Formal Requirements

What kind of university degree is necessary to apply for the doctoral program at the MGSE?

We expect knowledge in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics at an advanced master's level. Therefore, the standard entry requirement is a completed master's degree in economics. However, exceptions from this rule are possible. In these cases, any missing graduate-level training will be specified in an individual supervision agreement, with suitable courses to be chosen from the Department's Economics Master Program. As a general rule, these courses have to be passed within the first six months of the program.

I have graduated in a subject other than economics. Can I apply to the program?

Yes, students who possess a master's degree in a field closely related to economics are also welcome to apply. This includes graduates holding a degree from fields such as statistics, mathematics, physics, or other fields with a solid education in quantitative methods.

I have graduated in a subject other than economics. Can I send in my documents to get a preliminary assessment?

Your application will be reviewed by our selection committee and this evaluation by the selection committee cannot be prejudged. Only applications uploaded in the application online tool will be evaluated.

I have not finished my studies yet, but I will graduate before the doctoral program starts. Can I apply?

Yes, you can apply for our Ph.D. program if you have not finished your university degree yet. Please enclose an official preliminary grade report in your application and indicate your estimated date of graduation.

Note that in case of acceptance you will have to hand in proof of graduation (a confirmation of your examination office that you completed your program will be sufficient for preliminary acceptance) until mid of September at the latest. 

Do I need to speak English to join the MGSE?

Yes, as all courses are held in English, sufficient knowledge of English is an absolute necessity.

I do not speak German. Can I apply for the MGSE?

All courses, lectures and seminars at the Munich Graduate School are held in English. Therefore, fluency in German is not required for admission. However, in the second year candidates could be asked to teach undergraduate tutorials in German. For this purpose, we support language courses if students wish to learn or further improve their knowledge of German.