Ph.D. Program

Important Dates

2023

• July 31-August 17 - Graduate Math Prep Class begins; all admitted students are welcome to attend.
• August 18- Economics Department Orientation
• August 21-  Fall term begins
• November 20-25-Thanksgiving break
• December 4-Last Class Day (fall)

2024

• January 9 — Spring term begins
• April 24-Last Class Day (spring)
• May 6 — Commencement

Follow this link for the official 2022-23 Academic Calendar published by the Registrar.

Introduction

The University of Texas at Austin offers the top-ranked doctoral program in economics in the state of Texas. Nationally, the ranking of the Economics Department has climbed steadily to become one of the top programs in the country. A variety of rankings now place the Department between the top 15 to the top 20 departments in the United States (Coupe, KMS, US New & World Report, Times of London).

The Department employs many renowned economists and offers an active, diverse research environment that includes seven weekly research seminars and access to unique data sets. The doctoral program trains students with a comprehensive set of core courses and field courses that feature cutting edge techniques for conducting economic research.

The dissertation phase of the program emphasizes consistent mentoring by faculty focused on preparing students for the job market. As a result, the department has placed students in a wide range of positions including top academic positions such as Columbia and Princeton, competitive government research positions and top private employers such as Analysis Group and Amazon.

The associated pages of this website provide a list of current students, a list of job market candidates, information on admissions, a list of department award winners, and our placement history. There are also several resources available including past comprehensive exams, dissertations, and a description of the student organization Economic Graduates Assembled (EGAD).

For a comprehensive discussion of the program, including degree requirements, available courses, program policies, and awards, please see the current Ph.D. Program Handbook Page.