A Letter from the Director of Graduate Studies
Thank you for your interest in our PhD program. (The University of Virginia does not offer a terminal master's degree in economics. Please refer to the AEA's list of U.S. master's programs in economics.)
Let me begin with a brief description of our graduate program. The Economics Department is one of over 30 programs within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The Ph.D. program in Economics provides training for careers in both teaching and research by emphasizing theory, quantitative methods and early involvement in research.
The success of the program is reflected in our graduates' job placements, which include major universities, such as Chicago, Columbia, UCLA, Michigan State, and excellent undergraduate institutions, such as Carleton and Brandeis. In a recent survey, UVA ranked fourteenth among graduate programs in academic placement. Many students also find summer or permanent employment in the nearby Washington area, e.g., at the International Monetary Fund, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and the Congressional Budget Office.
About twenty people enter the graduate program each year. At any given time there are approximately one hundred students in residence. Classes are small and students are able to work closely with faculty. Graduate students are provided with computer labs, equipped with up-to-date PCs, and a wide selection of software.
Besides taking the core courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, doctoral students choose two fields of specialization from: Industrial Organization, International Economics, Macroeconomics, Public Economics, Econometrics, Theory, and Labor. Virtually all graded courses can be completed by the end of the second year, so that students can begin dissertation research at an early stage (typically in the summer after the second year). During the third and fourth years, students are active in one or more of the regularly scheduled workshops: Theory, Applied Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Public Economics, Econometrics, Development and International Economics.
Applications and all credentials must be submitted through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' online application. The non-refundable application fee must be paid online via credit card. If you are eligible for an application fee waiver, please contact the Graduate School when you are ready to apply. The School's Dean of Admissions may waive the fee to members of certain organizations. However, you should contact me directly if you think that your application may arrive later than the January 15th deadline.
If you need financial aid, it will not affect your chances for admission. Our financial aid decisions are made separately from admission decisions. Most financial aid offers are made in early April.
Several forms of financial assistance are available to beginning graduate students in the Ph.D. program. Teaching assistantships are usually reserved for students with a strong background in mathematics, economics and a demonstrated proficiency in English. We typically offer fellowship money to supplement the teaching assistant stipend. TAs also receive a tuition waiver and health insurance.
If you wish to be considered for a fellowship and/or other financial aid for the academic year beginning September 2012, your application and all supporting documents should reach the Graduate School by January 15, 2012.(We admit students only for the fall semester.) Please note that you will need to present scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), but the advanced test in economics is not required. Complete details on our admission requirements are provided at Admission.
I look forward to seeing your application.
Eric Young
Director of Graduate Studies
If your question is not answered in these pages, please e-mail Patty Futrell, the Graduate Program Assistant, at .