The Berlin School of Economics PhD Program provides outstanding doctoral students with a vibrant, intensively networked research community. The program develops the students’ talents in a unique combination of a high-level, academic research environment together with applied, policy-oriented research opportunities. Students receive state-of-the-art coursework training and can select from a wide array of specializations. For each specialization, a professional research environment is provided by Berlin’s universities and economic research institutes.

The Berlin School of Economics welcomes highly qualified post-graduate students from around the world to enroll in its structured PhD program. New PhD students are admitted to the program in October of each year. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in economics or business studies and have performed exceptionally well in their studies. Applicants from related fields (such as industrial engineering, statistics, or quantitative social sciences) may also fulfill the admission requirements if they have a sufficient background in economics or business studies. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply for the program if they also apply for a Master’s program offering a fast track option. For detailed information, see our Frequently Asked Questions section

There are no tuition fees. Berlin School of Economics students will receive funding for the expected length of the program. For the Qualification Phase, a monthly stipend is provided; funding during the Dissertation Phase is normally provided through employment at one of the Berlin School of Economics’s member institutions. Funding for the Dissertation Phase is conditional on having fulfilled the program’s performance criteria. Since the Berlin School of Economics itself cannot award doctoral degrees, you also have to be admitted as a doctoral student at one of the Berlin School of Economics institutions with the right to award doctoral degrees. Note that these Berlin School of Economics institutions charge a semester fee of approximately 300-350€ per semester. Among other benefits, this provides access to public transport in Berlin at no additional cost.

Applications are to be completed in English. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note that it is not necessary to find a supervisor before applying to the Berlin School of Economics.

The call for applications to the Berlin School of Economics PhD Program for an intake into the program in October 2024 is open until February 11, 2024, 11:59 p.m. CET.

For more details on the PhD Program and the Application visit The Berlin School of Economics