• The A.V. Club
  • The Takeout
  • The Inventory

Support Quartz

Fund next-gen business journalism with $10 a month

Free Newsletters

The complete guide to getting into an economics PhD program

The math is easier than you might think.

Back in May, Noah wrote about the amazingly good deal that is the PhD in economics. Why? Because:

  • You get a job.
  • You get autonomy.
  • You get intellectual fulfillment.
  • The risk is low.
  • Unlike an MBA, law, or medical degree, you don’t have to worry about paying the sticker price for an econ PhD:  After the first year, most schools will give you teaching assistant positions that will pay for the next several years of graduate study, and some schools will take care of your tuition and expenses even in the first year. (See Miles’s companion post  for more about costs of graduate study and how econ PhD’s future earnings makes it worthwhile, even if you can’t get a full ride.)

Of course, such a good deal won’t last long now that the story is out, so you need to act fast! Since he wrote his post , Noah has received a large number of emails asking the obvious follow-up question: “How do I get into an econ PhD program?” And Miles has been asked the same thing many times by undergraduates and other students at the University of Michigan. So here, we present together our guide for how to break into the academic Elysium called Econ PhD Land:

(Note: This guide is mainly directed toward native English speakers, or those from countries whose graduate students are typically fluent in English, such as India and most European countries. Almost all highly-ranked graduate programs teach economics in English, and we find that students learn the subtle non-mathematical skills in economics better if English is second nature. If your nationality will make admissions committees wonder about your English skills, you can either get your bachelor’s degree at a—possibly foreign—college or university where almost all classes are taught in English, or you will have to compensate by being better on other dimensions. On the bright side, if you are a native English speaker, or from a country whose graduate students are typically fluent in English, you are already ahead in your quest to get into an economics PhD.)

Here is the not-very-surprising list of things that will help you get into a good econ PhD program:

  • good grades, especially in whatever math and economics classes you take,
  • a good score on the math GRE,
  • some math classes and a statistics class on your transcript,
  • research experience, and definitely at least one letter of recommendation from a researcher,
  • a demonstrable interest in the field of economics.

Chances are, if you’re asking for advice, you probably feel unprepared in one of two ways. Either you don’t have a sterling math background, or you have quantitative skills but are new to the field of econ. Fortunately, we have advice for both types of applicant.

If you’re weak in math…

Fortunately, if you’re weak in math, we have good news:  Math is something you can learn . That may sound like a crazy claim to most Americans, who are raised to believe that math ability is in the genes. It may even sound like arrogance coming from two people who have never had to struggle with math. But we’ve both taught people math for many years, and we really believe that it’s true. Genes help a bit, but math is like a foreign language or a sport: effort will result in skill.

Here are the math classes you absolutely should take to get into a good econ program:

  • Linear algebra
  • Multivariable calculus

Here are the classes you should take, but can probably get away with studying on your own:

  • Ordinary differential equations
  • Real analysis

Linear algebra (matrices, vectors, and all that) is something that you’ll use all the time in econ, especially when doing work on a computer. Multivariable calculus also will be used a lot. And stats of course is absolutely key to almost everything economists do. Differential equations are something you will use once in a while. And real analysis—by far the hardest subject of the five—is something that you will probably never use in real econ research, but which the economics field has decided to use as a sort of general intelligence signaling device.

If you took some math classes but didn’t do very well, don’t worry.  Retake the classes . If you are worried about how that will look on your transcript, take the class the first time “off the books” at a different college (many community colleges have calculus classes) or online. Or if you have already gotten a bad grade, take it a second time off the books and then a third time for your transcript. If you work hard, every time you take the class you’ll do better. You will learn the math and be able to prove it by the grade you get. Not only will this help you get into an econ PhD program, once you get in, you’ll breeze through parts of grad school that would otherwise be agony.

Here’s another useful tip:  Get a book and study math on your own before taking the corresponding class for a grade. Reading math on your own is something you’re going to have to get used to doing in grad school anyway (especially during your dissertation!), so it’s good to get used to it now. Beyond course-related books, you can either pick up a subject-specific book (Miles learned much of his math from studying books in the Schaum’s outline series ), or get a “math for economists” book; regarding the latter, Miles recommends Mathematics for Economists  by Simon and Blume, while Noah swears by Mathematical Methods and Models for Economists  by de la Fuente. When you study on your own, the most important thing is to  work through a bunch of problems . That will give you practice for test-taking, and will be more interesting than just reading through derivations.

This will take some time, of course. That’s OK. That’s what summer is for (right?). If you’re late in your college career, you can always take a fifth year, do a gap year, etc.

When you get to grad school, you will have to take an intensive math course called “math camp” that will take up a good part of your summer. For how to get through math camp itself, see this guide by Jérémie Cohen-Setton .

One more piece of advice for the math-challenged:  Be a research assistant on something non-mathy . There are lots of economists doing relatively simple empirical work that requires only some basic statistics knowledge and the ability to use software like Stata. There are more and more experimental economists around, who are always looking for research assistants. Go find a prof and get involved! (If you are still in high school or otherwise haven’t yet chosen a college, you might want to choose one where some of the professors do experiments and so need research assistants—something that is easy to figure out by studying professors’ websites carefully, or by asking about it when you visit the college.)

If you’re new to econ…

If you’re a disillusioned physicist, a bored biostatistician, or a neuroscientist looking to escape that evil  Principal Investigator, don’t worry:  An econ background is not necessary . A lot of the best economists started out in other fields, while a lot of undergrad econ majors are headed for MBAs or jobs in banks. Econ PhD programs know this. They will probably not mind if you have never taken an econ class.

That said, you may still want to  take an econ class , just to verify that you actually like the subject, to start thinking about econ, and to prepare yourself for the concepts you’ll encounter. If you feel like doing this, you can probably skip Econ 101 and 102, and head straight for an Intermediate Micro or Intermediate Macro class.

Another good thing is to  read through an econ textbook . Although economics at the PhD level is mostly about the math and statistics and computer modeling (hopefully getting back to the real world somewhere along the way when you do your own research), you may also want to get the flavor of the less mathy parts of economics from one of the well-written lower-level textbooks (either one by Paul Krugman and Robin Wells , Greg Mankiw , or Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok ) and maybe one at a bit higher level as well, such as David Weil’s excellent book on economic growth ) or Varian’s Intermediate Microeconomics .

Remember to take a statistics class , if you haven’t already. Some technical fields don’t require statistics, so you may have missed this one. But to econ PhD programs, this will be a gaping hole in your resume. Go take stats!

One more thing you can do is research with an economist . Fortunately, economists are generally extremely welcoming to undergrad RAs from outside econ, who often bring extra skills. You’ll get great experience working with data if you don’t have it already. It’ll help you come up with some research ideas to put in your application essays. And of course you’ll get another all-important letter of recommendation.

And now for…

General tips for everyone

Here is the most important tip for everyone:  Don’t just apply to “top” schools . For some degrees—an MBA for example—people question whether it’s worthwhile to go to a non-top school. But for econ departments, there’s no question. Both Miles and Noah have marveled at the number of smart people working at non-top schools. That includes some well-known bloggers, by the way—Tyler Cowen teaches at George Mason University (ranked 64th ), Mark Thoma teaches at the University of Oregon (ranked 56th ), and Scott Sumner teaches at Bentley, for example. Additionally, a flood of new international students is expanding the supply of quality students. That means that the number of high-quality schools is increasing; tomorrow’s top 20 will be like today’s top 10, and tomorrow’s top 100 will be like today’s top 50.

Apply to schools outside of the top 20—any school in the top 100 is worth considering, especially if it is strong in areas you are interested in. If your classmates aren’t as elite as you would like, that just means that you will get more attention from the professors, who almost all came out of top programs themselves. When Noah said in his earlier post that econ PhD students are virtually guaranteed to get jobs in an econ-related field, that applied to schools far down in the ranking. Everyone participates in the legendary centrally managed econ job market . Very few people ever fall through the cracks.

Next—and this should go without saying— don’t be afraid to retake the GRE . If you want to get into a top 10 school, you probably need a perfect or near-perfect score on the math portion of the GRE. For schools lower down the rankings, a good GRE math score is still important. Fortunately, the GRE math section is relatively simple to study for—there are only a finite number of topics covered, and with a little work you can “overlearn” all of them, so you can do them even under time pressure and when you are nervous. In any case, you can keep retaking the test until you get a good score (especially if the early tries are practice tests from the GRE prep books and prep software), and then you’re OK!

Here’s one thing that may surprise you: Getting an econ master’s degree alone won’t help . Although master’s degrees in economics are common among international students who apply to econ PhD programs, American applicants do just fine without a master’s degree on their record. If you want that extra diploma, realize that once you are in a PhD program, you will get a master’s degree automatically after two years. And if you end up dropping out of the PhD program, that master’s degree will be worth more than a stand-alone master’s would. The one reason to get a master’s degree is if it can help you remedy a big deficiency in your record, say not having taken enough math or stats classes, not having taken any econ classes, or not having been able to get anyone whose name admissions committees would recognize to write you a letter of recommendation.

