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 the 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.

Programme Structure - MRes

Programme code: TMRESEC

Department: Economics

For students starting this programme of study in 2021/22

Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations

Classification scheme for the award of a taught master's degree (five units)
Exam sub-board local rules

Please note that places are limited on some optional courses. Admission onto any particular course is not guaranteed and can be subject to timetabling constraints and/or students meeting specific prerequisite requirements.

Prerequisite Requirements and Mutually Exclusive Options

* means available with permission

Footnotes

A : Permission must be obtained to sit EC484: it is intended for students with a strong econometric background and an interest in pursuing a PhD with econometrics as the primary field.

B : The EC599 Research Paper must be 5,000 - 10,000 words in length.

# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.

Programme Structure - PhD

Programme code: RPEC2

# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.

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 missing the overall progression requirement by one paper may proceed to the second year, but will subsequently need to re-sit and pass the paper to the necessary standard for the award of the MRes degree and for progression to PhD registration at the end of year 2.  Note, that students are restricted to sitting a maximum of four exams, including resits and EC599 in Year 2.  Students missing the progression requirement by more than one paper are required to pass those papers to the necessary standard before progression to the second year can be permitted.

Timing of Paper 7

While Paper 7 will generally be taken after progression to the PhD, students who have successfully progressed to Year 2 of the MRes programme may be permitted, with the approval of the Doctoral Programme Director, to 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.

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 LSE

Students who have completed EC484 to the required standard as part of their MSc do not have to take the course again. To substitute for EC484, students will take one course from the Field Selection List. The EC484 mark will be carried forward to count as the Paper 3 mark for progression to PhD registration. It will not count towards the award of the MRes degree.

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

Note for prospective students:
For changes to graduate course and programme information for the next academic session, please see the graduate summary page for prospective students. Changes to course and programme information for future academic sessions can be found on the graduate summary page for future students.