in terms of academic achievement.

RGS Econ does not accept applications from candidates who only hold a Bachelor's degree or who have already obtained a doctoral degree in Economics.

(2) A strong background in quantitative and analytical methods is necessary for completion of our program and a successful application. This background has to be documented in your application, e.g. by course work in mathematics, statistics, or advanced economics in your academic transcript and/or by results from the GRE test.

For applicants without a German secondary school diploma ("Abitur"), a GRE (Graduate Record Examinations, General Test format), a GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), or any other internationally accepted test that measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical skills is highly recommended (but not strictly necessary, if compensated by other documentation of these skills).

Typically, we expect candidates to score at least in the 80th percentile in the quantitative and analytical sections of the GRE test. For details please see (www.gre.org) or  (http://www.mba.com/global). 

There is no need have your GRE score report sent directly to our institution via the testing service (and we do not have an institution code to facilitate this). We instead accept a scan of your official score report as part of your application package.

(3) Successful applicants display both passion and ability for conducting research. Make sure to include information on your research experience, abilities, and interests, e.g. in your motivation letter, by obtaining reference letters from persons who can assess your research capabilities, providing a clear description of your (planned) Master's thesis in your application form, or by providing sample papers you have written for courses or as a publication as part of your application package.

(4) All courses, lectures, and seminars at RGS Econ are held in English. Therefore, a "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL) or any other internationally accepted English language test with excellent results is highly recommended for all applicants except for those who 

• are native English speakers
• can document at least six months of studies at an English-language university or in a course-program taught in English
• possess a German "Abitur" 

For further information about the TOEFL test please click here.

(5) Knowledge of German is not essential, although students are encouraged to learn and improve their language skills. Language classes are offered at the universities which participate in RGS Econ.

(6) There is no age restriction. There are no minimum grade-point-average requirements.

(7) There is no application fee.