For getting into grad school, much more valuable than a master’s is a stint as a research assistant in the Federal Reserve System or at a think tank —though these days, such positions can often be as hard to get into as a PhD program!

Finally—and if you’re reading this, chances are you’re already doing this— read some econ blogs . (See Miles’s speculations about the future of the econ blogosphere here .) Econ blogs are no substitute for econ classes, but they’re a great complement. Blogs are good for picking up the lingo of academic economists, and learning to think like an economist. Don’t be afraid to  write  a blog either, even if no one ever reads it (you don’t have to be writing at the same level as Evan Soltas or Yichuan Wang );  you can still put it on your CV, or just practice writing down your thoughts. And when you write your dissertation, and do research later on in your career, you are going to have to think for yourself outside the context of a class . One way to practice thinking critically is by critiquing others’ blog posts, at least in your head.

Anyway, if you want to have intellectual stimulation and good work-life balance, and a near-guarantee of a well-paying job in your field of interest, an econ PhD could be just the thing for you. Don’t be scared of the math and the jargon. We’d love to have you.

Update:  Miles’s colleague Jeff Smith at the University of Michigan amplifies many of the things we say on his blog.  For a  complete  guide, be sure to see what Jeff has to say, too.

📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief

Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.

Warning icon

  • Faculty Intranet

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

  • Prospective Ph.D.s
  • Fields of Study

Economic History

Center for economic history.

The Center for Economic History currently supports the research of a number of graduate students from the Departments of Economics and History, all working on Economic History for their dissertations. Specifically, we support such items as traveling to obtain data from various sources, attending conferences, data processing, and utilizing undergraduate research assistance. 

Economic history at Northwestern has a tradition that now dates back more than half a century, to the first years of the "cliometric revolution" that altered the field by combining conventional historical analyses of economic activity with both theoretical rigor and quantitative sophistication. For Ph.D. students interested in economic history as either their primary field or in combination with other fields, Northwestern's faculty, course offerings, and regular seminar series provide a unique preparation for research and teaching in this field. Only a small number of other elite economics departments have similar strength.

The economic history faculty at Northwestern includes a past president of the Economic History Association, and editor of the  Journal of Economic History . Other Northwestern economic history faculty members include present or recent members of the editorial boards of  all  the leading economic history journals, the leading book series in economic history and all of them keep up  high-visibility research profiles .

Northwestern currently has two full-time senior faculty members in the economics department specializing in economic history (both with joint appointments in Northwestern's History Department) and one full-time tenured faculty member in the History Department.

Northwestern offers a weekly  economic history seminar , heavily attended by faculty and graduate students. In fact, the economic history seminar is the department's longest continuously-operating seminar, having been a staple of the department's diverse workshop schedule since the 1960s. The seminar meets 23 times each year, exposing faculty and students to the current research of scholars from throughout the world and providing students an opportunity to present their own research. The number of meetings and level of student and faculty involvement in the seminar are unequaled.

The  placement record  of Northwestern economic history students, which includes students who have gone on to tenured or tenure-track positions at top-five economics departments, demonstrates the value that the economics discipline has placed on the experience enjoyed by our students, many of whom came to Northwestern specifically to study economic history.

  • Utility Menu

University Logo

44d3fa3df9f06a3117ed3d2ad6c71ecc

  • Administration
  • PhD Program

The Ph.D. Program in the Department of Economics at Harvard is addressed to students of high promise who wish to prepare themselves in teaching and research in academia or for responsible positions in government, research organizations, or business enterprises. Students are expected to devote themselves full-time to their programs of study.

The program prepares students for productive and stimulating careers as economists. Courses and seminars offered by the department foster an intellectually active and stimulating environment. Each week, the department sponsors more than 15 different seminars on such topics as environmental economics, economic growth and development, monetary and fiscal policy, international economics, industrial organization, law and economics, behavioral economics, labor economics, and economic history. Top scholars from both domestic and international communities are often invited speakers at the seminars.  The Harvard community outside of the department functions as a strong and diverse resource. Students in the department are free to pursue research interests with scholars throughout the University. Faculty of the Harvard Law School, Kennedy School of Government, and Harvard Business School, for example, are available to students for consultation, instruction, and research guidance. As a member of the Harvard community, students in the department can register for courses in the various schools and have access to the enormous library resources available through the University. There are over 90 separate library units at Harvard, with the total collections of books and pamphlets numbering over 13 million.  Both the department and the wider University draw some of the brightest students from around the world, which makes for a student body that is culturally diverse and likely unequaled in the range of intellectual interests of its members. These factors combine to add an important dimension to the educational process. Students are able to learn from one another, collaborate on research projects and publications, and form bonds that are not broken by distance once the degree is completed and professional responsibilities lead them in different directions.

  • Program Requirements
  • Job Placement
  • Financial Support
  • Utility Menu

University Logo

Economic History

economic history phd reddit

Workshops and Other Resources

Advising in Economic history (EcHist) within the history concentration prepares students to explore a variety of questions and approaches within economic history, the history of economic thought, the history of capitalism, financial history, labor history, business history, and the history of economic life.

Students may refer to the webpage on courses for courses in Economic History in the History Department and in other departments (concentrators may count one course that is neither listed nor cross-listed in History toward their concentration). The "People" page lists faculty and graduate students working in economic history broadly conceived to encourage students to consult with them on issues of mutual interest.

(Courses offered by History Department faculty automatically count for the History concentration)

  • HIST 83A: Market and States: The History of Economic Thought Since 1750
  • HIST 1028: Race, Capitalism, and the Coming of the Civil War
  • HIST 1939: Economic History of Modern China
  • HIST 2968: History and Economics: Proseminar
  • HIST 2955A: History of Global Capitalism: Seminar

Spring 2021:

  • GENED 1159: American Capitalism
  • HIST 84G: Harvard and Slavery
  • HIST 1602: Modern China
  • HIST 2955B: History of Global Capitalism: Seminar

Past Course Offerings on Economic  History :

  • HIST 13E: History of Modern Mexico
  • HIST 13O: When the Bottom Falls Out: The History of Economic Crisis in America
  • HIST 13T: Women in Economic Life
  • HIST 13U: Asian Diasporas in Global History
  • HIST 13Z: Liberty and Slavery: The British Empire and the American Revolution
  • HIST 14A: The Medieval Mediterranean: Conflict and Unity, Tradition and Innovation
  • HIST 14C: Tell Old Pharoah: Histories of “Contraband Camps” and Self-Emancipation in the Civil War Era
  • HIST 14E: The Cold War in the Global South
  • HIST 14I: American Food, A Global History: More Than Just a Meal
  • HIST 14K: Oil and Empire
  • HIST 74N: U.S. History: Major Themes in the Twentieth Century
  • HIST 83A: Market and States: The History of Economic Thought Since 1750
  • HIST 89A: British Colonial Violence in the 20th Century
  • HIST 89J: The United States and China: Opium War to the Present
  • HIST 97L: What is Atlantic History?
  • HIST 1001: The War in Vietnam
  • HIST 1006: Native American and Indigenous Studies: An Introduction
  • HIST 1008: The State of Israel in Comparative Perspective
  • HIST 1018: Coffee and the Nighttime: History and Politics, 1400–2020
  • HIST 1028: Race, Capitalism, and the Coming of the Civil War
  • HIST 1032: A History of Brazil, from Independence to the Present
  • HIST 1034: Modern Latin America, 1800–present
  • HIST 1035: Byzantine Civilization
  • HIST 1038: Debating Capitalism: The History of American Economic Thought
  • HIST 1050: Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Atlantic World
  • HIST 1053: After Catastrophe: Europe since 1945
  • HIST 1059: Deep History
  • HIST 1155: Early Modern Europe, 1450–1789
  • HIST 1206: Empire, Nation, and Immigration in France since 1870
  • HIST 1265: German Empires, 1848–1948
  • HIST 1270: Frontiers of Europe: Ukraine since 1500
  • HIST 1281: The End of Communism
  • HIST 1284: Revolutionary Eurasia, 1905–1949
  • HIST 1290: The History of the Russian Empire
  • HIST 1433: History of American Populisms
  • HIST 1457: History of American Capitalism
  • HIST 1623: Japan in the Modern World
  • HIST 1701: West Africa from 1800 to the Present
  • HIST 1908: Racial Capitalism and the Black Radical Tradition
  • HIST 1910: The History of Energy
  • HIST 1917: Are You Now or have You Ever Been an Android? The New Materialism
  • HIST 1950: Beyond 'The End of History': Rethinking Europe's Long Twentieth Century, 1900–2018
  • HIST 1959: The People's Republic of China and the World
  • HIST 1960: The European Union: Achievements and Crises
  • HIST 2055: Early Medieval History, Archaeology and Archaeoscience: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2056: Readings in Late Antique and Medieval History: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2059: Deep History: A Graduate Seminar in Undergraduate Education
  • HIST 2260: Central Europe: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2400: Readings in Colonial and Revolutionary America: Graduate Proseminar
  • HIST 2442: Readings in the History of the U.S. in the 19th Century: Graduate Proseminar
  • HIST 2480A: The Political Economy of Modern Capitalism: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2480B: The Political Economy of Modern Capitalism: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2484A: Crime and Punishment in the History of the Americas: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2652: Topics in Japanese History: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2690: Asia in the Modern World: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2725: History and Anthropology: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2950A: Approaches to Global History: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2950B: Approaches to Global History: Graduate Seminar
  • HIST 2955A: History of Global Capitalism: Seminar
  • SOCWORLD 12: CHINA: Past, Present, FutureSOCWORLD36: Modern India and South Asia
  • SOCWORLD 13: Japan in Asia and the World
  • SOCWORLD 36: Modern India and South Asia
  • SOCWORLD 41: Medieval Europe: History, Archaeology, and Archaeoscience
  • SOCWORLD 42 The World Wars and Global Transformation, 1900–1950
  • SOCWORLD 49: The Worlds of Business in Modern China
  • US-WORLD 28: Racial Capitalism and Imperialism: The US between the Revolution and the Civil War
  • US-WORLD 30: Tangible Things: Harvard Collections in World History
  • US-WORLD 38: Forced to be Free: Americans as Occupiers and Nation-Builders

