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The Economics PhD Applicant Mentoring Programme

Preparing a competitive application to PhD Economics programmes can be a difficult task for applicants who have little or no access to people who have experience with the process. Some applicants benefit tremendously from the help and insights provided by family or friends who are themselves academics or who are otherwise familiar with admissions into top academic programmes. Unfortunately, access to such a network of expertise is particularly rare for applicants from groups who are underrepresented in economics.

The aim of the Economics PhD Applicant Mentoring Programme (AMP) is to help applicants from underrepresented backgrounds prepare their applications to economics PhD programmes by matching applicants to mentors who are PhD students in the Departments of Economics at Cambridge, LSE, Oxford, UCL and Warwick. 

Who is encouraged to join?

AMP welcomes applicants from all groups that are underrepresented in economics. This includes, but is not limited to, applicants who identify as black, female, low-income, first generation (i.e. first in the family to attend university), LGTBQ+, and people with disabilities. Only students who are currently pursuing or have completed undergraduate studies should join the programme.

What kind of advice can AMP mentors provide?

AMP mentors are economics PhD students at Cambridge, LSE, Oxford, UCL, or Warwick who volunteer their time for AMP. They are able to answer questions about and provide advice on the application process. This may include writing a strong statement of purpose or research proposal, highlighting strengths and explaining weaknesses in the applicant’s profile, which courses to take, and how to approach professors with requests for reference letters.

Furthermore, AMP mentors can share their experiences as PhD students with applicants to give them a more accurate idea of what doing an MPhil or a PhD in economics is like.

Mentees can expect to meet via video call for up to an hour with their assigned mentor. This call is an opportunity to discuss the applicant's profile and to answer any questions the applicant has about the application process.

How can I join the programme?

Please fill out our application form here to apply to join AMP.

Please see the “When should I join” section below for more details.

When should I join?

AMP is designed for prospective applicants who will submit their applications to MPhil/PhD economics programmes either this year or the next. It is expected that mentees are applying to one or more of the following universities: Cambridge, LSE, Oxford, UCL, or Warwick.

Applications to AMP are now being accepted up to the deadline of October 01 2023.

What else should I know?

The AMP mentors provide their time on a volunteer basis. Participating in AMP will not be considered by the department’s admission committee and in no way forms part of the application process for the PhD programme.