Economics - Research

Overview

The economics group is an energetic and enterprising research cluster that continuously strives for excellence in both its teaching and its scholarship. The group's research strengths cover economic theory, applied economics and econometrics. The group has a particular interest in game theory and economic history. Aside from gaining close research advice and direction from their supervisors and other academics in the group, research students benefit from attending courses and tailor-made reading groups to complete their background preparation in economics.



Queen's Management School prides itself on research-led teaching and offers its research students experience as teaching assistants in a variety of undergraduate courses. Students regularly attend the School's various seminar series, which attract leading academics from around the world. Students also present their work at these events, gaining invaluable advice and preparation for the academic job market.



Subject Summary

You’ll be researching topics including economic theory, applied economics, econometrics, game theory and economic history, economics of networks and institutions, business, empirical economics and econometrics, and economic growth. You’ll benefit from close research advice and direction from your supervisors and other academics in the group, plus you’ll attend courses and tailor-made reading groups to complete your background preparation.



Course structure

There is no specific course content as such. Students are expected to take research training modules that are supported by the School, which focus on quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students are also expected to carry out their research under the guidance of their supervisors.



Over the course of study students can attend postgraduate skills training organised by the Graduate School.



Students will normally register, in the first instance, as an ‘undifferentiated PhD student’, which means that they have satisfied staff that they are capable of undertaking a research degree. The decision as to whether students should undertake an MPhil or a PhD is delayed until they have completed ‘differentiation’.



Differentiation takes place about 9 months after registration for full time students and about 18 months for part time students. Students are normally asked to submit work to a panel of up two academics and this is followed up with a formal meeting with the ‘Differentiation Panel’. The Panel then make a judgement about the student’s capacity to continue with their study. Sometimes students are advised to revise their research objectives or to consider submitting their work for an MPhil qualification rather than a doctoral qualification.



To complete with a doctoral qualification students are required to submit a thesis of approximately 80,000 words and attend a viva voce [oral examination] with an external and internal examiner to defend their thesis.



A PhD programme runs for 3-4 years full-time or 6-8 years part-time. Students can apply for a writing up year should it be required.



The PhD is open to both full and part time candidates and is often a useful preparation for a career within academia or industry.



Full time students are often attracted to research degree programmes, because they offer an opportunity to pursue in some depth an area of academic interest.



The part time research degree is an exciting option for those already working in the accounting field who are seeking to extend their knowledge on an issue of professional interest. Often part time candidates choose to research an area that is related to their professional responsibilities.



If students meet the Entry Requirements, the next step is to check whether supervision is available in the chosen area as students are only accepted if expert research supervision can be offered in the chosen area. Therefore, the research question needs to engage with the research interests of one of our staff.



Undertaking a PhD is a substantial commitment, and the research proposal is an important part of the application process. Thus, given the importance of the research proposal in the application process, applicants are encouraged to take time in preparing their proposal. In addition, applicants should read the information about studying and applying for a PhD in Queen's Business School at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/QueensManagementSchool/Study/PostgraduateResearch/

Graduate

Normally a UK 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) and a UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline with a final result of 60% (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University). In cases where applicants have not completed a Master's degree, applications may be considered where applicants hold a 1st class Honours undergraduate degree from a high-ranking, research focus university and have demonstrated an ability to conduct academic research.

Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD, or two years for MPhil (or part-time equivalent).

Entry Year: 2024/25

Career Prospects

The School has a proven track-record of placing its PhD graduates in tenure-track research and teaching posts at top universities in the UK and elsewhere.

Associated Research

Institutional and relational economics

Social networks

Strategic formation of coalitions and networks

Banking crises

Crime and conflict

Political economy

Methodology and history of economics

Behavioural and experimental economics

Economics of education

Financial econometrics

Health economics

Labour economics and social policy

Panel data

Demography and economic growth

Entrepreneurship

Long-run development