*Please be sure to check the Courses section of the History Website for more information on which of these courses count towards the History concentration and secondary field. Also, while we endeavor to keep this list current, it may not reflect all courses actually offered.*

  • Sunil Amrith : Mehra Family Professor of South Asian Studies; Professor of History; Director, Center for History and Economics
  • Sven Beckert : Laird Bell Professor of History
  • Sugata Bose : Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs
  • Vincent Brown : Charles Warren Professor of American History; Professor of African and African American Studies
  • Joyce Chaplin : James Duncan Phillips Professor of Early American History
  • Lizabeth Cohen : Dean, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study; Howard Mumford Jones Professor of American Studies
  • Alejandro de la Fuente : Robert Woods Bliss Professor of Latin American History and Economics; Professor of African and African American Studies and of History; Director, Afro-Latin American Research Institute
  • Arunabh Ghosh : Assistant Professor of History
  • Andrew Gordon : Lee and Juliet Folger Fund Professor of History
  • Tamar Herzog : Monroe Gutman Professor of Latin American Affairs; Radcliffe Alumnae Professor
  • Elizabeth Hinton : Assistant Professor of History and of African and African American Studies
  • Walter Johnson : Winthrop Professor of History; Professor of African and African American Studies; Director of the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History
  • Alison Frank Johnson : Professor of History; Director of Graduate Studies
  • William C. Kirby : Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration; T. M. Chang Professor of China Studies; Chairman, Harvard China Fund
  • Mary Lewis : Robert Walton Goelet Professor of French History
  • Kenneth W. Mack : Lawrence D. Biele Professor of Law
  • Charles S. Maier : Leverett Saltonstall Professor of History
  • Michael McCormick : Francis Goelet Professor of Medieval History; Chair, Science of the Human Past
  • Kelly O’Neill : Associate Professor of History
  • Emma Rothschild : Jeremy and Jane Knowles Professor of History; Director, Center for History and Economics
  • Daniel Lord Smail : Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of History
  • Eric Chaney : Associate Professor of Economics
  • Martin Feldstein : George F. Baker Professor of Economics
  • Benjamin Friedman : William Joseph Maier Professor of Political Economy
  • Claudia Goldin : Henry Lee Professor of Economics
  • Benjamin Golub : Assistant Professor of Economics
  • Dale Jorgenson : Samuel W. Morris University Professor of Economics
  • Lawrence Katz : Elisabeth Allison Professor of Economics
  • Stephen Marglin : Walter S. Barker Professor of Economics
  • Nathan Nunn : Professor of Economics
  • Michèle Lamont : Professor of Sociology and African and African American Studies; Robert I. Goldman Professor of European Studies
  • Ya-Wen Lei : Assistant Professor of Sociology
  • Orlando Patterson : John Cowles Professor of Sociology
  • Michael Sandel : Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government
  • Richard Tuck : Frank G. Thomson Professor of Government
  • Ajantha Subramanian : Professor; Direcgtor, Social Anthropology Program
  • Nara Dillon : Lecturer on Social Studies
  • Christine Desan : Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law
  • Kenneth Mack : Lawrence D. Biele Professor of Law
  • Roberto Mangabeira Unger : Roscoe Pound Professor of Law
  • Adrian Vermeule : Ralph S. Tyler, Jr. Professor of Constitutional Law
  • Walter A. Friedman : Lecturer of Business Administration; Director, Business History Initiative
  • Geoffrey G. Jones : Isidor Straus Professor of Business History
  • Nancy F. Koehn : James E. Robison Professor of Business Administration
  • Sophus Reinert : Associate Professor of Business Administration
  • Laura Phillips Sawyer : Assistant Professor of Business Administration
  • Richard Parker : Lecturer in Public Policy
  • Center for History and Economics Graduate Workshop  (Center for History and Economics)
  • History and Economics Seminar  (Center for History and Economics)
  • Political Economy of Capitalism Workshop  (Program on the Study of Capitalism)
  • History of Capitalism Reading Group, Dissertation Workshop
  • Law and History Workshop  (Law and History Program, HLS)
  • History of Science Departmental Workshop
  • Thinking about a History Concentration?
  • Undergraduate Alumni Profiles
  • Concentration Guidelines and Requirements
  • Senior Thesis & Undergraduate Research
  • Office Hours
  • Research & Employment Opportunities
  • Tempus: Undergraduate History Journal
  • Graduate Program

The University of Edinburgh home

  • Schools & departments

Postgraduate Students

PhD in Economic and Social History

The PhD in Economic and Social History offers you the opportunity to study economic and social history at an advanced level through independent research.

We host one of the largest economic and social history research groupings in the UK and this enables us to support research in economic and social history across a wide range of time periods and geographical regions, from the early modern period to the present day, and from Britain to the Caribbean. Current research interests include the study of economic development, financial history, energy policy, globalisation, slavery, demography, urban history, consumption, material culture, museums and collecting, leisure, religious belief, popular culture, medicine and disease, gender, sexuality and the family. Colleagues in the economic and history research group work closely with colleagues with related interests in other Schools, notably the School of Social and Political Science and the School of Economics.

The breadth of expertise in the School and in the wider University makes it possible for us to supervise a very wide range of topics. Each student is allocated at least two supervisors, allowing us to combine thematic, chronological and, if appropriate, disciplinary expertise in the supervisory team. Details of PhD projects currently being undertaken in the School can be found on our list of research student web profiles .

Programme structure

The PhD is a substantial piece of independent research which makes a contribution to the state of existing knowledge in the field. The PhD programme is designed to take three years full-time or six years part time. The PhD is examined by submission of a thesis of up to 100,000 words and by oral examination.

PhD students work closely with their supervisors, who are recognised experts in the field of study. All PhD students pursue an individually tailored programme of research training agreed with their supervisors. The PhD programmes in History provide core training in the research skills necessary to flourish at doctoral level and beyond, through a core course in semester one,  Professional Skills for Historians , and a day-long annual conference for PhD students in semester two. All PhD students in the School also benefit from School and University-wide training in research and professional skills.

PhD students are encouraged to share their research with other postgraduate students through workshops and seminars, and to take an active part in the research life of the history subject area, the School and the University through our research groups and centres and through student-led workshops and seminars. Current research groups of particular interest to economic and social historians include Digital Humanities ; Material Culture; Global and Transnational History; History of Science, Medicine and Technology and Economic and Social History.

You must  contact a potential supervisor  to discuss your research project before making a formal application.

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact the Programme Director.

Dr Felix Boecking

Programme director.

  • School of History, Classics and Archaeology
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

Apply for this programme

  • Fees and funding
  • School guidance on  applying (link to 5 step guide)
  • If you require a visa we advise that you apply as early as possible.
  • All candidates who want apply for funding must submit their application for a place at the University in advance of the relevant funding deadline (in December and January typically - details can be found on the  funding website ).
  • The final deadline for which the School will consider applications for the programme is 1 July 2024.

Apply through our Degree Finder now

  • If you are hoping to study for this degree by distance please read further details and entry requirements here - PhD by Distance

Yale Economic Growth Center

Program in Economic History

The Program in Economic History exists within the Economic Growth Center to foster research in the field of economic history.

Collage of historical photos

Economic history is the study of the long-term development of economies. The field uses empirical evidence, the tools of economics and econometrics, and appreciation of institutional context to understand how economies functioned in different times and places, and how present-day economic problems reflect earlier development.

The Program in Economic History exists within the Economic Growth Center to foster research in the field of economic history. The links at the top of this page will take you to information on weekly events, mini-conferences, and other program activities. 

The Director of the Program is Gerald Jaynes ([email protected]).

Yale does not offer graduate programs in economic history  per se . Students who participate in the activities of the Program in Economic History are working toward a PhD in economics, history, or another discipline. They fulfill the degree requirements for their respective department; there are no separate requirements for economic history. (For information on the economics PhD program, see  http://economics.yale.edu/graduate/requirements ; for the history PhD program,  http://history.yale.edu/academics/graduate-programs ; for other programs, consult the relevant departmental website, or the website for Yale Graduate school,  http://gsas.yale.edu ).

