Department of Economics

PhD programme in Economics at NHH

Go to:  Department of Economics, Financing,  Applying,  PhD in Economic History and in Economic Geography, Further information,  Courses in English

The Programme

The PhD programme aims to give dedicated graduate students a solid training in performing high quality scientific research in economics, making use of the empirical and theoretical techniques that reflect the state of the art in the field. The programme prepares students for the international academic job market, for positions at national and international policy institutions, central banks, and research organisations.

The entire programme is in English. It runs over three years (but can be combined with a four year research scholarship), starting with a year of course work and moving on to independent research under the supervision of a senior member of the faculty.

The Course Part

The course part consists of advanced courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. These core courses each amount to 7.5 ECTS and should be taken and passed successfully during the first year. In addition students take a course on Scientific Method (7.5 ECTS), and specialisation courses up to 15 ECTS. The specialisation courses reflect the research areas in which the Department of Economics is active and able to provide supervision. These are

- industrial organisation and labour market relations
- welfare and public economics
- regulation and incentive theory
- international economics
- resource economics

Furthermore, students are encouraged to attend intensive doctoral courses at affiliated academic institutions, both in Norway and abroad. The department is a member of the Nordic Network in Economics (NNE).

The Department of Economics

NHH was founded in 1936 and moved to its present location in 1963. It is one of ten university institutions in Norway, and the leading place of higher learning in the fields of economics and business administration. It has more than 2,500 full time students, and a faculty of around 110.

The Department of Economics has a faculty of 31 people, distributed over three sections: economics (24), economic history (3) and economic geography (4). The research areas of the last two disciplines include historical national accounting, price history and economic growth, maritime- and transport history, business and entrepreneurial history, economic and urban geography, development studies in the third world, and geographical information systems. Current faculty members include Nobel Laureate and NHH alumnus Professor Finn E. Kydland.

More information on the faculty members can be found here.

Financing

NHH is a public institution and hereby mainly funded by the state; hence there is no tuition fee for the PhD programme. To finance the cost of living in Bergen, PhD candidates may apply for a four-year research scholar position. The four-year period includes a commitment to work 25% for the department.
More information on financing and scholarships can be found here.

Admissions

Applicants should have a strong background in economics and master the standard tools in mathematics (linear algebra, calculus, optimisation) and statistics (hypothesis testing, estimation). They should also be fluent in English.

Candidates who consider applying are encouraged to do so as early as possible, since the maximum intake to the programme will be 15. The applications deadline is 1 March 2007.

More information on the admissions requirements and the applications process, together with an application form, can be found here.

PhD in Economic History and in Economic Geography

Students considering a PhD in economic history or in economic geography should contact the Department at the address mentioned below. 

Further Information

Further information and application forms can be obtained from

Norwegian School of Economics & Business Administration
Department of Economics –Doctoral Programme 
Helleveien 30,
N-5045 Bergen
Norway
(tel.: +47-55 95 93 46, fax: +47-55 95 95 43)  or send an e-mail to Trude Gudmundset

Last updated: 2007-08-22. Contact: Dagny Kristiansen