Research Degrees

Research Degrees: M.Litt & Ph.D

The Department of Economics has an active postgraduate research programme. It produces the largest number of research degrees of any Economics Department in Ireland. The Economics Ph.D. is a competitive degree aiming to rank among the best Economics programmes in Europe. Importantly, it blends an innovative curriculum with a unique research environment that promotes close interaction with the faculty. The Department provides generous financial support for research students through a programme of teaching assistantships as well as providing a number of research awards. Assistance in securing external funding is also provided throughout the Ph.D process, with a good record of success.

The Department welcomes applicants for postgraduate research degrees from any country. Preference is given to students who wish to work in areas of economics in which members of staff have an existing research interest. You are encouraged to read the page on the overview of the structure of our PhD programme, as well as the page on admission for further information on the Department's criteria for admission. One important prerequisite is that applicants for the PhD programme should have an MSc in Economics covering a curriculum comparable to that offered by TCD.

What is expected in an Economics thesis? A research thesis is above all a training exercise in research skill, but in undertaking this exercise students are expected to make an original contribution to knowledge. Remember, however, that the objective is not the write the standard ‘world reference’ on the thesis topic, but to carve out a sufficiently focused and manageable subject which allows the demonstration of mastery of research skills while producing a useful and relevant contribution to knowledge. As a rule of thumb, a PhD thesis three core papers at least two of which are potentially publishable articles.

In addition to its flagship PhD programme, it is also possible to register for an M.Litt. research degree. An M.Litt. thesis should contain at least one potentially publishable article.

The Department's postgraduate research programmes are administered by the Department's Graduate Studies Committee chaired by its Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Michael Wycherley