Ph.D. in Economics
For admission to the Zurich Graduate School of Economics (ZurichGSE) a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics from a university or an equivalent degree with the distinction of summa cum laude or magna cum laude is required. Applicants from other fields will be considered if their academic performance is outstanding.
Degrees from Master of Advanced Studies programs (e.g. MAS, EMBA, MBA, etc.) do not qualify for acceptance to our program.
Students are expected to devote themselves full-time to their programs of study.
The ZurichGSE typically receives 300 applications and admits between 12 and 15 students each year.
All courses are given in English and applicants to the program must show proficiency in English to be considered for admission. Thesis work takes place at the various research groups; students present their thesis work in progress in doctoral seminars. The completed Ph.D. thesis is made available to the interested public and is discussed in a public seminar.
Eligibility and selection criteria
Scholarships are open to graduates from around the world, they are awarded to candidates on the grounds of outstanding academic merit, and continuing support will be subject to the satisfactory completion of course work. While preference may be given to students whose research plans include areas of interest of the UBS International Center of Economics in Society, applications from all areas are welcomed.
Admission to the Zurich Graduate School of Economics is a pre-condition for being considered for a UBS Center Scholarship.
The UBS Center Scholarships are full scholarships, covering living expenses and all fees. Scholarship holders are free to choose their supervisor and have no mandatory duties beyond the completion of the course work and their doctorate. We do however encourage students to contribute to departmental teaching because it is in their own interest to acquire good teaching skills.
Student Qualifications
The objective of the ZurichGSE is to produce successful economic researchers, hence demonstrating the ability to do research is an important criterion.
It is strongly recommended that applicants take the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) General Test. Applications without GRE will be reviewed, but not submitting GRE test results will be considered a major drawback and must be offset by very strong academic credentials (e.g., high-grade point average). Applicants obtaining a university degree from a non-Bologna country have to hand in a GRE in order to have a chance to be admitted.
Proficiency in English is required. No specific test is required, but applicants who have taken the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) are encouraged to provide a copy of the official test results. Applicants obtaining a university degree from a non-Bologna country whose native language is not English, have to hand in a recognized English certificate and meet the minimum requirement of the University of Zurich in order to have a chance to be admitted.
Value and duration of the UBS Center Scholarship
The UBS Center Scholarships cover living expenses and all fees. The stipend covering living expenses currently stands at CHF 42'500 per year.
Scholarships are offered to award holders for a period of four years, subject to the satisfactory completion of course work.
Application information
STEP ONE
Application for the academic year 2016/2017 is now open. Please use the online recruitment portal of the Zurich Graduate School of Economics (ZurichGSE) to submit your application.
Only online applications submitted via the application portal will be taken into consideration. Please refer to the checklist for the necessary documents.
Submission deadline: 31st of January 2016
Courses start in the fall term.
The received applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee. If your application has fulfilled the high standards, you will receive an email with further instructions. Applicants who did not fulfill the necessary requirements will be informed via email and have the chance to apply again next year.
STEP TWO
If you are shortlisted for an interview, you will be asked to submit certain documents (e.g., certified copies of your diplomas) by regular mail to the address below. You will be informed about the outcome of your application within about six weeks after the application deadline.
If you are applying for a UBS Center Scholarship, please follow the instructions on the corresponding website:
UBS Center Scholarship
This opportunity is expired.