Admission to graduate programs at Yale is handled by the graduate school; interested prospective students should check the graduate school website for forms, deadlines, and other information.

Contact us • Faculty and postdoctoral appointees  • Past conferences  • Visitors  • Courses  

A row of books with a small statue of a sitting man

DPhil in History (Economic and Social History)

  • Entry requirements
  • Funding and Costs

College preference

  • How to Apply

About the course

The DPhil in History (Economic and Social History) is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of successful completion of an individual research thesis and an oral examination.

Economic and social history is the study of economic activities and social organization in the historical past. If you are thinking about applying for a DPhil researching economic and social history, you should consider whether your proposed topic falls within the remit of economic and social history or whether it would be more appropriate to apply for the DPhil in History.

If studying full-time, you will be expected to submit your dissertation three, or at most four, years from the date of admission. If studying part-time, you will be expected to submit your dissertation six, or at most eight, years from the date of admission. You will be expected to attend and to contribute to two weekly research seminars: the Tuesday Evening Research Seminar and the Wednesday Lunchtime Graduate Student Seminar. You will also be expected to attend the Annual Graduate Workshop in Economic and Social History in the first week of Trinity term, at which MSc and MPhil students present their dissertation projects. You are strongly encouraged to participate in the wide range of other research seminars, conferences and workshops organised by the faculty and the division. Your supervisor will advise you on which seminars will be most beneficial for your chosen research area. You will also have access to specialist training courses offered by the Bodleian Libraries and IT Services. You can attend any lectures, across the University, that you wish to (subject to any specific restrictions), and we encourage students to take advantage of this and explore areas outside their specific research topic.

Further information about studying part time

The faculty is able to offer the DPhil in full-time as well as part-time mode of attendance. Please note that any published statistics as regards acceptance rates are not an indication of applicants having a better chance of acceptance in part-time mode. All DPhil applications are assessed together and compared with each other, irrespective of the mode of study.

The faculty's research degrees are not available by distance learning. Although there will be no requirement to reside in Oxford, part-time research students must attend the University on a regular basis (particularly in term-time: October and November, mid-January to mid-March, and late April to mid-June) for supervision, study, research seminars and skills training. The dates of attendance will be determined by mutual agreement with your supervisor.

We cannot sponsor student visas for part-time study as the study patterns are not compatible with Home Office regulations on attendance monitoring. However, other options may be available and you should contact the  admissions  office to discuss.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of History and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Offers will only be made if appropriate supervision is available. Offers will only be made if appropriate supervision is available.

It is usual practice that DPhil students have one supervisor, but a co-supervisor will be appointed if additional specialist knowledge is required. For the DPhil in Economic and Social History, a sole supervisor outside the Faculty of History (eg the Department of Economics) may be nominated. In exceptional circumstances, a co-supervisor from outside the university may be appointed. 

Your supervisor(s) is there to provide advice, guidance, and support throughout your DPhil. You should meet your supervisor(s) early in your first term to establish a clear framework for your research and writing, and identify any skills training needed to undertake your research. It is up to you and your supervisor to decide on the frequency of future meetings. In the first year, you should meet your supervisor at least twice a term, and keep in frequent contact. As you become more engaged with your research, you may meet your supervisor less frequently, but you should maintain regular contact with them.

Your supervisor or supervisors will help you develop a programme of research and writing. You will also benefit from the advice and support of other members of the faculty who will be involved in your progression through the transfer and confirmation stages of the degree, and you will be able to draw on the expertise of scholars and colleagues throughout the faculty and University.

Please note that if you have contacted a potential supervisor prior to submitting your application, any indication made by an academic that they may be willing to supervise a potential project, is not a guarantee that you will be offered a place, or that the supervisor in question has capacity to supervise you in that particular year.

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student, or eight terms as a part-time PRS student, you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. This application is normally made by the second term for full-time students and by the fifth term for part-time students.

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require the submission of a thesis outline and a piece of written work. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status to show that your work continues to be on track. This will need to done within nine terms of admission for full-time students and eighteen terms of admission for part-time students.

Both milestones normally involve an interview with one or two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide and important experience for the final oral examination.

Full-time students will be expected to submit a substantial thesis of not more than 100,000 words after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. If you are studying part-time, you will be required to submit your thesis after six or, at most, eight years from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in History (Economic and Social History) you will need to defend your thesis orally ( viva voce ) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

Approximately half of students who complete their doctoral thesis go on to further academic posts worldwide. Some work as freelance historians, others are in professional administrative positions in areas such as finance, the civil service, university administration, banking, and publishing. Approximately half of students who complete their doctoral thesis go on to further academic posts worldwide. Some work as freelance historians, others are in professional administrative positions in areas such as finance, the civil service, university administration, banking, and publishing.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

All graduate courses offered by the Faculty of History

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25, proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

  • a master's degree with distinction or a high pass (a minimum of 68% overall and 68% for the dissertation);   and
  • a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours  (a minimum of 68% overall and 68% for the dissertation) in history or cognate disciplines.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or equivalent.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.75 out of 4.0. However, most successful applicants have a cumulative GPA of 3.8.

Applicants without a prior degree in history, economic history or economics should be aware that competition for a place on the DPhil is extremely tough and that even some of Oxford's own master's students are not able to secure a place on the DPhil. You should consider that most of your competitors will have a solid background in the discipline and the appropriate training for academic research in a historical context, with a first class or distinction grade. If you decide to apply without a prior master's degree in history, please ensure that you link your proposed thesis topic with your previous expertise when you present it in your application. You should also show that you have already done a considerable amount of background research into the topic. Your submitted written work should show your writing and research skills in their best light as it will be important to show that you have the necessary skills for historical research and writing.

Professional experience in research, such as holding a research assistantship with an individual researcher or on a research project, may be an appropriate substitute for a master's degree.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

  • In the case of mature students/intended career changes, professional experience in cognate areas may compensate for shortcomings in the formal academic record. 
  • Publications are not required.

Further guidance

When assessors judge that a formally qualified and otherwise promising applicant requires strictly limited further training to embark on a doctoral programme, a doctoral place may be offered but only on the stipulation that the student successfully complete relevant elements of one of the faculty's master's courses before attempting 'transfer' to full doctoral status, meaning that the student may be asked to attend seminars or classes intended for master’s students.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process.

Assessors may get in touch with an applicant by email in case of any queries, but this is very rare.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

  • socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
  • country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
  • protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Initiatives to improve access to graduate study

This course is taking part in  the 'Close the Gap' project  which aims to improve access to doctoral study.

For this course, socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.  Further information about how we use your socio-economic data  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

  • the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
  • the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
  • minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Intellectual life and community

The explicitly interdisciplinary nature of this DPhil means that the History Faculty collaborates with other divisions and departments within the University, predominantly with the Departments of Economics, Politics and International Relations, Sociology and Management Studies within the Social Sciences Division.

More generally, working as an Oxford graduate student is an exhilarating experience. History in Oxford stretches from around c. 300 to the present, and embraces an exceptionally broad geographical range. It comprises an active research community of up to 800 academics and graduate students. The faculty’s research is organised around  historical periods, research centres, or in collaborative and individual research projects , and graduates are key participants in the wide range of seminars, workshops and conferences run by the History Faculty. Further opportunities for exchange are provided by the interdisciplinary communities fostered within individual colleges, which also offer dedicated support for graduates by means of personal advisors. The Oxford Centre for Research in the Humanities (TORCH) offers a stimulating range of interdisciplinary activities, as does the Oxford Martin School and the new Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities. History graduates are also encouraged to join the Oxford History Graduate Network (OHGN) , which fosters friendships, conversations and collaboration.

The Oxford environment provides a unique opportunity to develop intellectual curiosity whilst remaining focused on your own work without becoming blinkered - an integral part of a successful graduate career.

Libraries and Archives

Graduates in Oxford are fortunate in having access to over a hundred libraries. The University's core research resource in the Humanities are the Bodleian Libraries, whose combined collections contain more than eleven million printed items, in addition to more than 50,000 e-journals and a vast quantity of manuscripts, maps, music and other materials.

The  Bodleian  has been a library of legal deposit for 400 years. The Bodleian Libraries’  Special Collections Department attracts scholars from all over the world.  Further strengths include the countless databases and digital resources currently offered by the Bodleian and being developed through Oxford’s  Digital Humanities programme .

You are also able to draw on the specialist resources offered by the Bodleian  History Faculty Library which provides dedicated  support and training courses for all graduates. You also have access to the many college libraries and to college archives which can house significant collections of personal papers as well as institutional records dating back to the middle ages.

History in Oxford stretches from c 300 to the present, and embraces in addition to its British and European heritage an exceptionally broad range of World history. It comprises an active research community of up to 800 senior academics and graduate students, all contributing to a range of research seminars, lectures, academic societies, and personal contacts.

Research in the faculty is organised around historical periods and research centres, or in collaborative and individual research projects, and you will always be welcome at seminars, workshops and conferences across all periods and themes.

