best phd economics programs in canada

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program overview.

A PhD in Economics gives you expertise in one of our department’s many areas of specialization. You will work with distinguished scholars who provide mentorship in fields such as applied econometrics, labour economics, monetary economics, financial economics and game theory. Students benefit from the  Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Économie Quantitative (CIREQ) in facilitating collaboration between Montreal's major universities in economic research, and are encouraged to register for advanced elective courses at Concordia, McGill and the Université de Montréal. Our faculty members have been published in numerous prestigious journals such as Econometrica, the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, the Review of Economic Studies and the Journal of Monetary Economics.

Program details

Admission requirements, admission requirements.

• MA in economics from a recognized university with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or equivalent.
• Students with a high standing in a master’s degree or equivalent in other fields, such as commerce, mathematics or business administration from a recognized university may be admitted, subject to satisfactory completion of qualifying requirements, if necessary.
• Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Degree requirements

Degree requirements.

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 90 credits.

Please see the Economics Courses page for course descriptions.

Economics PhD (90 credits)

Application process.

Your completed application will include:

• Application form and fee (Please note that it is not possible for us to waive the application fee)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three Letters of Reference and assessment form  
• your goals for enrolling in the program
• what makes you a good candidate for the program
• your expectations from your studies in the program
• what you plan to achieve in the program and
• your particular field(s) of interest.
• Transcripts  for all post-secondary institutions attended
• Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
• Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit  official language test scores , unless exempted.

Please apply  online . Read the  how-to guide  for application procedures.

IMPORTANT NOTE: applicants are not asked to find a supervisor prior to admission in the program. GRE results are optional: students are welcome to include their test results in their application, but it is not mandatory to do so.

Application deadlines

Courses typically offered include:

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Game Theory
• Econometric Theory
• Applied Econometrics
• Monetary Economics
• Growth and Development
• Financial Economics
• Environmental Economics
• Labour Economics
• Risk Management
• Political Economics
• Economic Design
• Experimental Economics

Consult the Graduate Calendar for a complete list of current courses.

Teaching assistantships are typically available to each PhD student. Students who have completed their thesis proposal are also eligible to teach courses. Supervisors may offer advanced doctoral students an extra stipend in the form of a research assistantship.

The Faculty of Arts and Science supports graduate students by offering many fellowships and international tuition remissions. Entrance fellowships are paid for the first four years of study while Concordia Merit Scholarships are paid once to a number of newly admitted students. Recipients of international tuition remissions are only responsible for paying Quebec rates. Consideration for these awards is automatically part of the admissions process for all new students.

Graduate students may receive a number of departmental scholarships, including the Professor Jaleel Ahmad Scholarship and the Balvir and Ranjna Singh Memorial Graduate Award.  

For further information, please consult the  Department of Economics’ graduate funding  page and  Financial Aid & Awards Office ’s page.

Faculty research

Members of our research-active faculty are affiliated with the  Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Économie Quantitative (CIREQ)  and the  Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis of Organizations (CIRANO) . They have received high honours from the Canada Research Chairs Program, and been awarded the Mongolian Government’s Science Leader Award and the prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship in Research.

Faculty research interests include:

• economic development
• economic dynamics
• econometrics
• international trade and finance
• financial and monetary economics
• computational economics
• environmental and natural resources
• game theory
• industrial organization
• information economics
• market design
• labour economics
• experimental economics
• public economics

Emerging ideas – student projects

Review an inspiring list of thesis topics and read about some of our exceptional students .

Doctoral students have also been published in a multitude of prestigious journals, including Economics Research International, Health Economics Review, ISRN Economics, the Journal of Primary Prevention, and the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.

Student initiatives

The EGSA aims to promote a stimulating academic and social atmosphere by organizing social events, facilitating seminars and other activities. Seminars organized by the EGSA invite faculty members and graduate students to present their research in economics, and offer you the opportunity to learn more about grant applications and scientific event planning. Doctoral students may also present their own research poster at the Economics Graduate Poster Day , an annual showcase of graduate student research in the Department.   

The CIREQ PhD Students’ Conference is an annual event held in Montreal that invites doctoral students to present their research findings. The student-run conference provides a great opportunity to practice your presentation skills, disseminate your research to a friendly audience of peers, and learn about doctoral research in your field conducted in Montreal and elsewhere in Canada.  

Your professional future

Our alumni are well suited for high-level research and management positions in academia, government, and national and international organizations. Many graduates can be found in research and teaching positions at various post-secondary institutions, including Dalhousie University, the University of Alberta and the University of Waterloo. Recent graduates are also working as deputy managing directors, capital planning functional model owners and independent consultants.

See what our graduates are doing now .

• Honours in Economics: eligibility and requirements
• Economics undergraduate funding
• MA in Economics: Co-op program

Key resources

• FAQ for Economics graduate programs
• Graduate Calendar
• GradProSkills
• Meet our PhD students
• International Student Office

Departmental contacts

Kelly Routly Graduate Program Assistant [email protected] H 1155.53 514-848-2424 ext. 3901

Christian Sigouin Graduate Program Director and Co-op Academic Director [email protected] Book an appointment H-1155.19 514 848-2424 ext. 3916

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