Entry Requirements

PhD in Economics


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General information

  • Any individual from any country is welcome to apply.
  • CERGE-EI does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, age, gender, or religion.
  • There is no application fee.



Educational background requirements

 1) 
MA degree
   
  A Master's degree or equivalent that can be recognized in the Czech Republic (or the expectation of completing a Master's degree by September of the year for which you are applying).

 2) 
Proof of English proficiency level
   
  Excellent command of written and spoken English is needed to fully understand PhD-level study material. Applicants who are not native speakers (not born in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland or the United States) are required to provide a valid proof of their English proficiency. This should be an internationally recognized exam certificate (IELTS, TOEFL – IC 2403, Cambridge or Duolingo English Test).

 3) 
Strong background in advanced mathematics
   
  Students entering the PhD program at CERGE-EI should have completed at least: a two-semester course in calculus, a one-semester course in linear algebra, and a one-semester course in statistics and should have mastered the following general topics prior to starting their studies at CERGE-EI.
   
  Calculus: Convergence of numerical sequences; functions of one variable and many variables; limits and continuity of functions; differentiation and integration; partial and full derivatives; numerical and functional series; Taylor’s expansion, ordinary differential equations
   
  Algebra: Linear vector spaces; systems of linear equations; matrices and operators; matrix eigenvalues and eigenvectors; Euclidian and Hilbert spaces; quadratic forms; complex numbers
   
  Statistics: Random variables; probability distributions; moments; conditional probabilities and moments; law of large numbers, central limit theorem; confidence intervals; hypothesis testing
   
  Additional mathematical background is certainly a plus and can help students to sustain good academic standing.

 4) 
Previous education in economics recommended
   
  However, applicants from non-economic fields with a strong mathematical background are also encouraged to apply.