You will be encouraged to make use of these opportunities as widely as possible without endangering your own degree work. Striking the right balance between intellectual curiosity and temptation and intellectual discipline, and remaining focused without becoming blinkered, should be an integral part of a successful graduate career. The Oxford environment provides all the ingredients for this.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the faculty's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Full-time study.

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Part-time study

Information about course fees.

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur further additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

  • Balliol College
  • Blackfriars
  • Brasenose College
  • Campion Hall
  • Christ Church
  • Corpus Christi College
  • Exeter College
  • Green Templeton College
  • Hertford College
  • Jesus College
  • Keble College
  • Kellogg College
  • Lady Margaret Hall
  • Linacre College
  • Lincoln College
  • Magdalen College
  • Mansfield College
  • Merton College
  • New College
  • Nuffield College
  • Oriel College
  • Pembroke College
  • Regent's Park College
  • Reuben College
  • St Anne's College
  • St Antony's College
  • St Catherine's College
  • St Cross College
  • St Edmund Hall
  • St Hilda's College
  • St Hugh's College
  • St John's College
  • St Peter's College
  • Somerville College
  • Trinity College
  • University College
  • Wadham College
  • Wolfson College
  • Worcester College
  • Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

  • applicants from low-income countries;
  • refugees and displaced persons; 
  • UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
  • applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You do not need to contact anyone in the faculty before you apply. You are not responsible for finding your own supervisor. However, you are strongly encouraged to familiarise yourself with the  research expertise within the faculty  when preparing your research proposal, to make sure that there is a supervisor available in the same area as your proposed project. Offers will only be made if appropriate supervision is available. The faculty determines supervision arrangements, taking due account of the workload and commitments of its academics. If you are made an offer, a supervisor will be assigned to you, and identified in the offer letter.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known. If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

It is not necessary for you to identify a potential supervisor in your application.

However, please check that a supervisor with expertise in your proposed area of research is available before applying. Details can be found on the faculty website. You are free to consult a specialist in your field for advice on your project, if you think that would be helpful.

Referees: Three overall, academic preferred

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

References should generally be academic, though if you are returning to study after extended periods of non-academic employment then you are welcome to nominate professional referees where it would be impractical to call on your previous university tutors.

Your references will support intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, ability to work in both a group environment and sustained individual and self-motivated investigation.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Research proposal: A minimum of 500 words to a maximum of 1,000 words

Your research proposal must be written in English. A bibliography may also be provided and is not included in the word count, though any footnotes should be included.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

This should be a developed proposal of your individual research project. It will provide crucial evidence of your readiness for doctoral research. Your proposal should cover all of the following:

  • a research question: the central issue or problem with which you intend to grapple, and a working title;
  • historiography: some account of the current state of scholarship in this area. You may want to explain why you are dissatisfied with existing scholarship: is it limited, dated or unconvincing? What kind of contribution will your work make?
  • sources: an indication of the sources you expect to use, where these can be found, how they will contribute to your research, what if any technical skills you will need to work with them (eg language, quantitative, use of specialist software), and whether you already have, or will need to acquire, those skills; and
  • method: some discussion of your approach to dealing with sources and constructing your thesis. Some of the following considerations may apply. At what level is your inquiry: micro or local, regional or national, comparative or transnational? Will you be using qualitative or quantitative techniques? Samples or case studies? Will your research draw on a body of theory? Does your approach draw on the agenda or methods of related disciplines such as anthropology, or literary studies?

This will be assessed for:

  • your reasons for applying
  • the coherence of the proposal
  • the originality of the project
  • evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
  • the ability to present a reasoned case in English
  • the feasibility of successfully completing the project within three years
  • preliminary knowledge of research techniques
  • capacity for sustained and intense work
  • the ability to contextualise, and analyse the evidence.

It will be normal for your ideas subsequently to change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and method at this moment.

Written work: An academic writing sample of no more than 4,000 words in total length

Written work should be from your most recent completed qualification, but does not need to relate closely to your proposed area of study. Extracts from a longer piece of work are welcome, but please include a preface which puts the work in context.

The work will be assessed for your:

  • understanding of problems in the area
  • ability to construct and defend an argument
  • powers of analysis
  • powers of expression.

It must be submitted in English (if this work has been translated, you must indicate if the translations are your own, or what assistance you had in producing the English text).

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document. Any footnotes should be included in the word count. A bibliography may also be provided and is not included in the word count.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply - Full time Apply - Part time

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 5 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2024-25

*One-year of applications (2023-24)

This course has replaced the DPhil in History (History of Science and Economic and Social History)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Faculty of History

  • Course page on the faculty's website
  • Funding information from the faculty
  • Academic and research staff
  • Faculty research
  • Humanities Division
  • Residence requirements for full-time courses
  • Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0) 1865 615000

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

Browser does not support script.

  • Undergraduate
  • Executive education
  • Study Abroad
  • Summer schools
  • Online certificate courses
  • International students
  • Meet, visit and discover LSE

MSc Economic History

  • Graduate taught
  • Department of Economic History
  • Application code V3U1
  • Starting 2024
  • Home full-time: Open
  • Home part-time: Open
  • Overseas full-time: Open
  • Location: Houghton Street, London

The MSc Economic History provides a historical and interdisciplinary perspective on important economic problems such as the causes of long-run economic development, the expansion of businesses and financial markets, the role of the government in the economy and the origins of globalization.

You will be able to choose from a wide range of elective courses in economic history, allowing you to compile a programme according to your interests and career goals. You will also complete a dissertation on an approved topic of your choice.

Economic history combines the skills of the economist and statistician with those of the historian, political scientist and sociologist.  The programme provides a broad training in social science research methods and their application to historical study, including the role of theory, evaluation, analysis and explanation, quantitative techniques and computing, the use of sources and presentational skills.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for msc economic history.

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in social science.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission. 

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our  Information for International Students  to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students and want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of their background.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades) - statement of academic purpose - two academic references - CV

See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although you do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE.  See our English language requirements .

When to apply

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis, meaning the programme will close once it becomes full. There is no fixed deadline by which you need to apply, however, to be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must have submitted your application and all supporting documents by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details.

Other programmes of interest

Those aiming to purse a PhD in economic history or a related field should consider the MSc Economic History (Research) programme.  Candidates interested in combining the study of contemporary development processes with economic history may wish to consider the MSc Politicial Economy of Late Development .  The Department also participates in the two-year MA Global Studies: A European Perspective which focuses on global history more generally.

Fees and funding

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MSc Economic History

Home students: £17,424 Overseas students: £27,480

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Fee reduction

Students who completed undergraduate study at LSE and are beginning taught graduate study at the School are eligible for a  fee reduction  of around 10 per cent of the fee.

Scholarships and other funding

The School recognises that the  cost of living in London  may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the  Graduate Support Scheme ,  Master's Awards , and  Anniversary Scholarships .

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an offer for a place and submitting a Graduate Financial Support application, before the funding deadline. Funding deadline for needs-based awards from LSE:  25 April 2024 .

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.  Find out more about financial support.

Government tuition fee loans and external funding

A postgraduate loan is available from the UK government for eligible students studying for a first master’s programme, to help with fees and living costs. Some other governments and organisations also offer tuition fee loan schemes.

Find out more about tuition fee loans

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students . 

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Part-time study Part time study is only available for students who do not require a student visa.

Programme structure and courses

The degree consists of one compulsory half unit, a compulsory half-unit dissertation and optional courses to the value of two and a half units selected from the prescribed list, which must include at least one of our advanced survey courses on modern or pre-modern economic history over the last millennium.

With the approval of your academic adviser, instead of taking the half-unit dissertation course, you may request to take the full-unit, 10,000 word dissertation and courses to the value of one and a half units from a range of options.

(* denotes a half unit)

Historical Analysis of Economic Change* Covers the central themes and key methodological and theoretical issues in economic history.

Essay/Dissertation* An independent research project of 6,000 words on an approved topic of your choice.

And e ither: The Development and Integration of the World Economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries Provides and overview of the development and integration of the world economy since the First Industrial Revolution. Or Pre-modern Paths of Growth: East and West Compared, c1000-1800 Surveys long-term processes of growth and development in pre-modern Europe, China and Japan.

Courses to the value of two units from a range of options

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page. 

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s  Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the  updated graduate course and programme information  page.

Teaching and assessment

Contact hours and independent study.

Teaching is usually spread over the Autumn and Winter Terms, with the Spring Term generally reserved for one week of teaching and revision sessions, followed by preparation for exams or other assessment, and/or the writing of your dissertation.

The average taught course contact hours per half unit is 20-30 hours and a full unit is 40-60 hours. This includes sessions such as lectures, classes, seminars or workshops. Hours vary according to courses and you can view indicative details in the Calendar  within the Teaching section of each  course guide .

You are also expected to complete independent study outside of class time. This varies depending on the programme, but requires you to manage the majority of your study time yourself, by engaging in activities such as reading, note-taking, thinking and research.

Teaching methods

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only. You can view indicative details for the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant  course guide .

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant  course guide .

Academic support

You will also be assigned an academic mentor who will be available for guidance and advice on academic or personal concerns.

