PhD in Economics and Statistics

PhD in Economics and Statistics is one of 7 English-taught Economics programmes at PhD level in the register, offered by 6 institutions. 4 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 4 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters. The same programme title is offered at 2 institutions, so compare the content, campus and requirements before you choose.

The PhD Program in Economics and Statistics is a research-oriented doctorate run jointly by Johannes Kepler University Linz and the University of Innsbruck. You are admitted and enrolled at both institutions, though you pick one as your main base. The programme is taught in English at level C1 and carries 180 ECTS across six semesters.

What you study

You choose one of two separate tracks: Economics or Statistics. Each track gives you a grounding in advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics or statistical methods, depending on which you pick. Field and specialisation courses then let you focus on a particular research area. The aim is to bring you to the edge of current academic research so you can work on methodological and empirical problems in your field. Alongside the subject work, the programme offers courses on academic writing, presentation techniques and other soft skills.

How the programme is organised

The doctorate runs over six semesters and is worth 180 ECTS. It is a joint programme, so you are enrolled at both the JKU and the University of Innsbruck, and the location is given as Linz and Innsbruck. You decide which of the two you want to be admitted to, but you are admitted and enrolled at the other one as well. The soft skills courses sit alongside the track and specialisation work and are meant to prepare you for a career in academia, research institutions or industry.

Who it suits

This is for someone who wants to do original research, not just take more coursework. You should already have a strong economics or statistics background and a clear idea of the research area you want to pursue. Because the programme is jointly run, you should be comfortable moving between two universities. If you like methodological and empirical questions and want to work at the level of current academic research, the structure fits. If you want a taught master's with a fixed timetable, this is not that.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a subject-related diploma or master's degree, or a degree considered comparable in scope and content. If there are significant subject-specific gaps, you may have to sit additional examinations of up to 30 ECTS, to be completed by the end of your second semester. The Rectorate decides which supplementary examinations apply. The page lists degrees it considers relevant, including Internationale Wirtschaftswissenschaften and International Management at the LFUI, Wirtschaftswissenschaften at the JKU, Angewandte Ökonomik, Experimental and Empirical Economics and Banking and Finance at the LFUI, and Economics (Economic Policy Analysis), Economic and Business Analytics and Statistics and Data Science at the JKU.

Admission differs by institution. For the University of Innsbruck you submit an academically acceptable dissertation concept that the Dean of Studies committee can supervise. For the JKU you provide provisional confirmation of supervision from a JKU faculty member authorised to supervise dissertations, confirming you can complete a dissertation in your intended subject area. There is also an aptitude test. The teaching language is English at level C1. Applications go straight to the institution, and the programme page gives the registration, admission and deadline details. At a public university, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester.

Goals of the programme: Graduates of the PhD programme in Economics and Statistics will be able to: 1. write scientific papers that meet international standards of peer-reviewed publications; 2. engage in the international research network; develop independent research programmes with scientific integrity and successfully submit them to national and international research funding agencies and implement them; 3. communicate about their field of specialisation with their professional environment, the scientific community and society in general.

Universität Linz gemeinsam mit der Universität Innsbruck

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here Johannes Kepler University Linz. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.