Structure

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During the first year, each student is assigned to a supervisor who has a research interest in the topic being investigated, as well as to a small group of other academic staff in related fields, who together are known as the student’s Graduate Research Committee (or GRC).

Graduate study and research in economics builds upon firm foundations in economic analysis and quantitative methods. Consequently, the first year of the PhD includes coursework, typically consisting of modules in:

advanced microeconomic theory
advanced macroeconomic theory
econometrics
philosophy of the social sciences

The first year also includes seminar attendance and participation, and the completion of an advanced research proposal.

The student is entitled and encouraged to transfer to the second year of the PhD programme if he/she obtains a pass grade in all courses, and at least an honours grade in the advanced research proposal, which is normally between 5,000 and 7,000 words in length.

During the second and third years the PhD student focuses on the thesis, meeting regularly with the supervisor. The student provides annual reports of progress, and this process includes internal seminar presentations of the student’s work to fellow students and to academic staff (normally three presentations over three years).

Progress from one year to the next is subject to annual review by the Graduate Research Committee (GRC).

Presenting at internal seminars provide valuable opportunities to present research work at NUI Galway before presenting externally at academic conferences.

Students also attend seminars in economics given by NUI Galway academic staff and by visiting academics (often two seminars weekly during term).

We have strong record in economics at NUI Galway in encouraging participation in national and international conferences (some financial assistance may be available to students who are invited to present papers).

Students are encouraged to submit their completed chapters for the Economics at NUI Galway Working Papers series, often as a prelude to publication in peer-reviewed journals.

The PhD programme in economics reflects, builds upon, and contributes to the range, diversity, and quality of research in economics at NUI Galway of international standing, and in particular to the record of distinctive strengths in our designated priority research areas.

Economics at NUI Galway has an outstanding record at winning fully funded competitive externally funded fellowships to support doctoral research in economics, including in fields such as health economics, environmental economics, rural development, financial economics, political economy, and marine resource economics.

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