PhD Programme in Economics
The PhD Programme in Economics at Stockholm University is broadly considered one of the very best in Europe. The US-style programme is fully international in its orientation, and the vast majority of students enter the global economics job market.
Life as a PhD student at Stockholm University:
The PhD Programme in Economics at Stockholm University is organised by the Department of Economics, in cooperation with the Institute for International Economic Studies, and the Swedish Institute for Social Research.
Stockholm University and Stockholm School of Economics collaborate by offering common courses for PhD students in economics and finance.
Programme structure
Year 1
You will study mathematics, microeconomics, econometrics, and macroeconomics, in total 60 out of 105 credits. All courses in year 1 are compulsory.
Year 2 and 3
You will take the remaining 45 credits during year 2 and 3. In addition to full sequences in development, labour, macroeconomics, and political economics, there are courses in finance, behavioural economics, trade, industrial organisation, etc., along with various methods-oriented courses.
There are also individual courses in public economics and international economics, as well as field-specific courses, where you formulate and carry out entirely new research projects. Historically, these projects have turned into many dissertation chapters, as well as top-tier publications.
Thesis work and defence
The work on the thesis starts during year 2. Usually, you write a thesis consisting of a number of separate articles. The qualitative requirement is that each article should be publishable, but not necessarily published, in a refereed international journal.
The match between a graduate student and an advising team typically occurs sometime during the second or third year; the sooner students start considering possible advisors, the better.
When the thesis is ready and in print, it is publicly discussed and defended. The discussant must be an expert in the relevant field. The thesis defence is given a pass or fail grade. The decision of this grade is made by a committee consisting of three members. The discussant as well as the composition of the committee follows the guidelines of Stockholm University. The main supervisor proposes the discussant and the committee and the decision is made by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University.
Courses
Our courses in year 2 and 3 are also open for external students. Find out more:
Collaborations
Stockholm doctoral course programme in economics, econometrics and finance
The joint undertaking by Stockholm University and Stockholm School of Economics in offering common courses is called the Stockholm doctoral course programme in Economics, Econometrics and Finance (SDPE). This means that students at Stockholm University and Stockholm School of Economics have access to the same courses. Uppsala University is also part of the broader PhD course programme.
The PhD programme is also a part of ENTER
Center for monetary policy and financial stability
The Center for monetary policy and financial stability (CeMoF) is a collaboration between the Department of Economics, Stockholm Business School, and the Institute for International Economics Studies.
CeMoF's mission is to promote research and learning in the areas of monetary policy and financial stability. Affiliated PhD students are awarded a certificate from CeMoF.
Visit CeMoF for more information
Meet our PhD students

Starting in 2024
In September 2024 we hade 11 students joining us. Meet some of them here:
Starting in 2023
In September 2023 we had 16 students. Here you will meet some of them:
Students starting previous years
Meet Thore Petersen, sharing his experience as a first-year student:
Meet Patrizia Massner, a third-year student:
Meet Ulrika Arhsjö, in her final year of the programme:
Job market candidates

In 2024/25, Jakob Beuschlein and Ossian Prane will go on the job market. Find out more about them here:
Job placement for prior classes
Our graduates successfully continue to top job placements, in academia, governments, trade and industry, finance and banking. Find more here:
The graduate students’ council
The official channel of communication between graduate students and the department as well as other bodies of relevance.
How to apply
Application opens in October and closes on 31 January every year.
Contact
If you have any questions about the programme, please email:

- Visiting address
Södra huset A, room A763
Last updated: November 18, 2024
Source: Department of Economics