ULMS Economics PhD Funding Call: October 2023 entry

The Economics Group

The Economics Group produces world-leading applied and theoretical research, with key areas of expertise in Economic Theory, Theoretical and Empirical Microeconomics, Macroeconomic analysis and policy, and Econometrics, Financial Econometrics and big data analysis. Find out more about our researchers here.

Our Group publishes in world-leading journals and has built a strong international research network, with our staff collaborating with leading universities and research institutes. In addition, the group contributes to the solution of significant policy issues with high impact. This includes advice on trade policy, monetary policy and industrial policy in collaboration with local government, and national and international institutions such as the European Commission, the OECD, the Asian Development Bank and various central banks, including the Bank of England, and the ECB.

Our 4-year PhD program provides advanced training in key skills necessary to conduct excellent and influential research. In the first year, students participate in four modules which provide advanced theoretical and modelling skills necessary for cutting-edge theoretical and applied research. We recently moved to a new building, where PhD student offices are alongside the faculty offices, ensuring that PhD students feel a full part of the Economics Group and research environment. Our students participate intensively in our discussions, seminars and other events and the funding allows them to attend conferences or summer schools. GTFs also receive training and support to develop their teaching skills allowing them to earn a degree which is interpreted as a strong signal by potential employees. We support our students extensively in preparing for the job market by providing extensive feedback on your research and presentations, organising workshops on skills such as CV writing or setting up web pages, and by conducting mock interviews.

The Management School itself provides a number of opportunities for our students to develop their skills and to interact with scholars in other Fields. The School’s interdisciplinary clusters, such as the Econometrics and Big Data Cluster or the Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship play an important role in this.

4-year Graduate Teaching Fellowships (GTFs) in Economics

The Graduate Teaching Fellowships provide an opportunity for applicants with a Master’s degree in Economics (or, exceptionally, in other quantitative subjects) with distinction and a strong commitment to research, to combine studying for a PhD in Economics with the acquisition of teaching experience.

GTFs will receive an annual stipend of £17,668 plus a fee waiver and will have access to student support funds in line with the wider doctoral training provision at ULMS. In addition, they receive a budget for other costs and they have the option to apply for the School’s Conference Fund.  Alongside the doctoral research thesis, successful candidates will be required to teach in our programs.

These fellowships are open to all nationalities. Overseas students will receive a fee waiver at the Home rate but a top up payment may be available subject to budget. The maintenance grant for Overseas and Home students is the same amount.

We will consider research proposals in most areas of economics. Our group has research expertise in Micro theory, Applied micro (discrimination, labour, health), Macroeconomics (macro policy, macro-finance, international trade), Econometrics and Financial Econometrics, Political Economy, Industrial organization (innovation, internationalization), and Sports economics.

When evaluating the applications, we focus on i) academic achievements, ii) the quality of the research proposal and its fit with our group’s profile and iii) teaching potential.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete all sections of the University Postgraduate Study Application Form. Applications to be made via the University of Liverpool Apply Online, system, selecting Economics as their programme of study:

https://app.askadmissions.co.uk/AYApplicantLogin/fl_ApplicantLogin.asp?id=liv

In the Economics section select funding source Sponsor and insert ‘PHD-GTF-ULMS-2023 studentship’ in the box below. Also include this as the first line of your Personal Statement. 

Alongside the completed application form and Personal Statement, applicants should submit the following supporting documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Two academic reference letters, signed and on letter headed paper
• University transcripts
• English Language qualifications

All applicants must have reached a minimum required standard of English language (IELTS 7.0 average overall and a minimum of 6.5 in each component), and, where relevant, are required to provide evidence of this. Qualifications accepted by the University include GCSE English; GCE O level English; AS Level English; A Level English Language; IELTS; Cambridge Proficiency etc. Please refer to the full list here. If you are unsure if your English qualification meets requirements for this Studentship as above then please check with the Research team before applying.

• Degree certificates
• Personal statement
• Research proposal**.

Please give details of your PhD proposal around 2,000 words. References/bibliography should be included within this word limit. The assessment panel will closely assess submitted proposal against these key criteria:

1. Does the study clearly articulate its aim and contribution?

2. Is the proposed methodology consistent with the research aim?

3. Does the study clearly foreshadow its practical ramifications for the key research areas identified above?

4. Is the proposed timeline both feasible and realistic?

The proposal should explain why you would like to undertake this research and your thoughts on the distinct challenges and opportunities it might bring. You can find information on how to write a PhD research proposal here.

Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered. Please ensure you submit all of the above documents with your application.

NWSSDTP Studentships

Much of the PhD research training at ULMS is informed by our partnership with Lancaster University Management School and Manchester Business School as part of the ESRC North West Doctoral Training Centre (now referred to as the NWSSDTP). This relationship ensures that all our PhD students have access to the highest standards of training cognate across the three Universities, both in social science research and career and life skills. With this in mind shortlisted applicants from the GTF Scheme will be further advised by the ULMS Research Team to apply for the prestigious ESRC NWSSDTP studentships as part of this application process. For these studentships, applicants are organized into one of two cohorts: Business and Management or Economics, Finance and Accounting, each with their own NWSSDTP Studentships.

Possible routes

1+3 Programme

Students may apply to this scheme if they have a Masters qualification that has not provided them with specific research methods training to progress directly onto a PhD or for those who do not yet hold a Masters qualification. In the latter case in particular, evidence of a strong track record on their undergraduate degree is essential. For the 1+3 studentships, you should have an appropriate first degree of class 2:1 or above; International qualifications will be evaluated in line with the National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) guidelines. You will be required to initially register on the MRes in Research programme.

+3 Programme

In order to be eligible for the 3 year PhD NWSSDTP studentships, which are very competitive routes, you should have a very good Master’s degree in Business, Management, Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.

Application Process

Closing Date for Applications: 12:00 UK time, Friday 6th January 2023

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview

Further Information

If you would like to discuss the studentships further, please contact Dr Balazs Murakozy (murakozy@liverpool.ac.uk), Director of PhD Economics programme.

Informal enquiries about the specifics of the application process should be directed to the ULMS Research Support Team (ulmsphdenq@liverpool.ac.uk).