There are many opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom and complement your academic studies at LSE.  LSE LIFE  is the School’s centre for academic, personal and professional development. Some of the services on offer include: guidance and hands-on practice of the key skills you will need to do well at LSE: effective reading, academic writing and critical thinking; workshops related to how to adapt to new or difficult situations, including development of skills for leadership, study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work; and advice and practice on working in study groups and on cross-cultural communication and teamwork.

LSE is committed to enabling all students to achieve their full potential and the School’s  Disability and Wellbeing Service  provides a free, confidential service to all LSE students and is a first point of contact for all disabled students.

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians   – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service  – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders  – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service  – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as  student counselling,  a  peer support scheme  and arranging  exam adjustments.  They run groups and workshops.  

IT help  – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.   

LSE Faith Centre  – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.   

Language Centre  – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers  ­ – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library   –   founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE  – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU)  – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.  

PhD Academy   – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice   – this   offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.  

St Philips Medical Centre  – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre  – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers   – we have a  Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)  and an  Adviser to Women Students  who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in  extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one  campus  in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think  London is a fantastic student city , find out about  key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about  London on a budget . 

Student stories

Jake dedoyard.

MSc Economic History Seattle, USA

Jake-Dedoyard-170x230

My favourite aspects of LSE are definitely the people and the location. The work is intense and all of my peers are talented, but there is a real esprit de corps that makes it a rewarding experience. The professors express a genuine interest in the students' learning, and I have probably learned as much by assimilation into the London environment as I have from the programme.

LSE provides you with opportunities to challenge yourself in as many ways as you can dream up. I have had time to interact with accomplished peers and faculty who have challenged me to refine my thinking, to expand the scope of my knowledge and experience, and to understand the limits of what we can assess in the scope of social sciences.

Preliminary reading

The following is a list of general Economic History books that you might want to take a look at before you arrive at LSE. Please note, these books are listed as a general introduction to Economic History and may not appear on the reading lists of the courses that you actually take - they are presented as a starting point.

Acemoglu, D. and Robinson, J. (2012), Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty, London: Profile.

Allen, R.C. (2009), The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Austin, Gareth M. Markets, Slaves and States in West African History, c.1450 to the present (Cambridge: CUP 2013)

Austin, Gareth M. & Kaoru Sugihara (eds.) Labour-intensive industrialisation in Global History (London: Routledge 2013).

Baten, Joerg (2016), A History of the Global Economy. Cambridge.

Broadberry, S. and O’Rourke, K. (eds.) (2010), The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Europe, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Crafts, N.F.R. and Fearon, P. (2013), The Great Depression of the 1930s: Lessons for Today, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Darwin, J. (2007), After Tamerlane: The Rise and Fall of Global Empires, 1400-2000, London: Allen Lane.

Engerman, Stanley L. & Kenneth L. Sokoloff Economic Development in the Americas since 1500: endowments and institutions (Cambridge: CUP/NBER 2012).

Findlay, R. and O’Rourke, K. (2009), Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium (Princeton Economic History of the Western World), Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Floud, Roderick, Fogel, Robert, Harris, Bernard, and Hong, Sok Chul (2011), The Changing Body: health, nutrition, and human development in the western world since 1700. Cambridge.

Greif, A. (2006) Institutions and the Path to the Modern Economy: Lessons from Medieval Trade (Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Hatcher, J. and Bailey, M (2001), Modelling the Middle Ages: The History and Theory of England’s Economic Development, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Herschman, Albert O. (2013), The Passions and the Interests: political arguments for capitalism before its triumph. Princeton.

King, Mervyn (2016), The End of Alchemy: money, banking and the future.  Little, Brown.

Livi-Bacci, Massimo (2012), A Concise History of Worl Population.  Wiley Blackwell.

Mackenzie, D (2006), An Engine, Not a Camera: How Financial Models Shape Markets. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.

Morgan, Mary S. (2012), The World in the Model: How Economists Work and Think, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

North, D.C., Wallis, J.J. and Weingast, B. (2009), Violence and Social Orders: A Conceptual framework for Interpreting Recorded Human History, Cambridge; Cambridge University Press.

Parthasarathi, P. (2011), Why Europe Grew Rich and Asia Did Not: Global Divergence, 1600-1850, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Pomeranz, K. (2000), The Great Divergence: China, Europe and the Making of the Modern World Economy, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Reinhart, C.M. and Rogoff, K.S. (2009), This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Rosenthal, J-L and Wong, R. Bin (2011), Before and Beyond Divergence: The Politics of Economic Change in China and Europe, Harvard University Press.

Roy, T. (2012), India in the World Economy: From Antiquity to the Present (New Approaches to Asian History), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Von Glahn, Richard (2016), The Economic History of China from Antiquity to the Nineteenth Century (CUP)

Yun-Casalilla, B. and O’Brien, P. (2011), The Rise of Fiscal States: A Global History, 1500-1914, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Economic History

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £42,000          

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

  • Information, Digital Technology and Data            
  • Financial and Professional Services              
  • Education, Teaching and Research            
  • Accounting and Auditing              
  • Consultancy

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Economic history graduates can be found in management and administration in the public and private sectors; banking; journalism; economic consultancy; and library and museum services, to mention just a few.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Jacob Hipps

MSc Economic History Senior Manager Global Supply Chain Strategy, Walmart

JacobHipps170x230

I worked in corporate finance from 2008-10 and witnessed the fall-out from the financial crisis. The experience prompted me to explore the economic theories supporting US policies. I became interested in the history of economic thought and LSE had the only dedicated program in this area.

I look back on my experience at LSE as a great watering of intellectual seeds. LSE was a year of tremendous intellectual growth. It is rare to be surrounded by folks who think deeply and instinctively and jump into well-reasoned debates. The greatest thing I took from the LSE, which applies to my career, is comfort in forming, defending, and reforming my views.

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the  support available to students through LSE Careers .

Find out more about LSE

Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home. 

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus.  Experience LSE from home . 

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.  Find out about opportunities to visit LSE . 

LSE visits you

Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders.  Find details on LSE's upcoming visits . 

How to apply

Virtual Graduate Open Day

Register your interest

Related programmes, msc economic history (research).

Code(s) V3U2

MSc Political Economy of Late Development

Code(s) V3UC

MSc Financial History

Code(s) V5F1

Request a prospectus

  • Name First name Last name
  • Address Address Line 1 Address Line 2 City County Postcode Country

Speak to Admissions

Content to be supplied

University of Cambridge

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

  • Undergraduate courses
  • Events and open days
  • Fees and finance
  • Postgraduate courses
  • How to apply
  • Postgraduate events
  • Fees and funding
  • International students
  • Continuing education
  • Executive and professional education
  • Courses in education
  • How the University and Colleges work
  • Term dates and calendars
  • Visiting the University
  • Annual reports
  • Equality and diversity
  • A global university
  • Public engagement
  • Give to Cambridge
  • For Cambridge students
  • For our researchers
  • Business and enterprise
  • Colleges & departments
  • Email & phone search
  • Museums & collections
  • Course Directory

MPhil in Economic and Social History

Postgraduate Study

  • Why Cambridge overview
  • Chat with our students
  • Cambridge explained overview
  • The supervision system
  • Student life overview
  • In and around Cambridge
  • Leisure activities
  • Student unions
  • Music awards
  • Student support overview
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Disabled students
  • Accommodation
  • Language tuition
  • Skills training
  • Support for refugees
  • Courses overview
  • Department directory
  • Qualification types
  • Funded studentships
  • Part-time study
  • Research degrees
  • Visiting students
  • Finance overview
  • Fees overview
  • What is my fee status?
  • Part-time fees
  • Application fee
  • Living costs
  • Funding overview
  • Funding search
  • How to apply for funding
  • University funding overview
  • Research Councils (UKRI)
  • External funding and loans overview
  • Funding searches
  • External scholarships
  • Charities and the voluntary sector
  • Funding for disabled students
  • Widening participation in funding
  • Colleges overview
  • What is a College?
  • Choosing a College
  • Terms of Residence
  • Applying overview
  • Before you apply
  • Entry requirements
  • Application deadlines
  • How do I apply? overview
  • Application fee overview
  • Application fee waiver
  • Life Science courses
  • Terms and conditions
  • Continuing students
  • Disabled applicants
  • Supporting documents overview
  • Academic documents
  • Finance documents
  • Evidence of competence in English
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Applicant portal and self-service
  • After you apply overview
  • Confirmation of admission
  • Student registry
  • Previous criminal convictions
  • Deferring an application
  • Updating your personal details
  • Appeals and Complaints
  • Widening participation
  • Postgraduate admissions fraud
  • International overview
  • Immigration overview
  • ATAS overview
  • Applying for an ATAS certificate
  • Current Cambridge students
  • International qualifications
  • Competence in English overview
  • What tests are accepted?
  • International events
  • International student views overview
  • Akhila’s story
  • Alex’s story
  • Huijie’s story
  • Kelsey’s story
  • Nilesh’s story
  • Get in touch!
  • Events overview
  • Upcoming events
  • Postgraduate Open Days overview
  • Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD Study webinars
  • Virtual tour
  • Research Internships
  • How we use participant data
  • Postgraduate Newsletter

Primary tabs

  • Overview (active tab)
  • Requirements
  • How To Apply

Economic and social history has always formed an important part of the teaching and research within the University of Cambridge's History Faculty. It is widely regarded as one of the best in the world with much pioneering work in social history, demographic history, financial history and the history of economic thought being done here. The MPhil in Economic and Social History provides extremely thorough training in statistical and social science methodology while building on other strengths such as an emphasis on researching economic relations and institutions as cultural phenomena.

