PhD Economics at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Programme overview

A STEM-designated PhD building a critical grounding in economic analysis for research, teaching and social policy. The programme admits about 10 to 12 students a year and is strong in political economy, development economics, international economics, economic history, gender and class, labor economics, comparative economic systems and growth and distribution.

Faculty: College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | Department: Economics | Intake: Fall only; deadline January 10 | Study mode: full-time | Location: Amherst, MA, United States

What you will study

Core training in micro- and macroeconomics, political economy, economic history, econometrics and mathematical methods, with seminar groups such as the Analytical Political Economy Workshop and Environmental Working Group.

Career pathways

Graduates teach at liberal arts and research institutions and work at the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, United Nations, the Economic Policy Institute and labor-union research departments.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

PhD Economics: entering students must have completed intermediate microeconomic theory, intermediate macroeconomic theory, linear algebra, statistics or econometrics, and one year of calculus. Application: two reference letters, transcripts, GRE General Test (required; no minimum, quantitative score of entering students usually 151 or above), resume or CV, personal statement and short essay. English proficiency for non-native speakers: department expects TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7, Duolingo 130 or PTE Academic 68. Deadline January 10, 2027 for fall 2027.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Intake: Fall only; deadline January 10

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