PhD / Doctorate •

Degree

PhD

Course location

Bonn

Teaching language

• English

Languages

All courses are taught in English.

Full-time / part-time

• full-time

Programme duration

9 semesters or more

Beginning

Winter semester

Application periods

The following is valid for applicants from:

• EU countries
• non-EU countries

For the winter semester:
15 November - 15 January

More information on application periods

Please find more details on this website .

Combined Master's degree / PhD programme

Yes

Joint degree / double degree programme

No

Description/content

The Bonn Graduate School of Economics (BGSE) offers a two-stage graduate programme that combines demanding courses with early individual research in a supportive and intellectually demanding environment. Students finish the two-year course phase with a Master's degree specialised in economic research (MSc in Economics with a specialisation in Economic Research) and the three-year dissertation phase with a doctoral degree (PhD equivalent). Outstanding (top 10%) students holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree in economics or related fields (e.g. mathematics, statistics, business administration, accounting, and finance) are encouraged to apply for admission. The application portal opens mid-November and the deadline for the programme that starts in October is 15 January. All BGSE activities are conducted in English. Grants are available. Our student body benefits from an excellent faculty and numerous collaborative research activities. BGSE alumni have excellent career prospects in academia and beyond.

The programme is especially designed for highly qualified students with a strong interest in quantitative economic research.

Course organisation

The programme consists of a course phase (12 courses up to the fourth semester) and a dissertation phase (three years). The MSc Economic Research offers graduate-level courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. With this comprehensive training, you will then be able to choose from a variety of advanced courses, especially courses that cover topics and subjects at the current research frontier. Moreover, you will participate in one of the five weekly workshops, learn about our faculty's research projects, and meet advanced doctoral students and renowned guests. In your fourth semester, you will write your Master's thesis. This will be the starting point for your first PhD research paper.

Even if you have already completed a Master's degree with a less research-oriented focus, you will enrol in the MSc Economic Research as the coursework, early participation in the weekly workshops, and thesis are an integral part of the PhD programme. This structure also offers you the opportunity to receive a second Master's degree as well as a doctoral degree in the course of a combined graduate programme. After the successful completion of the MSc Economic Research programme, you can jump straight into research and will be offered a grant for another three years. During these years of doctoral studies (dissertation phase), you will interact with other doctoral students, post-docs, faculty, and international guests in weekly seminars, reading groups, and summer schools. You will present your research projects in our workshops as well as at conferences abroad, and you will write the papers that will become part of your thesis. In addition to state-of-the-art training at the frontier of economic research, we offer an array of further training for a broader set of soft skills, e.g. training in presentation skills, project management, writing, or networking. Towards the end of your doctoral studies, you will benefit from our intense job market coaching, and you will proceed to a promising career as our many alumni have done in the past.

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A Diploma supplement will be issued

No

International elements

• Language training provided
• Training in intercultural skills
• Projects with partners in Germany and abroad
• International guest lecturers
• Integrated/optional study abroad unit(s)
• International comparisons and thematic reference to the international context

Integrated/optional study abroad unit(s)

Our students benefit from a set of international exchange programmes. They can visit our partners in Europe (e.g. in Barcelona, Copenhagen, Florence, Leuven, Paris, Prague, Rotterdam, Toulouse) or overseas (e.g. UC Berkeley, Yale).

Integrated internships

None

Teaching/work obligations or opportunities

We encourage our students to apply for teaching assistantships at our department in order to gain valuable teaching experience (after finishing the course phase).

Special promotion / funding of the programme

• Other (e.g. state level)

Course-specific, integrated German language courses

No

Course-specific, integrated English language courses

No

Tuition fees per semester

None

Semester contribution

The University of Bonn is a public university, meaning that it does not charge tuition fees. However, all students must pay the semester fee of about 350 EUR per semester, which covers a Deutschlandsemesterticket (student transit pass for public transport) and statutory accident insurance, among other things.

Costs of living

Students in Bonn can expect to pay around 1,000 EUR a month, with rent accounting for the largest share of their living costs.

Funding opportunities within the university

Yes

Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

From the very beginning of the MSc Economic Research programme, we can offer grants to our students (currently 1,465 EUR/month). Travel funds are available during the dissertation phase to support doctoral students in presenting their work at conferences.

Academic admission requirements

Outstanding (top 10%) students with a Bachelor's or Master's degree (or equivalent) in economics or related fields such as mathematics, statistics, business administration, accounting and finance are encouraged to apply for admission to the BGSE.

The application must be submitted online at http://www.bgse.uni-bonn.de .

The following documents are required:

GRE score report (General Test Format; GRE quantitative score must be at least 160)

TOEFL or IELTS (if required)

two confidential letters of recommendation (sent by professors to BGSE)

letter of motivation

CV

academic transcripts

APS certificate (for applicants with a degree from China, India or Vietnam; included with the application or once they receive an offer)

Please see our website for detailed explanations on the required documents in order to submit them correctly.

German language skills

No minimum language level required

English language skills

C1 required, please provide an official language certificate, e.g.:

• TOEFL iBT (before 2026): 100
• Reading: 23
• Listening: 23
• Speaking: 23
• Writing: 23
• IELTS Academic: 7
• Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced

Application periods

The following is valid for applicants from:

• EU countries
• non-EU countries

For the winter semester:
15 November - 15 January

More information on application periods

Please find more details on this website .

Submit application via

Please check this website .

Possibility of finding part-time employment

Positions as teaching assistants are available to doctoral students in the advanced/dissertation stage of the programme.

Accommodation

Students at the University of Bonn can apply for a room in a dormitory owned by the Studierendenwerk Bonn (see www.studierendenwerk-bonn.de/en/accommodation for more details).

For further information on housing in Bonn, please visit our website at www.uni-bonn.de/living-in-bonn .

International applicants who are admitted to a Master’s programme can apply for a dorm room through the programme coordinator. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all students will be allotted a room as these are in short supply.

Structured research and supervision

Yes

Research training / discussion

Yes

Career advisory services and programmes for future professionals

The University of Bonn has a central Career Service (www.uni-bonn.de/careerservice ), which provides a range of advice and support about choosing a career and applying for jobs. International students can also join the iStart career programme (www.uni-bonn.de/istart ), which teaches participants tangible knowledge and valuable skills that will enable them to write successful applications for jobs in Germany. The programme is geared toward giving students a successful career path both during and after their studies and thus making it easier for them to enter the job market.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates

• Visa matters

General services and support for international students and doctoral candidates

The University of Bonn offers a range of different support programmes for international students. The Welcome Days (www.uni-bonn.de/welcomedays ) before the start of every semester are an opportunity for new students from abroad to gather information on the most important issues, such as enrolment, registration with the local authorities and opening a bank account. Getting to know fellow international and German students during recreational activities is another benefit of the Welcome Days.

The Study Buddy Programme (www.uni-bonn.de/study-buddy ) matches newly arrived international students (“Mentees”) with a University of Bonn student (“Buddy”) who helps them as they start their studies and adjust to life in Bonn.

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