The MPhil in Economic and Social History combines taught and research elements over an 11-month full-time programme which includes taught modules, training in social science research methods encompassing quantitative and qualitative analytical tools, and a long piece of independent research (15,000–20,000 words).

Throughout the course, students will be supervised by a dedicated member of staff, who will guide their research towards the completion of an original historical subject chosen and developed by them. In addition, students will benefit from Cambridge’s vibrant research environment, attending and participating in seminars, workshops and other events throughout the year.

The course is designed for those who have completed degrees in which history is the main or at least a substantial component and who want to consolidate their knowledge of economic and social history. It is particularly appropriate for those who may wish to continue on to a PhD, at Cambridge or elsewhere, but it is also well-suited for those who seek simply to explore economic and social history at a deeper level. It is expected that this will be the normal means by which those without an appropriate master’s degree from elsewhere will prepare for the PhD degree in Economic and Social History at Cambridge.

Learning Outcomes

Students on the MPhil in Economic and Social History will be provided with an in-depth study of some of the key areas of research in economic and social history and all students will have a supervisor who will guide them through the requirements of the course and, most crucially, the dissertation.

In this manner, all students are provided with the historiographical knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand and evaluate existing research and to pursue research in their own fields of intellectual interest. Through individual supervisions and group classes, students are introduced to the more specialised and intensive nature of research required at a postgraduate level.

By the end of the course, students will have developed:

  • a deeper understanding of their chosen area of social and economic history and the critical debates within it;
  • a conceptual and technical understanding that enables the evaluation of current research and methodologies; and
  • the ability to situate their own research within current and past methodological and interpretative developments in the field.

The Faculty’s MPhil programmes provide excellent preparation for doctoral study and many of our MPhil students choose to stay at Cambridge to pursue a PhD.

Students wishing to continue to the PhD are normally expected to achieve an overall mark of 70 in their MPhil with a mark of at least 70 in their dissertation.

Admission to the PhD is always subject to the availability of a suitable supervisor.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

11 months full-time, study mode : taught, master of philosophy, faculty of history, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2024.

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding Deadlines

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

  • History MSt
  • American History MPhil
  • Network of Life (Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme) PhD
  • Political Thought and Intellectual History MPhil
  • Modern British History MPhil

Postgraduate Admissions Office

  • Admissions Statistics
  • Start an Application
  • Applicant Self-Service

At a glance

  • Bringing a family
  • Current Postgraduates
  • Cambridge Students' Union (SU)

University Policy and Guidelines

Privacy Policy

Information compliance

Equality and Diversity

Terms of Study

About this site

About our website

Privacy policy

© 2024 University of Cambridge

  • Contact the University
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of information
  • Privacy policy and cookies
  • Statement on Modern Slavery
  • University A-Z
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • Research news
  • About research at Cambridge
  • Spotlight on...
  • Skip to main content
  • Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

'This is garbage': Step aside, influencers — we're now in the era of de-influencing

Brianna Scott headshot

Brianna Scott

economic history phd reddit

Some TikTok creators have embraced the de-influencer movement, like Diana Wiebe, seen in a screenshot here, who goes by the TikTok handle @depressiondotgov and critiques social media influencing. NPR hide caption

In the early days of the pandemic, Diana Wiebe spent a lot of time scrolling through Instagram and TikTok — and she started to notice something.

"I got influenced mostly by skin care stuff," she recalls. "I'd watch an influencer, and I'd be like, 'OK, yeah. This worked for them. I trust their opinion. Add to cart.'"

After a while, Wiebe began to realize just how much money she was spending on stuff she saw being pushed on social media. That's when she knew things had to change.

The origins of the influencer industry

The Indicator from Planet Money

The origins of the influencer industry.

Social media influencers aren't new. But over the last few years, another trend has emerged: de -influencing. What started as a backlash to advertising could now have a surprising and real-world impact on the environment.

A rejection of influencer culture

The world of influencing is pretty simple.

Companies from the likes of Airbnb to Amazon to Louis Vuitton pay people with a lot of followers on social media to promote their products. These creators then make content, typically videos, where they recommend the products and services, often adding a discount code their followers can use to sweeten the deal.

"They do it kind of more in the guise of being your friend or being relatable," Wiebe said.

It has evolved over time and can now include things like the "come shopping with me" trend that emulates the feeling of casually shopping with a friend. The influencers film themselves walking around stores and filling their carts with clothing, makeup, cute little bowls for your ramen noodles and, of course, Stanley cups.

"They film their hands, and they throw stuff kind of willy-nilly in the cart," Wiebe said. "I just kept saying stuff like ... 'This is garbage. Like, why is this person buying this?'"

So Wiebe began to post her own videos on TikTok. Her videos don't influence; rather, they seek to de-influence. And she is one of many who have found a foothold in the last few years as the #deinfluencing hashtag on TikTok has racked up more than 1.5 billion views.

@depressiondotgov Replying to @awhducks im happy to be of service ❤️ #garbage #targethaul #deinfluencing #overconsumption #targetshopping #targetchristmasdecor #christmashaul ♬ original sound - DepressionDotGov
@isofbelle Replying to @Tempest 🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇦🍉 a lot of people have great opinions but some …. #deinfluencing #deinfluencingtravel #travelessentials #travelessentialsfromamazon ♬ original sound - Isabelle L ✈️🌈

De-influencing encourages people to buy less stuff and instead use what they already have.

"Initially I saw the trend as something that was kind of like a response to the fatigue of influencing, of this constant messaging of buy, buy, buy," said content creator Christina Mychaskiw.

Mychaskiw defines herself as a former shopaholic who at one point had more than $120,000 in student loan debt. Even before the term "de-influencing" trended on TikTok, she was making videos about mindful spending and consumerist culture.

@christina.mychas Things i NEVER do as a former shopaholic. I had a pretty toxic relationship with my money, my stuff and myself for a long time. After i committed to getting out of debt and changing my relationship with my shopping habits in 2018, these are some of the things i had to learn to change and that i stopped doing. #shopaholic #shoppingaddiction #mindfulspending #debtfreejourney #debtfreelife #intentionalliving #minimalistish ♬ original sound - Christina

Mychaskiw said that when she was younger, she watched videos that normalized overconsumption — videos like shopping hauls , where people show off what they have bought, sometimes dozens of pieces at once.

"I think when you watch those things over and over again and you continuously see people being like, 'Oh, I just picked this up and I bought this,' and the quantities that people bought ... it kind of gives you this license to feel like, 'Oh, I can do that too,'" she said.

"It was sort of a refreshing take to see, 'Hey, this thing didn't change my life. This thing didn't work the way it was supposed to. It didn't live up to the hype. Save your money.'"

The feeling of de-influencing is refreshing for many. NPR asked readers about their relationship with social media and heard from dozens of people who relayed being fed up with constant advertising on social media, feeling buyer's remorse after following an influencer's recommendation or feeling forced to become influencers themselves.

Heidi Kaluza falls into that last camp, as an influencer who now supports de-influencing.

When she first came onto the scene, Kaluza remembers how some clothing brands would send her up to 20 items a month in various sizes. On top of that, she said her reviews didn't always feel genuine.

"They're kind of forcing me to engage in wearing these clothes and promoting them and only saying good things about them and never critiquing," she said.

"I see [de-influencing] as a growing movement. I think it's going to be a foundational aspect of our society."

The economics of the influencer industry

The economics of the influencer industry

That's not to say the movement has been entirely pure.

"People saw it as just another trend for them to hop on and figure out how they can capitalize on it and use consumerism to capitalize on de-influencing," said lifestyle content creator Mikayla Farwig.

"They were like, 'Hey, I'm going to de-influence you from this lip gloss because this lip gloss is $42. How about you buy this $10 lip gloss instead?'

"It was still promoting this overconsumption."

And a focus on overconsumption is where the de-influencing movement is heading now. It has evolved from a response to mass advertising to a more nuanced discussion around overconsumption. And its adherents say de-influencing could have a positive effect on the environment.

De-influencing's relationship with the environment

With an online platform, today's de-influencers are spreading a deeper message to their followers about how to live sustainably in a way that helps the planet.

They point to the plastic packaging encasing products hawked online, a small amount of which actually gets recycled; the shipping; and the fact that a lot of these products end up in landfills or being burned, which contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions.

There is an environmental impact each time you hit 'buy now.' Here's an alternative

Environment

There is an environmental impact each time you hit 'buy now.' here's an alternative.

The stakes are high when it comes to the rapid consumption of goods and services, which can make people feel powerless, said Aja Barber, but she adds that talking about the issue is the first step for consumers.

