A PhD in Economics consists of two years of coursework, followed by a thesis which is expected to take three years. The coursework requirement involves three PhD-level core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, three field courses and a supervised research paper.

A place on the MSc Economics or our MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics will include a conditional offer of progression to the MRes/PhD in Economics, subject to the attainment of a Distinction grade in the MSc. Those who meet the progression requirement and decide to progress are registered as MRes students and undertake the same two-year MRes course requirement as with all other MRes/PhD students.

Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations

First year MRes

All students are required to attend EC400, the September Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics, in year one.

Students are required to take the following MRes core courses:

Second year or higher MRes

Students are required to take:

Students are required to attend:

A. EC501 Work in Progress Seminars, where they present their research.
B. The weekly departmental seminar series closest to their major field.

First year PhD Programme

Students who have been upgraded to PhD are required to work on their research and write a PhD thesis. In addition they are required to take:

Students are also required to attend:

D. EC501 Work in Progress Seminars, where they present their research
E. The weekly departmental seminar series closest to their major field
Students are required to work on their research and to write a PhD thesis.

Second and subsequent years PhD Programme

Students are required to work on their research and write a PhD thesis.

Students are required to attend:

H. EC501 Work in Progress Seminars, where they present their research
I. The weekly departmental seminar series closest to their major field

Progression to Year 2 of MRes in Economics
In order to progress unconditionally from the first to the second year of MRes registration, students are required to achieve pass marks of 50% or higher in Papers 1, 2 and 3. With the permission of the MRes Programme Director, students who do not attain this standard may proceed to the second year with up to one resit paper (with the restriction that they can sit a maximum of four exams, including resits and EC599 in Year 2).

Award of the MRes in Economics
The award and classification of the MRes degree is consistent with the School's Scheme for the Award of a five-unit Taught Master's Degree. Students are required to achieve a pass mark of 50% in Papers 1, 2, 3, 4 and in one of the Papers 5 or 6.

The marks for Papers 1 - 4 and the highest mark from Papers 5 or 6 will be used to determine the degree classification. A fail in one of these five classification papers (but not a bad fail of 29% or less) can be compensated by a mark of 60% or higher in another paper, or an aggregate mark of 220 in the non-failed papers. If compensated, a fail shall result in a drop in the overall award classification where a Distinction or Merit would otherwise have been awarded. It shall have no further impact where a Pass is to be awarded.

Progression to PhD registration
For PhD registration students are required to achieve four marks of 60% or higher and two marks of 50% or higher in MRes Papers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, with at least two of the 60% marks achieved in the MRes core Papers 1, 2, and 3.

Condoning marks: A mark between 55 - 59% in one of the Papers 1, 2 or 3 can be condoned by a mark of +70% in another from Papers 1, 2 or 3. A mark between 50 - 59% in one of the Papers 1, 2 or 3 can be condoned by a mark of +70% in the EC599 research paper.

Students missing the overall progression requirement by one paper are permitted to progress to PhD registration, but will subsequently need to re-sit and pass the paper to the necessary standard to continue their PhD registration.

Students missing the progression requirement by more than one paper are required to pass those papers to the necessary standard before PhD registration can be permitted.

Students failing a paper or missing a progression mark will have to retake that paper within one year of the original examination. In exceptional circumstances, the Graduate Studies Sub-Committee can grant permission to a candidate to resit a paper at the next available opportunity. Students can resit each paper only once.

Students registered for the PhD remain subject to the relevant MRes regulations for any courses or examinations they are completing. Students who have been permitted to progress onto the PhD without satisfying the complete progression standard will have their PhD registration discontinued if they fail to reach this standard at re-sit.
A student can appeal against the Department's decision on progression to PhD according to the Appeals Regulations for Research Students.

Progression to Year 2 of PhD
In order to progress to the second year of PhD registration students are required to pass the PhD qualifying field (Paper 7) with a mark of 50% or higher.

Award of the PhD in Economics
Award of the PhD is contingent on progression requirements within the PhD and on the completion and defence of an original research thesis, in accordance with LSE regulations.

Special provisions for students who have completed an MSc degree within the economics department at the LSE

Students who have completed EC484 to the required standard as part of their MSc do not have to take the course again and will have their MSc mark carried forward.

With the approval of the Doctoral Programme Director, students who have completed an MSc degree within the Economics department at the LSE are permitted to take their PhD qualifying field course (Paper 5) in the first year of the MRes and might take Paper 7 in their second year.

For students who have taken Paper 7 in their second year the progression and award regulations are adjusted as follows:

MRes award - Students are required to achieve a pass mark of 50% in Papers 1, 2, 3, 4 and at least one mark of 50% in Papers 5-7. One failed paper (but not a bad fail of 29% or less) can be compensated by a mark of 60% or higher in another paper.

Progression to PhD registration - For PhD registration students are required to achieve four marks of 60% or higher and two marks of 50% or higher in MRes Papers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, with at least two of the 60% marks achieved in the MRes core Papers 1, 2, and 3.

Progression to PhD to Year 2 of PhD - In order to progress to the second year of PhD students are required to pass all the PhD qualifying field (Papers 5-7) with a mark of 50% or higher.

Field Selection List