"If you can get people to start thinking about the things that they buy, they start thinking about a lot of the bigger topics as well," she said.

Barber is author of the book Consumed: The Need for Collective Change . She's kind of the original de-influencer, having spent years speaking to issues of sustainability in the context of fast fashion.

"The conversation about fast fashion and consumer goods, I find it's like a gateway," she said. "People are like, 'Oh, it's just a frivolous dress,' and then they start to learn a little bit more about what's behind it ... and it just keeps going. Before you know it, you're like me and you have a compost and you won't shut up about it."

This is the point where the de-influencing movement comes full circle and back to influencing — only, with a twist.

"This isn't just about de-influencing. This is about using your influence in the right way," said Solitaire Townsend, a sustainability expert and co-founder of the change agency Futerra.

She has spent years working with communities, brands and even content creators to communicate environmental issues to wider audiences.

Why Americans buy so much stuff: A short history

Why Americans buy so much stuff: A short history

Townsend said that the de-influencing trend describes something that has been discussed for years — living more sustainably — and that the people with a lot of social media followers have an "enormous outside ability to help us live more sustainably."

"We've known for decades that the number one influence on your behaviors is your friends and family. More than advertising, more than anything governments tell you to do, more than anything that educators tell you to do," she said.

"It turns out we have a close relationship with creators. We hold them in that same friends-and-family bubble."

Townsend's company worked with Unilever on research that looks at the role of influencer content in impacting sustainable choices. The findings, released in 2023 , showed that 83% of respondents think TikTok and Instagram are good places to get advice about how to live sustainably and that 75% are more likely to change their behavior in a direction that is good for the environment after watching social media content.

"Most of us who are following [influencers] really want them to help us with this. We want them to model these behaviors," she said.

  • de-influencing
  • influencers
  • environment
  • social media

IMAGES

  1. Economic History

    economic history phd reddit

  2. The Study of Economic History and the Importance of Understanding the

    economic history phd reddit

  3. The Economic History Review

    economic history phd reddit

  4. How 10 Influential Economists Changed America's History

    economic history phd reddit

  5. Stockholm University International PhD Position in Economic History, Sweden

    economic history phd reddit

  6. Programme Specification: MPhil/PhD Economic History

    economic history phd reddit

COMMENTS

  1. Best Universities in the USA for a PhD in Economic History : r ...

    Otherwise Harvard, MIT, Princeton. It depends on what kind of economic history you're interested in (natural experiments, monetary and financial history, long-run development) Northwestern likely has the best econ history group but any high ranked applied micro program is a great choice.

  2. How to do economic history for a living : r/EconomicHistory

    Which one? You have three (well, mostly two) options: 1) a PhD in economics, 2) a PhD in history, or 3) (there's only a few of these) a PhD in economic history. I want to briefly outline the pros/cons of each approach. Path 1: Get an Econ PhD. These days, the most common path to becoming an economic historian is through the economics PhD.

  3. PhD Economic History job prospects : r/EconomicHistory

    Economic history is much healthier part of a mostly perilously bad academic job market in history. An economic history PhD is fine for all kinds of financial services and think tank opportunities, financial journalism, a lot of things. Its even possible that you might end up with an academic appointment, though that shouldn't be an expectation ...

  4. Economic History P.H.D. : r/academiceconomics

    View community ranking In the Top 5% of largest communities on Reddit. Economic History P.H.D. Hello everyone. I am currently pursuing an MS in Quant Methods. I want to get a phd in economic history, but it seems that this area of study is mainly offered at European universities and not so much at their American counterparts. That's an issue ...

  5. How much math do I need to know if I want to get a PhD in economic history?

    PhD level courses are often built around mathematical proofs more than applying the proofs to real economics problems. Real analysis, dynamic optimization, linear algebra, advanced calculus and differential equations are all the basic mathematical tools required for a PhD in economics.

  6. PhD Economic specialization are : r/FinancialCareers

    Hello, I am a PhD student in an US university. I am selecting two fields for my specialization those are international economics (foreign trade and finance) and monetary economics. But I have to select one are to do research on. I am thinking about selecting monetary economics, as I also have a statistics background in my undergraduate degree.

  7. Advice on PHD programs in Economics and History : r/GradSchool

    View community ranking In the Top 1% of largest communities on Reddit. Advice on PHD programs in Economics and History ... I'm going to be a Junior next year pursuing a degree both in Economics and in History. I have a 3.75 G.P.A., close relationships with a few professors (in multiple departments), and I plan on doing an internship and some ...

  8. Is a PhD worth it if I don't want to go into teaching, but I ...

    A PhD has a pretty high opportunity cost with benefits mostly regarding job opportunities within the academy. I would think it may be easier/cheaper to get the job you want by just taking an entry level role in public policy (which you are surely qualified for, if you can spin your transition well in a cover letter), and working your way up from there.

  9. Economic History PHD : r/PhD

    Hello, I really hope this question is appropriate to this subreddit. I am a B. A in history graduate going into my M.S management and I was wondering if anyone who has experience with PHD programs could tell me if I might be able to combine the two degrees into an admission into a PHD in economic history, preferably somewhere in Europe.

  10. The complete guide to getting into an economics PhD program

    Here is the not-very-surprising list of things that will help you get into a good econ PhD program: good grades, especially in whatever math and economics classes you take, a good score on the ...

  11. Non-traditional applicant for Econ PhD? : r/academiceconomics

    During undergrad, I completed courses in graduate-level analysis, advanced linear algebra, statistics, probability models, stochastic processes, and abstract algebra. My exposure to economics only includes an introductory undergrad course, a course called "matching markets" and Bayesian statistics.

  12. Economic and Social History PhD

    This article was published on 29 Sep, 2023. Study PhD in Economic & Social History at the University of Edinburgh. Our postgraduate degree programme study interests include; economic development, energy policy, globalisation, urban history, material culture, museums and collecting, religion, popular culture, gender, and sexuality.

  13. Economic History

    Northwestern offers a weekly economic history seminar, heavily attended by faculty and graduate students. In fact, the economic history seminar is the department's longest continuously-operating seminar, having been a staple of the department's diverse workshop schedule since the 1960s. The seminar meets 23 times each year, exposing faculty and ...

  14. PhD Program

    The Ph.D. Program in the Department of Economics at Harvard is addressed to students of high promise who wish to prepare themselves in teaching and research in academia or for responsible positions in government, research organizations, or business enterprises. Students are expected to devote themselves full-time to their programs of study.

  15. MPhil/PhD Economic History

    Minimum entry requirements for MPhil/PhD Economic History. Merit in LSE's MSc Economic History (Research) with a minimum of 65% overall, and at least 75% in the dissertation component. Direct entry for applicants with an equivalent score in economic history or a similar field (economics, history, and so on) will also be considered, but we expect students to have a completed a dissertation ...

  16. Economic History

    Welcome. Advising in Economic history (EcHist) within the history concentration prepares students to explore a variety of questions and approaches within economic history, the history of economic thought, the history of capitalism, financial history, labor history, business history, and the history of economic life.

  17. PhD in Economic and Social History

    The PhD programme is designed to take three years full-time or six years part time. The PhD is examined by submission of a thesis of up to 100,000 words and by oral examination. PhD students work closely with their supervisors, who are recognised experts in the field of study. All PhD students pursue an individually tailored programme of ...

  18. Program in Economic History

    Economic history is the study of the long-term development of economies. The field uses empirical evidence, the tools of economics and econometrics, and appreciation of institutional context to understand how economies functioned in different times and places, and how present-day economic problems reflect earlier development.

  19. Economic and Social History PhD

    The diversity of our research means we can support students' economic and social history study in a vast range of time periods and geographical regions and from the early modern period to the present day. The University's economic and social historians host three research groups: material and visual cultures of the past; enlightenment and ...

  20. DPhil in History (Economic and Social History)

    The DPhil in History (Economic and Social History) is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of successful completion of an individual research thesis and an oral examination. Economic and social history is the study of economic activities and social organization in the historical past. If you are thinking about applying for a DPhil ...

  21. MSc Economic History

    The MSc Economic History provides a historical and interdisciplinary perspective on important economic problems such as the causes of long-run economic development, the expansion of businesses and financial markets, the role of the government in the economy and the origins of globalization. You will be able to choose from a wide range of ...

  22. MPhil in Economic and Social History

    The MPhil in Economic and Social History combines taught and research elements over an 11-month full-time programme which includes taught modules, training in social science research methods encompassing quantitative and qualitative analytical tools, and a long piece of independent research (15,000-20,000 words).

  23. Graduate Programs in Economic History

    Department of Economic History Faculty of Economics Avenida Diagonal, 690 08034 Barcelona SPAIN Phone: 34 93 403 55 61 Fax: 34 94 402 45 94 E-mail: [email protected] Graduate Program Summary. University of British Columbia Department of Economics #997 - 1873 East Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 CANADA Phone: 604-822-4616 Fax: 604-822-5915

  24. The surprising effect social media de-influencers might have on the

    A new movement has emerged in recent years: de-influencing. What started as a backlash to advertising could now have a surprising and real-world impact on the environment.